New Books Network Sven Trakulhun, "Confronting Christianity: The Protestant Mission and the Buddhist Reform Movement in Nineteenth-Century Thailand" (U Hawaii Press, 2024)
Jun 1, 2025
Sven Trakulhun teaches history at the University of Hamburg and delves into the impact of Protestant missionaries on Thailand's Theravada Buddhism in the 19th century. He discusses the unique challenges missionaries faced, their limited success in converting locals, and the concurrent Buddhist reform movement led by Prince Mongkut. Trakulhun highlights the cultural and religious dialogue that emerged during this period, revealing how indigenous reforms evolved independently while also being shaped by the missionaries' presence and critiques.
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Symbolic Religious Discourse
- The 1882 Grand Palace painting shows King Mongkut mediating world religions with Buddhism central.
- It visually asserts Buddhist civilization power during Western colonial threats.
Protestant Influence on Buddhist Reform
- Protestant missionaries differed by translating the Bible into Thai and evangelizing aggressively.
- Their focus on scripture influenced Siamese Buddhist reformers who also emphasized canonical texts.
Missionaries Critique And Buddhist Response
- Missionaries criticized Buddhism for lacking a creator god and for mythical stories.
- Buddhists countered by highlighting Christianity's fables and separating technological progress from faith.
