The People
About 75 per cent of the inhabitants of Thailand are Thai, a Mongoloid people ethnically related to the Lao of Laos and the Shan of Burma. The Thai are divided into four main groups—the Thai Bhak Klang, also known as the Central Thai because they live in the central region around Bangkok; the Thai Pak Tai in the south; the Thai Yuan in the north; and the Thai Isan (or Lao), who live in the northeast along the Laotian border.
Thailand's largest non-Thai minority consists of Chinese, who make up more than 10 per cent of the population. Among the other non-Thai peoples are Malays, Karens, Indians, Cambodians, and Vietnamese.
The ancestors of the Thai inhabited the Yangtze valley in southern China some 4,500 years ago. Pressure from the Chinese gradually forced them farther and farther south into what is now Thailand.
In 1990 Thailand had a population of 54,532,300. The population density was 275 persons per square mile (106 per km2), nearly four times that of the United States. By far the greatest population concentration was in the Chao Phraya valley, especially the delta area around Bangkok.
Bangkok, the capital, is Thailand's largest city, with a population (including suburbs) of 5,876,000. Other large cities include Nakhon Ratchasima (278,000), Songkhla (243,000), Nanthaburi (233,000), and Khon Kaen (206,000). (Population figures for each of these cities also include suburbs.)
Theravada Buddhism is the national religion; about 95 per cent of the population is Buddhist. Many of these people are also animists; they believe in spirits, the power of charms, and the sacredness of the white elephant. Religious life centers around the wat (temple), which is also important in the social, cultural, and civic life of each community. All other religions in Thailand, including Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, and Hinduism, have complete freedom.
The official language is Thai. In general, the words are monosyllables and are similar in pronunciation to Chinese, with various intonations and inflections. There are several Thai dialects, the principal one being Central Thai. English is a second language of most well-educated Thais and is taught in many schools. More than 30 other languages and dialects are spoken in Thailand.
The alphabet of Thailand was developed by King Ramkamhaeng in the 13th century. It is derived from a script that can be traced to 7th- and 8th-century Sanskrit inscriptions from southern India.
Only primary education is compulsory. It begins at age six and lasts six years. Secondary schooling consists of three years of lower secondary school followed by three years of upper secondary school. There are also Christian mission and Buddhist monastery schools. The literacy rate is 85 per cent.
Among the institutions of higher learning are Chulalongkorn University (the oldest, founded 1917), Thammasat University, and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology—all in Bangkok.
Because of its location, Thailand has been greatly influenced by the cultures and customs of China and India. Religion has also played an important role in the cultural life of the Thai people—Buddhist motifs dominate much of their literature, painting, sculpture, and architecture. To these influences, the Thais have added their own distinctive touches.
The architecture of Thailand is rich and highly decorative, the most notable example being the pagodalike temples with their graceful spires and colorfully tiled roofs. Traditional art, often anonymously done, depicts religious scenes and gives moral instruction. Classical Thai dances are highly stylized. The carefully trained dancers interpret stories in pantomime with a distinctive grace. The most significant literary expressions are in verse, particularly in brief love songs.
Bangkok is the cultural center of modern Thailand. Located there, besides the universities mentioned earlier, are the National Museum, the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
Traditional sports and games that remain popular are Thai boxing, takraw, kite fighting, and Krabi Krabong. In Thai boxing, fists, knees, elbows, and feet are used to fight, while a ringside orchestra plays background music. Takraw is a game somewhat like soccer played with a wicker ball. Specially designed kites are used for kite-fighting contests. Krabi Krabong, or sword and pole fighting, is a form of mock combat dating from ancient times. Popular Western sports are golf, basketball, and horse racing.
