The Thai social system
In the Thai social system, the village is the unit. It was in former days, a
self-contained one in its economy and needs. The people's habits and customs
were based mainly on agriculture and religion. Most villages had a Buddhist
monastery and a shrine for a village deity. The monastery served their spiritual
as well as the people's education. All arts, crafts and learning emanated from
the monastery.
From birth till death it centered round it. Its precincts were the meeting
place for social gatherings on festive occasions. As to the village shrine it
was used only occasionally in times of distress or on New Year's day when
offerings were made. It had nothing to do with Buddhism. No doubt Buddhism
softened and tamed animism in many of its cults.
The above is only a fundamental and comparative statement which a student has
to bear in mind when dealing with modern cultural problems. The social system,
habits and customs as seen in Modern times are superficial modifications of the
fundamentals and in a comparative degree only.
In some outlying districts where there are retarded developments of culture
due to lack of intercommunication and new ideas, the people are still in their
primitive state, quite in contrast to the progress in the capital, towns and
cities. In these progressive parts "old times are changed, old manners gone" and
a new type of culture fills its place. This is a sign of progress but it must
come gradually.
Adapt the old to the new but not in a revolutionary way. The new cultures
have also their dangers with problems to be solved, because people take too much
interest in politics. To adopt new cultures wholly unsuited to the needs, which
are peculiar to, and characteristic of each particular place is a danger.
Culture ought to be varied with characteristics of its own in each locality and
area, harmonizing, however, with the whole-a unity in diversity.
02. December 2004