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Historical Background |
There are conflicting opinions as to the origins of the
Thai. Only a few decades ago, it could be said with presumed
certainty that they originated in northwestern Szechuan in
China about 4,500 years ago and later migrated down to their
present homeland. However, this theory has been altered by
the discovery of remarkable prehistoric artifacts in the village
of Ban Chiang, in the northern province of Udon Thani. These
include evidence of bronze metallurgy going back 3,500 years,
as well as other indications of a far more sophisticated culture
than any previously suspected. It now appears that the Thais
might have originated here in Thailand and later scattered
to various parts of Asia, including some parts of China, though
as yet the matter is far from settled.
"Siam" is the name by which the country was known
to the world until 1949. On 11 May 1949, an official proclamation
changed the name of the country to "Prathet Thai",
or Thailand. The word "Thai" means "free",
and therefore "Thailand" means "Land of the
Free."
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| Geography |
Situated in the heart
of the Southeast Asian mainland and covering an area of 513,115sq.km.,from
North5o 30" to 21o and from East 97o 30" to 105o,
Thailand borders the Lao People's Democratic Republic and
Myanmar to the north, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand to
The east, Myanmar and the Indian Ocean to the west, and Malaysia
to the south. Thailand has maximum dimensions of about 2,500
km. north to south and 1,250 km. east to west, with a coastline
of approximately 1,840 km. On the Gulf of Thailand and 865
km. along the Indian Ocean.
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Topography |
Thailand is divided into four natural regions: the North;
the Central Plain, or the Chao Phraya River Basin; the Northeast,
or the Korat Plateau' and the South, or the Southern Peninsula.
The North is a mountainous region comprising natural forests.
ridges, and deep, narrow alluvial valleys. The leading city
of this region is Chiang Mai.
Central Thailand, the basin of the Chao Phraya river, is a
lush, fertile valley. It is the richest and most extensive
rice-producing area in the country and has often been called
the "Rice Bowl of Asia." Bangkok, the capital of
Thailand, is located in this region.
The northeast region, or the Korat Plateau, is as arid region
characterized by a rolling surface and undulating hills. Harsh
climatic conditions often result in this region being subjected
to floods and droughts.
The southern region is hilly to mountainous, with thick virgin
forests and rich deposits of minerals and ores. This region
is the centre for the production of rubber and the cultivation
of other tropical crops.
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Climate |
Thailand is a warm and rather humid tropical country. The
climate is monsoonal, marked by a pronounced rainy season
lasting from about May to September and a relatively dry season
for the remainder of the year. Temperatures are highest in
March and April and lowest in December and January. The average
temperature is 23.7oC to 37.5oC
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Population |
The population of Thailand is approximately 61.47 million
(1999), with an annual growth rate of about 1.3 percent. The
population includes descendants of ethnic Chinese, Malays,
Khmer, Lao, Vietnamese, Indians, and others.
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Religion |
Buddhism, the national religion, is the professed faith
of 95 percent of the population. Islam, Christianity, Hinduism,
and others are embraced by the rest of the population. There
is absolute religious freedom. The King of Thailand, under
the constitution and in practice, is patron of all major religions
embraced by the people.
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Language |
The official national language, spoken by almost 100 percent
of the population, is Thai. It is a tonal language, uninflected,
and predominantly monosyllabic. Most polysyllabic words in
the vocabulary have been borrowed, mainly from Khmer, Pali,
or Sanskrit. Dialects are spoken in rural areas. Other languages
are Chinese and Malay. English, a mandatory subject in public
schools, is widely spoken and understood, particularly in
Bangkok and other major cities.
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Government |
Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy with
a bicameral parliamentarian form of government. The country
is divided into 76 provinces, each administered by an appointed
governor, and subdivided into districts, sub-districts, tambons
(groups of villages), and villages. The Bangkok Metropolitan
Administration is administered by and elected governor and
divided into 38 districts.
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Economy |
GNP (1999) at current prices was approximately 4,500 billion
baht or US$ 120.50 billion. Total merchandise exports for
1999 amounted to approximately 56.8 billion baht or US$ 1.50
billion and merchandise imports were approximately 47.8 billion
baht or US$ 1.26 billion.
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Flag |
Thailand's national flag, ceremoniously raised each morning
at 08.00 and lowered in the evening at 18.00 in every town
and village is composed of five horizontal bands of red, white,
and blue. Outer bands of red representing the nation enclose
equal inner bands of white evoking religion. The blue band,
occupying the central on-third of the total area, symbolizes
the monarchy. The harmony of the design expresses the complementary
nature of these three pillars of the Thai nation.
This tricoloured flag, first introduced by King Vajiravudh
(Rama VI) in, 1917, replaced an earlier design in which a
white elephant was placed against a red background.
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National Colours |
Thailand has no official
national colours, although red, white, and blue, inspired
by the colours of the Thai flag, are used by Thai international
sporting team, as well as on other appropriate occasions.
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National Anthem |
The national anthem is played on all ceremonial occasions
of national importance and while the national flag is being
raised and lowered. Its music was composed in 1932 by Professor
Phra Jeduriyang, while the lyrics were written in 1939 by
Colonel Luang Saranuprabhandh. A literal translation is as
follows :
The nation is made up of the Thais.
It is a nation of Thais in every part of the land.
It has maintained its rule because the Thais have always been
united.
The Thai people are peace-loving, but they are not cowards
in times of war,
They shall not allow others to take away their freedom.
The Thais are ready to sacrifice every drop of blood for the
safety of the nation.
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Royal Anthem |
The royal Thai anthem,
acclaiming the Chakravatin ideal King Bhumibol Adulyadej embodies,
is played during state occasions and public meetings-sports
events, cinema shows, concerts, etc. Unlike those anthems
whose lyrics are often archaic or obsolete, the sentiments
expressed in the royal Thai anthem precisely mirror the feelings
of the Thai people towards their King.
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National Emblem |
The Thai national and
royal emblem is the Garuda, a mythical half-bird half-human
figure that adorns King Bhumibol Adulyadej's sceptre and royal
standard. Many ministries and departments have incoporated
the Garuda into their insingnias. Moreover, the Garuda singinfies
"By Royal Appointment" and is awarded at the personal
discretion of His Majesty the King, a sign of royal approval
to companies that have rendered outstanding economic and charitable
services to Thailand . Such an award is rarely bestowed and
is considered a great honour.
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National Dress |
Although there is no
official national dress, the traditional dress has been adopted
as the unofficial national costume and can be seen on both
formal and informal occasions. For women, it is a full-length
pasin, a rectangular piece of cloth worn like a skirt of sarong
and generally made of Thai silk. The pasin can be of any colour
and generally has contrasting bands around the hem. It is
worn with a long-sleeved silk blouse. On formal occasions
a sash may be worn across the breast from the left shoulder
to the right part of the waist. For men, the traditional dress
consists of trousers with suaphra ratchathan, a short-sleeved
shirt (long-sleeves for formal occasions) with a high collarless
neck. On formal occasions, a cummerbund is tied around the
waist.
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National Day |
December 5, the birthday
of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is the Thai national
day. It is a public holiday.
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Public Holidays |
Most national holidays
and festivals are of religious nature and serve to evoke a
sense of devotion to the monarchy, the religion, and the nation.
Some are celebrated by the lunar calendar and thus their dates
vary from year to year, while others are celebrated according
to the solar calendar.
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| Source
From : Thailand into the 2000's |
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