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**kanchouska** · 09-21-2012, 10:25 AM

From what i have read, the percentage of Thai-Chinese Bangkokians is much higher than 49%, something around 75%. This does not of course, count migrants from rural areas.

Who Are The Real Thais?

That is exceptional difficult to answer. If we delve into the essence of Thai Culture, we find 'Nation', 'Religion' and 'Monarchy. Let us have a look at the monarchy, which is often defined as 'pure Thai' and the heart of the Thai people.
The present monarchy is also quite Thai-Chinese, King Rama the Ninth's mother was half Chinese. The monarchy also has other foreign blood and especially Persian (inherted from the Bunnag family during the reigns of Rama 4 and 5).

Just this fact puzzles the real definition.

If you look at Isarn; since they speak a kind of Laotian not even Thai, they are also historically Laotian, so not 'real Thai'. If you go the North of Thailand, those people are also historically 'Lanna' coming from Burma - so you could say they are not 'real Thais'. As for the south of Thailand, they are mostly Muslim and do not regard themselves to be 'real Thais'. Historically, it could be argued, they migrated from Malay and Indonesia.
As for Central Thailand and the land's other urban areas, they are mostly Thai-Chinese.

It could be argued therefore, that the mass percentage of Thais are not in fact 'real Thais'.

The closest you can to so-called 'real Thais' are the rural plains of Central Thailand, families which have had no links to Chinese. It was during the era of Sakdina in the 19th century that many Thai-Thais escaped into the countryside, so avoiding 4 months of the year having to service the monarchy with free work. The diligent Chinese didn't mind and stayed in the urban areas (this division of the Thai-Thais and Thai-Chinese can still be clearly seen even today).

I think those rural families in the central region are the closest you can get to 'Real Thais', but like i mentioned above and the monarchy and Thai culture, it is exceptionally difficult to really define what 'real-Thais' mean.

Finally, have a look at the name of this country 'Thailand'. In contrary to common belief, 'Thai' does not mean 'Free' - it does in fact relate to the land of 'Tai' people. The Tai folk too are historically made of folk from all over the show.

09-21-2012, 10:25 AM	#3
kanchouska Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 397 Senior Member	From what i have read, the percentage of Thai-Chinese Bangkokians is much higher than 49%, something around 75%. This does not of course, count migrants from rural areas. Who Are The Real Thais? That is exceptional difficult to answer. If we delve into the essence of Thai Culture, we find 'Nation', 'Religion' and 'Monarchy. Let us have a look at the monarchy, which is often defined as 'pure Thai' and the heart of the Thai people. The present monarchy is also quite Thai-Chinese, King Rama the Ninth's mother was half Chinese. The monarchy also has other foreign blood and especially Persian (inherted from the Bunnag family during the reigns of Rama 4 and 5). Just this fact puzzles the real definition. If you look at Isarn; since they speak a kind of Laotian not even Thai, they are also historically Laotian, so not 'real Thai'. If you go the North of Thailand, those people are also historically 'Lanna' coming from Burma - so you could say they are not 'real Thais'. As for the south of Thailand, they are mostly Muslim and do not regard themselves to be 'real Thais'. Historically, it could be argued, they migrated from Malay and Indonesia. As for Central Thailand and the land's other urban areas, they are mostly Thai-Chinese. It could be argued therefore, that the mass percentage of Thais are not in fact 'real Thais'. The closest you can to so-called 'real Thais' are the rural plains of Central Thailand, families which have had no links to Chinese. It was during the era of Sakdina in the 19th century that many Thai-Thais escaped into the countryside, so avoiding 4 months of the year having to service the monarchy with free work. The diligent Chinese didn't mind and stayed in the urban areas (this division of the Thai-Thais and Thai-Chinese can still be clearly seen even today). I think those rural families in the central region are the closest you can get to 'Real Thais', but like i mentioned above and the monarchy and Thai culture, it is exceptionally difficult to really define what 'real-Thais' mean. Finally, have a look at the name of this country 'Thailand'. In contrary to common belief, 'Thai' does not mean 'Free' - it does in fact relate to the land of 'Tai' people. The Tai folk too are historically made of folk from all over the show.
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