Buddhism as a Cultural and Intellectual Foundation of Thai Literature

Abstract

This academic article, “Buddhism as a Cultural and Intellectual Foundation of Thai Literature,” aims to explain the role of Buddhism as a conceptual framework and cultural force that has shaped the creation of Thai literature in terms of content, form, and communicative intention. It highlights the profound relationship between religion, literature, and Thai society across different historical periods. In contemporary contexts, Buddhist ideas continue to be adapted and expressed through new literary forms, including spiritual novels, modern poetry, and digital media that communicate Dhamma in ways consistent with the lifestyle of the digital age. The article therefore proposes that religion should be understood as a dynamic cultural force capable of sustaining and transforming itself through literary expression. Literature grounded in religious thought functions not only as a means of moral cultivation but also as a space for constructing social meaning and promoting balanced human development in terms of wisdom, ethics, and aesthetics. The core argument demonstrates that Buddhism serves as a value framework and worldview that defines the essential themes of Thai literature, particularly moral conduct, impermanence, suffering, and mental cultivation. At the same time, Thai literature operates as a cultural medium for transmitting Buddhist teachings to society in ways that deeply engage human emotions and lived experiences. This relationship is evident at the levels of thematic content, structures of thought, linguistic aesthetics, and literary forms, all of which reflect enduring influences from scriptural traditions and religious practices.