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Thailand: History & Culture

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Thailand: History & Culture http://asiasociety.org/policy-politics?newsid=77892 Thailand: History & Culture An AsiaTODAY special report (April 11, 2002): Celebrate Thai New Year news stories; multimedia; recipes; Thai temples; links & resources Ed's Photos: The A gallery of photos by Ed Kaspar Thailand Galleries The History of Thailand A brief illustrated history Created by Michael Leming: student-written The Karen of Northern ethnographic report (1999): Karen Weblinks; a Thailand Web museum of artifacts; video; bibliography A Smithsonian Magazine article on a bust of King Mongkut in the Smithsonian collection, debunking The Object at Hand the caricature of the king perpetuated by the musical The King & I Introduction to "the people, arts & cultures of South Thailand between the Thai & Malay Worlds The South Thailand on the Golden Peninsula": research projects & Homepage publications of Ryoko Nishii, Alexander Horstmann, & others; photo gallery; links A Frenchman's perspectives on Thai society & Thai WorldView culture Research on "the region of mainland Southeast Asia & those areas of the Peoples Republic of Thai-Yunnan Project China, particularly Yunnan,which have had long cultural, economic & social relations with each other" Thailand: SiamWEB Discussion forum for people with interest in Cyber Culture Thailand, general information & news, etc. History & culture, sights & experiences, travel Tourism Thailand tips & information Ups and Downs: Anchalee Chaiworaporn's program notes for the Thai Cinema in 2003 Udine Far East Film Festival 2004 The Making of a Nation Thailand is one of the few countries in the world which has never been colonised.The first independent Thai Kingdom was established in 1238, but the origins of Thailand and the Thai people go back much further. Pre-History The central area of Indochina from the Maekhong River valley to the Khorat Plateau was inhabited as far back as 10,000 years. Linguistic scholars can trace origins of ancient Chinese to an earlier Thai language. Archaeology gives us several pointers to early development of the human race in the area. For example, in the Ban Chieng area of north-east Thailand: Prehistoric Dating from tools from the about 3,000 BC Chiang Saen these artifacts region of from Ban northern Chieng in Thailand. north-east Thailand. Ban Chieng Ban Chieng artists and bronze musical potters were equally instruments accomplished.People show a high dressed well and degree of printed their own silk design textiles. sophistication. • Rice may have been cultivated as early as 4,000 BC (China was still largely growing and consuming millet, although evidence does suggest that rice was first cultivated in the Yangtze valley c. 6500 BC) • Bronze metallurgy began c. 1700-1500 BC. This pre-historic cultural development formed a nucleus of migrating people. A linguistic map of south China, north-west India and South-East Asia, as far as the islands of Indonesia, clearly shows the presence of these early Thai migrants. They settled in river valleys from the Red River (Hong River) in south China and Vietnam to the Brahmaputra River in Assam. During the second half of the 13th century a growing pressure with the rise of the Mongol hordes under Kublai Khan forced the south China Thais to retrace their steps and return to their roots. Sukhothai The greatest concentration of these early Thais first appeared in the north of modern Thailand, around Chiang Saen and valleys to the south. They formed themselves into principalities, some of which later became independent kingdoms. A union of Thai princes took Haripunchai from the Mons and formed Lan Na Thai (which means ‘Million Thai Rice Fields’), today often referred to simply as Lanna, and drove the Khmers from Sukhothai (which means ‘The Dawn of Happiness’). The Kmer influence can still be seen in these Sukhothai Phrangs The Sukhothai kingdom declared independence in 1238. Sukhothai is considered to be the first true Thai kingdom. Today many Thais view the Sukhothai period as the golden era of Thai history, an ideal state, a land of plenty, governed by just and paternal kings who ruled over peaceful, contented citizens. It developed a distinct style of its own. During this period the first Thai writing system was evolved, which became the basis for modern Thai, and the Thai form of Therava Buddhism was codified. Within the walls of Sukhothai are the ruins of twenty wats (temples) and monuments, the greatest of which is Wat Mahathat. Still splendid in its current day setting. These Sukhothai Wats show how the beauty of water was used to enhance their spiritual aspect. The giant Buddha at Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai before and after restoration.Take a look at the full pictures: Under the rule of king Ramkamhaeng (Rama the Brave) the Sukhothai kingdom flourished and expanded as far as Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south, to the upper Maekhong River valley in Laos, and to Bago in Burma. In 1287 Ramkamhaeng formed an alliance with two northern Thai princes, Mengai of Chiang Rai and Ngam Muang of Phayao. Mengai founded Chiang Mai (’New Town’) in 1296 which became the capital of Lanna. The southern kingdom of Ayutthaya expanded rapidly by teaching the importance of religion over military might, and extended control over the Chao Phya River valley. With the rise of Ayutthaya the Sukhothai influence declined and in 1378 their seat of power moved to Phitsanulok. Sukhothai’s population followed and by 1438 Sukhothai was a deserted city. Ayutthaya Ayutthaya began as an ancient settlement named after Rama’s legendary kingdom in India. It’s importance in Thai history began when a cholera outbreak forced Phya U-Thong, the ruler of the principality of U-Thong (today known as Suphan Buri), to evacuated his people. He officially established his seat in Ayutthaya in 1350, after three years of preparation, when he assumed the title Ramathidibodi I. The Ayutthaya kings became very powerful moving east to take Lopburi a former Khmer stronghold and then, in 1431, on to Angkor the great capital city of the Khmer empire. The image shows the temple complex of Angkor. The large bluish-black rectangle is the Western Baray (reservoir), part of Angkor’s famous irrigation system. The large square to its east is Angkor Thom, a fortified city. The brown spot at the centre of the square is the Bayon, a monumental structure. To its south is the fabled temple of Angkor Wat, surrounded by a wide moat. Angkor, Cambodia Other temples and the Eastern Baray are located round the complex. The road running south from Angkor Wat goes to the nearby town of Siem Reap. The wide bluish strip to the south is the flooded lake of Tonlé Sap. Although the Thais were responsible for the decline and eventual collapse of Angkor, the Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer court customs, language and culture. Unlike the paternal rulers of Sukhothai, Ayutthaya’s kings were absolute monarchs and assumed the title devaraja or God King. Ayutthaya became one of the greatest and wealthiest cities in Asia, rivalling London in its influence. From the early 16th century the Portugese established trade and supplied mercenaries to fight in continuing campaigns against the rival kingdom in Chiang Mai. They taught the Thais cannon foundry and musketry. Ayutthaya is situated on an island in the Chao Phraya River, at the junction of the Lop Buri River and the Nam Pasak River, about 80 km north of Bangkok.To appreciate the city as a 17th century vistor might have done, travel up the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok. Weakened by the wars with Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, was attacked by King Tabinshweti of Burma in 1549. Aided by the Portugese, the attack was repelled, but in 1569 Ayutthaya eventually fell to Tabinshweti’s brother in law, King Bayinnaung. The invading Burmese forces ransacked and plundered the city, forcibly transporting most of its population to Burma. Naresuen, the eldest son of the defeated king’s leading deputy, was held captive in Burma until he reached the age of 15. As soon as he returned he immediately began to gather armed followers, which he trained in guerilla warfare. He took the opportunity to declare Ayutthaya’s freedom in 1584, whilst the Burmese rulers were weakened by revolts in their own provinces. Although the Burmese made numerous attempts to retake Ayutthaya, Naresuen was able to assume full kingship upon his father’s death in 1590. He rebuilt his kingdom and Ayutthayan turned the tables on the war elephants as seen through the eyes of a Burmese with repeated 17th century French artist. attacks until the Burmese Empire itself disintegrated. He finally subdued the Khmers on his eastern border. He became known as ‘Naresuen the Great’ and under his rule Ayutthaya prospered, becoming the great and thriving metropolis described by 17th century European visitors. Siam 1686This French map of Siam from 1686 shows the capital city of Ayutthaya (called Judia by the French) lying along the Chao This Phraya River, contemporary oil painting protected by the shows the foreigner’s view of mountains and the ‘Venice of the East’. forests. A long period of peace and tranquil prosperity was ended when a village headman united the Burmese Empire which attacked Ayutthaya in 1760. The Burmese army was repelled but in 1767 a second Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya, after a siege of 14 months. The withdrawing Burmese army sacked the city, burning and looting and melting down the gold from Buddha images. They took their booty back to Burma, together with members of the royal family and 90,000 captives. 2,000 Spires clad in gold At one time Ayutthaya had a population of a million. Europeans wrote accounts of the fabulous wealth of the courts and the ‘2,000 spires clad in gold’.
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