History Archaeological
discoveries around the north- east hamlet of Ban Chiang suggest that
the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization was flourishing in
Thailand some 5,600 years ago. Successive waves of immigrants,
including Mons, Khmers and Thais, gradually entered the land mass
now known as Thailand, most slowly traveling along fertile river
valleys from southern China. By the 11th and 12th centuries, Khmers
ruled much of the area from Angkor. By the early 1200s, Thais had
established small northern city states in Lanna, Phayao and
Sukhothai. In 1238, two Thai chieftains rebelled against Khmer
suzerainty and established the first truly independent Thai kingdom
in Sukhothai (literally, 'Dawn of Happiness'). Sukhothai saw the
Thais' gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River
basin, the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the paramount Thai
religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet and the first expression
of nascent Thai art forms, including painting, sculpture,
architecture and literature. Sukhothai declined during the 1300s and
eventually became a vassal state of Ayutthaya, a dynamic young
kingdom further south in the Chao Phraya River valley. Founded in
1350, Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital until 1767 when it was
destroyed by Burmese invaders. During Ayutthaya's 417 years as the
capital, under the rule of 33 kings, the Thais brought their
distinctive culture to full fruition, totally rid their lands of
Khmer presence and fostered contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese,
Japanese and European powers. Ayutthaya's destruction was as severe
a blow to the Thais as the loss of Paris or London would have been
to the French or English. However, a Thai revival occurred within a
few months and the Burmese were expelled by King Taksin who later
made Thon Buri his capital. In 1782, the first
king of the present Chakri dynasty, Rama I, established his new
capital on the site of a riverside hamlet called Bangkok (Village of
Wild Plums). Two Chakri monarchs, Mongkut (Rama IV) who reigned
between 1851 and 1868, and his son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910)
saved Thailand from western colonization through adroit diplomacy
and selective modernization. Today, Thailand is a constitutional
monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings including the present monarch, H.M.
King Bhumipol Adulyadej 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 law courts.
People Throughout her long history,
Thailand has gently absorbed immigrants. Many were skilled as
writers, painters, sculptors, dancers, musicians and architects, and
helped enrich indigenous culture. People inhabiting Thailand today
share rich ethnic diversity – – mainly Thai, Mon, Khmer, Laotian,
Chinese, Malay, Persian and Indian stock – – with the result that
there is no typically Thai physiognomy or physique. There are petite
Thais, statuesque Thais, round-faced Thais, dark-skinned Thais and
light-skinned Thais. Some 80% of all Thais are connected in some way
with agriculture which, in varying degrees, influences and is
influenced by the religious ceremonies and festivals that help make
Thailand such a distinctive country.
Religion Theravada Buddhism is the professed
religion of more than 90% of all Thais, and casts strong influences
on daily life. Buddhism first appeared in Thailand during the 3rd
Century B.C. at Nakhon Pathom, site of the world's tallest Buddhist
monument, after the Indian Buddhist Emperor Asoka (267-227 B.C.)
dispatched missionaries to Southeast Asia to propagate the newly
established faith.
Besides
molding morality, providing social cohesion and offering spiritual
succor, Buddhism provided incomparable artistic impetus. In common
with medieval European cathedrals, Thailand's innumerable
multi-roofed temples inspired major artistic creation. Another
reason for Buddhism's strength is that there are few Thai Buddhist
families in which at least one male member has not studied the
Buddha's teachings in a monastery. It has long been a custom for
Buddhist males over twenty, once in their lifetimes, to be ordained
for a period ranging from s days to a months. This usually occurs
daring the annual Rains Retreat, a a-month period during the Rains
Season when all monks forego travel and stay inside their
monasteries. Besides sustaining monastic communities, Thai temples
have traditionally served other purposes – – as the village
hostelry, village news, employment and information agency, a school,
hospital, dispensary and community center – – to give them vital
roles in Thai society. The Thais have always subscribed to the ideal
of religious freedom. Thus sizeable minorities of Muslims,
Christians, Hindus and Sikhs freely pursue their respective faiths.
Language Spoken and written Thai remain
largely incomprehensible to the casual visitor. However, English is
widely understood, particularly in Bangkok where it is almost the
major commercial language. English and other European languages are
spoken in most hotels, shops and restaurants, in major tourist
destinations, and Thai-English road and street signs are found
nation-wide.
Monarchy His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth king of the Chakri
Dynasty. Born in December 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA,
where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla was studying medicine
at Harvard University, H.M. King Bhumibol ascended the throne in
1946 and is already the longest reigning Thai monarch. As a
constitutional monarch, he maintains neutrality in times of crisis.
Thai people have a deep and traditional reverence for the Royal
Family. To a very large degree, H.M. King Bhumibol's popularity
mirrors his deep interest in his people's welfare. He concerns
himself intimately with every aspect
of Thai life. He and his wife, H.M. Queen Sirikit devote much of
their time to inspect and improve the welfare of the people.
His Majesty the King's initials the Thai letters Phor Por Ror
placed at the center of the crest, under the Royal
Crown and above the Royal Throne of the Eight Compass Points,
signify that His Majesty is the focus of the entire nation, binding
the people's hearts and loyalty. The yellow color of the letters is
the color of His Majesty's day of birth, and the blue color of the
background that of the monarchy. The surrounding
discus (Chakra)
with the Thai numeral 9 means that King
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. The
crest is flanked by two seven-tiered umbrellas and topped by a
nine-tiered umbrella, both types symbols of kingship. The four-point
border represents the four regions of the country, in which the
people live in peace and tranquility under the King's supreme
protection, as expressed by the green color, which is a symbol of
peace and abundance. Each of the four points of the border has a
lotus flower, an offering to His Majesty on the occasion of his
sixth-cycle birthday anniversary. The golden rays around the crest
signify His Majesty's grace and benevolence, which pervade the
Kingdom and beyond, and bring pride and joy to the people throughout
the entire land. Beneath the crest, a blue silk banner bears the
inscription of the Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of His
Majesty's 6th-Cycle Birthday Anniversary on 5 December 1999
Archaeological
discoveries around the north- east hamlet of Ban Chiang suggest that
the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization was flourishing in
Thailand some 5,600 years ago. Successive waves of immigrants,
including Mons, Khmers and Thais, gradually entered the land mass
now known as Thailand, most slowly traveling along fertile river
valleys from southern China. By the 11th and 12th centuries, Khmers
ruled much of the area from Angkor. By the early 1200s, Thais had
established small northern city states in Lanna, Phayao and
Sukhothai. In 1238, two Thai chieftains rebelled against Khmer
suzerainty and established the first truly independent Thai kingdom
in Sukhothai (literally, 'Dawn of Happiness'). Sukhothai saw the
Thais' gradual expansion throughout the entire Chao Phraya River
basin, the establishment of Theravada Buddhism as the paramount Thai
religion, the creation of the Thai alphabet and the first expression
of nascent Thai art forms, including painting, sculpture,
architecture and literature. Sukhothai declined during the 1300s and
eventually became a vassal state of Ayutthaya, a dynamic young
kingdom further south in the Chao Phraya River valley. Founded in
1350, Ayutthaya remained the Thai capital until 1767 when it was
destroyed by Burmese invaders. During Ayutthaya's 417 years as the
capital, under the rule of 33 kings, the Thais brought their
distinctive culture to full fruition, totally rid their lands of
Khmer presence and fostered contact with Arabian, Indian, Chinese,
Japanese and European powers. Ayutthaya's destruction was as severe
a blow to the Thais as the loss of Paris or London would have been
to the French or English. However, a Thai revival occurred within a
few months and the Burmese were expelled by King Taksin who later
made Thon Buri his capital. In 1782, the first
king of the present Chakri dynasty, Rama I, established his new
capital on the site of a riverside hamlet called Bangkok (Village of
Wild Plums). Two Chakri monarchs, Mongkut (Rama IV) who reigned
between 1851 and 1868, and his son Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910)
saved Thailand from western colonization through adroit diplomacy
and selective modernization. Today, Thailand is a constitutional
monarchy. Since 1932, Thai kings including the present monarch, H.M.
King Bhumipol Adulyadej 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 law courts.
Besides
molding morality, providing social cohesion and offering spiritual
succor, Buddhism provided incomparable artistic impetus. In common
with medieval European cathedrals, Thailand's innumerable
multi-roofed temples inspired major artistic creation. Another
reason for Buddhism's strength is that there are few Thai Buddhist
families in which at least one male member has not studied the
Buddha's teachings in a monastery. It has long been a custom for
Buddhist males over twenty, once in their lifetimes, to be ordained
for a period ranging from s days to a months. This usually occurs
daring the annual Rains Retreat, a a-month period during the Rains
Season when all monks forego travel and stay inside their
monasteries. Besides sustaining monastic communities, Thai temples
have traditionally served other purposes – – as the village
hostelry, village news, employment and information agency, a school,
hospital, dispensary and community center – – to give them vital
roles in Thai society. The Thais have always subscribed to the ideal
of religious freedom. Thus sizeable minorities of Muslims,
Christians, Hindus and Sikhs freely pursue their respective faiths.
His
Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth king of the Chakri
Dynasty. Born in December 1927, in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA,
where his father, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla was studying medicine
at Harvard University, H.M. King Bhumibol ascended the throne in
1946 and is already the longest reigning Thai monarch. As a
constitutional monarch, he maintains neutrality in times of crisis. 
discus (Chakra)
with the Thai numeral 9 means that King
Bhumibol Adulyadej is the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty. The
crest is flanked by two seven-tiered umbrellas and topped by a
nine-tiered umbrella, both types symbols of kingship. The four-point
border represents the four regions of the country, in which the
people live in peace and tranquility under the King's supreme
protection, as expressed by the green color, which is a symbol of
peace and abundance. Each of the four points of the border has a
lotus flower, an offering to His Majesty on the occasion of his
sixth-cycle birthday anniversary. The golden rays around the crest
signify His Majesty's grace and benevolence, which pervade the
Kingdom and beyond, and bring pride and joy to the people throughout
the entire land. Beneath the crest, a blue silk banner bears the
inscription of the Celebration on the Auspicious Occasion of His
Majesty's 6th-Cycle Birthday Anniversary on 5 December 1999