Mae Ji - History

History

The exact derivation of the term 'mae ji' is not known. Several possible etymologies have been suggested, relating 'Mae chee' either to Sanskrit or Sinhala terms for renunciants, morality, or other positive qualities. The word ji is occasionally used in the Thai language to refer either to Buddhist monks, or to ordained followers of other traditions, such as Brahmanist priests or Jain monks.

Historically, little is known about the status and lives of mae jis prior to Western contact with the kingdoms that preceded the modern state of Thailand. European observers in the 17th Century reported seeing white robed, shaven-headed women who lived on the grounds of Buddhist temples. Most of these women were reported to be advanced in years, possibly indicating that life as a Mae chee may have served as a sort of retirement plan for older women who did not have families to provide for them. Records from prior to this time do not explicitly mention mae chees in Thailand; it is likely that some records were lost in the destruction of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 18th Century. The marginalization of the mae jis in Thai society may also play a role in their exclusion from the historical record.

In 1969, the first nation-wide meeting of mae chees was organized by the Sangharaja. During the same year, the Thai Institute of Mae Jis was formed to organize mae jis scattered throughout Thailand. The institute seeks to improve conditions for mae chees by providing better access to education, and screening and placing potential mae jis. The Institution seeks to ensure that all mae chees possess basic knowledge of Buddhist teachings and proper monastic behavior. The Institute has also attempted to discourage mae chee from begging for alms, as monks do. Instead, older mae chees (who are particularly at risk for poverty) are increasingly placed in old-age homes.