Geography : The Kingdom of Thailand,
covering an area of 514,000 square kilometers, lies in the heart of Southeast
Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with
Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia
to the east and Malaysia to the south.
Thailand is a Southeast Asian, predominantly Buddhist kingdom almost equidistant between India and China. For centuries
known by outsiders as Siam, Thailand has been something of a Southeast
Asian migratory, cultural and religious cross-roads. With an area of
some 510,000 square kilometres and a population of some 57 million, Thailand is approximately the same size as France. Thailand shares borders with
Myanmar to the west and north, Laos to the north-east, Kampuchea to
the west, and Malaysia to the south.
Geographically speaking, Thailand is divided into six major regions: the mountainous north where elephants work
forests and winter temperatures are sufficiently cool to permit cultivation
of temperate fruits such as strawberries and peaches; the sprawling
north-east plateau, largely bordered by the Mekong River, where the
world's oldest Bronze Age civilisation flourished some 5,000 years ago; the central plain, one of the world's most fertile rice
and fruit-growing areas; the eastern coastal plain, where fine sandy
beaches support the growth of summer resorts; western mountains and valleys, suitable for the development of hydro-electric power: and the peninsular
south where arresting scenic beauty complements economically vital tin
mining, robber cultivation and fishing.
Thailand is divided into four distinct areas: the mountainous
North, the fertile Central Plains, the semi-arid plateau of the Northeast,
and the peninsula South, distinguished by its many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands.
Thailand lies within the humid tropics and
remains hot throughout the year. Average temperatures are about 29oC, ranging
in Bangkok from 35oC in April to 17oC in December. There are three seasons: the cool season (November to February), the hot season (April to
May), and the rainy season (June to October), though downpours rarely last
more than a couple of hours.
Thailand has a population of about 60 million.
Ethnic Thais form the majority, though the area has historically
been a migratory crossroads, and thus strains of Mon, Khmer, Burmese, Lao,
Malay, Indian and most strongly, Chinese stock produce a degree of ethnic
diversity. Integration is such, however, that culturally and socially there
is enormous unity.
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
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.
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.) despatched
missionaries to Southeast Asia to propagate the newly established faith. Besides moulding morality, providing social cohesion and offering spiritual
succour, Buddhism provided incomparable artistic impetus. In common with medieval European cathedrals, Thailand's innumerable multiroofed 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 centre - - 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
Time in Thailand is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+ 7).
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.
Thailand means, "land of the free", and
throughout its 800-year history, Thailand can boast the distinction
of being the only country in Southeast Asia never to have been colonized.
Its history is divided into five major periods:
• Nanchao Period (650-1250 A.D.)
The Thai people founded their kingdom in the southern
part of China, which are Yunnan, Kwangsi and Canton today. A great
number of people migrated south as far as the Chao Phraya
Basin and settled down over the Central Plain under the sovereignty
of the Khmer Empire, whose culture they probably accepted. The Thai people founded their independent state of Sukhothai around 1238 A.D., Sukhothai Period.
• Sukhothai Period (1238-1378 A.D.)
Thais began to emerge as a dominant force in the region
in the13th century, gradually asserting independence from existing Khmer and Mon kingdoms. Called by its rulers "the dawn of happiness", this
is often considered the golden era of Thai history, an ideal Thai state in a land of plenty governed by paternal and benevolent kings, the most famous of whom was King Ramkamhaeng the Great. However in
1350, the mightier state of Ayutthaya exerted its influence over Sukhothai.
• Ayutthaya Period (1350-1767)
The Ayutthaya kings adopted Khmer cultural influences from the very beginning. No longer the paternal and accessible rulers that
the kings of Sukhothai had been, Ayutthaya's sovereigns were absolute
monarchs and assumed the title devaraja (god-king). The early part o f this period saw Ayutthaya extend its sovereignty over neighboring
Thai principalities and come into conflict with its neighbors,
During the 17th century, Siam started diplomatic and commercial relations with western countries.
In 1767, a Burmese invasion succeeded in capturing Ayutthaya. Despite their overwhelming victory,
the Burmese did not retain control of Siam for long. A young general named Phya Taksin
and his followers broke through the
Burmese encirclement and escaped to Chantaburi. Seven months after
the fall of Ayutthaya, he and his forces sailed back to the capital and
• Thon Buri Period (1767-1772)
General Taksin, as he is popularly
known, decided to transfer the capital from Ayutthaya to a site nearer to the sea which
would facilitate foreign trade, ensure the procurement
of arms, and make defense and withdrawal easier in case of
a renewed Burmese attack. He established his new capital at Thon
Buri on the West Bank of the Chao Phraya River. The rule of Taksin
was not an easy one. The lack of central authority since the fall of Ayutthaya led to the rapid disintegration
• Rattanakosin Period (1782 - the Present)
After Taksin's death, General Chakri became the first king of the Chakri Dynasty, Rama I, ruling
from 1782 to 1809. His first action as king was to transfer
the royal capital across the river from Thon Buri to Bangkok and build
the Grand Palace. Rama II (1809-1824) continued the restoration
begun by his predecessor. King Nang Klao, Rama III (1824-1851) reopened
relations with Western nations and developed trade
with China. King Mongkut, Rama IV,(1851-1868) of "The
King and I" concluded treaties with European countries, avoided
colonialisation and established modern Thailand. He made many social
and economic reforms during his reign.
King Chulalongkorn, Rama V (1869-1910) continued his father's tradition of reform, abolishing
slavery and improving the public welfare and administrative system. Compulsory education and other educational reforms were introduced by King Vajiravudh, Rama VI (1910-1925). During the reign of King Prajadhipok, (1925-1935), Thailand changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy.
The king abdicated in 1933 and was succeeded by his nephew, King Ananda Mahidol (1935-1946).
The country's name was changed from Siam to Thailand with the advent of
a democratic government in 1939.
Our present monarch, King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, is King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty. |
