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Buddhism in pre-Thai kingdoms
The arc of Southeast Asia, which spanned from India to Southern China, was one of the primary influences in the spread of Buddhism across the region into what is modern day Thailand. Originally, the arc of Southeast Asia was known for its lucrative maritime trade in the 7th century (CE.) With the spread of trade across the region came the influence of Indic traits and the introduction to Buddhism and Hinduism.

This effect led to Hindu-Buddhist syncretism, and the integration of other Indic influences. Indic influences in Thailand include classical Indian literature & performing arts, monumental religious architecture, astrology, astronomy, a solar calendar, a seven-day week, an assortment of legal traditions forming law, royal pageantry, and sanskrit scripts.

Royal Pageantry
The Thai King has become an object and image of religious worship to Thai people over the course of centuries and cultural tradition. The King’s unique position as an endorser of both Hinduism and Buddhism is derived from the belief system that Buddhism is for the people, but Hinduism is only acceptable for royalty.

Thai royal pageantry is heavily tied into Indic traditions and the belief of divinity in the Thai royalty. This belief system dates back to Hindu-Buddhist Java and the Khmer Empire under the scholar class from Hindu Brahmins. Within the belief system, there is a concept that follows the idea that the King was an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, a Hindu God, and reached Nirvana (gained enlightenment) becoming a Bodhisattva.

This religious power and influence came with the belief of increased moral power, and blood purity. Consequently, because Thai royalty is believed to be descended from this divine lineage Thai royalty remains a religious and cultural pinnacle.

Following the interregnum of the prior King, the Thai royal coronation ceremony of the next ruling King is a blend of traditions from Srivijaya, Hinduism, the Khmer Empire and the Mon. Throughout early-modern to modern Thai history, the coronation ceremony has greatly evolved. In the three day long coronation ceremony, the King’s new position is ushered in with various symbolic royal regalia evolved from ancient Hindu monarchistic cultures. These royal regalia include; the Great Crown of Victory (พระมหาพิชัยมงกุฏ), Fan & Fly-whisk (พัดวาลวิชนี และ พระแส้หางจามรี), a nine-tiered umbrella (นพปฎลมหาเศวตฉัตร), Royal Slippers (ฉลองพระบาทเชิงงอน), Royal Utensils (เครื่องราชูปโภค), the Sword of Victory (พระแสงขรรค์ชัยศรี), the Royal Staff (ธารพระกร), and Weapons of Sovereignty (พระแสงอัษฎาวุธ). Benediction is performed by Buddhist monks in Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha) of the Grand Palace.