Dhammazedi (, ; c. 1409–1492, reigned 1471 to 1492) was the 16th king of the
Hanthawaddy Kingdom in Burma. Considered one of the most enlightened rulers in
Burmese history, by some accounts call him "the greatest" of all Hanthawaddy kings.
[Hall 1960: 36–37] The former
Buddhist
Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
monk
A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...
, educated in the rival
kingdom of Ava in his youth, was a trusted adviser and son-in-law of Queen
Shin Sawbu. At age 48, he left the monkhood after he was selected by Shin Sawbu as the
heir apparent
An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...
, and was married to one of the queen's daughters. He immediately became the de facto ruler of the kingdom as Shin Sawbu handed over all administrative duties to him.
During Dhammazedi's long reign, the
Mon-speaking kingdom reached the peak of its golden age. Under his wise rule, the kingdom, unlike the rival Ava Kingdom, was peaceful, and profited greatly from foreign commerce. His reign was a time of peace and he himself was a mild ruler, famous for his wisdom.
[ A collection of his rulings, ''Dhammazedi Pyatton'', survives.][Harvey 1925: 117–120] The kingdom also became a famous center of Theravada Buddhism, with strong ties to Ceylon
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...
, and resumed the practice of sending missions to Buddhagaya. His religious reforms later spread throughout the country.[Myint-U 2006: 64–65; Pranke, 2004] He maintained friendly relations with Yunnan
Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 47.2 million (as of 2020). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the Chinese provinces ...
.
According to DGE Hall, "''He was a Buddhist ruler of the best type, deeply solicitous for the purification of religion. Under him civilization flourished, and the condition of the Mon country stands out in sharp contrast with the disorder and savagery which characterized the Ava kingdom.''"[
He died in 1492. He was honored as a saint and a pagoda was erected over his bones. He was succeeded by his eldest son Binnya Ran II.
]
Historiography
Various Burmese chronicles report different dates for the key events of his life.
Commemorations
* Dhammazedi Road, a road in Yangon.
See also
* Great Bell of Dhammazedi
* Kalyani Inscriptions
Notes
References
Bibliography
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{{Authority control
Hanthawaddy dynasty
1492 deaths
1400s births
15th-century Burmese monarchs
15th-century regents