Ep. 260 | The History of the Thai Chinese (Part 2)
More 18th-century Thai history in Part 2 of our Thai-Chinese overview where we look at the time period between King Phetracha to the end of the Ayudhya Kingdom. The ethnic Chinese contribution to building the foundation of the Thai economy is legendary.
Here’s where it all began.
During this period China, ruled by the Manchu Qing emperors was on a major role and Ayudhyan kings were anxious to be friends with Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong. Having the Thai-Chinese around came in handy in a very big way.
Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player
Terms in Episode
| Pinyin/Term | Chinese | Thai | English/Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayudhya Kingdom. | 艾尤塔雅 | อยุธยา | Also written Ayutthaya and Ayodhya, City north of Bangkok that was site of a Siamese kingdom that lasted 1350 to 1767 |
| Cháoshàn | 潮汕 | Chaozhou and Shantou combined | |
| Cháozhōunese | 潮州人 | Someone born in or descended from the the Chaozhou-Shantou-Jieyang region | |
| Dà Qīng Lùlì | 大清律例 | The Great Qing Code….the legal code for the Qing Empire | |
| Hakka | 客家 | แคะ | A Northern Chinese people who migrated to the south of China in ancient times. Called "Guest People" |
| Hokchiu | 福州 | ฝูโจว | Fujianese people primarily from the northern part of the province, centered around the capital of Fuzhou |
| Hokkien | 福建 | ฝูเจี้ยน | Overseas Fujian people who primarily came from the south, around Xiamen and Zhangzhou and all points in between |
| Hǎijìn | 海禁 | These were bans against trading, leaving China and engaging in any trade that involved boats on the sea. Effectively limited trade to the tribute type only | |
| Hǎinánese | 海南人 | People from the island province of Hainan | |
| khunnang | Thai word for nobles | ||
| King Alaungpaya | 雍笈牙 | အလောင်းဘုရား | Founder of the Burmese Alaungpaya Dynasty. Reigned 1752 to 1760. Unified Upper and lower Burma |
| King Borommakot | 波隆摩閣 | บรมโกศ | King of Siam who reigned from 1733 to 1758 |
| King Hsinbyushin | 辛標信 | ဆင်ဖြူရှင် | Burmese king who reigned 1763 to 1776. Led the destruction of Ayudhya |
| King Narai | 那莱王 | สมเด็จพระนารายณ์มหาราช | Narai the Great, King of Siam during the most prosperous period in the history of the Ayudhya Kingdom. Reigned from 1656 to 1688. Her was the son of King Prasat Thong |
| King Naungdawgyi | 囊陀基 | နောင်တော်ကြီ | Burmese king who reigned 1760-1763 |
| King Suriyenthrathibodi | 素里延塔鐵菩提 | สุริเยนทราธิบดี | King of Siam 1703 to 1709 |
| King Thai Sa | 泰沙 | สมเด็จพระที่นั่งบรรยงค์รัตนาสน์ | Also known as King Phet. Reigned 1709-1733. Was a real friend of the ethnic Chinese |
| Kāngxī | 康熙 | Long reigning Qing Dynasty emperor. 1661-1722 he sat on the throne | |
| Ligor | The city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Site of the ancient kingdom of Ligor (see below) | ||
| Lín Dàoqián | 林道乾 | 16th century pirate who, legend has it, sent out the call to the Teochews back in the homeland to come on out to Siam. | |
| Míng | 明朝 | ราชวงศ์หมิง | Chinese dynasty that ran 1368-1644 |
| Nakhon Si Thammarat | 那空是贪玛叻 | เทศบาลนครนครศรีธรรมราช | Europeans called this land the Kingdom of Ligor |
| Nányáng | 南洋 | The South Seas, the Chinese name for the Southeast Asian Region (not to be confused with 南阳Nanyang, Henan Province) | |
| Patani | 泰国南部三府 | ปตานี | City in Southern Thailand close to the Malaysia border |
| Phetracha | 帕碧罗阇王 | เพทราชา | King of Siam 1688 to 1703 |
| Phrakhlang Ministry | กรมพระคลัง | The most powerful ministry in Siam. Responsible for foregn trade, foreign relations and the treasury | |
| Qiánlóng | 乾隆 | Another long-reigning emperor who ruled China 1735-1796 | |
| Scipio Africanus Aemilianus | 小西庇阿 | Roman general and statesman. Lived 186-129 BCE. Destroyer of Carthage | |
| Shùnzhì | 顺治 | Third Qing Emperor and the first Qing emperor to rule over China after the conquest in 1644 | |
| Southern Sòng | 南宋 | Chinese dynasty that ran 960-1279. The "Southern" Song commenced in 1127 with the establishment of the new capital in present day Nanjing. | |
| Taksin | 达信大帝 / 郑昭 | สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราช | The King of Thonburi, Chinese name Zheng Zhao 郑昭. Lived 1734-1782 |
| Teochew | 潮州 | แต้จิ๋ว | Chinese born or descended from the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province |
| Yuán | 元朝 | ราชวงศ์หยวน | The Mongol Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368 |
| Yōngzhèng | 雍正 | Emperor in China 1709-1722 and father to Qianlong |
Resources
Books
Enjoy the show and want to support the CHP?
Join the CHP Patreon
Make a Direct Donation
Related Episodes
With Field Marshal Phibun in charge in Bangkok, the flames of Thai nationalism are being furiously fanned and the ethnic Chinese inhabitants of Siam are feeling the heat.