Transcript Thai Cultures and Ways of life. Assist.Pro.Patchanee

Thai Cultures and Ways of life.
Assist.Pro.Patchanee Manawanicharoen
About Thailand
Thailand is a country lies in
the heart of Southeast Asia and
never has been colonized. Each
year many tourists from
countries love visiting Thailand
because of the various beautiful
sceneries,activities,cultures,hospi
tality, and generosity of Thai
people.
Area
about 514,000 sq.km.
Population(2007estimate)64,000,000
Religion
95% Buddhist
Government Constitutional monarchy
Capital
Bangkok
Official language Thai
Currency
Baht
Border Countries
The North : Myanmar&
Laos.
The Northeast : Laos &
Cambodia.
The central : Myanmar
& the upper Gulf of
Thailand.
The South : Malaysia &
Andaman Sea
Regions & Cultures
There are 4 regions in
Thailand that each region has its
particular ways of life and cultures
because of the geography of the
country、weather、religion and
across cultures from neighbouring
countries.
The North
There are mountains and forests
ranges along the borders where are
not only mountainous sceneries, shelter
verdent valleys, beautiful flowers but
also the home of many ethic hill
tribes.(6 main groups：Karen Mong,
Akha,Lisu, Lahu and Mien)
The weather of the region is
mostly dry and rather cold in winter
especially in November – February.
Northern people had been
closed to Burmese for more than
two centuries in the history.So
they have been effectively formed
their characteristics and cultures
such as beliefs, festivals, dressing
styles and some popular dishes、
Moreover,the signeficant evidences
are the remains of the Burmese
arts in the Buddha images and
temples.
Having meals of the local northern
food is very distinctive.The traditional
form of meal in the region called
Khuntok. People have to sit on the
floor around the khuntok. They prefer
eating steamed glutinous rice with
their clean fingers by kneading into
small balls, dip into curries, northern
chilli sause and other dishes. This way
of eating is influenced by Laos. Most
of northern foods are genearelly a
little salty,not much spicy.
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The northeast
This region is a vast plateau covering
nearly 1/3 of the country.But its soil is
poor quality.
The weather is dry & very hot in summer,
very cold in winter and uncertain rain in
rainy season.The region is known to be the
poorest of the country. Because of the
toughness, the people of this region are
high patient.Most of them believe in
supernatural power as well as in Buddhism
e.g.in May of every year, the Rocket
Festivals are held in
numbers of provinces,enormous
home-made rockets are fired to
the highest in the sky with
hopefulness of ensuring an enough
supply rains for planting. In
July,The Candle Festivals, there
are many beautiful vehicle parades
which decorated with wax candles
carving pass through roads for
celebrating
The Buddha Lent Day.(Visakha Buja
Day)
The Northeast
About the provinces where are
northward to the Mekong River,people
of this area are influenced by Laos,
Especially they speak Laos language as
their dialect.There are many Laos
dishes also.The most famous local food
is spicy green papaya salad. They eat
steamed glutinous rice as a base for
other dishes the same as northern
foods. The tastes of northeastern
foods are very spicy、salty、sour and
little sweet.
However,northeastern people are still
friendly,full of hospitality and honesty.
The Central Part
There are the vast rice fields of
the Central Low Plains.The Chao
Phraya River seem to be the main
blood vessels of this region. It runs
through provinces. People have got
usefulness from it in many ways
especially communication and
transportation.
This region is known as the most
fertile area of Thailand.There are a
wide scenery of padding fields and
plantations.
In formertime,Ayuttaya kingdom
was located in the region. It took
part for more than 4 centuries and
had communicated with many
countries both in Asia and Europe.
Thus many cultural influences have
still remained such as Thai sweets
based on eggyolks and sugar from
the expert Portuguese cooker in
King Narai the Great’s court,
curries from India, noodles,pork
and chicken meat food from China
etc.
Nowadays,Bangkok,the capital city,is in this
region too. It’s called Krung Thep means the
city of angles.Bangkok is the center of
political
industrial, commercial and cultural activities.
Moreover,because of globalization,big towns of
all provinces especially Bangkok are influenced
by the outside-country cultures.
However,central Thai people still eat
fragrant
steamed rice in their daily meals although
there are many kinds of foreign
foods.According to
Western influences,they eat food with spoons
and folks.
In Bangkok, educations are grown up widely
and quickly.BesidesThai educational institutes,
there are many international schools, colleges
and universities.So educated persons can speak
English.
However,most of central people are still kind,
generous and strong faithful in Buddhism.
Bangkok Night
The South.
Geographically,there are the tropical islands
and long coastlines both sides of the west and
the east peninsula. Actually the south has 2
seasons;rainy season and summer.During AprilOctober, heavy rains and stroms are often
occurred on the west coasts. In SeptemberDecember,the most rain falls on the east coasts
Each year southern people often face to the
calamities caused by floods.So they are
vigorous and good at solving facing problems.
Fortunately,the south is a rich land where
plenty of natural resources; sandy beaches and
mountains&forests.
In central hinterlands.There are many fishing
ports and vast plantations of rubber,coconut
and various kind of fruits.
Southern people are not only Thais but also
Chineses and malaysians, Besides, 4 provinces
in the farest south, there is a large Muslim
Population.
Generally, Chineses in the south had played
significant rolls since Ayutthaya period.
At that time a large number of Chineses,
taechew,migrated oversea into the South for
working in tin mines. Most of them settled
down from since then till now.
Thus chinese influences are prominent
roles in Chino-Portuguese style houses
and many dishes.
In Phuket,in October each year, the
large Chinese community will arrrenge
the Vegetarian Festival for 10 days.
Malaysian influences can be found too
in southern dialect,some dishes
e.g.curries cooked with coconutmilk,
hot spices and cloth batik painting also.
Buddhism
Most of Thai people are Buddhist. It’s
said that Thailand is one of the most
strong Theravada Buddhist countries.
Through Thai historical
peroids,nearly800 years ago,Buddhism has
been patronised by all kings of all peroids.
In Thai society,no matter what the
region,what peroid,Thai people are closed
to the monks in order to listen to the
sermons and pratice in daily life. Monks
are always invited to do the rituals for
people both in auspicious and unauspicious
ceremonies.
Moreover, most of Thai people like to
consult monks about how to solve their
problems.From birth till death,monks have
played the significant roles in serving the
people’s education and spirituality. Every
month, on Buddhist days of worship (4days)
most Buddhist will make merit and pratiice
on the Buddism (religious、percepts、
meditation and wisdom). On festival
occations,temples are the meeting places
for social gatherings.
So temples are the hearts of social and
religious lives of Thai people.
No wonder why Buddhism is the
strongest influence on Buddhist daily life
and cultures.
Thai Monks
Inoverall conclusion,though each region of
Thailand is unique and has its own lifestyle,
all BuddhistThais,no matter what the region,
they have the same morals, and customs.
Thai morals
-Believe in the nature of cause
and effect.
-Respect for parents and senior
relatives.
-Gratitude for the previous
benefactors.
-Basically,conduct through the
Five Percepts of Buddhism.
-Do forgiveness and have merciful
thought.
Do：
Thai Customs.
Do & Don’t.
-Wai to show greeting,farewell or
thanks the olders.The youngers greet
the olders first.
-Lay people sit or stand at a lower level
than monks.
-Women have to be careful in physical
touch with monks.
-Take off shoes when enter houses and
sacred places.
-Take care and serve children,
aged persons and women first.
-Always say Thank you and Sorry
upon situations.
-Eat meals with spoonforks and
dishspoons.
-Talk with regard as a kinship and
in positive ways.
Don’t：
-Don’t touch someone’s head.(the olders
can do to the youngers).
-Don’t point the feet toward the
Buddha Images or other people.
-Don’t point at or touch something with
feet.
-Don’t step or sit on books, thai coins
and photos of persons.
-Don’t shout at others while talking.
-Don’t speak with food in your mouth.
-Don’t openly yaun and belch gas loudly
in public.
-Don’t smoke in public.(can do in the
provided places).
-Don’t spit in public.
Thanks for your attentions！