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{{Infobox ethnic group| |
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|group = Siamese Thai<br/>ไทยสยาม |
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|image = [[Image:Chan Kusalo cremation 15.jpg|Khon|250px]] |
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|caption = Thai people at cremation ceremony |
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|poptime= '''20 million''' as major ethnic<br> |
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''Exclude'' [[Thai Malays|Malay people]], nearly all of [[Demographics of Thailand|Thai citizen]] claim Siamese Thai ethnic, <br>''Especially'' mix with [[Thai Chinese]], [[Iranians in Thailand|Persia]], [[Indians in Thailand|Keak]], [[Mon people|Mon]], [[Northern Khmer people|Khmer]], [[Lao people|Isan-Lao]] in [[Nakhon Ratchasima Province]] and [[:Th:ไทยเชื้อสายโปรตุเกส|Portuguese]] in [[Thon Buri District]] of [[Bangkok]] |
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|popplace = '''Extreme high percentage of Thai people''' |
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'''Metropolitan''' [[Bang Yai District|Bangyai]], [[Bang Bua Thong District|Bangbuathong]], [[Sai Noi District|Sainoi]] of ''[[Nonthaburi Province]]''{{•}}[[Nong Suea District|Nongsuea]], [[Lat Lum Kaeo District|Latlumkaeo]], [[Sam Khok District|Samkhok]] of ''[[Pathum Thani Province|Pathumthani Province]]''{{•}}[[Mueang Samut Prakan District|Samutprakan city]], [[Bang Bo District|Bangbo]], [[Bang Phli District|Bangphli]], [[Phra Samut Chedi District|Phrasamutchedi]], [[Bang Sao Thong District|Bangsao]] of ''[[Samut Prakan Province|Samutprakan Province]]''<br> |
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'''Province of Central''' [[Sukhothai Province|Sukhothai]]{{•}}[[Phitsanulok Province|Phitsanulok]]{{•}}[[Kamphaeng Phet Province|Kamphaengphet]]{{•}}[[Phichit Province|Phichit]]{{•}}[[Phetchabun Province|Phetchabun]]{{•}}[[Nakhon Sawan Province|Nakhonsawan]]{{•}}[[Uthai Thani Province|Uthaithani]]{{•}}[[Chainat Province|Chainat]]{{•}}[[Lopburi Province|Lopburi]]{{•}}[[Sing Buri Province|Singburi]]{{•}}[[Ang Thong Province|Angthong]]{{•}}[[Saraburi Province|Saraburi]]{{•}}[[Nakhon Pathom Province|Nakhonpathom]]{{•}}[[Nakhon Nayok Province|Nakhonnayok]]{{•}}[[Samut Sakhon Province|Samutsakhon]]{{•}}[[Samut Songkhram Province|Samutsongkhram]]<br> |
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'''Province of Western''' [[Kanchanaburi Province|Kanchanaburi]]{{•}}[[Ratchaburi Province|Ratchaburi]]{{•}}[[Phetchaburi Province|Phetchaburi]]{{•}}[[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province|Prachuap Khiri Khan]]<br> |
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'''Province of Southern''' [[Chumphon Province|Chumphon]]{{•}}[[Phang Nga Province|Phangnga]]{{•}}[[Krabi Province|Krabi]]{{•}}[[Nakhon Si Thammarat Province|Nakhon Si Thammarat]]{{•}}[[Trang Province|Trang]]{{•}}[[Phatthalung Province|Phattalung]]{{•}}<br> |
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''Except'' [[Mueang Surat Thani District|Bandon city]] and [[Ko Samui|Samui]] of [[Surat Thani Province|Suratthani Province]] with majority [[Southern Thai language|Dambro-speaking]] [[Hainan people|Hainan]] [[Thai Chinese|Chinese ethnic]]{{•}}<br> |
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''Except'' [[Mueang Songkhla District|Singgora city]], [[Chana District|Chenok]], [[Na Thawi District|Nawi]], [[Thepha District|Tiba]], [[Saba Yoi District|Sebayu]], [[Ranot District|Renut]], [[Sadao District|Sendawa]] of [[Songkhla Province]] with majority [[Thai Malays|Melayu-Thai]] ethnic<br> |
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'''Province of South East''' [[Prachinburi Province|Prachinburi]]{{•}} |
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[[Chachoengsao Province|Chachoengsao]]{{•}} |
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[[Sa Kaeo Province|Sa Kaeo]]{{•}} |
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[[Chanthaburi Province|Chanthaburi]]{{•}} |
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[[Rayong Province|Rayong]]{{•}} |
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''Except'' [[Pattaya]] [[Thesaban]] and [[Si Racha District|Si Racha]] of [[Chonburi Province]] |
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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/th.html#People |title=CIA - The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |date= |accessdate=2012-08-29}}</ref> |
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|rels= Predominantly [[Image:Dharma Wheel.svg|16px]] [[Theravada|Theravada Buddhism]] |
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|languages= [[Thai Language|Central Thai]], [[Khorat Thai]], [[Suphan Buri Province|Suphanburi Thai dialect]], [[Southern Thai language|Southern Thai]]. <p>Most Thais who are native speakers of Khorat Thai and Southern Thai quite speak Central Thai equal native speakers. |
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|related=[[Lao people|Lao]], [[Shan people|Shan]], [[Ahom people|Ahom]], other [[Tai peoples]] |
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}} |
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The '''Thai''' people, or formerly '''[[Siamese people|Siamese]]''',<ref group="nb">Although "Thai" has become more common, the older term "Siamese" is still used, especially when disambiguating from other [[Thai peoples]] (Diller 2008:6)</ref> are the main ethnic group of [[Thailand]] and are part of the larger [[Tai ethnic group|Tai ethnolinguistic peoples]] found in Thailand and adjacent countries in [[Southeast Asia]] as well as southern [[China]]. Their language is the [[Thai language]], which is classified as part of the [[Tai–Kadai languages|Tai–Kadai family of languages]], and the majority of Thai are followers of [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]]. |
The '''Thai''' people, or formerly '''[[Siamese people|Siamese]]''',<ref group="nb">Although "Thai" has become more common, the older term "Siamese" is still used, especially when disambiguating from other [[Thai peoples]] (Diller 2008:6)</ref> are the main ethnic group of [[Thailand]] and are part of the larger [[Tai ethnic group|Tai ethnolinguistic peoples]] found in Thailand and adjacent countries in [[Southeast Asia]] as well as southern [[China]]. Their language is the [[Thai language]], which is classified as part of the [[Tai–Kadai languages|Tai–Kadai family of languages]], and the majority of Thai are followers of [[Theravada]] [[Buddhism]]. |
Revision as of 13:41, 8 November 2012
The Thai people, or formerly Siamese,[nb 1] are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Tai–Kadai family of languages, and the majority of Thai are followers of Theravada Buddhism.
"Thai people" usually includes Central and Southern Thai (Siamese proper), Northern Thai (Lanna) and Isan people (strictly as Lao ethnic).[citation needed]
The term Thai people has a loose meaning and also refers to the population of Thailand in general (though Thai Malay people consider themselves malayu), and not only to ethnic Thais.
History
There have been many theories proposing the origin of the Tai people, of which the Thai are a subgroup. Especially the association of the Tai people with the Kingdom of Nanzhao that has been proved to be invalid. Linguistic studies suggested that the origin of the Tai people lies around the Chinese Province of Guangxi, where the Zhuang people are still a majority. The ancient Tai people should be the part of Chinese Nanyue or "southern barbarians". The Qin dynasty founded Guangdong in 241 BC, initiating the successive waves of Chinese migrations from the north for hundred years to come.
With the political and cultural pressures from the north, the Tai people migrated south where they met classical indianized civilizations of the Southeast Asia. The Tai first established themselves at Mueng Thaen (Thai: เมืองแถน) or modern Dien Bien Phu, according to the Khun Borom Legend. The Tai later scattered all around the continental Southeast Asia threatening the classical kingdoms and then replacing them. The Tai Yuan established themselves in northern Thailand, the Tai Lao people in modern Laos, and the Shans in Burma.
The Tais from the north gradually settled in the Chao Phraya valley from the tenth century onwards, in lands of the Dvaravati culture, assimilating the earlier Austroasiatic Mon and Khmer people, as well as coming into contact with the Khmer Empire. The Tais were engulfed into the Hindu-Khmer culture and this gave rise to the Thai culture. Early Thai chiefdoms included the Sukhothai Kingdom and Suphanburi. The Lavo Kingdom, which was the center of Khmer culture in Chao Phraya valley, was also the rallying point for the Thais. The Thai were called “Siam” by the Angkorians and they appeared on the bas relief at Angkor Wat as a part of the army of Lavo kingdom. Sometimes the Thai chiefdoms in the Chao Phraya valley were put under the Angkorian control under strong monarchs (including Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII) but they were mostly independent.
A new city-state known as Ayutthaya, named after the Indian city of Ayodhya, was founded by Ramathibodi (a descendant of Chiang Mai) and emerged as the center of the growing Thai Empire starting in 1350. Inspired by the then Hindu-based Khmer Empire (Cambodia), the Ayutthaya Empire's continued conquests led to more Thai settlements as the Khmer Empire weakened after their defeat at Angkor in 1431. During this period, the Thai developed a feudal system as various vassal states paid homage to the Thai kings. Even as Thai power expanded at the expense of the Mon and Khmer, the Thai Ayutthaya faced setbacks at the hands of the Malay at Malacca and were checked by the Toungoo of Burma.
Though sporadic wars continued with the Burmese and other neighbors, Chinese wars with Burma and European intervention elsewhere in Southeast Asia allowed the Thai to develop an independent course by trading with the Europeans as well as playing the major powers against each other in order to remain independent. The Chakkri dynasty under Rama I held the Burmese at bay, while Rama II and Rama III helped to shape much of Thai society, but also led to Thai setbacks as the Europeans moved into areas surrounding modern Thailand and curtailed any claims the Thai had over Cambodia, in dispute with Burma and Vietnam. The Thai learned from European traders and diplomats, while maintaining an independent course. Chinese, Malay, and British influences helped to further shape the Thai people who often assimilated foreign ideas, but managed to preserve much of their culture and resisted the European colonization that engulfed their neighbors. Thailand is also the only country in Southeast Asia that was not colonized by European powers in modern history.
Geography and demographics
The vast majority of the Thai people live in Thailand, although some Thais can also be found in other parts of Southeast Asia. About 60 million live in Thailand alone [1], while thousands can also be found in the United States, Laos, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Burma, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Libya and the United Arab Emirates.
Culture and society
The Thais can be broken down into various regional groups with their own regional varieties of Thai. These groups include Central Thai (also the standard variety of the language), the Isan (more closely related to the Standard Lao of Laos than to Standard Thai), Lanna Thai and Southern Thai. Modern Central Thai has become more dominant due to official government policy, which was designed to assimilate and unify the disparate Thai in spite of ethnolinguistic and cultural ties between the northeastern Thai people and the people from Laos for example.
The modern Thai are predominantly Theravada Buddhist and strongly identify their ethnic identity with their religious beliefs that include aspects of ancestor worship (see Culture of Thailand). Indigenous arts include muay Thai (kick boxing), Thai dance, makruk (Thai Chess), and nang yai (shadow play).
See also
- Thailand
- Thai American
- Thai British
- Thai culture
- Thai folklore
- Thais in Hong Kong
- Thai marriage
- List of Thai actresses
- List of Thai actors
- List of Thai people
Notes
- ^ Although "Thai" has become more common, the older term "Siamese" is still used, especially when disambiguating from other Thai peoples (Diller 2008:6)
References
- ^ "CIA - The World Factbook". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2012-08-29.
- Girsling, John L.S., Thailand: Society and Politics (Cornell University Press, 1981).
- Terwiel, B.J., A History of Modern Thailand (Univ. of Queensland Press, 1984).
- Wyatt, D.K., Thailand: A Short History (Yale University Press, 1986).