About Thailand

Thailand Culture | Health | Public Holidays

History
The Thai people originated in Southeastern China where, in 650 AD they founded the independent kingdom of Nanchao which thrived for 600 years. However, invasions and an unwillingness to be incorporated into mainstream Chinese society led to waves of migrations southward into what is now Thailand. Eventually several groups of Thai migrants united and established Sukhothai as their capital in the mid 13th century.

Although other civilizations had existed on Thai soil much earlier,Sukhothai was the first sovereign kingdom of Thailand. It flourished for over 100 years during which time the distinctive forms of Thai art, architecture and culture were firmly implanted.

At approximately the same time, King Mengrai, an ally of Sukhothai, was establishing the northern Lannathai Kingdom, centered on Chiang Mai which was founded in 1296.

In the mid 14th century a new and more powerful dynasty arose at Ayutthaya, an island city in the Chao Phraya River 85 kilometers north of present day Bangkok.

Quickly gaining in wealth, military might and prestige, Ayutthaya absorbed the former kingdom of Sukhothai and remained Thailand's capital for 417 years, holding sway over most of the country except the North.

Ayutthaya prospered steadily, reaching the height of its power in the 17th century when diplomatic relations with the West were established and trade agreements made with the leading European powers of the day. Weakened by internal conflicts, Ayutthaya fell to the Burmese in 1767.

After fleeing south, the survivors of Ayutthaya were rallied under king Taksin who founded a new capital at Thonburi and eventually succeeded in expelling the Burmese from Thai soil.

On the death of Taksin in 1782 Chao Phraya Chakri was proclaimed king and as Rama I was founder of the present Chakri dynasty. For strategic purposes, he moved his capital across the Chao Phraya River to Bangkok.

Under the Chakri Kings the borders of Thailand were consolidated and other parts of the country were gradually brought under the full control of the central government. Rama VI (King Mongkut, 18511868), secured ties with the West, especially with France and Britain, while at the same time, assuring his country's independence and avoiding the colonial fate of all Thailand's neighbours.

King Mongkut's successor, Rama V (King Chulalongkorn, 1868-1910), brought about many social and political reforms that firmly guided Thailand into the 20th century.

The absolute monarchy was to continue through the reign of Rama IV (1910-1925) and into that of Rama VII (1925-1934). But in 1932 a coup d'etat succeeded in bringing about a change to a constitutional monarchy. Rama VII accepted the situation although he abdicated two years after the coup.

The throne passed to the young King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) who was succeeded by his brother King Bhumipol (Rama IX), the present monarch.

Art and Culture
Though the Thai independent history in Southeast Asia stretches back roughly only 1000 years, Thailand is exceptionally rich in many aspects of culture. Originally influenced by India, Sri Lanka and China, Siamese culture has evolved into something unique. A predominant position is occupied by architecture and sculptural art.

As was pointed out by the renowned Thai-Italian art professor Silpa Bhirasri in his essay on Thai Buddhist Art (published 1959 by the Thai Fine Arts Department), Indian colonies existed in Thailand from the beginning of the Buddhist era. For centuries these colonies influenced the less cultured peoples of Indochina, a process which went on for more than 1500 years. Afterwards, in the 13th century A.D. the Indian cultural expansion in Southeast Asia was checked by the Muslim invasion into India while Chinese power started to have an important ascendancy over the people of Indochina.

The Chinese influence found cultures already firmly established, some of them even having already ended their historical cycle. Thailand retained Indian culture, but because it emerged as an independent nation in the 13th century A.D. just when the Chinese political power started to play an important role, many features of Chinese art were adopted by Thai art, as for example in architecture, lacquer works, inlaid mother-of-pearl, porcelain, and to some extent mural paintings.

According to Professor Silpa Bhirasri (1892-1962), from the Indian culture sprang up those of Dvaravati (Mon people), Srivisaya (Indonesian), the Khmer empires and Burma. Historically, the cultures of these people, except the one of the Burmese, ran between the 5th and the 14th century A.D. Their religion was Hinayana or Mahayana Buddhism. Only the Khmer followed alternatively either Hinduism or Mahayana Buddhism.

Coming in contact with high civilizations, the animistic Thai adopted partially, if not totally, Buddhism. Thai art developed in fusion with that of the Mon, the Khmer and the Indonesians of the Srivisaya period. Burmese influence over the independent northern Thai states was extensive after the military conquests of King Anuruth and his pious and zealous spreading of Buddhism in the 11th century A.D. When the cultural and political cycles of the Dvaravati, Srivisaya and Khmer empires reached their stages of decline, the Thai became the direct inheritors.

From the 6th to the 10th century A.D. Mon Dvaravati art saw its apogee. Influenced by Gupta examples, it developed many local schools spreading over central and northeast Thailand. From the 10th to the 13th century it had its non-creative phase. Nakhon Pathom was the capital of the Mon empire, while Lavo (Lopburi), Suwannaphum (U Thong), and Lamphun were the principal towns.

From Chaiya, an important port of south Thailand at that time, Srivisaya culture spread to the north of Indochina. In Lamphun the overlapping of the Dvaravati, Srivisaya and Khmer arts is most noticeable. With reference to Srivisaya characteristics found in Lamphun and other northern towns, there are two theories: one is that the Srivisaya style was introduced in the north of Thailand by King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai in the 13th century A.D. after his conquest of the Malayan peninsula; the second theory is that Srivisaya art reached north Thailand in a much earlier period.

Considering the monuments with Srivisaya characteristics in northern localities and considering the fact that King Ramkhamhaeng had no political influence over those northern towns, one could possibly accept the two theories corresponding to two distinct waves of Srivisaya influence: the first since about the 9th or 10th century and the second in the 13th century.

Khmer art, which alternatively represented either Mahayana Buddhism or Hinduism, is found all over central and northeast Thailand. It dates back to a period of about 200 years, the 12th and the 13th century A.D. Khmer art had a great influence over Thai art, so much that when the Thai nation rose over the declining Khmer power, it inherited directly much of the Khmer culture.

Professor Silpa Bhirasri pointed out that considering the geographical position of Burma in respect to northern Thailand, one may understand how much the northern Thai art was influenced by that of Burma. Northern Thai statuary followed Buddha images of the Indian Pala art of the 8th to 12th century A.D. which reached Indochina via Burma.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand, in its brochure on special interest tourism, cited an unchallenged opinion, saying that for much of the country’s history the artistic impulse was largely religious, and the greatest achievements can be seen in the kingdom’s countless Buddhist monasteries and their adornments. The ancient capital of Sukhothai saw the emergence of the earliest styles that can be called distinctively Thai - for example the graceful lotus bud finial, a relatively small ornamental terminal feature at the top of gables, pinnacles and the like, which can still be seen on the ruins of many temples in the city.

Ayutthaya, which ruled for 400 years, was characterized by more elaborately decorated temples, and these were built well into the Rattanakosin, or Bangkok period, as can be seen in the dazzling structures of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The classic decorations include magnificently carved wooden panels, used for gables, doors and windows; often they are inlaid with splendid mother-of-pearl decorations as well as glass mosaic; stucco is regularly embedded with multi-colored pieces of porcelain. On many temples, the interior walls are covered with intricate, densely populated mural paintings which depict the life of the Buddha or moralistic fables used in teaching Buddhist precepts.

In religious sculpture, too, Thai art has reached impressive peaks. The Sukhothai Buddha image with its combination of power and flowing grace is admired by scholars everywhere, while the bronze and stone creations of Ayutthaya, often of huge size, command artistic respect as well.

In addition to these monuments to faith, the Thai creative genius can be seen in other forms. Thai artisans in the Sukhothai period produced superbly glazed pottery, widely exported at the time and much prized by collectors today. Moreover countless items used in daily life - from water jars and baskets to spinning wheels and textiles - are distinguished by a beauty of design that lifts them into the category of true art, well worth contemporary appreciation.

Health
Thailand is a safe country to visit from both the health and personal safety aspects. The following notes can help you prepare but we do recommend a visit to your doctor if you are in any doubt

Before you travel

• Evaluate whether you are fit to travel.
• Check to see if your inoculations are up to date and visit a doctor if you are either unsure or in need of booster "jabs".

It is a good idea to consult your doctor as to his recommendations on anti-malaria pills although only a few of the most remote border areas are considered malaria zones by local health authorities.

What to tell the doctor.
You should inform your doctor of the following'

• allergies to drugs, etc.)
• pregnancy
• medication (disclose everything but esp. important are steroids and
• anticoagulants
• chronic illness
• HIV infection.

Special precautions may be necessary for these travellers and for children.

Sexually active visitors should always practice safe-sex and use condoms whether their partner is local or a fellow traveller.

Most expatriates or over five years do not take any special anti-malaria precautions unless they choose to work in remote jungle areas.

Health care is surprisingly good in the country and many medical staff in the major cities such as Chiang Mai have been trained in the US or the UK. Dentist and specialist doctors are skilled and very good value. Some people even use their holiday experiences to brush up on their dental care!

Business and Public Holidays 2006
January 01	New Year's Day
January 02 - 03	Substitute for New Year's Day
February 13	Makha Bucha Day
April 06	Chakri Day
April 13 - 15	Songkran Days
May 01	National Labour Day
May 05	Coronation Day
May 12	Visakha Bucha Day
July 11	Buddhist Lent Day
August 12	H.M. The Queen's Birthday
August 14	Substitute for H.M. The Queen's Birthday
October 23	Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
December 05	H.M. The King's Birthday
December 11	Substitute for Constitution Day
December 31	New Year's Eve