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Thai people
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Contents
1 History
2 Geography and demographics
3 Culture and society
4 Religion
5 See also
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
History
There have been many theories proposing the origin of the
Tai people, of which the Thai are a subgroup. Especially the
association of the Tai people with the Kingdom of Nanzhao
that has been proved to be invalid. Linguistic studies
suggested[24] that the origin of the Tai people lies around the
Chinese Province of Guangxi, where the Zhuang people are
still a majority. The ancient Tai people should be the part of
Chinese Nanyue, referred to by Han leaders as "foreign
servant" (Chinese: ), synecdoche for a vassal state. The
Qin dynasty founded Guangdong in 214 BC, initiating the
successive waves of Chinese migrations from the north for
Thai
1,550,423[2] (2009)
United States
237,583[3] (2010)
Laos
180,000[4]
Taiwan
74,770[5] (2011)
Malaysia
70,000[6] (2014)
Australia
61,910[7] (2014)
Germany
52,849[8](2007)
Japan
41,279[9] (2010)
Sweden
38,129[10] (2014)
South Korea
30,760[11] (2009)
Hong Kong
30,000[12]
Saudi Arabia
23,000[13]
Canada
10,500[14] (2006)
Denmark
8 580[15] (2012)
Finland
7,500
Languages
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With the political and cultural pressures from the north, some
Chinese
Tai people migrated south[25] where they met the classical
Indianized civilizations of Southeast Asia. According to
linguistic and other historical evidence, the southwestward migration of Tai-speaking tribes from Guangxi took
place sometime between the 8th-10th centuries.[26]
The Tais from the north gradually settled in the Chao Phraya valley from the tenth century onwards, in lands of
the Dvaravati culture, assimilating the earlier Austroasiatic Mon and Khmer people, as well as coming into
contact with the Khmer Empire. The Tais who came to the area of present-day Thailand were engulfed into the
Theravada Buddhism of the Mon and the Hindu-Khmer culture and statecraft. Therefore, the Thai culture is a
mixture of Tai traditions with Indic, Mon and Khmer influcences.[27]
Early Thai chiefdoms included the Sukhothai Kingdom and Suphanburi. The Lavo Kingdom, which was the
center of Khmer culture in Chao Phraya valley, was also the rallying point for the Thais. The Thai were called
Siam by the Angkorians and they appeared on the bas relief at Angkor Wat as a part of the army of Lavo
kingdom. Sometimes the Thai chiefdoms in the Chao Phraya valley were put under the Angkorian control under
strong monarchs (including Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII) but they were mostly independent.
A new city-state known as Ayutthaya, named after the Indian city of Ayodhya, was founded by Ramathibodi
and emerged as the center of the growing Thai Empire starting in 1350. Inspired by the then Hindu-based
Khmer Empire (Cambodia), the Ayutthaya Empire's continued conquests led to more Thai settlements as the
Khmer Empire weakened after their defeat at Angkor in 1431. During this period, the Thai developed a feudal
system as various vassal states paid homage to the Thai kings. Even as Thai power expanded at the expense of
the Mon and Khmer, the Thai Ayutthaya faced setbacks at the hands of the Malays at Malacca and were
checked by the Toungoo of Burma.
Other peoples living under Thai rule, mainly Mon, Khmer and Lao, as well as Chinese, Indian or Muslim
immigrants continued to be assimilated by Thais, but at the same time they influenced Thai culture, philosophy,
economy and politics. Most of today's Thais are of mixed descent. Therefore, Thai ethnicity is rather a question
of cultural identity than of genetic origin.[28] The biggest and most influential group are Thais of Chinese
origin. The share of Thais who are of full or partly Chinese descent is at about 40 percent.[29]
Though sporadic wars continued with the Burmese and other neighbors, Chinese wars with Burma and
European intervention elsewhere in Southeast Asia allowed the Thai to develop an independent course by
trading with the Europeans as well as playing the major powers against each other in order to remain
independent. The Chakkri dynasty under Rama I held the Burmese at bay, while Rama II and Rama III helped
to shape much of Thai society, but also led to Thai setbacks as the Europeans moved into areas surrounding
modern Thailand and curtailed any claims the Thai had over Cambodia, in dispute with Burma and Vietnam.
The Thai learned from European traders and diplomats, while maintaining an independent course. Chinese,
Malay, and British influences helped to further shape the Thai people who often assimilated foreign ideas, but
managed to preserve much of their culture and resisted the European colonization that engulfed their neighbors.
Thailand is also the only country in Southeast Asia that was not colonized by European powers in modern
history.
The concept of a Thai nation was not developed until the beginning 20th century under King Rama VI
(Vajiravudh). Before this era, Thai did not even have a word for 'nation'. He also imposed the idea of
"Thai-ness" (khwam-pen-thai) on his subjects and strictly defined what was "Thai" and "un-Thai". Authors of
this period re-wrote the Thai history from an ethno-nationalist viewpoint, disregarding the fact that the concept
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of ethnicity had not played an important role in South East Asia until the 19th century.[30][31] This newly
developed nationalism was the base of the policy of "Thaification" of Thailand which was intensified after the
end of absolute monarchy in 1932 and especially under the rule of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram
(19381944). Minorities were forced to assimilate and regional peculiarities of Northern, Northeastern and
Southern Thailand were repressed in favour of one homogenous "Thai" culture.[32] As a result, many citizens of
Thailand do not distinguish between their nationality (san-chat) and ethnic origin (chuea-chat).[28]
Religion
Thais predominantly (more than 90%) avow themselves Buddhists. The variant of Buddhism practised in
Thailand is part of the Theravada branch. Since the rule of King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai and again since
the "orthodox reformation" of King Mongkut in the 19th century, it is modeled on the "original" Sri Lankan
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Theravada Buddhism. The Thais' folk belief however is a syncretic blend of the official Buddhist teachings,
animistic elements that trace back to the original beliefs of Tai peoples, and Brahmin-Hindu elements[33] from
India, partly inherited from the Hindu Khmer Empire of Angkor.[34]
The belief in local, nature and household spirits, that influence secular issues like health or prosperity, as well as
ghosts (Thai: phi, ) is widespread. It is visible e.g. in so-called spirit houses (san phra phum) that may be
found near many homes. Phi play an important role in local folklore, but also in modern popular culture, like
television series and films. "Ghost films" (nang phi) are a distinct, important genre of Thai cinema.[35]
Hinduism has left substantial and present marks on Thai culture. Some Thais worship Hindu gods like Ganesha,
Shiva, Vishnu or Brahma (e.g. at Bangok's well-known Erawan Shrine). They do not see a contradiction
between this practice and their primarily Buddhist faith.[36] The Thai national epic Ramakien is an adaption of
the Hindu Ramayana. Hindu mythological figures like Devas, Yakshas, Nagas, gods and their mounts (vahana)
characterise the mythology of Thais and are often depicted in Thai art, even as decoration of Buddhist
temples.[37] Thailand's national symbol Garuda is taken from Hindu mythology as well.[38]
A characteristic feature of Thai Buddhism is the practice of tham bun ("merit-making"). This can be done
mainly by food and in-kind donations to monks, contributions to the renovation and adornment of temples,
releasing captive creatures (fish, birds) etc. Moreover, many Thais idolise famous and charismatic monks,[39]
who may be credited with thaumaturgy or with the status of a perfected Buddhist saint (Arahant). Other
significant features of Thai popular belief are astrology, numerology, talismans and amulets[40] (often images of
the revered monks)[41]
Besides Thailand's 2 million Muslim Malays, there are an additional 2 million ethnic Thais who profess Islam,
especially in the South, but also in Greater Bangkok. As a result of missionary work, there is also a minority of
approximately 500,000 Christian Thais: Catholics and various Protestant denominations.
See also
Thailand
Peopling of Thailand
Malaysian Siamese
Thai American
Thai British
Thai culture
Thai folklore
Thais in Taiwan
Thais in Hong Kong
Thai marriage
List of Thai actresses
List of Thai actors
List of Thai people
Notes
References
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Girsling, John L.S., Thailand: Society and Politics (Cornell University Press, 1981).
Terwiel, B.J., A History of Modern Thailand (Univ. of Queensland Press, 1984).
Wyatt, D.K., Thailand: A Short History (Yale University Press, 1986).
External links
US Library of Congress Country Studies, Thailand, The Thai and
Other Tai-Speaking Peoples (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query
/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+th0053))
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