Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Of the series of Srivijaya city-states along the Malay Peninsula, Tambralinga estab-
lished its capital near present-day Nakhon Si Thammarat and adopted Buddhism in the
13th century, while the states further south adopted Islam, creating a religious boundary
which persists to this day. Remains of Srivijaya culture can be seen around Chaiya and
Nakhon Si Thammarat. Many art forms of the Srivijaya kingdom - such as
năng đà·lung
(shadow theatre) and
lá·kon
(classical dance-drama) - persist today.
Phibul Songkhram officially changed the name of the country in 1939 from Siam to Prathet Thai (or
'Thailand' in English); it was considered an overt nationalistic gesture intended to unite all the Tai-
speaking people.
Emerging Tai Kingdoms
In the 13th century, the regional empires started to decline and prosperous Tai city-states
emerged with localised power and military might. The competing city-states were ulti-
mately united into various kingdoms that began to establish a Thai identity. Scholars re-
cognise Lanna, Sukhothai and Ayuthaya as the unifying kingdoms of the period.
RAMKHAMHAENG'S STONE INSCRIPTION
In an inscription of 1292, King Ramkhamhaeng gives a picture of his kingdom as idyllic and free of constraints,
and of himself as a benevolent patriarch:
In the time of King Ramkhamhaeng this land of Sukhothai is thriving. There are fish in the water and rice in the
fields...whoever wants to trade in elephants, does so; whoever wants to trade in horses, does so;...if any common-
er in the land has a grievance...it is easy; he goes and strikes the bell which the king has hung there; King
Ramkhamhaeng...hears the call; he goes and questions the man, examines the case, and decides it justly for him.
Translation by AB Griswold and Prasert Na Nagara, Journal of the Siam Society (July 1971)
Lanna
The Lanna kingdom, based in northern Thailand, dates its formation to the upper Mekong
River town of Chiang Saen in the middle of the 12th century by King Mengrai. He mi-
grated south to Chiang Mai (meaning 'New City') in 1292 to establish his capital. The
king was a skilled diplomat and forged important alliances with potential rivals, such as
King Ngam Muang of Phayao and King Ramkhamhaeng of Sukhothai; a bronze statue
commemorating this confederation stands in Chiang Mai today. King Mengrai is also
credited for successfully repulsing the Mongol invasions in the early 14th century.
