Thai Art and History

Prehistory in Thailand

Tens of thousand years ago, this land was covered with lush tropical rain forests. The fertile land, temperate climatic conditions, abundant natural resources attracted early settlers and migrants throughtout the subsequent periods, even up to the present. Rich cultures amalgamated into distinct life styles. Emerging out of a thousand years of consciously striving for unity were the T'ai people. City states soon unified into an independent kingdom. Emergent also was a distinct culture known as Thai.

Stone tools and implements of prehistoric man dating to the Paleolithic Period have been found throughout this country. Over 10,000 years ago, man lived near the waterways in the north and central Thailand. Archaeological evidence of Neolithic settlements has been discovered in an area covering no less than 40 provinces. They include tools and decorative objects made of flint, bone and shells. Primitive paintings dating to this period exist in a number of caves. Metal works, both bronze and iron, appeared almost simultaneously some 2,700 years ago.

A part of prehistory in Thailand has become a subject for intensive study shedding new light on the evoluation of man in southeast Asia. "Ban Chiang" used to be the name of a small village in Udonthani Province. Since the discovery that this modern settlement had been founded on top of an area rich in prehistoric archaeological evidence, the name has become well known worldwide and synonymous with an important prehistoric culture.

Ancient Ban Chiang culture existed in scattered areas throughout the Northeastern region of Thailand. The people lived near watersources in dense forests. They gradually cleared the forest for settlements. They hunted with axes, spears, arrows, sling shots and fishing hooks. They cultivated rice in irrigated paddies and learnt to use buffalos in farming. They wove cloth out of natural fibres and might have printed patterns on the fabric by using rollers. They made and wore decorative ornaments such as glass beads, earthenware amulets and bronze bangles. They made stylistic pottery which had applied or and painted decorations both for household use and for ritualistic burial. They became proficient metal workers quite early in prehistory, and discovered the use of iron almost contemporaneous with bronze.

The Ban Chiang people believed in the afterlife. They buried the dead accompanied with personal belongings, perhaps insignia of rank, containers of food and other burial goods. Theirs was a structured society which existed for thousands of years until unknown causes disrupted their stable existence. There is no historical evidence of a direct link with the inhabitants of modern Ban Chiang. who are said to have migrated into the area from Laos some 200 years ago. Nevertheless, certain aspects of the contemporary lifestyle indicate some heritage from the past. However vague this link may be, modern Ban Chiang has benefited from the fame of the ancient people.

Towards the middle 15th century, the city state of Ayudhaya acceded power from Sukhothai and became the new seat of government for the Thai people for a total of 417 years. The city had been founded on an island at the junction of three rivers. The lowlands surrounding the city flooded annually and was rich in alluvial soil. These natural conditions made Ayudhaya strategically easy to defend. Moreover, being near the Chao Phraya estuary made it accessible by seafaring trading vessels. Thus Ayudhaya became an important trading centre controlling foreign trade with all points northward. It quickly achieved a remarkable state of prosperity. Availability of foreign technology and weaponry also made it immensely powerful among its neighbours.

Ayudhaya rule was based on a concept of kingship different to that of Sukhothai. The king was the incarnation of a deity as derived from the Khmer concept. The patriarchal system became a feudal community centre in which all cultural activities and services took place. The king became the royal patron of the Buddhist faith, as well as of all the arts.

Ayudhaya's income were from its beautiful agricultural products, and from duties levied against foreign trade. Merchants came from China, Java, Malaya, India, Sri Lanka, Persia, Japan, Portugal, France, Holland and England. At its height, Ayudhaya became one of the most important trading centres in the area. Its prosperity may be witnessed from its arts, many aspects of which reached perfection unmatched in Thai history and Sukhothai culture.

Finally, during the mid 17th century, a new `chedi' form appeared which was square in plan with multiple redented corners. This Thai development of an ancient architectural form continued to be built throughout the rest of the Ayudhaya period and into the Bangkok period.

Likewise, Ayudhaya painting developed in three distinct phases. During the early period, the paintings displayed strong Khmer origins. Only three colours were known and used : red, black and white. Remnants of paintings of this early period show juxtaposed rows of Buddha figures, and ornamental frames presumably backdrops for Buddha statues. The middle period of Ayudhaya painting exhibits Sukhothai influence, as may be seen in surviving illustrated manuscripts `lai rod nam'. This made possible the application of extremely thin leaves of gold on a lacquer background in free-form designs. It was used to decorate all things considered valuable from book binders to whole buildings.

Ayudhaya fell to an invading Burmese army in 1767. This was the culmination of decades of armed conflict between the two countries. The once glorious city was left devastated and without leadership. It was abandoned and quickly went into ruin. The fall of Ayudhaya was so catastrophic that decades after the event, Thais reminisced about "the glorious old city".

It has often been said that, apart from the normal economic and security requirements, the independence and integrity of Thailand are assured by three unifying factors: its people's freedom-loving spirit, the Buddhist Religion and the Thai Throne. Indeed, the three factors were already there together at the first founding of the first integrated Thai nation with its capital at Sukhothai more than seven centuries ago and have successfully survived the test of time just as Thailand itself has also survived as a united and independent country throughout its long History up to the present days, while countries all around in Southeast Asia at certain periods fell disintegrated or victims of colonialist powers. For that reason, no Thai would now deny that as these unique and sacred institutions survive and flourish, so the Thai nation will also survive and flourish. Without either one of them, no one could foresee what Thailand would be like.

His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej acceded to the Throne as Rama the IX of Thailand on the 9th of June 1946, when he was only 18 years of age. Thailand had become a Constitutional Monarchy since 1932 but the then King Prajadhipok reigned only for a few more years and King Ananda Mahidol, the present King's Elder Brother, who succeeded to the Throne at a very tender age, spent his Life mostly at study abroad before he met his unfortunate demise at the age of 20. The task, therefore, fell upon King Bhumibol Adulyadej to be the first really reigning Monarch under the Constitutional System and thus to give a new and contemporary meaning to the Thai Throne.

Source: The Thai Heritage Page

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