Culture of Thailand

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The culture of Thailand is a unique blend of various influences that have evolved over time.[1] Local customs, animist beliefs, Buddhist traditions, and regional ethnic and cultural practices have all played a role in shaping Thai culture.[2][3][4][5] Thainess, which refers to the distinctive qualities that define the national identity of Thailand, is evident in the country's history, customs, and traditions.[6][7] While Buddhism remains the dominant religion in Thailand with more than 40,000 temples,[8] Islam, Christianity, and other faiths are also practiced.[9]

Thailand's historical and cultural heritage has been shaped by interactions with neighboring cultures[3][10] as well as far-reaching cultures such as Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Khmer, Portuguese, and Persian, with the ancient city of Ayutthaya serving as a global trade center. Early European visitors also recognized Ayutthaya as one of the great powers of Asia, alongside China and India, highlighting the city's importance and influence in the region.[11][12][13][14] In modern times, Thailand's cultural landscape has been shaped by the influence of global trends. This includes the adoption of modern educational practices and the promotion of science and technology, while also preserving traditional customs and practices.[15][16]

Thailand's cultural influence extends beyond its borders, shaping neighboring countries' television programming, dance, films, art, fashion, music, and cuisine.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The country's 5F cultural policy, which promotes food, films, fashion, fighting, and festivals, is aimed at becoming an important cultural export to drive economic development and generate income for the countries.[29][30][31][32] Thai cuisine has become an integral part of restaurant menus worldwide,[33] while Muay Thai, a traditional Thai martial art, has gained global popularity as a combat sport.[34] Traditional festivals such as Songkran and Loy Krathong have also attracted tourists from around the world.[35]

  1. ^ Mishra 2010, p. 10.
  2. ^ Klinchan, N. (August 8, 2018). "Thai Culture That ASIAN Students Should Know". Mahachula Academic Journal. 4 (1): 188–203.
  3. ^ a b Chan, Anthony B.; Chiang, Hsiang-te; Ma, Josephine T. (2005). Handbook of Markets and Economies: East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand. M.E. Sharpe. p. 612. ISBN 9781315498768.
  4. ^ Watarachanakool, Pornvipa (2006). "Science, Technology and the Supernatural in Contemporary Thai Novels". Manusya: Journal of Humanities. 9 (1): 38–39. doi:10.1163/26659077-00901004. S2CID 182250756.
  5. ^ Albritton, Robert B.; Prabudhanitisarn, Sidthinat (1997). "Culture, region, and Thai political diversity". Asian Studies Review. 21 (1): 61–82. doi:10.1080/03147539708713141.
  6. ^ "Thainess Live & Learn the Thai Way of Life" (PDF). Tourism Authority of Thailand. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ^ Woralan Kongpolphrom (2018). "Thainess realisation in selected travel websites" (PDF). Journal of Thai Interdisciplinary Research. 13 (4): 63–67. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  8. ^ สำนักงานพระพุทธศาสนาแห่งชาติ ระบบทะเบียนวัด, National Office of Buddhism, retrieved April 6, 2023
  9. ^ Mishra 2010, p. 11.
  10. ^ "Culture". Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT). Archived from the original on 2015-02-13. Retrieved 13 Feb 2015.
  11. ^ Baker & Phongpaichit 2017, p. 1.
  12. ^ Chabrowski, Igor Iwo (September 2022). "Seventeenth-Century Foreign Lives of Ayutthaya: Sources of Cross-Cultural Cooperation and Integration in the Asian Trading Entrepôt". Journal of World History. 33 (3). Johns Hopkins University Press: 403–428. doi:10.1353/jwh.2022.0026. S2CID 252356874. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  13. ^ Chularatana, Julispong (2017). "Indo-Persian Influence on Late Ayutthaya Art, Architecture, and Design". The Journal of the Siam Society. 105: 43–72.
  14. ^ Tan, Heidi (2012), "The Many Streams of Buddhist Art in Thailand", Enlightened Ways: The Many Streams of Buddhist Art in Thailand, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, p. 13
  15. ^ Kamgoen, Put; Duangkaew, Ratchadaporn (June 2008). "How Thai Culture Affects Expatriates' Leadership A Case Study of CBRE, Thailand". Lund University Publications. pp. 40–41. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Bhumiratana, Sakorn (2013). "Cultural and Historical Factors Influencing the Development of Higher Education in Thailand". In Neubauer, Deane E.; Shin, Jung Cheol; Hawkins, John N. (eds.). The Dynamics of Higher Education Development in East Asia. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 105–122. doi:10.1057/9781137347374_7. ISBN 978-1-137-34736-7.
  17. ^ SASAGAWA Hideo (March 2005), "Post/colonial Discourses on the Cambodian Court Dance" (PDF), Southeast Asian Studies, 42 (4)
  18. ^ King Norodom's actresses (reign 1860-1904), by Émile Gsell, April 24, 2021, In the 19th century, after spending 27 years as a captive prince at the Siamese court in Bangkok, King Ang Duong, father of King Norodom, introduced the classical Siamese style of the Rattanakosin period to his court. Royal dancers, under the patronage of the royal court of Siam, are sent to the royal court in Cambodia to teach classical dance to the Khmers. This is why the costumes' style in these photographs is imbued with the Siamese culture. One will also notice the disproportionate length of the dancers' artificial nails. G. Groslier writes: "The Cambodian dancers were so well out of their unfortunate country (after the sack of Angkor) that the last Khmer kings, up to Norodom, had almost entirely Siamese troupes. All the teachers of the five hundred 'lokhon' of Norodom were Siamese. At his death, there were more than three hundred Thai actresses in the palace of Phnom Penh. Even today (under the reign of H. M. Sisowath) all the teachers, minus two, are Siamese! …". (Original in French)
  19. ^ Phaksuchon, Suradit; Rungrueang, Panya (2017), "Yodaya: Thai Classical Music in Myanmar Culture.", Manusya, 20 (2): 55–76, doi:10.1163/26659077-02002003
  20. ^ Kwanjai, Mesirin (November 2018). Women Watching Television: The Influence of Thai Soap Operas on Lao Women Viewers (PDF) (Doctor of Philosophy thesis). Newcastle University.
  21. ^ Skaw Saesui (August 10, 2018), ความนิยมสื่อบันเทิงไทยในอาเซียนยังพุ่ง แม้เคยสร้างความขัดแย้ง กลืนกลายทางวัฒนธรรม (in Thai), TCIJ
  22. ^ ละครไทยสู่ตลาดโลก เริ่มจากไปอาเซียนและจีนแหล่งรายได้ใหม่ ที่ทีวีทุกช่องจับจ้อง (in Thai), 2019
  23. ^ Chuppunnarat, Y.; Sangvanich, K.; Laovanich, V.; Achayutthakan, M.; Saibunmi, S.; Suwanphithak, W. (2020), "The Influence of External Cultures on Art, Music, and Dance Education Students: A Case Study of Thailand and Lao PDR. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies", Former Name Silpakorn University Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts: 600–601
  24. ^ Digital Collections, The New York Public Library. "(moving image) Interview with HRH Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, (2008)". The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations. Retrieved March 31, 2023. From the period of Oudong with King Ang Duong to the period of Chatomuk with Kings Norodom and Sisowath, there was a lot of Thai influence because we lacked teachers.
  25. ^ Kotchapakdee, Pat (2014), Phi and norng: Thai influence on the Lao Popular Music Industry (PDF), p. 204
  26. ^ Long Kimmarita (March 10, 2022), Angkor vendors of Khmer costumes must be 'accurate'
  27. ^ เพจดังไขปมดราม่า กัมพูชาใส่ชุดไทย ที่โดนเคลมสะกดจิตหมู่ว่าเป็นชุดเขมร (in Thai), March 10, 2022
  28. ^ "Asian Dreams Cambodia" (PDF). Phoenix Voyages. 2016-11-01. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-04-08. Cambodian dishes are less spicy than its neighboring Thailand. It is a blend of traditional dishes influenced by the Thai and Lao.
  29. ^ Govt to promote tourism soft power through 5Fs, Thaigov, January 23, 2023
  30. ^ Presenting Thailand's "Soft Power" through Entertainment Media, PRD, March 23, 2023
  31. ^ กระทรวงวัฒนธรรม เดินหน้าผลักดัน SOFT POWER ดึง "เบิร์ด-ธงไชย" ถ่ายทอดเสน่ห์วัฒนธรรม ผ่านบทเพลง "ฟ้อนทั้งน้ำตา" (in Thai), Thai Media Fund, March 2, 2023
  32. ^ Thailand to use the "5Fs" of soft power to promote tourism this year, Thai PBS World, January 23, 2023
  33. ^ Habib Ur Rehman (December 30, 2022), Cultural Influence by Country: Top 25 with the Most Cultural Influence, Yahoo
  34. ^ Strotmeyer, S.; Coben, J.H.; Fabio, A.; Songer, T. (2016). "Epidemiology of Muay Thai fight-related injuries". Injury Epidemiology. 3 (1): 30. doi:10.1186/s40621-016-0095-2. PMC 5149460. PMID 27917452.
  35. ^ "Songkran and Loy Krathong: The most important festivals in Thailand". Amon Thai. March 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-05.