Thailand - Understand & Survival (Chapter)

THE PEOPLE & CULTURE

ARTS

care of temple chores. Generally speaking, mâa chee aren’t considered
as prestigious as monks and don’t have a function in the merit-making
rituals of lay people.

Islam
At around 4% of the population, Muslims make up Thailand’s largest re-
ligious minority, living side by side with the Buddhist majority. There are
some 3000 mosques in Thailand – over 200 in Bangkok alone. Of these
mosques, 99% are associated with the Sunni branch of Islam (in which
Islamic leadership is vested in the consensus of the Ummah, or Mus-
lim community), and 1% with the Shi’ite branch (in which religious and
political authority is given to descendants of the Prophet Mohammed).
Islam was introduced to Thailand’s southern region between AD 1200
and 1500 through the infl uence of Indian and Arab traders and schol-
ars. To this day, most of Thailand’s Muslims reside in the south, con-
centrated in the regions of Pattani, Narathiwat, Satun and Yala. These
southerners trace their heritage to the former Kingdom of Pattani, an
Islamic kingdom whose territory straddled the present-day border be-
tween Thailand and Malaysia. Accordingly, the south shares both a bor-
der and a cultural heritage with its predominantly Muslim neighbour,
Malaysia. Indeed, most of Thailand’s southern Muslims are ethnically
Malay and speak Malay or Yawi (a dialect of Malay written in the Arabic
script) in addition to Thai. These cultural diff erences, coupled with a
perception of religious and linguistic discrimination, have led to a feel-
ing of disconnection from the Buddhist majority in some parts of the
Muslim-dominated south.

Arts
Thailand has an intensely visual culture and an appreciation of beauty
that infuses audacious temple buildings, humble old-fashioned houses
and the high arts developed for the royal court.

Architecture
Most striking of Thailand’s architectural heritage are the Buddhist tem-
ples, which dazzle in the tropical sun with wild colours and soaring roof-
lines. A classic component of temple architecture is the presence of one
or more chedi (stupa), a mountain-shaped monument that pays tribute
to the enduring stability of Buddhism. Many contain relics of important
kings or the historical Buddha.
Thai temples rely heavily on Hindu-Buddhist iconography as artis-
tic fl ourishes and instructional guides.Naga, a mythical serpentlike
creature, guarded Buddha during meditation and is often depicted in

The Theravada

school is often

called the south-

ern school be-

cause it travelled

from the Indian

subcontinent to

Southeast Asia,

while Mahayana

Buddhism was

adopted through-

out the northern

regions of Nepal,

Tibet, China and

the rest of east

Asia.

HOUSES OF THE HOLY

Many homes or inhabited dwellings in Thailand have an associated ‘spirit house’, built to

provide a residence for the plot of land’s prá poom (guardian spirits). Based on animistic

beliefs that predate Buddhism, guardian spirits are believed to reside in rivers, trees and

other natural features and need to be honoured (and placated). The guardian spirit of

a particular plot of land is the supernatural equivalent of a mother-in-law, an honoured

but sometimes troublesome family member. To keep the spirits happily distracted,

Thais erect elaborate dollhouse-like structures on the property where the spirits can

‘live’ comfortably separated from human aff airs. To further cultivate good relations and

good fortune, daily off erings of rice, fruit, fl owers and water are made to the spirit house.

If the human house is enlarged the spirit house must also be enlarged, so that the spirits

do not feel slighted. Spirit houses must be consecrated by a Brahman priest.