Socio-culture and People of Thailand

Geography Thailand southeast of Asia, close to Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, neighbouring Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. Divided into 5 sections (Thai: pak) i.e. iaitu: north, Korat Plateau (Tanah Tinggi Korat) or northeast (Thai: Isan), centre, southeast, south. (Semenanjung Thailand).

Historical Background
Earliest Tai kingdom- believed to be the Kingdom of Sukhotai. Ethinic Tai are teh dominant people of Thaialnd. 4 major kingdoms or centres or mandalas since the era of Sukhotai: i. Sukhotai 1238-1378 AD/TM ii. Ayutthaya 1350-1767 AD/TM iii. Thonburi 1767-1782 AD/TM iv. Bangkok 1782- to present

Men of Prowess

King Ramkamhaeng (of Sukhotai), King Naresuan, Prasatthong (of Ayutthaya), King Taksin (of Thonburi), King Mongkut, King Chulalongkorn (of Bangkok) are some of the more prominent Siames Kings who brought change/reform and success to the Kingdom and peole of Thailand.

Administration

Administrative Structure 3 main administrative divisions: inner provinces (wilayah-wilayah dalaman), outer provinces (wilayah luaran) and tributary states (wilayah jajahan) Capital city- is the administrative centre. At the provincial level(wilayah), administrative divisions include: muban (village/kampung), tambon (subdistrict/kumpulan beberapa kampung atau sub-daerah), amphoe (district/daerah) dan changwat (province/provinsi).

Realtions between King and people through Royal represenattives called nai (master atau ketua). Thre are many nai at every level of administrative unit head of the village/district called nai) and who have powers ove rthe poepl under their supervision. Common people are referred as phrai (rakyat). Nai-phrai relations used to be , in the past, the main mechanism to control manpower needs and tax collection.

RAJA
PHRA CHAO LUNG

CHAO

KHUNNANG
PHRAI
GOLONGAN HAMBA

Chiefs of provinces or tributary states are called Chao muang (governor). 2 main departments at the central government played a major role in administration - Mahattai dan Kalahom. Mahatthai civil adminsitration /in charge of northern provinces Kalahom military/defence matters / in charge of southern provinces.

Social Aspects
Ethnic Groups: Thai (Tai) (75%) Chinese: Sino-Thai (14%) Malay/Malayu (3.5%) Others (7.5%) ????? (who??) MAIN RELIGION (NOT OFFICIAL RELIGION!) Buddhisme (95%), Islam (4.6%), Christianity (0.7%), Hindu (0.1%), others (0.2%)

Economy

Tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, teak/timber, forest products, marine produce. More recent: Apart from food and agriculture, industries light and heavy industries. Agriculture: Paddy (central part/sep along the Chao Phraya delta), Sugar Cane, Fruits, Cloth Weaving. Khlongs or waterways important for a/culture and transportation. Husbandry- cows and buffalo. International trade Pertanian: Padi di kawasan tengah (atau di persekitaran delta Chao Phraya). Gula/tebu, getah, buah-buahan. Industri tenun juga penting. Aktiviti pembuatan sampan (boat building) juga giat di jalankan di masa lalu. Sungai Chao Phraya dan cawangan-cawangannya iaitu Me Ping, Me Wang, Me Yom, Me Nan yang mengairi kawasan utara penting sebagai kawasan kegiatan pertanian. Terusan air atau khlong juga penting bagi aktiviti pertanian dan bagi kemudahan pengangkutan air. Perusahaan ternakan lembu dan kerbau juga giat di jalankan terutamanya untuk membantu aktiviti penanaman padi. Lembu dan kerbau di gunakan untuk bekerja di sawah dan untuk mengangkut barang-barang ke pelabuhan dan pusatpusat penjualan samada pasar atau depot di pelabuhan.

Philosophy of majority rural Thai- ha kin (seeking to eat) or ha yu ha kin (seeking to live and eat) Land traditionally belonged to the King (Chao Paendin) and Lord of Life (Chao Chiwit)

(I) Theravada Buddhisme and role of the Sangha

Theravada Buddhisme refers to Buddhism of the elders (guru/acharn/teachersand is different from Mahayana Buddhisme (based on the great vehicle. Thai King- is the patron and defender of Buddhisme. King has a good relations with the Sangha (institution representing all the monsk in Thailand) ensuring the survival of Theravada Buddhist practice in the country. Every young Thai male is encouraged to become a novice i.e to become a member of the Buddhist monkhood to learn religion and the ways of being a good Buddh (Buddhist) Royal rituals and government rituals- based on Buddhist and Brahmanistic practices.

(II) Organisasi sosial

Kamma- Buddhist concept , an important element in the culture and lives of Buddhist people. Kamma is inherited from past life. Concept of living a good Buddhist. Every person is responsible for their own action. Thailand- as a loosely structured society. John F. Embree). Berlandaskan Theravada Buddhisme, kehidupan berlandaskan kamma yang diwarisi dari kehidupan di masa lampau. Kamma merujuk kepada kesan dari aktiviti individu di masa lampau; misalannya bermoral atau tidak, berbuat baik atau sebaliknya. Seorang penganut Buddha yang baik (a good Buddhist) seharusnya bertindak secara bermoral dan positif. Setiap individu bertanggungjawab ke atas setiap aktiviti atau tindakannya. Konsep yang diamalkan oleh orang Thai ini telah diinterpretasi oleh pemerhati-pemerhati asing /golongan sarjana sebagai suatu sistem atau struktur sosial yang mempunyai banyak kelonggaran (a loosely structured society). (pendapat John F. Embree).

Kinship

Matrilineal- esp in the north, in terms of land inheritance. Kinship based on hierarchy. E.g. Phi nong (hubungan antara kawan atau teman sekerja). Phinongkan (ahli-ahli masyarakat atau kumpulan yang sama). Setiap penaung (patron atau nai) digelar pho liang dan pengikut di bawahnya luk nong. Hubungan kinship membawa implikasi tanggungjawab (atau obligation). Concept of heritage (Thai: morodok) important.

(III) Ethnic and minority groups

North khon muang (atau Lao) Tribal groups Karen, Hmong (Meo) Hilltribes chao khao Tribal/groups in south Melayu-Muslim Sino-Thai khon cjin/luk cjin (biggest minority group)

i. Sakdina system

- refers to a ranking /class system.

Means power over land kuasa ke atas tanah. People have certain points/merits based on their class/status. Arictocrats have high sakdina, while commoners low sakdina. Sakdina is viewed as a feudal system (based on landholding, territory). Yet (feudal society- notion of fragmentation of society but Thai sakdina reflects concentration of power in the hands of the monarchy). Pada kebiasaanya, setiap orang dalam masyarakat Thai mempunyai bilangan points (mata) yang tertentu berdasarkan kelas atau status seseoranag itu. Seorang aristokrat mempunyai sakdina yang tinggi manakala rakyat biasa memiliki sakdina yang rendah. Pendapat beberapa penulis bahawa sistem sakdina Thai ini berciri feudal (iaitu terikat kepada tanah, berdasarkan kawasan atau territorial) masih diperdebatkan.

Religion and socio-culture

Theravada Buddhism- and Thai Buddhist worldview obvious in most Thai living. Role of Sangha and Chief Abbot important Tradition of young novice monks entering Buddhist monkhood/monastery lived tradition- A way of earning merit. King Dharmmaraja dan defender of Buddhism. Almost all royal ritual s indicate Buddhist beliefs.

TUTORIAL 3

Discuss the main socio-cultural aspects of the Thai people. To what extent is Buddhism a big influence on the King, people and state of Thailand. Bincangkan aspek-aspek utama sosio-budaya masyarakat Thailand. Sejauhmanakah Buddhisme mempengaruhi institusi Raja dan kerajaan Thai. Ref/Ruj: Charles F. Keyes (1987) Social Organization Within the Thai Nation-State dlm, Thailand: Buddhist Kingdom as Modern nationState. USA: Westview Press: 122-149.