Phuthachan (Thai: พุฒาจารย์, Buḍhācārya, lit.'Senior Master'), formerly Phutthachan (Thai: พุทธาจารย์, Buddhācārya, lit.'Awakened Master'), is an ecclesiastical title given to senior members of the Thai sangha, the community of Buddhist monks in Thailand.
History
In the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the title Buddhācārya was preserved for Buddhist monks who were patriarchs of the sect of araṇyavāsī (Thai: อรัญวาสี; RTGS:aranyawasi; lit.'forest dwellers').
In 2394 BE (1851/52 CE), the title Buddhācārya was modified to Buḍhācārya by King Rama IV, who gave it to Son (Thai: สน), the abbot of Wat Saket.
12Chanthawit, Natthaphat (n.d.). "Phat yot lae samanasak" พัดยศและสมณศักดิ์[Fans of ranks and ecclesiastical ranks]. Thai Encyclopedia for Youth (in Thai). Bangkok: Thai Encyclopedia for Youth Project, Golden Jubilee Network. Archived from the original on 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-03-08.
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