THE KINGDOM OF

THAILANDThe Land Of Free And Smiles

Prepared by :Siti Zulaykha Bt Adzhar Shah

Siti Nur Hidayah Bt Abu SamahErma Nadia Bt Md. NadzriFhatin Amelia Bt Musa

Nina Syakina Bt Md. Tajudin

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY MARA PENANG

HTT 327 CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES

Amazing Thailand

Content

1.The kingdom of Thailand

• 1.1 Buddhism

2.Language , and Communication

• 2.1Learning Thai Language

• 2.2The WAI

3.Engagement and Marriage in Thailand

4.Birth In Thailand

• 4.1Traditional Ritual for New born Baby

5.Death Ritual

6.Thai’s Ghosts and Dead Spirits

7.Thai’s Top Food

8.Festivals

9.Symbols of Thailand!

1. The Kingdom Of Thailand(Muang Thai)

Formerly known as Siam until 1939

Land of free and smile or “Prathet Thai”

Located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula in

Southeast Asia

3 season : hot, monsoon and cool

Capital City : Bangkok or “Krung Thep”

75% of the population ethnically Thai, 14% is of Chinese origin,

and 3% is ethnically Malay, the rest belong to minority groups

including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes

Primary religion Buddhism, practiced by around 95% of the

population

1.1 BuddhismAbout Thai Buddhism:

Different in Japan, Buddhism in Thailand is "Theravada".

(Buddhism in Japan is "Mahayana".)

("Theravada" is also called "Hinayana" (Lesser Vehicle) against "Mahayana" (Greater Vehicle), but this is inaccurate or disparaging

term. Trying to define superiority or inferiority is funny.)

the purpose is the emancipation of the individual by own efforts. It is believed that ordinary people can earn merit by giving something

as charity or doing good things to monks or temples and can be happy.

2.Language And CommunicationLanguage: Thai

As the same in Japan, looks like they have dialects in south or north.

And the letters of Thai language is quite different from Japanese or English alphabets, like,

" ขอบคุ�ณคุรั�บ" (this means "Thank you").

About English:

English seems like understood in hotels or restaurants.

“Wai” is the basic greetings.

2.1 Learning Thai LanguageNice to meet you : Yindee Tee Dai Ruejak Krab/Ka

I'm glad/happy to see you : Dee-jai Tee Dai Pob Khun Krab/Ka

Hi/Hello/Bye : Sawasdee Krab/Ka

How are you doing ? : SabaiDee Rue Krab/Ka

I'm fine : SabaiDee Krab/Ka

How about you ? : Khun La Krab/Ka

I'm not fine : Mai Koi Sabai Krab/Ka

Male: I'm ...(...: your name) : Pom Chue ... Krab/Ka

Female: I'm (your name) : Dichan Chue ... Ka

Call me ...(...: your name) : Riak Pom/Dichan Waa ... Krab/Ka

Excuse me, can I have your name, please ? :

Khor Thoat Krab/Ka

Khun Chue Arai Krab/Ka

Bye : Laagorn Krab/Ka

2.2 TheWai

Used by an older or superior in response to the wai of

someone younger or of lower status. Also used by people of the same age

or social status

Used towards an older or Superior person.

Used for showing respect to monk or Buddha image,

Thais also wai by half-lying down, placing hands on the floor, then

lowering their head to their hands.

3.Engagement And Marriage• Buddhist blessing:

Couples being blessed by the senior monk with holy water and white powder stick was used to make three dots on groom’s and bride’s forehead (“jerm”).

• Making merit:

From offering donations to the monks, or by granting animals their freedom.

• Groom’s Presents Parade (Khan Maak Procession):

• Led by the matchmaker • Firecrackers , gun fired into the sky as a signal sound • Drum or brass band with elders and the young joining the parade to dance with

the band• First Tray(“Khan Mark Eak”) : Auspicious substances such as grain, bean,

sesame, gold leaf, silver left represent prosperity, affection and peaceful co-existence

• Second Tray ( ‘Khan Mak Toe’) : Fruits and sweet, set in pair represent good fortune, prosperity, wealthy, rich, and survival

• Third Tray: A pair of banana trees, a pair of sugar canes and betel nut, decorated with red paper, for respect senior person of their families

• Gate Passing Ceremony

• The groom and his matchmaker must be prepared to pay a bridal fee in order to get into the bride’s room.

• Three doors are normally barred (known as victory, silver and golden gate; or brass, silver (Pratoo Thong) and golden (Pratoo Ngeurn) gate)

• each door the groom must put an even amount of money into two envelopes for the two people who are on guard

• Dowry (Sinsod) and Tong Mun• Blessings

• Sai Monkhon• Shell Ceremony/Rod Nam Sang

• “Arranging The Pillow” Or Riang Mon” Ceremony

Sin sod placed on the bed together with the auspicious leaves. Example of ceremonial objects which also placed are:

• New pot containing water : unity and firmness• Money : wealth• Cock : diligence• Cat : family-orientation• Stone :strength to be able to walk through any trouble they might face • Gourd: equanimity of the couple• Grain seeds : vitality

4.Birth in Thailand

• Thai beliefs, conception occurs when a khwan (soul) flies into the womb during

a sexual encounter

• The delivery room at home is usually decorated with Yant Trinisinghé, “small

flags inscribed with sacred numbers from one to nine” or with letters and sings;

each flag is a “symbol of a long mantra passage, believed to have power to

ward off evil spirits.” Buffalo leather could be used instead of the flags.

• Traditions during labor

• In case of birth complications, the traditional birth assistant would give the

woman some holy water or press on her belly.

• To promote an easy delivery, all windows and doors must be open and the

woman must be facing East to symbolize the emergence of new life.

• The husband should also pile logs outside facing East.

• Any fastened nails must be undone, and no one should be punching nails

to avoid stalled birth.

• To be born with an umbilical (holy) cord wrapped abound neck was

considered a sign of fortune.

In Thai folklore there is a ghost known as Krasue (กรัะสื�อ) haunting

pregnant women in their homes just before or after the childbirth. It is believed to be the cause of many

diseases affecting mainly rural women during their pregnancy.

If the baby cries too much and cannot sleep, it is believed that the baby’s guardian spirit, Mae Sue, is

teasing the new born too much. Usual interaction with Mae Sue is normal, during which the baby will

play and laugh by itself.

4.1Traditional Ritual For New Born Baby

• After Mo Tamaye cuts the umbilical cord, she washes and beautifies the baby with yellow and white powder.

• On the third day after birth,

• ‘Lon Dek Nai Kadon’ rite • khwan ceremony• making offerings at a temple (wat)

• Fire-Shaving ceremony takes place when the child reaches the age of one month and one day, which involves cutting of the baby’s hair.

5.Death Rituals in Thailand!• "GNAN SOP" : ceremony for deceased person• Corpse is kept 7 days in the house before the cremation.

• From the 1st to the 6 th day, monks come every evening for prayers.

• All guests "WAI" several times during the monks prayers with one

incense stick only.• The Bathing Rite (1st day)• Cremation and funeral procession (7 th day)• 100th days after the decease, a Buddhist ceremony is done in order to

perform final prayers. It is called "THAM BUN 100 WAN".

• Monks are invited to perform prayers.• "SANG KHATHAN" are offered to Buddhist monks• "SAT NAM" also performed.

6.Thai Ghosts and Dead SpiritsThai ghosts are known generically as Phi.

Ghosts are believed to be found, among other places, in certain trees, burial grounds near Buddhist temples, as well as some houses, especially abandoned houses. They are usually invisible, but it is said that if one bends down with legs spread apart they will become visible while looking between one's legs.

Example : Mae Nak, Mae Sue, Krasue, Pret

How Thai’s people prevent :

• Wearing amulets by mor phii

• Offerings to trees

• Wearing tattoos

• Wearing phra khreung (Buddha pendant)

• Building San Phra Phum (Thai Spirit House)

One of the most popular Thai Ghost Stories

Ask any Thai person about Nang Nak and

they will recount the tragic ghost story of

Mae Nak Phra Khanong. The story is

widespread among the population and is

often recited to children to ensure that they

do as they are told otherwise Nang Nak will

get them and eat their brains with chilli

sauce! The story is used much like the

bogey man in Western culture.

There is a shrine dedicated to Nang Nak

along On Nut, Sukhumvit Soi 77 in Bangkok.

People come to pay respect at the shrine of

Nang Nak, a statue of her cradling her baby

is offered gifts or covered with small tablets

of rolled gold.

Nang Nak

7.Thai’s Top Food!1. Dtom Yam Goong (ต้�มยำ��กุ้��ง) : Spicy and sour soup with shrimp

2. Dtom Kaa Gai (ต้�มข่��ไกุ้�) : Chicken soup in light coconut

with lemon glass, cherry-tomato, mushroom.3. Pad Thai (ผั�ดไท)

4. Gaeng Keow Wan Gai (แกุ้งเข่�ยำวหว�นไกุ้�) : Green Chicken Curry

5. Pat Gra Pao

ผั�ดกุ้ะเพร� : Meat or Seafood Fried with Sweet Basil

9.Festivals In Thailand!Songkran

• The entry of the sun into any sign of the zodiac

• Maha Songkran or Major Songkran

• Begins on 13th April and ends on the 15th April

• Celebration of the vernal equinox

• Water is used as a symbol of cleansing, which is exactly what the Thai’s want to do to start the new year

Phi Ta Khon

• Masked procession celebrated on the 1st day of a 3-day Buddhist merit-making holiday, “Boon Pra Wate“

• Ghost festival on May, June/July

• Tradition of the Dan Sai district

• “Vessantara Jataka”, a prince who made a long journey and was presumed dead. The celebrations on his return were so raucous as to wake the dead.

• To evoke the annual rains from the heavens by farmers and to bless crops

Loy Krathong

• full moon of the 12th lunar month

• The floating of lights in a leaf cup

• Ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits

• During October and November

• Chong Pa Rieng- floating lantern of royal ceremony

• Brahman festival to worship Gods- Siva, Vishnu, and Brahma

• to worship the foot-print of the Buddha on Nammathanati River for ever after.

Ubon Ratchatani Candle Festival• Buddhist Lenten period (beginning

of August)

• Preparation for the rainy season

• Wax sculptures as a Buddhist offering

• Asarnha Bucha And Khao Phansa

Ploughing Ceremony• Held at Sanam Luang in Bangkok on

May• Start of the planting rice season• Participated by :

• Phra Raek Na• 4 Thepi carrying gold and silver

baskets• To provide morale and making

predictions about the year's crops

End of the Amazing Thailand!