CULTURE OF THAILAND

Lesson 6
CULTURE OF THAILAND

1. Geography & Population

2. History

3. Cultural achievements
CULTURE OF THAILAND
1. Geography & Population
CULTURE OF THAILAND
1. Geography & Population
 Location: Southeast Asia, sharing borders with Laos and Cambodia in the east
 Total area: 514,000 kilometer square
 Capital: Bangkok
 Climate: tropical
Rainy : middle May – September

Winter: November – middle March

 Southern part: hot & humid

CULTURE OF THAILAND
1. Geography & Population
CULTURE OF THAILAND
1. Geography & Population

 Population: 61.2 million (June 2012)

 30 ethnic groups varying in history, language, religion…

 3 major groups: the Central Thai of the Central Valley (Siamese), the Eastern Thai of the
Northeast (Lao or Khorat), the Southern Thai (Chao Pak Thai)

 3 minor groups: Phutai (the Northeastern Khorat), the Shan (the far northwestern corner
of northern Thailand), the Lue in the northeastern section of northern Thailand
CULTURE OF THAILAND
1. Geography & Population
The Shan
The “long neck” tribe
CULTURE OF THAILAND
2. History
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements

Language

Art Literature

Festivals Religion

Customs
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.1. Language

• Thai language (Siamese) = the standard spoken and literary language of Thailand,
belonging to the Tai language family of Southeast Asia.

• Based largely on the dialect of Bangkok and its environs in the central region of the country

• Other dialects (different in tones and consonants): Northeastern (e.g., in Ubon Ratchathani,
Khon Kaen), Northern (around Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai), and Southern (Songkhla, Nakhon Si
Thammarat).
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.2. Literature

• Heavily influenced by Indian culture  primarily concerned with religion  by the

aristocracy or royalty

• National epic: A version of the Ramayana (the Ramakien) a number of versions

lost in the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767.

• Three current versions: one of these by the supervision (and partly written by) King
Rama I and his son, King Rama II
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.3. Religion
• Primarily influenced by Animism, Hinduism, Buddhism as well as by later
migrations from China and southern India
• Buddhism = 94.6 %
• Muslim = 4.6%
• Christians/Catholics = 0.7%
• Freedom of religion  Government’s respect of religions
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.4. Customs
• Thai Wai: a slight bow and palms pressed together
 Entering a house formally

 Expressing gratitude and apology

 Meeting new friends or people

• Respecting the royal

• No feet on table or touch on head
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.5. Festivals
• Song Kran: traditional New Year’s Day (13-15 April)
• Loy Krathong: in the full moon of 12 months (November)
• Vegetarian Festival: in October
CULTURE OF THAILAND
3. Cultural achievements
3.6. Arts
• Thai visual arts: traditionally Buddhist only. (Thai Buddha images)
• Dance: Khon and other classical Siamese dances during the Ayutthaya Kingdom.
• Sports: Muay Thai, a native form of kickboxing
• Architecture: Buddhist temples in Thailand ("wats“)