Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM): Capacity Building for Buddhist Relic Custodians Combining Vinaya Discipline, Archaeology, Law, and Modern Management. Authors/Creators

This study presents a comprehensive and interdisciplinary examination of relic custodianship within Buddhism, moving beyond purely devotional or traditional perspectives to incorporate modern approaches from archaeology, legal studies, and management science. Drawing upon an extensive body of empirical case studies, the research systematically analyzes recurring challenges in relic custodianship, including: administrative and operational mismanagement legal disputes and ownership conflicts violations of Vinaya discipline crises of public trust arising from ineffective information management Through critical pattern analysis, the study identifies structural deficiencies underlying these issues rather than treating them as isolated incidents. The central contribution of this work is the development of the Integrated Relic Custodianship Model (IRCM)—a structured framework that synthesizes: Vinaya discipline as the ethical foundation archaeological and conservation knowledge as the technical basis legal frameworks as mechanisms of protection and compliance management and communication principles as tools for governance and crisis prevention The study proposes a practical training and certification system for future custodians, offering a scalable model for capacity building. Policy-oriented recommendations are also provided for religious institutions, governmental bodies, and academic organizations to support sustainable custodianship practices. This work reconceptualizes relic custodianship not merely as an act of devotion, but as a disciplined and institutional responsibility requiring integrated knowledge, accountability, and systematic governance.