Research in Purposive Communication

Culture in THAILAND

Sherwin Agregado
Merelea Almoguerra
Aprilyn Bolso
Ma. Caseylyn Creencia
Ceddrayle Dante
Sharlyn Mae Esquinas
Yuan Mancera
Winzyl Villarin

December 2019
ABSTRACT

This research explored the culture, tradition and beliefs of the country Thailand. Where

different practices and habits of the people living there are discussed.

Thailand having a monarchy type of government, national pride is very much part of the

Thai psyche. The country clings to pride that it’s the only nation in Southeast Asia to have never

been colonised by European countries. Thai culture is deeply influenced by religion. With

around 95% of the country being Theraveda Buddhist, the belief system and values of Buddhism

play a huge role in day-to-day life. Throughout the country, the most important values that Thai

people hold to are respect, self-control, and a non-confrontational attitude.Much of Thailand’s

culture comes from the ethnic Thai people. One of the most important influences on Thai culture

has been Buddhism. Many of the traditions and beliefs of the people in Thailand stem directly

from Buddhist principles. Hinduism has also made important contributions to Thai culture, and

the close links between Thailand and India can be seen in art, literature, and in many Thai

customs.
INTRODUCTION

The Kingdom of Thailand and formerly known as Siam, is a country at the centre of the

Southeast Asian Indochinese peninsula composed of 76 provinces. At 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq

mi) and over 68 million people, Thailand is the world's 50th-largest country by total area and the

21st-most-populous country. The national anthem of Thailand is Phleng Chat Thai. This country

has a Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy type of government wherein a Monarch

(Maha Vajiralongkorn) and a Prime Minister

(Prayut Chan-o-cha) is the one who's ruling. He serves as Prime Minister of Thailand,

Thailand's Defence Minister and head of the Royal Thai Police.

The capital and largest city is Bangkok, a special administrative area. Thailand is

bordered to the north by Myanmar and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by

the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and the southern

extremity of Myanmar. Its maritime boundaries include Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand to the

southeast, and Indonesia and India on the Andaman Sea to the southwest. It is a unitary state.

Although nominally the country is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, the

most recent coup, in 2014, established a de facto military dictatorship under a junta.

Through the 18th and 19th centuries, Siam faced pressure from France and the United

Kingdom, including forced concessions of territory; nevertheless, it remained the only Southeast

Asian country to avoid direct Western rule. Following a bloodless revolution in 1932, Siam

became a constitutional monarchy and changed its official name to "Thailand". While it joined

the Allies in World War I, Thailand was an Axis satellite in World War II. In the late 1950s, a

military coup under Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat revived the monarchy's historically influential
role in politics. Thailand became a major ally of the United States, and played a key anti-

communist role in the region as a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO).

Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has

periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. In 2013, Thailand endured a

political crisis that culminated in two coups and the establishment of its current and 20th

constitution by a military junta.

Thailand is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

and remains a major ally of the US. Despite its comparatively sporadic changes in leadership, it

is considered a regional power in Southeast Asia and a middle power in global affairs. With a

high level of human development, the second-largest economy in Southeast Asia, and the 20th-

largest by PPP, Thailand is classified as a newly industrialized economy; manufacturing,

agriculture, and tourism are leading sectors of the economy.

CULTURE

Thailand is a diverse country that is rich in culture along with fascinating history.

Thailand country is known for its important sacred temple, magnificent natural beauty and

hospitality. People who lives in this country have shared different values, beliefs and personal

interest that makes them have a unique identity.

There are traditional outfits that can be worn by Thai people especially in events and in

any formal occasions. Their clothes vary in different ruler of the city and historical periods. In

Thailand both men and women wore a cotton or silk wrap around garment called a Chong
kraben. Tied around the waist and wrapped similar to a loose loincloth, men wore theirs short to

the middle of the thigh, while women covered to round the shin. It was really normal for both of

them to be topless in times gone by. Victorian fashion were incorporated into Thai dresses and

stitched garments became popular rather than the wrap around items. Western fashion became

mainstream in Thailand wherein females encouraged to wear skirts rather than wrapped pieces of

cloth. Early 1940's public dress codes were introduced.

Thailand's national clothe is Chut Thai phra ratcha niyom, abbreviated to simply chut

Thai which simply means "Thai dress that has been royally endorsed". There are several types of

chut Thai for women that has different styles, garments and accessories. Some outfits can be

wore in any formal occasion.

RUEAN TON - most casual national Thai outfit for women. There is a long, tube - style skirt,

known as sinh, and a long sleeved collarless blouse. The skirt may be patterned or plain, with a

band of embroidery at the bottom and there are several regional styles and designs.

CHAKKRI - long tube skirt (sinh) with two front pleats. The upper garment known as sabai, an

elegant shawl like item that wraps around the upper body and trails to the ground at one side.

Chut Thai chakkri is made using a traditional weaving technique called yok, which results in a

thicker finish. It is common for fine threads of gold and silver to be incorporated into luscious

clothes.

SIWALAI - formal evening attire that is usually wore at royal ceremonies. The name siwalai is a

corruption of the English word "civilised". It is a tube skirt with two front pleats and a round

necked with elbow length sleeves that buttons up the front or the back.
BOROMPHIMAN - the dress is made from the lavish blouse and skirt sewn. That can be wore

for formal and semi formal occasions.

CHITLADA - used for formal ceremonial wear for daytime events. It has an embroidery at the

bottom and a long sleeved silk blouse with ornamental buttons at the front.

AMARIN - formal evening events. A long sinh and a broad , almost square like, long sleeved

blouse with a round neck and buttons all the way up the front to the throat.

DUSIT - national thai dress wore at international events and less formal evening functions. The

silk dress has a round neck and no sleeves and almost reaches to the ankles. The shirt has a long

collar and have sleeves of any length. Long sleeved shirts wore with a sash; the most formal type

of suea phraratchathan. For a greater degree of formality it usually wore with western style suit

trousers and a suit jacket.

CHAKKRAPHAT - formal that usually wore at royal ceremonies. It has a long tube like lower

garment. The upper part of the body is wrapped in a luxurious shawl. The fabric is often thick

and less formal evening functions. The silk dress has a round neck and no sleeves and reaches

almost to the ankles. Often wore with a belt to add greater definition to the waistline.

Thailand has practices that is made up of different influences from different sources,

including Indian culture, Chinese culture and the cultures of other countries in Southeast Asia.

Thai people are generally polite and friendly, so smiling is important.

In naming conventions, the important people such as, teachers , professors or monks the

first name should be proceed with ajarn. Surnames are reserved for evert formal occasions are

written documentation. It is not uncommon for Thai to assign nicknames to each other
 In terms of greeting, The Wai is the common form of greeting in thailand , by raising

both hhands.

THAI FOOD

Thailand is also known for its cuisine that captures the heart of their people and tourist.

Thai food originated with the people who emigrated from the southern Chinese provinces into

modern day Thailand many centuries ago. Although over the years, many counties influence

Thai food because of missionaries and colonization. In Northern Thailand, they generally

preferred sticky rice, a pork curry flavoured with ginger, turmeric, and tamarind. In North-

Eastern, the cuisine was influenced by Laos. Food is highly spiced, and sticky glutinous rice is

the preferred staple. The main sources of protein in North-Eastern are sea foods such as shrimp

and fresh water fish. In Central Thailand, The type of cooking which originated in the royal

palace involves much more elaborate meals, put together with complex techniques. It is more of

an art form than just regular cooking. Lastly, In Southern Thailand, there is much more use of

coconut milk in many dishes. Coconut replaces Ghee for frying and there is a heavy use of

seafood in the dishes

TRADITION

Every country has its own tradition. A tradition is a belief or behavior passed down

within a group or society with symbolic meaning with origins in the past. One of the significance

of having tradition in a specific country is, it represents the piece of our culture. Tradition can

build and form the foundation of our society. It also remind us that we are part of the history that

defines our pasts. It’s important to celebrate the traditions since it help us to build the
relationships to our beloved person because it brings the family together and reconnect with

other people.

Holiday

In Thailand, there are many traditional festival as well as events celebrated throughout

the year. Among many Thai public holidays there is a famous holiday called Songkran, which

came from a sanskrit word means 'passing' or 'approaching'. The Songkran festival, also known

as the traditional Thai New Year. It is usually celebrated in mid-April. The Songkran Festival is

a period when Thai people splash water on themselves, which they believe will cause plenty of

rainfall in the coming year. Water is used to cleanse themselves of those bad things.

Sports

Thai sport is a form of entertainment which takes place during religious and royal

ceremonies and festivals. One of the famous sport in Thailand is Muay Thai or Thai boxing. It is

a native form of kickboxing and Thailand's signature sport. It incorporates kicks, punches, knees

and elbow strikes in a ring with gloves similar to those used in Western boxing and this has led

to Thailand gaining medals at the Olympic Games in boxing.

Traditional Art

Traditional Thai art was heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Buddhism

is the primary theme of traditional Thai sculpture and painting. Traditional Thai paintings

showed subjects in two dimensions without perspective. The size of each element in the picture

reflected its degree of importance.

media and techniques, and encompasses some of the most diverse and versatile art in Southeast

Asia.

Traditional Dance

Traditional Thai dancing is a combination of graceful body movements in addition to

elaborate costumes and music. These different dances are divided into three categories: Knon,

Lakhon and Fawn Thai.

First is Knon. Back then, this kind of thai dance was only performed exlusively for the

royal families. But, it is now performed outside of the Royal Court. Most of the dancers are men

that wears costumes and masks to portray different characters. A Khon character includes

demons, monkeys, humans and celestial beings.

Second is Lakhon. This type of dance is less formal than Khon and the dancers do not

wear masks. The rich costumes and golden hats shaped as stupa are inspired by the clothes of

Kingdom of Ayutthaya. The lower half of the body does not move as much as the top, which

with graceful and sensual movements of hands throughout the performance portray different

emotions. Dancers are mostly graceful women that perform together as a group rather than

representing individual roles in a performance.

And lastly, Fawn Thai. It is a form of folk dance accompanied by folk music of the

region. This is the most frequently performed dance for tourists because it is more of a small

showcase and less of an opera style event. Apparently, there’s no story behind the beautiful gold

fingernail extensions, they are just worn for their beauty

The right to practice any religion in Thailand is protected by the constitution. Buddhism,

however, is the faith of 95 percent of the population, 4 percent are Muslims, 0.5 percent are

Christians, and the remainder Hindus, Sikhs and other religions.

Buddhism,specifically Theravada Buddhism. The religion practiced in Thailand is

somewhat unique to other Buddhist nations, having been infused with many outside elements.

Hindu practices and traditional Chinese beliefs have influenced local beliefs to an extent, with

animist beliefs playing a large role in making Thai Buddhism.

Thai spirit house. You will see, for example, many Thai people wearing amulets or

carrying talismans, despite Buddhism prohibiting attachment to material objects. Belief in ghosts

and spirits is strong in Thailand, stemming from traditional pre-Buddhism beliefs, and you’ll

notice spirit shrines in all manner of places.

As stated by Sarah Williams, Amulet Market in Thailand Superstitions are rife. Often

connected to the belief of ghosts and spirits, Thailand is a land of superstitions. It is customary

for people to consult a fortune teller or monk for an auspicious date before arranging a wedding,

buying a home, test driving a car, and other situations.

As mentioned by Sarah Williams, Statues depicting Thai ghosts. Monks are highly

respected. You can see many monks in Thailand both inside the temples and outside on the

streets, on buses, at festivals, and in a variety of everyday settings. Monks are highly revered and

respected in Thai culture and disrespecting a monk is a huge no-no.

always give up their seat to a monk if no other is available. Females, especially, should be

careful of their actions around monks. As well as not touching a monk or directly handing things

to them (females should put any offerings etc. on a monk’s dish rather than into their hands),

women shouldn’t sit next to a monk or their belongings. If you act inappropriately around a

monk in Thailand you can be sure that regular people around you will quickly point out your

errors with disapproval.

Common Thai Superstitions Beliefs

Thai people are grown up with superstitious beliefs and taboos. Some people still

believed that it might be true but because their culture and traditions evolved over the years,

some people do not believe anymore and just use it to tease someone. Here are some of their

practices that they believe:

1. Lucky person finish the last piece.

If you get to eat the last piece of food in the plate when sharing with your friends, you will get a

handsome boyfriend or good looking girlfriend.

2. Don’t leave home if you hear a gecko!

If you hear a gecko before you leave your home, it is a sign that you will experience bad

incident. The lizard is warning you that something bad will happen to you, so you should stay

inside

3. If you dream of a snake, you will meet your soul mate.

on his/her way! In the case you already have a girlfriend, boyfriend, or are already married and

you dreamt that you found a snake, someone is having a crush on you!

4. If your right eye twitches it means something bad is going to happen to you, but if it is the left

eye you will have good luck.

5. To single ladies: do not sing while cooking or eating, or you will end up with an old husband!

This taboo came from the fact that the rice will be burnt (rice cookers didn’t exist in the old time,

and people had to use coal

6. Never say a baby is cute because a ghost will come and take it away, so Thai people will

compliment a cute baby with the expression “น่ ารักน่ าชัง nâa-rák nâa-chang” (adorable and

unpleasant)

7. Your finger will fall off if you point at a rainbow.

8. If you sneeze, it means someone is missing you or someone is talking about you.

9. If you are talking about someone and suddenly he/she shows up or hear from him/her, it

means that person will live long. Thai people say ตายยาก /dtaai yâak/ like in English expression

that says ‘speaking of the devil'.

10. It’s raining cats and dogs.

Some believe that virgin women have a special power to prevent rain from pouring! If

you don’t want to have a rainy day , you can give a virgin lady a lemongrass and ask her to stick

it onto the ground (This ritual is called ปักตะไคร ้ bpàk dtà-krái). The sun will shine.
REFERENCES:

 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand

 https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/11-things-you-should-know-about-

thai-culture/

 http://learnthaiwithmod.com/2013/10/10-common-thai-superstitions-and-beliefs/

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m-ust-know/

 https://-expertworldtravel.com/songkran-day-festival/what-is-songkran-fest-ival/

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 https://www.khaolakexplorer.com/thailand-guide/thai-cuisine/