{{short description|In Southeast Asian Buddhism, a boy who lives in a temple and assists the monks}} {{Buddhist_term | title=Kappiya | pi= {{IAST|kappiyakāraka}} | sa= | my= ကပ္ပိယ | my-Latn= kaʔpḭya̰ | zh= 護僧 / 護僧合律 | zh-Latn= | km= |km-Latn= | ko= | ko-Latn= | ja= | ja-Latn= | en=lay attendant | th=ลูกศิษย์วัด / เด็กวัด | th-Latn= luuk sit wat / dek wat | vi= hộ Tăng / hộ Tăng hợp Luật }} {{Theravada|Roles}} '''''Kappiya''''' is a Buddhist lay manciple (attendant or steward) who resides in a monastery (vihāra) and assists Buddhist monks (bhikkhu in Pali).
== Names == The term '''''kappiya''''', which literally means "lawful" or "proper,"<ref>{{Cite book|last=Buddhadatta|first=A. P.|title=Concise Pali-English Dictionary|date=1992-01-01|publisher=French & European Publications, Incorporated|isbn=978-0-7859-7473-4|language=en}}</ref> is of Pali origin, and is also employed in the Burmese language ({{Langx|my|ကပ္ပိယ}}). The compound word '''''kappiyakāraka''''' ({{lit|one who makes it befitting}}) is also used in Pali.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kappiyakaraka, Kappiyakāraka, Kappiya-karaka: 2 definitions|url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/definition/kappiyakaraka|last=www.wisdomlib.org|date=2014-08-03|website=www.wisdomlib.org|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> In Thailand, the terms '''''luuk sit wat''''' (ลูกศิษย์วัด) and '''''dek wat''''' (เด็กวัด), commonly rendered into English as "temple boy", are typically used. In Cambodia, the term '''''khmeng voat''''' (ក្មេងវត្ត) is used.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Headley|first=Robert Kirk|title=Cambodian-English Dictionary|date=1997|language=en}}</ref>
== Roles == The ''kappiya''<nowiki/>'s primary role is to assist ordained Buddhist monks with various tasks, especially those which are forbidden by the Vinaya, the set of Buddhist monastic rules (e.g., handling of money).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bhikkhu Rules|url=https://www.budsas.org/ebud/ebsut042.htm|last=Bhikkhu Ariyesako|website=BuddhaSasana|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Other points of the monastic discipline|url=https://en.dhammadana.org/sangha/vinaya/other_points.htm|website=Dhammadana|access-date=2020-05-17}}</ref> A ''kappiya'' is not ordained, unlike bhikkhu, bhikkhunī, sāmaṇera or sāmaṇerī. ''Kappiya'' may also assist in other capacities, including carrying alms bowls during morning alms collection, and preparing food for monks.
== Regional differences ==
=== Myanmar (Burma) === In Myanmar (Burma), ''kappiya'' are generally young men or boys who live in the monastery they support.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scott|first=Sir James George|title=The Burman: His Life and Notions|date=1910|publisher=Macmillan and Company, limited|language=en}}</ref> Some female renunciants called ''kappiya thilashin'' also serve as lay attendants to monastic institutions (''kyaung''), providing support to ordained monks as managers and treasurers, entrusted with the ongoing upkeep of monasteries.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Skidmore|first=Monique|title=Burma At The Turn Of The Twenty-first Century|date=2005|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=978-0-8248-2857-8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Kawanami|first=Hiroko|title=Renunciation and Empowerment of Buddhist Nuns in Myanmar-Burma: Building a Community of Female Faithful|date=2013-02-01|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-23440-6|language=en}}</ref>
=== Thailand === In Thailand, ''kappiya'' are typically young boys (typically between the ages of 10 and 15)<ref>{{Cite book|last=Young|first=John E. De|title=Village Life in Modern Thailand|date=1966|publisher=University of California Press|language=en}}</ref> who are affiliated with temples (wat) and provide cleaning services, run errands and collect gifts in exchange for food, lodging, instruction, and other benefits.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Fry|first=Gerald W.|title=Historical Dictionary of Thailand|last2=Nieminen|first2=Gayla S.|last3=Smith|first3=Harold E.|date=2013-08-08|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-7525-8|language=en}}</ref> Some are sent to become temple boys to acquire merit; others, because they are given free room and board; and others to receive religious and moral instruction. Some temple boys go on to be ordained as monks themselves. Temple boys may undertake the formal step of sāmaṇera ordination as part of their role, depending on their age and local custom. Historically speaking, serving as a temple boy has provided a means for social mobility; notable figures including politicians (Chuan Leekpai and Watana Muangsook) and actors (e.g., Rangsiroj Panpeng) spent their formative years in this role.<ref name=":0" />
==See also== *Vinaya
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Buddhism topics}} {{Religion in Myanmar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kappiya}} Category:Buddhism in Thailand Category:Thai Buddhist titles Category:Buddhist religious occupations Category:Buddhist monasticism Category:Buddhist titles {{Authority control}}