Ep. 259 | The History of the Thai Chinese (Part 1)

In a new series that may or may not take us to the end of 2020, Laszlo looks at the great Kingdom of Thailand and the history of the Chinese immigrants who decided to call that place home. 

In this Part 1 episode of the new series, we’ll focus on the goings-on in the Chinese community during the Ayudhya Kingdom (1350-1767) up to the time of King Phetracha. 

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/TermChineseThaiEnglish/Meaning
Ayudhya艾尤塔雅อยุธยาAlso written Ayutthaya and Ayodhya, City north of Bangkok that was site of a Siamese kingdom that lasted 1350 to 1767
Chakri Dynasty查克里王朝ราชวงศ์จักรีThe current ruling dynasty in Thailand, founded 1782
Chantaburi庄他武里จันทบุรีabout a three and a half hour car ride from Bangkok driving southeast. Also lots of Teochews settled there
Chao Phraya湄南河แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาThe main river of Thailand where early Thai history happened
Chiang Mai清迈เชียงใหม่City in Northern Thailand that I might retire to one day
Dǎi傣族One of the 56 ethnic minority people in China. The Dai are based in Yunnan in and around Xishuangbanna
Fújiàn福建ฝูเจี้ยนGuangdong's next door neighbor to the east
Guǎngdōng广东กวางตุ้งThe southernmost province of Mainland China
Guǎngxī广西Province in China's southwest bordering Guangdong, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan and Vietnam
gōngxǐ nǐmen恭喜你们ยินดีด้วยCongratulations to you (plural)
Hakka客家แคะA Northern Chinese people who migrated to the south of China in ancient times. Called "Guest People"
Hariphunchai駭黎朋猜อาณาจักรหริภุญชัยMon Kingdom based up in northern Thailand, capital at Lumphun. 1292 defeated by Kingdom of Lan Na
Hokkien福建ฝูเจี้ยนOverseas Fujian people who primarily came from around Xiamen and Zhangzhou and all points in between
Hóngwǔ Emperor洪武帝The founder of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang (see below)
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
Jiēyáng揭阳One of the cities that makes up the Chaoshan Region of Guangdong where the Teochews originated from
King Narai the Great那莱王สมเด็จพระนารายณ์มหาราชKing 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 Phetracha帕碧罗阇王เพทราชาKing of Siam 1688 to 1703
King Prasat Thong巴沙通ปราสาททองKing of Siam from 1629-1656
Kāngxī康熙帝Long reigning Qing Dynasty emperor (1661-1722)
Lamphun南奔ลำพูนCity just south of Chiang Mai
Lan Na兰纳王国อาณาจักรล้านนาAnother Indianized kingdom in Northern Thailand, also known as Lannathai, south of Chiang Mai
LigorThe city of Nakhon Si Thammarat. Site of the ancient kingdom of Ligor
luk khruengลูกครึ่งA Thai of mixed parentage
lukchinลูกจีนA Thai of mixed Chinese parentage
Lín Dàoqián林道乾16th century pirate, Lim Toh Kam
Lóngqìng隆庆帝Ming Dynasty emperor who reigned 1567-1572
Lǐ Dàn李旦Major 17th century Hokkien Chinese pirate
Míng Dynasty明朝ราชวงศ์หมิงChinese dynasty that ran 1368-1644
Mǎ Huān马欢Assistant to Zheng He for three of his voyages, responsible for recording the events of the expedition
Nakhon Si Thammarat那空是贪玛叻เทศบาลนครนครศรีธรรมราชEuropeans 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 Nanyang, Henan 南阳 Province)
PataniปตานีCity in Southern Thailand close to the Malaysia border
Plaek Phibunsongkhram銮披汶颂堪แปลก พิบูลสงครามThai Field Marshal (1897-1964) a.k.a. Phibun, prime minister and later dictator of Thailand 1938-1944 and 1948 to 1957
Qīng清朝ราชวงศ์ชิงThe Qing Dynasty 1644-1911
Shàntóu汕头ซัวเถาAnother one of the cities that makes up the Chaoshan Region of Guangdong where the Teochews originated from
Shíbā Zhī十八芝A Pirate organization Zheng Zhilong that consisted of 18 of the most powerful pirate clans of the day
Sukhothai Kingdom素可泰王国สุโขทัยAncient kingdom in Thailand that lasted 1238 to 1438.
Sòng Dynasty宋朝Chinese dynasty that ran 960-1279
Taksin the Great郑昭สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราชThe King of Thonburi, Chinese name Zheng Zhao 郑昭. Lived 1734-1782
Teochew潮州แต้จิ๋วChinese born or descended from the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province
Thonburi Kingdom吞武里王国ธนบุรีThe Kingdom that succeeded Ayudhya, lasted 1767 to 1782. Thonburi today is a district of Bangkokj
Toi San台山ไท่ซานOne of the cities of the Pearl River Delta where most Chinese Americans are descended from
Trat达勒ตราดTown in eastern Thailand, lots of Teochews migrated there....Pol Pot too after he was overthrown
Táiภาษาไท or ภาษาไตTai language family spoken by many different ethnicities in Southeast Asia
Táiwān台湾Island province off the coast of China
Xiàmén厦门City in southern Fujian, also known as Amoy, where many Hokkien Overseas Chinese originated from
Yuán Dynasty元朝ราชวงศ์หยวนThe Mongol Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368
Yǒnglè永乐帝Ming Dynasty emperor who reigned 1402-1424
Zhèng Chénggōng郑成功เจิ้งเฉิงกงbetter known in the West as Koxinga
Zhèng Hé正和Muslim Admiral in the Ming fleet famous for the epic voyages he led to the west of China
Zhèng Jīng郑经Son of Koxinga who later got out of the family business of Ming Loyalty and joined up with the Qing Dynasty
Zhèng Zhīlóng郑芝龙เจิ้งจื้อหลงAnother 17th century pirate who founded a pirate dynasty. Son was Koxinga and grandson Zheng Jing
Zhāngzhōu漳州City in southern Fujian where many Hokkien Overseas Chinese originated from
Zhū Yuánzhāng朱元璋See above, founder of the Mong Dynasty

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Ep. 260 | The History of the Thai Chinese (Part 2)

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Ep. 258 | Jiang Ziya