Unit 3.1 Introduction to Culture

Folk Culture

There are a lot of aspects of folk culture in Thailand, including beliefs, deities, spirits and ghosts, festivals, tales, and arts and crafts. There are village shamans that are known as phram, a word originating from Brahmana. They are known for conducting exorcisms and performing marriages, as well as other ceremonies.

Indigenous Culture

Thailand has nine tribes that are recognized to be native to the country which are the Hmong, Karen, Lisu, Mien, Akha, Lahu, Lua, Thin and Khamu. The estimation of indegenous people to Thailand is around 5 million people and they account for 7.2% of the total population. The population total from the tribes is 925,825 and they are said to be distributed across 20 provinces in North and the West of the country.

Global Culture

In Los Angeles, there resides the only Thai town. There are 60 plus Thai businesses that are structured in Thai. In the Thai town, there are Kinarra Lamposts that highlight Thai culture.

Artifacts

Food

Kanom Chin is Thai rice noodles. It is made from fermented rice and is usually eaten with toppings such as green curry, chicken, or green papaya salad. This is one of the oldest types of noodles in Thailand.

Art

Lanna Art (Chiang Saen) has elements of artistic traditions in Northern Thailand. It drew inspiration from Hariphunchai art. The art is typically bell-shaped, going from a round plane to a polygonial plane. Above is the Wat Lok Moli, Chiang Mai.

Music

Piphat is the most iconic Thai music style. The music style symbolizes the dancing of 'Thailands legendary dragons' and has a 'midsized orchestra including two xylophones, an oboe, barrel drums, and two circular sets of tuned horizontal gong-chimes.'

Mentifacts

Beliefs

The most practiced religion in Thailand is Thai Buddhism. 94% of the people in Thailand practice this religion. The Muslims in the South, the border with Malaysia, make up the other 5% of the Thai population.

Practices

There are different practices that people in Thailand are accustomed to. Taking off your shoes whenever you enter homes, some businesses, and temples is one of the most essential practices. Thailand people see the feet as the furthest away from the head, so they are the lowest part, physically and spiritually.

Sociofacts

Family Structure

The family structure in Thailand is patriarchal, the household defers to the oldest living man. It's common for several generations to reside under the same roof. Grandparents, aunts, and even older siblings will help to take care of a child. Career paths are often determined by a parents business connections.

Government Structure

The government structure in Thailand is composed of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The system is modeled after the Westminister system. All the branches of the government are in Bangkok, the capital city.

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