How Thai monks save trees with sacred saffron rituals
Thailand 's Chaiyaphum province. After chanting prayers, they encircled a towering tree, draping it in a vivid orange cloth – the same used to robe ordained monks.
Advertisement
This was no ordinary Buddhist ritual, but part of a growing practice called tree ordination – a symbolic act that 'ordains' endangered trees as monks to protect them from logging and development.
Part spiritual blessing and part environmental activism, the ritual is at the heart of a growing movement among Thailand's 'forest monks', who are tweaking centuries-old traditions to confront modern ecological collapse.
'Buddhists respect monks very much. When they see the yellow robe and shaved head, they show respect ... The yellow robe represents the victory of the Buddha and his teachings. It represents sainthood,' said Venerable Dhamma Caro, a monk at Wat Pa Mahawan in northeastern Thailand, who took part in the tree ordination ceremony.
'When we wrap the tree with this yellow robe, it becomes a monk – 'a saint-tree'. That is why people don't hurt it. In a Buddhist country, if you harm a monk or kill a monk, it is [considered] very, very sinful. That is why we ordain the tree,' he added. 'It is very effective.'
Venerable Dhamma Caro says a tree becomes a 'saint-tree' after being wrapped with a saffron robe. Photo: Kim Jung-yeop
Roots of the ritual
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Typhoon Wipha in Hong Kong, Trump and Xi's potential meeting: 5 weekend reads you missed
We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
How to choose between single-sex vs coed schools in Hong Kong
Deciding on an educational path can be confusing for parents, with myriad considerations making choosing schools seem an insurmountable task. Which education system or curriculum is best? Would a public, private or international institution be most appropriate? And what about day schools versus boarding schools? Then, further complicating the issue, is the choice between coed and single-sex schools. Advertisement In Hong Kong, single-sex schools were established in the late 19th century, mostly by missionary groups. Some of the most popular schools from this period include St. Joseph's College, a Catholic boys' school; and Queen's College, a government-funded boys' school established by the British government in 1862. After World War II, the number of single-sex schools in Hong Kong proliferated in response to a significant increase in educational demand. A series of co-educational reforms were introduced in the 1980s and 90s, but this didn't diminish the popularity of gender-specific institutions. Today, single-sex schools remain relatively popular in Hong Kong, with experts estimating that they account for up to 40 per cent of schools in the city. Some of the most notable examples include Diocesan Girls' School, Maryknoll Convent School, La Salle College and Good Hope School. But just how relevant are these single-sex schools for parents making this choice for their children? Experts acknowledge that gender-specific schools better cater to the development of each sex. Photo: Eugene Lee 'I believe parents are choosing [single-sex schools] for their reputation, their academic achievements and perceived prestige, not because they are single-sex,' says Ruth Benny, founder of admissions consultancy Top Schools. 'Many parents [in Hong Kong] choose single-sex schools as they believe they can provide a more tailored learning environment specifically designed to meet the needs of boys or girls,' explains Julianna Yau, director of local education specialists Ampla Education. '[But] some parents prefer coed for secondary [school] as they recognise the importance of social skills and interaction between the genders.' Experts generally acknowledge that boys and girls develop at different rates and will have disparate interests and motivations. It follows that – theoretically at least – gender-specific schools would better cater to the development of each sex, thereby justifying their continued popularity. Advertisement Separate tailored experiences can be offered for each sex: for example, boys might thrive in shorter classes with frequent breaks, while girls may do better with group work. Additionally, single-gender classrooms may give students more confidence in speaking up in lessons.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Vessel catches fire as Typhoon Wipha hits Hong Kong
A vessel at Hong Kong's Causeway Bay typhoon shelter caught fire on the morning of July 20, 2025 as Typhoon Wipha hit Hong Kong. Five people were rescued from a nearby vessel and were uninjured. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Typhoon Wipha is Hong Kong's first T10 signal of the year.
