The golden chedi of Nakhon Pathom, Bangkok Thailand is the oldest and most

sacred. It is also world's tallest stupa

Thailand

• Thai is a tonal language, with distinctions based on inflection -- low, mid, high, rising, or falling tone -- rather than stress.

Basic Phrases & Vocabulary

• Hello (male) Sawadee-krup -Hello (female) Sawadee-ka• How are you? Sabai-dee rêu? -I am fine Sabai-dee• My name is (male)...Pôm chê... -My name is (female)...Deè-chân chê...• In a Restaurant -coffee ca-fae• tea naam-châ -juice nám-kuá-la-mâi• bottled water nam kwât -water naam• wine wine -bread ká-nom-pâng• rice kâo -chicken kài• beef núa -pork môo• fish pla -shrimp goông• fruit kuá-la-mâi -dessert kong-wan• I am a vegetarian. Pôm/Deè-chân kin jay. -I don't like it spicy. Mâi chôp pèt.• I like it spicy. Chôp pèt. -Delicious! Ah-lòy!

Thai food

Origin of Thais

• Thailand (previously known as Siam) has been populated ever since the dawn of civilization in Asia.

• Thais originated in northwestern Szechuan in China and later migrated down to Thailand along the southern part of China. They split into two main groups.

• One settled down in the North and became the kingdom of "Lanna" and the other one is in further south, which afterward was defeated by the Khmers and became the kingdom of "Sukhothai". 

Khmer Influence

• From the 9th to the 11th century, the central and western area of Thailand was occupied by Mon civilization called Dvaravati.

• The Mon share the same common lineage as the Khmers and settle in southern Burma latter.

• By the 11th-12th centuries, Mon Influenced over central Thailand. Khmer cultural influence was brought in the form of language, art and religion.

Lanna Period

• Northern Thailand was once occupied by the ancient Lanna Empire, which spread over Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun and Phayao.

• Lan Na flourished for over 200 years. Its arts and literature rose at the peak, especially in the middle of 15th century, the King Tilokoraj period.

Sukhothai Period

• Sukhothai, meaning the ''Dawn of Happiness'' was the first truly independent Thai Kingdom founded in 1238, by two Thai chieftains, Khun Bang Klang Tao and Khun Pa Muang.

• A kingdom that was short-lived but of immense cultural importance in the nation’s history. Sukhothai period was the most flourishing period of Thailand.

• Sukhothai period was considered to be a golden age of Thai culture. During that time in the history, everybody could say that "There were fish in the waters and rice in the fields". 

• The Sukhothai period (13th-14th centuries) is regarded as the zenith of Thai culture, advancing major achievements in Thai art and architecture. One of the lasting legacies of the Sukhothai period is its sculpture, characterized by the graceful aquiline-nosed Buddha, either sitting in meditation or, more distinctively, walking sinuously.

Ayutthaya Period

• Ayutthaya, the capital of the Thai Kingdom was found by U-Thong King in 1350.

• The Thai kings of Ayutthaya became powerful in the 14th and 15th centuries, were not only Buddhist kings who ruled according to the dhamma (dharma), but they were also devaraja, god-kings whose sacred power was associated with the Hindu, gods Indra and Vishnu.

• Throughout its long history, Ayutthaya had a thriving commerce in "forest produce", principally sapan wood (a wood which produces reddish dye), eaglewood (an aromatic wood), benzoin (a type of incense), gumlac (used as wax), and deer hides (much in demand in Japan). Elephant teeth and rhinoceros horns were also highly valued exports, but the former was a strict royal monopoly and the latter relatively rare, especially compared with deer hides.

Ayutthaya period

• The Burmese invaded Ayutthaya  in 1765.

• Burmese soldiers destroyed everything, including temples, manuscripts, and religious sculpture. After the capital fell in their hands for two years, the Burmese effectiveness could not further hold the kingdom. Phaya Taksin, a Thai general, promoted himself to be the king in 1769.

Thonburi Period

• After the shattering defeat which had culminated in Ayutthaya's destruction, the death and capture of thousands of Thais by the victorious Burmese, and the dispersal of several potential Thai leaders, the situation seemed hopeless.

• It was a time of darkness and of troubles for the Thai nation.

• Members of the old royal family of Ayutthaya had died, escaped, or been captured by the Burmese and many rival claimants for the throne emerged, based in different areas of the country.

Rattanakosin Period

• The Chakris were inaugurated on April 6, 1782 together with the coronation of Rama I or King Buddha Yot Fa Chulalok. He moved the capital across the Chao Phaya River from Thonburi to a small village known as "Bangkok" and raised up new laws to rule the country. Under his reign, Thailand covered all areas of present day Laos and parts of Burma, Cambodia and Kedah province in Malaysia. 

Under Rama IX's government, the country's name was officially changed from "Siam" to "Thailand" in 1946 which was defined in Thai as "Prathet Thai", the word "Prathet" means "country" and the word "Thai" means "free" referring to the Thai races.               

Thai ArchitectureTemple - Wat

• The thai Temple, or Wat, is actually a complex of buildings and religious monuments within a single compound, often varying in both age and artistic value, designed to serve a number of practical purposes in the surrounding community.

• The mainstays of Thai wat architecture:

phra chedi (stupa), bot, phra prang, mondop, prasat

Wat- phra chedi

• The dome-shaped -- usually called simply chedi and better known in the West as stupa -- is the most venerated structure and an elaboration of the basic mound.

• A stupa consists of a dome (tumulus), constructed atop a round base (drum) and surmounted by a cubical chair representing the seated Buddha, over which is the chatra (umbrella) in one or several (usually nine) tiers.

• There are many different forms extant in Thailand: The tallest, oldest, and most sacred is the golden chedi of Nakhon Pathom.

Wat- bot

• The bot (ubosoth or uposatha) is where the bhikku (monks) meditate and all ceremonies are performed.

• It consists of either one large nave or one nave with lateral aisles built on a rectangular plan where the Buddha image is enshrined.

Wat- phra prang

• The phra prang, which originated with the corner tower of the Khmer temple, is a new form of Thai stupa, elliptical in shape and also housing images of the Buddha.

Wat- mondop

• The mondop may be made of wood or brick. On a square pillared base the pyramidal roof is formed by a series of receding stories, enriched with the same decoration tapering off in a pinnacle.

• It may serve to enshrine some holy object as at Saraburi, or it may serve as a kind of library and storeroom for religious ceremonial objects.

Grand Palace

• The Grand Palace was built in 1782 at the same time as Wat Phra Kaeo to act as the official residence of the king.

• King Chulalongkorn was the last king to live there, subsequent monarchs residing at the less formal Chitralada Palace in Dusit district.

• Today, the palace is used for certain ceremonial occasions such as Coronation Day. A few government buildings within the compound are still functioning.

• The Outer Court, housed the government departments in which the king was directly involved, such as civil administration, including the army, and the treasury. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha takes up one corner of the complex next to the outer court.

• In the middle is the Central Court, where the residence of the king and the halls for conducting state business were located.

Bangkok's Grand Palace

Bangkok's Grand Palace

• Behind the central court was the inner court. This was where the king's royal consorts and daughters lived.

• The inner court was like a small city entirely populated by women and boys under the age of puberty.

• This palace has an area of 218,400 sq. meters and is surrounded by walls built in 1783.

Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Just north of the Royal Residence of the Maha Monthian from which there is a connecting gate lies The Chapel Royal of The Emerald Buddha.It consists of all the architectural features of the monastery without however the residential quarter, for monks do not live here. The Assembly Hall, or Ubosoth, serves as the monarch's private chapel. The "Emerald Buddha" is carved from a block of jade.

• Chakri Maha Prasat Hall was built by king Chulalongkorn (RAMA V). It is used for the reception of foreign ambassadors. It is a beautiful blend of European and Thai architecture

• This is the largest of the palace buildings and is often known as the Grand Palace Hall. Designed by the British architect John Chinitz, the building exhibits a bizarre blend of European and Thai architecture. The central 'mondop', the tiered spire on the roof, houses the ashes of each of the Chakri kings, while the flanking mondops enshrine the ashes of princes who never inherited the throne.

• Dusit Throne Hall: The cross-shaped Dusit Throne Hall with its magnificent multi-tiered spire is one of the finest examples of Rattanakosin architecture. Originally used as a venue for royal audiences, the hall is currently used for the annual Coronation Day ceremonies.

• Thus the principle function of the Dusit Maha Prasat has been and still is a Hall for Lying-in-State of kings, queens and honoured members of the royal family. This Hall is also used for the annual Consecration Day Ceremony (Phra Ratcha Phithi Chat Mongkhon). It houses many important objects.

Boromphiman Hall: Built by King Rama V as a residence for the crown prince, the Boromphiman Hall is designed in neo-classical European style. Today, the hall is still occasionally used to accommodate visiting dignitaries.

Maha Monthien Hall: Located east of the Chakri Throne Hall, this complex actually includes three buildings, the Amarindra Audience Hall, the Phaisan Taksin Hall and the Chakraphat Phiman Hall. The three buildings together represent the grand residence of the palace complex.the Audience Hall of Amarin Winitchai, where ceremonies of the Court usually take place in front of the throne surmounted by its canopy of nine tiers of white cloth and backed by a boat shaped altar fronting the door leading in to the inner chambers.Paisal Taksin Hall where the coronation of a monarch takes place with its coronation chair and the octagonal seat where the monarch receives the people's invitation to rule.

Thai Roof

• At the end of each ridge of the roof are graceful finials, called chofa (meaning "sky tassle"), which are reminiscent of animal horns but are thought to represent celestial geese or the Garuda (a mythological monster ridden by the god Shiva). The triangular gables are adorned with gilded wooden ornamentation and glass mosaics.

Thai house• The Thai house, like other houses

in Southeast-Asia, is a wooden structure raised on posts. Over many centuries it has acquired its own unique style.

• The distinguishing marks are an elegantly tapering roof and various finials and decorations that differ regionally.

 

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

• While architectural features vary  throughout the four cultural regions, Central Thailand, the North (Lanna), the North-East (Isaan), and the South, the method of raising a platform on poles is common to all parts of the country.

• It offers protection from  dirt, hostile wildlife, thieves, and most importantly from the monsoon  floods which affect all of Thailand.

Thai house

Thai house• The traditional Thai house is ideally

adapted to its environment. The open high-pitched roof facilitates air circulation.

• Open windows and walls in combination with a large central terrace provide ideal ventilation and offer relief from the hot and humid climate.

• Wide overhanging eaves protect the house from sun and rain. Rainwater runs off the steep roof quickly and falls through the permeable terrace and house floors.

• The use of wood and bamboo reflects the once abundant forests that provided these materials ubiquitously and cheaply. In the past, an agricultural society existed in relative harmony with its natural environment.

    

    

    

    

    

    

    

The use of high-quality rosewood and teak from the North of Thailand as well as the intricate carvings indicate that this house in Amphawa belongs to a wealthy family.

Two connected single houses form a huge hall which provides space for official and representative functions. Note the inwards inclining angle of the bearing posts, which is typical for central Thai style houses.

View of the front of a central-style cluster house. While the arrangement of rooms around the central terrace may vary, the largest structure is usually occupied by the family head. The sleeping quarters of children and the kitchen are built around the main structure.

Side view of a central-style house for a nuclear family. This house stands for sale on the roadside in Samut Songkhram. It does not contain a single nail. Once bought, the house is disassembled, transported to the new owner's site and reelected in less than a month.

The front of the same house shows most of the traditional features. It has a door with portal roof, a small terrace ('charn'), wall panels and gables with the popular rectangular 'loog fak' pattern and the typical 'panlom' wind break with the horned finial design.

This northern house differs from central-style houses in several aspects. It has a 'kalae' gable top decoration, but it lacks a 'panlom.' The girders supporting the eaves stand straight on the veranda floor rather than being fixed angular to the posts, and the 'kansart' eaves are joined to the main roof.

Silk weaving is the traditional occupation of women in the north and northeast. The hand operated loom is typically placed in the shade under the terrace.

Stairs of northern-style houses are often built parallel to the house. According to traditional beliefs, the stairway must have an odd number of stairs to bring good fortune. In addition, the stairway must not face west, because this is where ghosts may otherwise enter the house.

The distinguishing mark of a southern-style Muslim house is the vertical gable finial, which is often adorned with Gingerbread fretwork or floral motives. The gable itself often has a sunburst or flower motif. Southern roofs are hipped, gabled, or in blanor style, sometimes stepped, such as this one.

The back of a southern-style house. Carved ventilation panels just under the roof run around the entire house. In the south of Thailand, these ventilation panels often have geometric designs and are sometimes inlaid with stained glass.

More spacious compounds often feature a 'sala' such as this one. The sala is a Thai pavilion, sometimes raised, used for sleeping, reading, chatting with guests, and other leisure activities. Note the concrete necklaces around the poles which increase vertical and lateral loadbearing ability.

Some of the wood used in the construction looks 'ancient' because it has been recycled from older houses. Recycling large wooden beams and posts makes sense, because timber has become very expensive in Thailand in recent years.

This is a recently erected river raft house at the Ta Chin river, Nakhon Pathom. The owner is growing 'phak bung' in front of the house, a popular Thai vegetable that grows in the water.

Traditional raft houses on Ko Kred, an island in the Chaophraya river, located approximately 30 km upstream from Bangkok. The island is populated by ethnic Mons who have preserved the area's established appearance.

In front of the 'hor nang' (literally: sitting hall) stands a typical Thai-style table with inward bent 'lion foot' legs. The utensils on the table are a Chinese tea set and small implements for the preparation of betel nut. These are often the most prized possessions in a traditional Thai household.

Traditionally, Thai people sleep either on the floor or on a raised wooden platform. The mattress, dressing table, and electrical outlet are modern additions to this 'ruen norn' (bedroom).

The traditional Thai kitchen is a simple, well ventilated room where a number of essential cooking utensils are found, such as a ceramic charcoal stove, a mortar, a chopping board, various ceramic pots, and large water jars. Due to the danger of open fire, the kitchen is often accommodated in a separate structure.

A brief description of traditional Thai house

• Traditional Thai houses are well designed to fit the lifestyle needs and climatic conditions of Southeast Asia.  Thai houses typically have steep roofs arching upwards towards the sky.  

• Both of the walls are inclined towards the center creating the illusion of height.

•  A functional aspect behind this design and structural element is easy ventilation.  Hot air rises so the height of the roof keeps the house cool. Simplicity and open space are the core features of the Thai style house.       

Traditional Thai house

• Elevated house facilitates the circulation of air and offers a more comfortable living space.  

• The ample space underneath the house on stilts is versatile.  It is used as a living area in the hot season, as storage for farming equipment such as "kwian" (buffalo drawn wagon), planks, boats, ploughing set, large frying pan, etc. and as a place to keep live stocks.

Traditional Thai house

• The curved roof-ends which give the tip of the eaves a highly distinctive look and add to the graceful appearance of the Thai houses are symbolic of the 'nagas' or river dragons that adorn most of the Thai temples.     

• One practical feature of the Thai house is it can be easily assembled or taken down.  The entire house is built in light, prefabricated sections with each section forming a wall.   Each wall is then fitted together and hung on the superstructure - a frame of wooden pillars - without nails.  

Traditional Thai house• According to superstition and traditional Thai belief,

the raised thresholds of Thai houses prevent evil spirits from creeping in at night and disrupting the sleep of the inhabitants. And functionally, the raised thresholds act as a frame.

     • Additionally in the past, the thresholds of the door

were raised to prevent babies and small children from falling into the water.

In a typical old Thai house, the various rooms would be separate units connected by open walkways and the staircase was on the outside.

Most of traditional Thai houses are or have been made of teakwood.    

• Insii Thai House has been built in 2000. It is a traditional Thai style property which includes a main house, 3 smaller houses and a sala.

• Once the basic plan decided, we relied only on local craftmen to build what is now regarded as one of the most beautiful houses in the north of Thailand.

• Insii Thai House is rather a mix of various styles, which makes it even more unique.

Insii Thai House