Foreword
This book aims to provide information about the non-Tai ethnic groups in Thailand to a broad circle of readers, who are attracted to the various ethnic peoples. The contents are based on written sources, research and interviews conducted in Thailand over a three-year period from July 1966 to June 1999. The author's interest in studying the various ethnic groups of Thailand came after completing the research on the hill tribes in Vietnam (see Joachim Schliesinger, Hill Tribes of Vietnam, 2 Volumes, published by White Lotus Press in 1997 and 1998). The 38 ethnic groups presented here vary in size, several hundred thou-sand Karen, to the tiny Mlabri of some two hundred nomadic hunter-gath-erers and, in location, from mountains to plains and even in Bangkok itself a Cham settlement. The present excellent infrastructure in Thailand makes the journey to tribal villages quite convenient compared to similar journeys in neighboring countries like Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Nevertheless, even in the present modern environment, Thailand is still a country where there are still opportunities to explore and experience the rural and remote. Thailand's beautiful countryside varies from North to South and East to West; Thailand is indeed a Kaleidoscope of nature and inhabitants. Besides getting to know the culture and customs of the majority of Thailand's nationals (called Thai), comprising many different Tai groups, other ethnic groups can be encountered presenting a multitude of customs, races and ethnicity whose existence is unknown to most foreigners and often to most Thai people too. The diversity of lifestyles and cultures of the ethnic inhabitants of Thai-land is presented here by their linguistic classification, ethnographic as- pects, overview of living conditions, agricultural activities, religious prac-tices and customs. All 38 ethnic groups are summarized in a table at the end of the volume. The bibliography contains mainly selected Western lit-erature, and where such is scare, selected local publications are listed. The writer would like to express his deepest appreciation to Khun Achara Srisaneh, who assisted as interpreter during the interviews, always show-ing her commitment to the field work in general and to the ethnic peoples in particular..
About The Book
Ethnic Groups of Thailand describes 38 non-Tai peoples residing in Thailand the well known mountain dwelling so-called hill tribes (Akha, Hmong, Htin, Khamu, Lahu, Lawa, Lisu, Mien, Pwo Karen, Sgaw Karen); lesser known northern peoples (Bisu, Blang, Haw, Kachin, Kayah, Kayaw, Kha Hor, Lamet, Mlabri, Mpi, Padong, Palaung, Pa-O, Parauk, Samtao) and northeastern and central lowlands (Bru, Cham, Chaobon, Chong, Gong, Kaleung, Kui, Mon, Seak, So, Thavung). Lastly, Semang and Sea Gypsies of southern Thailand and the Andaman Sea. These various ethnic groups are here classified by their language family and a description given of each ones history, costume and crafts, houses and villages, agriculture and economy, society, ceremonies, myths and beliefs. All the groups are portrayed by 177 color illustrations taken by the author and an extensive bibliography for further reading.
Hindu (932)
Agriculture (123)
Ancient (1099)
Archaeology (791)
Architecture (563)
Art & Culture (922)
Biography (725)
Buddhist (548)
Cookery (166)
Emperor & Queen (575)
Islam (245)
Jainism (321)
Literary (888)
Mahatma Gandhi (386)
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