David K. Wyatt/Kulavir P. Pipat

Speaker of Thai Language and participant in Thai culture

If you ask me: Thai Citizen Chinese Race Buddhist View

Mainstream history through these kingdoms:

Sukhothai, dated back 800 years Ayutthaya, dated back 600 years Thonburi, dated back 246 years Rattanakosin, since B.E. 2325 or

A.D. 1782 (231 years) Historical evidences: more than 1000 years:

Haripunchai Kingdom (Lumphun) dated back 1300 years

Baan Chiang potteries, pre-historical period (3.5 mil year)

A.D. started when the Jesus Christ was born

B.E. started when the Buddha passed away

The difference between these two = 543 years

Only some Buddhist countries use B.E.: Thailand Sri Lanka

77% of Thai/Siamese 12% of Chinese 11% of Others Total population as of 2011 is 67 mil.

Type: Constitutional monarchy Independence: Never colonized;

traditional founding date 1238 Political parties: Multi-party system;

Communist Party is prohibited Suffrage: Universal and compulsory at

18 years old

Compulsory education: 6-12 years Literacy 92% Birth Rate 0.5% GDP (2011 est.): $323.6 billion Annual GDP growth rate (2011 est.): 1.5% Per capita income (2010 prelim.): $4,716 Unemployment rate (2011 est.): 1.0% of

total labor force

Thai is monosyllabic and tonal: 5 Tones ปา = throw ป�า = forest ป�า = aunt ป�า = father (Chinese) ป�า = sugar daddy44 Consonants, 21 vowels

Thai Customs derived from India, China, and other Southeast Asian countries. Greetings: Sawasdee (Wai) ~ Namaste of

Indian Seniority: “Walk after adult, dog won’t bite”

#Thai Food/dessert came from many countries: Curry&Roti from India, Noodle from China, dessert from Portugal, Isan food from Laos, etc.

Communal way of life, less individualistic “Whatever” (arai gor dai) Friendly and Fun-loving

(www.sanook.com) Easy-going: due to fertility and climate

“That’s alright” (mai bpen rai) Note: Thais are generally kind yet easily

offended especially when their images are damaged in the public. “Don’t make Thai to lose (social)face”(sia nah)”

**Monarch(esp. King) is highly respected. **Any insult to the monarch is illegal.**