Ep. 261 | The History of the Thai Chinese (Part 3)

In this Part 3 episode, we’ll take the Thai Chinese history a little further up the timeline to the Thonburi Kingdom of Taksin the Great and into the Chakri Dynasty with King Rama I. After shaking things up profoundly in China, the Age of Imperialism will now come knocking on Siam’s door.

As before and in the years to follow, Siam’s ethnic Chinese proved to be a formidable force in keeping the ship of state afloat and prospering while colonialism raged across Southeast Asia.

Listen On Your Favorite Podcast Player


Terms in Episode

Pinyin/TermChineseThaiEnglish/Meaning
Alaungpaya雍笈牙အလောင်းဘုရားFounder of the Burmese Alaungpaya Dynasty. Reigned 1752 to 1760. Unified Upper and lower Burma
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
Chanthaburi庄他武里เทศบาลเมืองจันทบุรีCity located about a three and a half hour car ride from Bangkok driving southeast. Also lots of Teochews settled there
Chao MuongSimilar to the Chao Sua but primarily in the south of Thailand. They were also called Hokkien Rajah's
Chao SuaUpper crust ethnic Chinese families who gained riches through their association with the royal house.
Chiang Mai清迈เชียงใหม่City in Northern Thailand that I might retire to one day
Chin KunPatriarch of a very distinguished ethnic Chinese Siamese family. He had made a name for himself as one of Taksin’s military commanders but had demonstrated immediate loyalty to Rama I
Cháozhōu潮州City bordering Jieyang and Shantou from whence we get the name Teochew
Chénghǎi澄海Major city in Shantou
Dàoguāng Emperor道光帝Qing emperor from 1820-1850
Fújiàn福建ฝูเจี้ยนCoastal province in southern China where all Hokkien and Hokchiu people hail from
Guāngxù光绪Qing Emperor from 1875-1908
Guǎngdōng广东กวางตุ้งContinental China's southernmost province
Hokkien福建ฝูเจี้ยนOverseas Fujian people who primarily came from the south, around Xiamen and Zhangzhou and all points in between
Huáfù Village华富村The village in Shgantou where Taksin's father came from
Hán River韩江One of the major rivers of the Chaoshan region
King Borommakot波隆摩閣บรมโกศKing of Siam who reigned from 1733 to 1758
King Hsinbyushin辛標信ဆင်ဖြူရှင်Burmese king who reigned 1763 to 1776. Led the destruction of Ayudhya
King Thai Sa泰沙สมเด็จพระที่นั่งบรรยงค์รัตนาสน์Also known as King Phet. Reigned 1709-1733. Was a real friend of the ethnic Chinese
kǒutiān Wú口天吴The Wu character made up of the components kou 口 and tian 天, pronounced Hao in Hokkien
Lan Na Kingdom兰纳王国อาณาจักรล้านนาAnother Indianized kingdom in Northern Thailand, also known as Lannathai, south of Chiang Mai
Pattaya芭達雅พัทยาCity located 62 miles from Bangkok
PhrakhlangกรมพระคลังThe most powerful ministry in Siam. Responsible for foregn trade, foreign relations and the treasury
Qiánlóng Emperor乾隆帝จักรพรรดิเฉียนหลงOne of China's long-reigning emperors who ruled China 1735-1796 during the peak of the Qing Dynasty
Rayong羅勇ระยองCity located on the Gulf of Thailand side of the country
Shàntóu汕头ซัวเถาMajor city of the Chaoshan region where the Teochew people came from originally
Shíquán Wǔgōng十全武功The Qianlong Emperor's Ten Great Campaigns
Songkhla宋卡สงขลาCity located in the south of Thailand….almost at the Malaysia border
Tak达府จังหวัดตากa province halfway between Bangkok and Chiangmai
Taksin the Great达信大帝สมเด็จพระเจ้าตากสินมหาราชKing of Siam 1767-1782, founded the Thonburi Kingdom
Teochew潮州人แต้จิ๋วChinese born or descended from the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong province
Thonburi吞武里ธนบุรีThonburi today is a district of Bangkok。 Formerly it was the site of Taksin's Thonburi Kingdom
Thong Duang通鑾 / 拉玛一世ทองด้วง / พระบาทสมเด็จพระพุทธยอดฟ้าจุฬาโลกมหาราชFounding first monarch of the current Chakri Dynasty. Known by his simplified regnal name of Rama I.
Trat达勒ตราดTown in eastern Thailand, lots of Teochews migrated there....Pol Pot too after he was overthrown
Tóngzhì同治Qing Emperor 1861-1875
Vajiralongkor玛哈·哇集拉隆功 / 拉玛十世วชิราลงกรณKing Rama X, the Kingdom of Thailand's king since October 13, 2016. Coironated on May 4, 2019
Wǔ Ràng吴让One of the early Hokkien Rajah's better known as Hao Yiang. They changed their surname to Na Songkhla
Xiánfēng咸丰Qing Emperor 1850-1861
Yàn Wō燕窝รังนกBirds Nest Soup
Zhèjiāng浙江เจ้อเจียงCoastal Province in China just north of Fujian
Zhèngเจิ้งSurname of Taksin the Great and his father
Zhèng Zhāo郑昭เจิ้งโจวTaksin's Chinese name
Zhāngzhōu漳州จางโจวCity in southern Fujian where many Hokkien Overseas Chinese originated from

Resources

Books


Enjoy the show and want to support the CHP?

 
patreon_logo_small.png

Join the CHP Patreon

 
paypal_logo_small.png

Make a Direct Donation

 

Previous
Previous

Ep. 262 | The History of the Thai Chinese (Part 4)

Next
Next

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