Religion and Family of the Chinese and Thai in Thailand and Influences

Abstract

Since the 1950s, the view that the Chinese in Thailand would be assimilated into Thai society was widely held. It was also believed that Chinese culture would be absorbed into Thai culture. This view was challenged in the 1990s and among other things, it was asserted that Chinese culture has not been absorbed, but rather influenced by Thai culture. Thai culture, on the other hand, has also changed due to influences from Chinese culture. It is also said that both Chinese and Thai culture may become more alike due to the adoption of Western beliefs and practices. This paper focuses on two aspects of culture: religion and family. Older views of the religion of the Chinese and the Thai, more recent studies and evidence of influence are discussed. It is shown that the degree to which Chinese and Thai practices are combined is remarkable, for example, the Chinese worship both the Buddha (housed in wat ‘Thai temple’) and Chinese deities. Even something as important to the Chinese as death practices and ancestor worship are infused with Thai practices. Chinese and Thai family values and attitudes are also discussed, particularly the less frequently mentioned Thai values in comparative studies.