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Brochure

Thailand has a diverse culture that mixes Indian, Chinese, and uniquely Thai influences. The country lies between Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, with the Gulf of Thailand to the south. It has four distinct regions - Northern Thailand shares influences from Burma and Laos, Northeastern Thailand has a Lao-influenced culture, Southern Thailand has tropical beaches and fishing communities, and Central Thailand is the predominant cultural and economic center where Bangkok is located. Thai culture emphasizes respect for elders and has gender roles where women have more independence than in some Asian cultures but are still expected to be submissive in public.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
305 views6 pages

Brochure

Thailand has a diverse culture that mixes Indian, Chinese, and uniquely Thai influences. The country lies between Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, with the Gulf of Thailand to the south. It has four distinct regions - Northern Thailand shares influences from Burma and Laos, Northeastern Thailand has a Lao-influenced culture, Southern Thailand has tropical beaches and fishing communities, and Central Thailand is the predominant cultural and economic center where Bangkok is located. Thai culture emphasizes respect for elders and has gender roles where women have more independence than in some Asian cultures but are still expected to be submissive in public.
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Culture

Thailand lies between Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, with the Gulf of Thailand to its Monks in Public
south. Its culture mixes strong Indian influences, Chinese traditions, and elements
Monks often use public
that are uniquely Thai. With its diverse geography, friendly people, and stunning transport for their day to day
scenery, the “Land of a Thousand Smiles” is a must-see destination in South East Asia. spiritual work. They are often
travelling to provide a Buddhist
Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world with an area roughly equal to that of ritual for new houses, business
France. With rugged mountains in the north and world-famous tropical beaches in and funerals. It is important
the south, it is a land of pristine beauty. that women do not initiate
conversations with monks and
Thailand is separated into four distinct regions. Despite the overarching strength and they are not supposed to sit next
to monks on public transport.
unity of Thai culture, each region has its own unique cultural and geographic features.

Northern Thailand shares its border with Myanmar and Laos. This region is As a woman, if a monk happens to ask you a question, then you are permitted
mountainous and filled with thick forests and river valleys. Its culture is heavily to answer. Often monks are interested in foreigners and they like to practice
influenced by Burmese culture and it carries strong influences from the historical their English, but it is up to the monk if the conversation should happen.
Lanna kingdom.
And the elderly
Northeastern Thailand, also known as Isan, is largely isolated from the rest of
Thailand by a large mountain range. A Lao-speaking majority, as well as a primarily While this is oftentimes the norm for many cultures (as it should be), it is extremely
agricultural society, characterize this culturally distinct region. important to Thai people to respect their elders. People of different

Southern Thailand, located on the Malay peninsula, is home to many of Thailand’s


pristine beaches and resorts. With a more tropical climate, this narrow land mass is
home to a many fishing communities.

It is the region of Central Thailand that is predominant, though. This region is the seat
of Thailand’s modern-day capital city, Bangkok. With its fertile plains, it has also long
been the economic center of the country, producing the majority of Thailand’s
ranking and age are addressed with particular titles, which are too complicated and
rice. Central Thailand is also the area that has the greatest population density, and
abundant to detail here. That being said, be sure to be respectful and drop your head
the greatest concentration of the ethnic Thai majority. It is the political, economic,
when in the presence of someone who is older than you.
and cultural center of Thailand.
Arts, Humanities
Culture
& Popular
GENDER ROLES
Equality of the sexes is
 Historically, Chinese and Japanese constitutional
influences were seen in South Korean
art; aesthetic concepts and motifs were Daily life is dominated by male
guidance within a primarily
shared.
patriarchal society

 Korean music and arts were linked to Social organisation is influenced by


natural cycles and religion, giving rise gender and age
to a folk culture in rural areas that are 47.7% of adult females worked
still considered popular. outside the home (1998)

Women occupied 2.3% of
 ‘Gangnam Style’ by Psy, a South provincial and local seats in (1999) THAILAND
Korean musician, achieved worldwide
Women dominate Shamanism as The ‘Wai’
fame in 2012. The song refers to the
priestesses but have limited roles
Gangnam District of Seoul, a trendy,
within Christian and Buddhist The Thai have a greeting which involves a kind of a bow which also includes
classy area, equated with London,
religions hands together like a prayer called a ‘wai’. Tourists feel that they must replicate
Paris or Hollywood.
Women are expected to be this wai to every Thai that they meet. This is not only not expected but not

submissive in public situations and necessary.
 Foreign influences have produced a
at informal gatherings
fast food and coffee culture in recent
Thai culture is not horizontal like Western cultures, it is vertical. There are
years, especially within Seoul Women are considered more
independent than their male complex social structures that mean that people from a lower social hierarchy
 Language has altered with the
counterparts should ‘wai’ first. So, don’t walk into a restaurant and ‘wai’ to all the young staff.
introduction of some Western phrases
such as ‘eye shopping’ (window It can be socially awkward for Thai people, particularly if they recognise that they

shopping). are of a lower social status. Until you learn about the ‘wai’, how and when to give
one, just smile and nod, it will be okay.
Arts, Humanities & Popular Culture:

 The arts are an important part of Japanese life. A number


of schools and colleges offer students training and
preparation for careers in performance and art.
 The Ministry of Education is protective of Japan’s great
works of art which include paintings, sculptures and
architecture. Traditional arts and crafts such as the tea
ceremony, flower arranging and dance that express SOUTH KOREA
Japan’s cultural heritage are greatly valued and
designated as ‘living national treasures’. Major Celebrations/Secular
Japan’s history has been defined too by its literature and Religion & Beliefs
 Celebrations
poetry. The ‘Tale of the Genji’ for instance, is a great
 South Korea supports religious
classic work written by a noblewoman, Murasaki Shikibu  There are two main national holidays
freedom
at the beginning of the 11th Century.  New Year’s Day (second full moon after
 Confucianism, Buddhism and Christ
 Comic books and animation are a popular form of art winter solstice)
ianity are the main formal religions
which has reached an international audience.  Chuseok (the eighth full moon)
 Many Koreans believe in the
 Japanese Martial Arts are also a traditional and  Celebrations for these festivals are based
ancestral spirit and observe
respected performing art including Jujutsu (a method of around ancestors, family, games, harvest
Confucian rituals
close combat) and Kendo (swordsmanship using festivals and food.
 Confucianism is a political and social
bamboo swords and protective armour.)
philosophy that pervades Korean
culture.
The Family:
Religion
 Family patterns have changed
The majority of Filipino people over the decades from multi-
practice the Christian religion. generational households to the
Spain highly influenced the
people to the extent that the typical ‘nuclear family’ with two
Philippines became one of the parents and their children
two predominantly Christian (particularly in the more urban
nations in the Asia Pacific, the
areas).
other being East Timor.
According to Wikipedia,  Some families may have an
Christianity is the religion of JAPAN elderly parent or relative residing
about 80% of the Philippine with them.
population (mostly Catholics)
while Islam is the religion of Religion & Beliefs:  During the second half of the
11%, and other religions and 20th century, new laws were
Shinto and Buddhism 84%, other 16% (including
beliefs comprise the 9% of the introduced reducing patriarchal
Music, Arts and Literature rest of the population.
Christian 0.7%)
authority and awarding greater
Filipinos are very fond of music. They Shinto dates back to ancient times when people
legal rights for women.
believed that the natural world possessed Kami, a
use various materials to create sound.  Marriage is based upon mutual
Shinto deity or divine spirit. Buddhism came from
attraction rather than the once
They love performing dances (Tiniking and Carinosa) and group singing China in the 6th Century and the two religions
have co-existed in Japan from that time. traditional ‘arranged marriage’.
during festive celebrations. Settlers from Spain introduced to them a variety
of musical instruments like the ukulele, trumpet, drums and violin. Most of
their music is contemporary and they have also learned to write their own
songs based on real life events. People are also fond of folklore, which was
influenced by the early church and Spanish literature. Jose Rizal, the
country's national hero, is famous for his literature and novels inspired from
the independence story of the country.
Art and sculpture, are prevalent in
african culture, and the most common
themes depict a couple, a woman and
child, a male with a weapon or animal, or a
“stranger”.

“Some Interesting
African Tradition and

culture”
Culture

African Tradition and Culture Men from the Latuka tribe in Sudan Philippine Tradition and The Philippines is a country

Culture
still practice the tradition of that has varied cultural
kidnapping a woman that they want influences. Most of these
influences are results of
Oral tradition, is very important in African culture, as to marry. Language
it insures the passage of cultural practices from one previous colonization,
generation to another. There are 175 estimated languages deriving mainly from the
To protect their skin from the sun,
spoken in the Philippines. Almost all are culture of Spain and the
Music and poetry tradition, singing is very the Himba people of northern
classified as Malayo-Polynesian languages. United States. Despite all
important to the African society a “griot” is a praise Nimbia cover themselves with a
Among those languages, there are 13 of these influences, the old
singer or poet who possesses a repository of oral mixture of red soil and milk fat, and
tradition passed down from generation to generation. indigenous languages with nearly 1 million Asian culture of Filipinos
so they appear to have reddish skin.
speakers. has been retained and are
African mask tradition, are used in dances have clearly seen in their way of
religious, ceremonial and functional origins. It For more than three centuries Spanish
the Algerian men of the “Ahaggaren life, beliefs and customs.
represents spirit it possesses the dancer as they wear it. was the official language under Spain's
Tuareg “ group wear a veil almost all Wherever you go, Filipino
colonial rule. It was spoken by 60% of the
Art, “Zulu” people are well known for their intricate culture is very evident and
the time, occasionally taking them population as either a first, second or
beadwork , carries a specific meaning. The beads have has largely been
been used to carry massage known as “ucu”, a Zulu off when in a family group or while third language in the early 20th century.
they travel. appreciated and even
term loosely translated as “love letters”. The present Constitution names Filipino
applauded in many parts
and English as joint official languages.
of the world.

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