Chinese People In Thailand

The Chinese Community In Thailand
The Tai tribes, the Yunnanese Haw and all the ‘’ Hill tribes ‘’ detailed in the North Thailand People section [ except for the Austroasians ] came from China. Here the term Chinese refers to the Han Chinese communities who migrated to Thailand. Today 12 % of the Thai people are Chinese or have some Chinese ancestors. The community is estimated to have been 230,000 in 1825 and 792,000 by 1910. By 1932,12.2% of the population of Siam was Chinese.Most Chinese came from the rural south of China, and on arrival centered around Bangkok in the marked orientated sector of the Siam economy. Later the Government employed Chinese for rail and canal construction projects rather than continue with the traditional Asian practice of forced and unpaid corvee labour. The site of the Grand Place and Wat Phrao Kaeo was originally that of the 17th-C Chinese settlement in Bangkok.Until the 20th C most Chinese migrants from China were men who took Thai wives so soon the Chinese character was merged with Thai. General Taksin who became King in 1778 was half Chinese. The sino-siamese children assimilated and were successful with education so by the end of the 19th-C they were well represented in the Government bureaucracy.
The 20th Century Migration
The Chinese became city dwellers [ mainly in Bangkok ] and were in close collaboration with international business so that now they dominate the modern thai economy. In the beginning of the 20th-C more Chinese women arrived from China to marry with Chinese men and have Chinese children, so throughout the 20th C and today the Chinese tradition continues distinctly in its own right, whilst others with Chinese ancestors, have mixed traditions. A visit to Chinatown in Bangkok and the Chinese temples highlights the different cultures and beliefs.In the early 20th-C the issue of minorities' nationalism was foremost, causing one Prime Minister to remark, ‘’Can something be done to make the Chinese become Siamese as in the old days ? ‘’. In order to appreciate this past a tour of Chinatown in Bangkok is recommended. Also one should be aware of the extensive array of Chinese art in Temples and other buildings and the respect for Chinese Gods, as with the Chinese Goddess, Guan Im, shown above and who can be visited in the grounds of Wat Phrao Kaeo.

Chinatown Bangkok

Tien Fa Charity Foundation Chinese Godess Bangkok

Chinatown Bangkok is located at the west end of Rattanakosin Island and is the cultural and social center of the ethnic Chinese who became a part of Thailand society but who are mainly descendants of Chinese men who married Chinese women brought to Thailand for marriage, as distinct forom early periods of time when Chinese men could not bring Chinese women from China and who married other ethnic groups already resident in Thailand.
On the West side of the Chao Phraya River in old Thon Buri also can be seen the first Temples and houses of the very first Chinese migrants who settled there well before Rattanokosin was settled by Rama 1.
In many respects this Chinatown is like many others in Asia. This pattern of immigration and changing relationships is explained in the link about the Chinese in Thailand.
Chinatown in Bangkok follows along Yaowarat Road from the Chinese Gate at Odeon Circle to the Ong Ang Canal which was the original moat and defence line for the original Rattanakosin Island fortess. Yaowarat Road today is lined with Chinese styled shops and signs similar in appearance to old Hong Kong. The better way to see more is to walk and use the map here to identify places of significance.

Wat Suwannaram in Bangkok Noi

Wat Suwannaram in Bangkok Noi District is of artistic and historical interest.
The design and construction of Wat Suwannaram is of the Ayutthaya period before the destruction of Ayutthaya and all its buildings.
It has undergone restoration twice, once under Rama 1 and again in the time of Rama V. It was originally a monastery called Wat Thong [ '' Golden Wat '' ], again later named Wat Suwannaram [ '' Golden Monastery '' ] by King Rama 1.The Murals
Inside on the walls is one of the finest remaining collections of Thai classic style murals. When looking at these murals one should understand the following about Thai Mural Style and Characteristics.
Thai murals have the following characteristics. They contain many small, almost tiny individual scenes, landscapes and figures in contrast to the large wall space on which they are painted. The objects are stylized throughout Thailand and are two dimensional in form, that is there is no perspective of dimension as in European painting. There are also continuous and flowing sets of panoramas of places, palaces, towns, events and country landscapes with real and mythical people or creatures.
However all panoramas whether painted above the head of the viewer, at the same level or nearer the floor, all are painted from a perspective that the viewer is high above, as if in the sky looking down or from a distance.
The episodes of religous and every day life are reflections from different times but are depicted simultaneously separated by landscape or architecture like a zig zag design. The characters are stylized such that the celestial and or noble beings are always portrayed serene whilst those from the common folk are portrayed in ungainly or realistic or comic postures or movements.
After the mid 19 C Western influences introduced the concepts of the use of perspective and shading to give the illusion of depth.Historical events at Wat Suwannaram
Historically is was, in the time of Taksin the Great, the execution place for Burmese prisoners of war.
Until the period of the reign of King Rama V the grounds of Wat Suwannaram were also used as the Royal Cremation site for members of the Royal Family and top ranking officials of the Kingdom.

The Murals at Wat Suwannaram
In the seven centuries of Thai Buddhist painting the Schools of style are, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and the First and Second Periods of the Rattanakosin periods. The first period between 1761 to 1851 murals or wall paintings had two contrasring styles.
The First style followed the traditions of Ayutthaya during the periods of Thonburi and later Rama 1. In this period compositions were ''airy'' and painted on light backgrounds.
Later in Bangkok murals are depicted in dark colours and use gold leaf. Wat Suwannaram and Wat Rakhang, both at Thonburi exhibit the best surviving examples of this First Period of style in Thai mural painting. The original paintings were repainted in the time of Rama 111. As you will see the climate and humidity has a damaging impact on this form of art.
Without dealing with all the detail a tourist should appreciate the following. Whilst there are changes in style of painting and of the features of persons depicted, artists conformed with tradition and in Ubosots and viharns in Bangkok and Thonburi there was a specific formula of what to portray, where and how. On the lateral walls in the spaces between the windows is protrayed the life of Buddha and the Dasa Jatakas [ Ten Great Jatakas ]. On the upper portion of these walls and above them are painted rows of celestial adorers arranged in four separate rows. On the west wall behind the principal image are represented the Three Worlds, and on the lower part of the wall hell is depicted, as is the lower of the Three Worlds. On the opposite wall facing the principal image [ statue of the Buddha ] the murals depict the victory of the Buddha over Mara. Of interest here are the characterisations of beings with western European features.

Wat Saket Golden Mount Temple Bangkok

Wat Saket [ Golden Mount ] is a Buddhist Temple built on a very large formation protruding into the sky in the western side of the City of Bangkok in Pom Prap Sattru District. It is located between Boriphat and Lan Luang Roads and is open from 8 am to 9 pm daily. Whilst it does not offer much in the way of art and architecture as is usual in Bangkok temples it does offer and extraordinary view over to the west and Dusit and south west towards Wat Sutat and other major places of interest.
Tourists not in good health should avoid the climb up the steep 318 steps to the summit.
The Mount is within the larger grounds of Wat Saket.
This temple dates back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom. What you see today was built in the time of Rama 1 to serve as Bangkok City's crematorium and isolation retreat for suffers of the plague and other ailments. It was located out side the then City's fortification walls.
The golden Chedi was started to be added in the time of Rama 111 and finished in the period of Rama V.

Wat Po Bangkok

Wat Pho Golden Buddha

Wat Pho is the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok. It is located at the south side of the Grand Palace and is protected by massive walls through which only two of the 16 gates are open to the public. The first temple was built in 16th C. The 8 hectare complex was added to by successive kings.
Historically the site was a type of university for public education and hence today we see an array of miscellaneous buildings, murals and inscriptions dealing with astrology, military defence, literature, morality, archaeology and traditional medicine. The temple compound is large and contains numerous pavilions, statues, buildings, 91 chedis and enclosed gardens.
Whilst the Temple of the Reclining Buddha inside the complex is a tourist favorite the larger temple to the east wall is more impressive.

Wat Arun Bangkok

Wat Arun On Chao Phraya River

Wat Arun [ the Temple of Dawn ] is a riverside Temple on the West side of the Chao Phraya River almost opposite Wat Po on the East side. It is constructed of brick on the place where General Taksin [ later King Taksin ] and his surviving army landed after the sacking of Ayuthaya.
The Central Prang is 79 metres high [ 259 feet ] and is cornered by 4 smaller prangs. All of these are encrusted with porcelain and ceramic pieces to form motives, usually of flowers, mythical animals and figures.
Construction was commenced under Rama 2 whose bronze statue stands just to the north of the Temple on the River embankment.
The design style is Ayuthayan, which also follows traditional Khmer and ultimately Hindu concepts. The Central Prang symbolises ancient Mount Meru and the steepness and consequential difficulty in climbing its steps is intended to illustrate the difficulty in life of attaining closeness to the realm of the Gods.
The use of ceramics and porcelain is intended to make the Temple glisten in the sun, especially at dawn in the early mornings, at sunset and at moonlight. For sightseeing and photography it is best approached by boat across the Chao Phraya River.
The four smaller and corner Prangs contain statues of the God Phra Pai, the God of wind. It is on the Thon Buri side of the river in what was originally the walled city of Thon Buri.

Ancient City Theme Park Bangkok [ Muang Boran ]

Ancient City Theme Park Bangkok [ Muang Boran ]

Ancient City theme park is located at 33 old Sukhumvit Road Bangpoo, Samut Prakan suburb, south of Bangkok [ 66 2 2709 1644 ]. The theme park covers 320 acres and a car is reommended to drive one around. The site contains replicas of many of Thailand's famous historical sites.
There are over 116 replicas of famous buildings or other monuments from all over Thailand. The area is shaped like Thailand and the replica buildings are placed according to where they actually are in Thailand. The replicas are very good. Some buildings or monuments replicated no longer exist, such as the Royal Hall od Ayutthaya which was destroyed by the Burmese invaders in 1767.
This theme park is impressive but you can get lost or miss important sites, or wander without fully appreciating what there is to see and understand. Accordingly we strongly recommend you purchase for 330 baht the 276 page booklet '' Guide to Muang Boran '' and follow its map and read the details with each picture of the 116 monuments.
Additionally you should travel within the park with a vehicle which you can direct and take many stops at selected monuments.