Introduction
This article explores the origin of both Thai and Lao people in Thailand, Laos and north-western Vietnam which are collectively called Southwestern Tai.
Homeland
The Southwestern Tai is a branch of the Kra-Dai people. Their earliest homeland was in north-western Vietnam bordering northern Laos.
Original homeland
Starting from the Tang dynasty (618-907 AD), wars in northern China sent massive number of Han Chinese immigrants to Guangdong, Guangxi and north-eastern Vietnam.As a result of this mass migration, the native Central Tai people began to move from the Zuo River basin in Guangxi into north-western Vietnam.
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| Migration to northwestern Vietnam |
First wave of migration
Along the migration path from Guangxi to the southwest, they established several small kingdoms in neighbouring regions i.e. north-western Vietnam, northern Laos and northern Thailand.
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| Migration path of Southwestern Tai |
In 698 AD, the ancestors of Lao migrated to northern Laos and established the earliest Lao city of Luang Prabang aka Muang Sua.
In 773 AD, the ancestors of Tai Yuan migrated into northern Thailand and established Chiang Saen in modern day Chiang Rai province.
Second wave of migration
Starting from 12th century AD, the Tai and Lao people expanded their territories into Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai and Khmer kingdom of Angkor. |
| Tai kingdoms from 13th century to 17th century |
In 1180 AD, Phaya Ceuang established Chiang Hung (modern-day Jinghong in Yunnan) which became part of China in 1382 AD. It was divided into Sipsong Panna (Twelve districts) in 1570 AD.
In 1243 AD, Mang Kun from Chiang Saen established Chiang Tung (modern-day Kengtung in Myanmar)
In 1296 AD, Mangrai, a Chiang Saen king, established Lan Na (Land of Million Rice Fields) with its new capital in Chiang Mai .
In 1353 AD, Fa Ngum, a Lao king, established Lan Xang (Land of Million Elephants) with its capital in Muang Sua . Lan Xang eventually became modern-day Laos.
In 1238 AD, Sri Indraditya established Sukhothai which was the first Tai kingdom in central Thailand. Under King Ramkhamhaeng's rule (1279-1298 AD), the kingdom expanded southwards until Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand.
In 1350 AD, U-Thong established Ayutthaya and expanded its southernmost border into northern Malaysia.
In 1893 AD, Lanna Kingdom was incorporated into Siam which was renamed to Thailand in 1939 AD.
Thai culture and religion
Unique Thai and Lao dishes include Spicy Thai Shrimp Soup (Tom Yam Goong), Coconut Chicken Soup (Tom Kha Gai), Green Papaya Salad (Som Tam)
The Thai and Lao people adopted the culture and religion of the native Khmer such as Songkran festival and Theravada Buddhism
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| Buddhist stupas & Buddha statues (inset) |
Southwestern Tai languages
Southwestern Tai languages are tonal and largely monosyllabic.
In 1283 AD, King Ramkhamhaeng created the Thai writing script which were modified from the Khmer script based on South Indian script.
The Central Thai and Southern Thai languages borrowed many words from Khmer language and also Sanskrit & Pali words through Buddhism.
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| First Thai writing on inscription stone - Ramkhamhaeng statue |
Southwestern Tai subgroups
There are four branches:
- Sipsong Chau Tai: White Tai, Black Tai, Red Tai
- Lao-Phutai: Lao, Lao Isaan, Phu Tai, Lao Nyo
- Chiang Saen: Sipsong Panna(Tai Lue), Chiang Tung(Tai Khuen), Lanna(Tai Yuan)
- Sukhothai: Southern Thai, Central Thai, Tak-Bai Tai
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| Southwestern Tai subgroups |
Some historians claim that the rulers of Sukhothai were of mixed Tai-Khmer ancestry unlike the northern Tai kingdoms.
A certain percentage of the Sukhothai branch married the native Mon and Khmer to form a mixed race starting from the Sukhothai period.
Southern Tai people traditionally live in Nakhon Si Thammarat and nearby provinces in southern Thailand.
Tak-Bai Tai migrated to southernmost Thailand and northern Malaysia after Ayutthaya expanded to the region. This subgroup reside mostly in the majority Malay states of Narathiwat, Pattani, Yala in Thailand and Kelantan (especially Tumpat town) in Malaysia.
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| Sukhothai branch |
There are some other Tai subgroups in South-East Asia not listed here which are actually Northwestern Tai.
Closest ethnic relative
The Southwestern Tai's closest ethnic relative is the Southern Zhuang ethnic group which remains the largest Kra-Dai ethnic group in Guangxi of China today.
The close ancestral origin between the Southern Zhuang and Southwestern Tai was attested by history experts stating that both groups share many common basic vocabulary and separated around 1000 years ago. Refer to video below.
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| Southern Zhuang |
The close ancestral origin between the Southern Zhuang and Southwestern Tai was attested by history experts stating that both groups share many common basic vocabulary and separated around 1000 years ago. Refer to video below.
Conclusion
Contrary to popular beliefs, the Thai and Lao people are not the natives of Thailand and Laos.Ethnic Tai and ethnic Lao share the same ancestors who first followed the same migration path from Guangxi in China but then diverged to different regions in Southeast Asia.
After two major waves of migration, ethnic Tai and ethnic Lao became the ethnic majority in Thailand and Laos respectively today.
Another Tai branch in Southeast Asia was identified by some linguists as Northwestern Tai and was narrated on another article.
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| Southwestern Tai girls |
Another Tai branch in Southeast Asia was identified by some linguists as Northwestern Tai and was narrated on another article.
Related links
Origin of Thai language
Main ethnicities in Thailand
Ethnic origin of Zhuang (Northern and Central Tai)
Ethnic origin of Northwestern Tai
http://eastasiaorigin.blogspot.com/2020/09/ethnic-origin-of-tai-yai.html
http://eastasiaorigin.blogspot.com/2020/09/ethnic-origin-of-tai-yai.html
Sources
- Chronicle of Sipsong Panna: History and society of a Tai Lu kingdom. Author: Foon Ming Liew, Volker Grabowsky, Renoo Wichasin.
- Valuing Cultural Heritage: A Case Study of Temples in Chiang Saen. By Pongsan Sanyakamdhorn, Udomsak Seenprachawong
- A Case Study of Jinghong (Chiang Roong), Xishuangbanna. By Sirilucksm Tantayakul.
- The Ai-Lao and Nan Chao/Tali Kingdom: A Re-orientation. By Grant Evans.
- Khun Borom. https://www.thairath.co.th/content/420417
- History of Jinghong city. https://www.yunnanexploration.com/history-of-jinghong-in-xishuangbanna.html
- Origin of Tai Khuen. https://oakthardynasty.com/destination/f/kyaingtong
- Black Tai and Land of God. https://allpointseast.com/blog/misc/hill-tribes-2/the-black-tai-and-the-land-of-god/
- DK Eyewitness Thailand's Beaches and Islands. By DK Eyewitness.
Last updated: 11 Nov 2021
You did not do ethnic origin of Lao. Are Lao and Thai the same people? Because Laos and Thailand are different countries. If the French didn't colonize Laos, then Laos would be part of Thailand?
ReplyDeleteA country is a political division and not an ethnic division. I've expanded this article to include more details on the Lao who do share a common ethnic origin with the Thai.
DeleteIf French didn't colonize Laos, then Laos might be part of Thailand today. However, Laos wasn't part of Thailand in its earliest days as explained in this article.
Since I got a chance to read this article. How come the Southwestern Tai partially abandon their culture for Mon-khmer culture? Was it because the population between Mon-Khmer were dominant?
ReplyDeleteThere's no definite answer but it could be related to them converting to Buddhism.
DeleteTai certainly have the rare knack of discarding their own culture and adopt local customs. Ex. A big group of Tai migrated to India and guess what are fully indianized.
Delete