| Government
web pages on Thailand
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Thai
Monarchs
Note:
Thai people are fierce monarchists. Insulting the King is perhaps
the single quickest way to wear out your welcome. King
Mongkut, Rama IV
King Mongkut (pictured here),
aka Rama IV (reigned 1851-1868) is known as "The Father of Thai science".
Along with his son Chulalongkorn, Rama V (reigned 1868-1910), guided Thailand
through the latter half of the 19th century, a dangerous period for Thailand
given pressures from expansionist British and Dutch forces.
Mrs. Anna Leonowen was hired
to teach English lessons to his royal children. The famous book "The King
and I" was written by her. Despite the lovely score written by Richard
Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, "The King and I" is not at
all a factual account. Mrs. Leonowen was only mentioned in the meticulous
annals of the Thai court once, and only then in a footnote to a
shopping list for the palace school. "The King and I"
is viewed as an insulting series of lies by the Thai people, and it is
banned in Thailand. The Thai ambassador to the U.S., Mr. Nitya
Pibulsonggram, makes the Thai point of view clear in his letter
to Mr. Christopher Cox of The Boston Herald.
King Chualongkorn,
Rama V
 
King Chualongkorn, Rama V, (born 1853, enthroned
1868, died 1910) is one of Thailand's most beloved and revered kings.
Many Thai people wear necklaces with his picture and have Buddhist shrines
in that contain his picture. In the 1880s Chualongkorn implemented
the reforms that he considered vital for the kingdom to survive the threats
and demands of Western nations. He announced the gradual abolition of
slavery, began the creation of a modern army, overhauled the revenue system,
reorganized the provincial administration and extended the capital’s control
in outlying regions, began a modern education system, and reformed the
bureaucracy. With improving transportation facilities (e.g., modern railways)
available to international trade, Western-style law codes and administration
in place, and a growing reputation for progressive aspirations, Siam gained
sufficient Western goodwill to retain its independence during an era where
hostile European nations would have otherwise carved the country into
pieces. Other links to chakri dynasty kings include Kings
of the Chakri dynasty and Thailand
celebrates Chakri day or visit the Royal Thai Embassy, Washington's
page on the Kings
of the Chakri dynasty.
His Majesty
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Rama IX
[Um, I
believe I should have permission from the Thai government to post a picture
of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
That may take a while. --TT]
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Books
and Links on the History of Thailand David
K. Wyatt at Yale has written several books in English on Thai history:
- Thailand: A Short History,
Yale University Press, New Haven, 1982. This book focuses on Thai
political history from the early Muang period through the present. The
most accessible to the general readers of the three books by David K.
Wyatt.
- Studies in Thai History: Collected
Articles. Some of the articles have some interesting stuff
on Thai social history (daily life in ancient Thailand). I enjoyed
the discussions of what we don't know about Thai history--apparently
there are some huge gaps.
- The Chiang Mai Chronicle.
Historical monograph on the northern province in Thailand that in ancient
times was sometimes an independent state, sometimes subject to Burmese
rule and sometimes subject to Thai rule, but at any rate home to some
interesting Hill Tribes. [The hill tribes in the north and the
southern Patani (Patani Silat) area are both reputed to possess interesting
variants on Muay Thai that have evolved through warfare over the centuries.]
Interesting links on Thai History
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| Tourism
in Thailand
Ruins in Ayuttaya
Exterior side view of
Bangkok's Grand Palace. The Grand Palace contains some of Thailand's
most revered Buddhist art work. If you go to Bangkok take a full
day to go through the Grand Palace. But, just as if you went to
the Vatican, be sure to dress 'respectfully', which in Thai culture means
covering your legs and upper arms.
Evening view of the Grand Palace.
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Detail of old carvings
on a temple within the Grand Palace,
Bangkok, said to ward off evil spirits. There is more visible historical
evidence of past eras in Thailand than in any other South-East
Asian country, so if you're interested in ruins, temples
and deserted cities, this is the place to go.
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Cooking Thai Food in American Kitchens, Volumes 1 and 2, by Malulee
Pinsuvana is written half in Thai and half in English and directed at
Thais living abroad. If you like authentic Thai cuisine I would
recommend this book highly. Watch out though...the recipes come
out pretty hot if you spice them according to the book's specifications. 
