Introduction
Thailand was
known for centuries by outsiders as Siam. It first made a real impression
on the West at the end of the 17th century, through the reports of a series
of inquisitive Frenchmen. They were not the first Europeans to spend time
in the kingdom, however. The Portuguese sent an envoy to the capital in
1511, shortly after they seized Malacca. The Portuguese joined resident
Chinese, Japanese, Malays and Persians to make the Siamese capital one of
the most cosmopolitan cities in the vast region now known as Southeast Asia.
Modern and predominantly Buddhist, it is a Southeast Asian kingdom whose
ancient equilibrium and present standing mingle in evolving harmony.
Substantially,
Thailand’s distinctive and unparalleled characteristics stem from Indian
and Chinese influences (harmoniously blended by Thai eclecticism), rich
ethnic diversity, abundant natural and human resources, and over seven
hundred years of cherished independence (Thailand is the only important
Southeast Asian society never to have been colonized by Westerners). Thailand’s
traditional culture is delicately tuned to the time-honored Buddhist’s
non-confrontational approach to life, and ideals of charity, tolerance
and loving-kindness
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History
The Thais, most
historians believe, began migrating from southern China in the early part
of the Christian era. At first they formed a number of city-states in the
northern part of what is present-day Thailand, in places like Chiang Saen,
Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, but these were never strong enough to exert much
influence outside the immediate region. Gradually the Thais migrated further
south to the broad and fertile central plains, and expanded their dominance
over nearly the entire Indochina Peninsula. Contradictory as it may seem,
however, recent archaeological discoveries around the northeast hamlet of
Ban Chiang suggest that the world’s oldest Bronze Age civilization was flourishing
in Thailand some 5,000 years ago.
Sukhothai
Period ( 1238 - 1350 A.D. )
 By
the early 1200s the Thais had established small northern city-states in
Lanna, Phayao, and Sukhothai. In 1238 two Thai chieftains, Khun Bang Klang
Tao and Khun Pha Muang, successfully rebelled against Khom suzerainty
and established the first truly independent Thai kingdom in Sukhothai
– a kingdom that was short-lived but of immense cultural importance in
the nation’s history.
Sukhothai
saw the Thais’ gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River
basin and the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the paramount Thai
religion. It was here that the first evidence of written Thai was left,
along with distinctively Thai styles of art such as painting, sculpture,
architecture, and literature, which survived after Sukhothai was absorbed
by the kingdom of Ayutthaya – a dynamic young kingdom further south in
the Chao Phraya River valley.
Ayutthaya Period (1350 - 1767 A.D.)
 During
Ayutthaya’s 417 years as the capital, under the rule of 34 kings, the
Thais brought their distinctive culture to full fruition, totally rid
their lands of Khom presence, and fostered contact with Arabian, Indian,
Chinese, Japanese, and European powers. Contact with the West, especially,
flourished during the reign of King Narai the Great (1656-1688), in which
an envoy was sent to France to establish foreign diplomacy. Founded in
1350, Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital until it was sacked and burned
by the Burmese in 1767.
Thonburi Period (1767 - 1782 A.D.)
Ayutthaya’s downfall was a severe blow to the Thais. However, a Thai revival
occurred within a few months, and the Burmese were expelled by King Taksin,
who ushered in the Thonburi Period (1767-1782). King Taksin made Thonburi
the capital, but it was the shortest-lived capital in Thai history. In
1782 the first king of the present Chakri dynasty, Rama I, established
his new capital on the site of a riverside hamlet called Ban Kok (Village
of the Wild Plums).
Rattanakosin
Period (1782 - present)
During the Rattanakosin Period (1782 – present), two Chakri monarchs,
King Mongkut (Rama IV), who reigned between 1851 and 1868, and his son
King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910), saved Thailand from the powerful
tides of Western colonialism through adroit diplomacy and selective modernization.
Today, Thailand
is a modern constitutional monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings, including
the present monarch H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), have exercised
their legislative powers through a national assembly, their executive
powers through a cabinet headed by a prime minister and their judicial
powers through the courts of law.
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Geography
Situated in
the heart of the Southeast Asian mainland, Thailand covers an area of 513,115
square kilometers. It is bordered by Laos to the northeast, Myanmar to the
north and west, Cambodia to the east, and Malaysia to the south.
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Typography
 Thailand
is naturally divided into four topographic regions: 1) the North, 2) the
Central Plain, or Chao Phraya River basin, 3) the Northeast, or the Korat
Plateau, and 4) the South, or Southern Isthmus.
The
North is a mountainous region characterized by natural forests,
ridges, and deep, narrow, alluvial valleys.
Central
Thailand, the basin of the Chao Phraya River, is a lush, fertile
valley. It is the richest and most extensive rice-producing area in the
country and has often been called the “Rice Bowl of Asia.” Bangkok, the
capital of Thailand, is located in this region.
The Northeastern
region, or Korat Plateau, is an arid region characterized by
a rolling surface and undulating hills. Harsh climatic conditions often
result in this region being subjected to floods and droughts.
The Southern
region is hilly to mountainous, with thick virgin forests and
rich deposits of minerals and ores. This region is the center for the
production of rubber and the cultivation of other tropical crops
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Climate
Thailand is
a warm and rather humid tropical country. The climate is monsoonal, marked
by a pronounced rainy season lasting from about May to September and a relatively
dry season for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in March
and April and lowest in December and January. The average temperature is
23.7 to 32.5 degrees Celsius.
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Population
The population
of Thailand is approximately 62 million (January 2001). The most important
ethic minority is Chinese.
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Religion
Theravada Buddhism,
the national religion, is the professed faith of 95 per cent of the population.
There is total religious freedom and all major religions can be found in
practice.
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Language
The Thai language
is liberally sprinkled with words from Pali and Sanskrit (the classical
languages, respectively, of Theravada Buddhism and Indian Hinduism). Written
Thai employs an alphabet of 44 consonants and 32 vowels that combine to
form syllabic sounds.
King Ramkhamhaeng
the Great who ruled the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1279-1298 initiated the
Thai inscription in 1292. The inscription is considered to be a seminal
source of Sukhothai history as well as a masterpiece of Thai literature.
Thai is a
tonal monosyllabic language. The same word can be said in five different
ways - normal or middle tone, high, low, rising and falling.
Like English,
it is read from left to right, but that is where the similarities end.
Some English sounds like "th", "v" and "z"
do not appear at all, while some Thai sounds are not commonly used in
English either. Further, it should be noted that in transcribing Thai
sounds into English phonetics some consonants (e.g., b, p, l, n, d, and
t) can be used interchangeably.
There are
no plurals in Thai, nor are there tenses as such. A word or two is usually
added to determine the past, present or future.
In Thailand's
major cities, the level of English can be quite good, but visitors will
find that the Thais' ability to speak English diminishes as one moves
further away from the population centers.
In Thai there
is a "politening" word attached to the end of anything you say.
For men it is "khrap," for women it is "kha."
Thai
to Speak
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Flags
 Thailand’s
national flag, ceremoniously raised each morning in every town and village,
is composed of five horizontal bands of red, white, and blue. Outer bands
of red representing the nation enclose equal inner bands of white, evoking
religion. The blue band, occupying the central one - third of the total
area, symbolizes the monarchy. The harmony of design expresses the complementary
nature of these three pillars of the Thai nation.
This tri-colored
flag, called in Thai the "trirong," first introduced by King
Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917, succeeded an earlier design that placed
a white elephant (emblem of the absolute monarch) on a red background.
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National
Anthem
The national
anthem is played on all ceremonial occasions of national importance and
while the national flag is being raised and lowered. Professor Phra
Jenduriyang composed its music in 1932, while the lyrics, as presently constituted,
were written in 1939 by Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandh. A literal translation
is as follows:
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Thailand
is the unity of Thai blood and body.
The whole country belongs to the Thai people.
Maintaining thus far the Thai nation.
All Thais intend to unite together.
Thais love peace, but are not afraid to fight.
They will never let anyone threaten their independence.
They will sacrifice every drop of their blood to contrib.te to the
nation.
They will serve their country with pride and prestige,full of victory.
Chai Yo. |
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National
Symbol
 The
Thai national and royal symbol is the Garuda, a mythical half-bird half-human
figure (steed of the Hindu god Vishnu) that adorns King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s
scepter and royal standard. Many ministries and departments have incorporated
the Garuda into their insignias. Moreover, the Garuda signifies “By Royal
Appointment,” and is awarded, at the personal discretion of His Majesty
the King, as a sign of royal approval to companies that have rendered outstanding
economic and charitable services to Thailand.
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