What is the nationality of Thailand? Such different Thais: a guide to the nationalities of Thailand. Philosophy and way of life

Thailand is a multinational country. Not only Thais live here, but also various ethnic groups - Malays, Laotians, Shans, Chinese, as well as a number of hill tribes. In general, the population of Thailand is homogeneous. 80% are Thai and 85% speak Thai languages.

However, the indigenous population of Thailand are not Thais, but Viets, Khmers and Mons. They inhabited the valleys of Menam, Mekong and Salween until the 13th century. The Thais themselves lived in China on the Yunnan Plateau, but the attack of the Mongol-Tatars forced them to emigrate to the south and displace the indigenous inhabitants from there.

Mon-Khmer peoples

The tribes of Viet, Khmer and mountain Khmer, Mon and others live in Thailand. The Viet live in the southeastern part of the country. Their number reaches 100 thousand people. Monns live in the western regions. The Khmers are the largest group of all Mon-Kher peoples. In total there are more than 1 million people. They live in the east. The Khmer mountain tribes were also founded, but their settlements are also found in the east of the country.

There are many different Thai people living in Thailand. The Laotians live in the northeast of modern Thailand. Historically, the kingdom of the Laotians, Lan Sang, became part of Thailand, so the number of Laotians there is almost 5 times greater than in Laos itself.

The area in which the Lao live is called Isan. But living in one country did not unite related peoples, but vice versa. Even though the Laotians, like the Thais, practice Buddhism, the influence of animism is still present in Lao culture.

Another Thai people, the Phuan, also live alongside the Laotians. In the past, the Phuang were residents of the Principality of Chang Nin, which was located in Lans Sang. But after the capture of Lan Sang, its territory was completely subordinated to Thailand.

There are also other peoples living in Thailand. The Shans live in the north-west of the country, and the Daits live in the northern part. There you can also meet the Ly tribes who live in the provinces of Chiang Rai, Phayao, Lamphuni Nan.

There are some settlements in the south. Korat Thais live in Eastern Thailand, around the city of Nakhon Ratchasima. There are more than half a million of them.

Yuan are a people who once lived in the state of Lanna, founded in the 13th century. But in 1880 it was annexed to Siam. Also, a small Yuan ethnic group is located in the central regions of Thailand. All nationalities of Thailand are united by a common religion - Buddhism, so there are no acute conflicts between them.

Malayo-Polynesian peoples

The Malays are a large ethnic group in Thailand. There are about 3 million Malays in total. They live mainly in the south of the country, and their religion is Islam. However, no religious contradictions arise in Thailand due to well-structured government policy. Also in the country there are a few settlements of the Chams (4000 people) and the Urak-Lavoi - tribes of sea gypsies living in the south of the country - the islands

Thailand closes the top twenty largest countries in terms of population on our planet. The population, which is estimated at just over 71 million according to the latest data, is largely indigenous settlers. In addition, the country is home to many different nationalities. All this will be discussed in more detail later.

Demographic Features

Thailand, which costs just over 7 thousand US dollars per year, can be called a fairly developed country. Another confirmation of this is the fact that more than 93% of residents here have an education. In the mid-twentieth century, the state experienced a real demographic explosion. Then, over the course of 23 years, the number of local residents doubled. Every third person in the country lives in cities. The population of its capital, Bangkok, exceeds 10 million people. According to statistics, the average life expectancy of women is 74 years, while for men it is 70. Almost half of the inhabitants are under 30 years of age.

Urbanization

Thailand's population density now averages 130 people per square kilometer. As in many other Asian countries, the majority of local residents live in rural areas. In particular, there are about one thousand villages in the country. Be that as it may, in recent years, the outflow of young people from them to the capital and other megacities has become characteristic. The largest city here after the above-mentioned Bangkok is Chiang Mai (170 thousand inhabitants).

Ethnic composition

The country's original inhabitants are ethnic Thais, who were driven here by the Mongols from China in the thirteenth century. Gradually they populated the valley and created their own. Today, these people account for 75% of all the inhabitants of the country. It consists of a large number of groups. In addition to the Thais, the population of Thailand includes ethnic Chinese (14%), Malays (3.5%), as well as Vietnamese, Lao, Mono, Khmer and some mountain peoples. There are about 20 ethnic groups in total. One cannot help but focus on the fact that more than one million people are refugees from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. These people live in border areas and are housed in camps.

Native people

The name “Thai” comes from the word “thai”, which translated into our language means a free person. The country's indigenous inhabitants mainly live in its central regions. If you move through the territory of the state a little in the northeast direction, you can see that another nationality predominates here - the Lao. In general, the indigenous population of Thailand can be called very friendly, friendly and open people. First of all, this is due to their religiosity and belief in karma. They consider strong family ties to be very important. It is not surprising that several generations always live in one house, and children take very good care of their parents. Cases of murder and theft in the state are extremely rare. Local residents are highly diligent.

Main activities

More than half of the country's working population is employed in the agricultural sector. A third of local residents work in government agencies and the service sector, and 14% work in industry. Although almost the entire population of Thailand can boast of having an education, its level is far from the highest. In this regard, all sectors of the country's economy suffer from a lack of sufficient qualified personnel.

Agriculture is dominated by the cultivation of rice, vegetables and cereals. Livestock farming is also considered quite developed, because the Thais raise large animals, as well as birds, buffaloes and horses. Some local villages live by catching and selling fish. Wood carving is considered the most honorable craft, the secrets of which are passed down exclusively from generation to generation. Women, as a rule, are engaged in weaving and pottery.

Languages

The population of Thailand speaks predominantly the state language, in which three main dialects can be distinguished. The first of them is official and is used in literature and education, the second is spoken in the northern regions, and the third is mainly used in the northeast and southeast of the country. According to officially confirmed information, back in the thirteenth century, under the influence of Khmer culture, the first Thai written traditions were formed. All religious works are written in Pali language.

Due to the numerical size of the Chinese ethnic group, of whom there are about 6 million, several Chinese dialects can be considered quite common in the state. The most commonly used languages ​​are Teochu and Mandarin. About 2 million people in the country speak Arabic. An interesting feature is the use of Arabic writing. English is actively used in tourist centers and large cities.

Religion

Almost the entire population of Thailand (more than 94% of the country's inhabitants) professes Buddhism. It is not surprising that the largest international organization of this religion on the planet, the World Brotherhood of Buddhists, is located in Bangkok. At the same time, one cannot help but note the nuance that the Thais borrowed many rituals and customs from other beliefs: Hinduism, Taoism and Confucianism. In addition to Buddhists, there are Muslims, Christians and Sikhs in the country, and traditional ancient religions are quite common in the mountainous regions of the state.

Features of the population of Thailand: size, geographical location

Of all its neighboring states, the Kingdom of Thailand has the most “Europeanized” name. And at the same time, only this country escaped colonization from England or France, to which, to one degree or another, all other territories in this corner of Southeast Asia were subject. Isn’t that why the name of this country contains the word “thai”, which means “freedom”. The local equivalent of the name is “Muang Thai” (also with the word “freedom”) or “Phrathet Thai”. However, until 1939, this piece of land in the southwest of the Indochina Peninsula (partly also in the north of the Malacca Peninsula) was generally called Siam (hence the expression “Siamese twins”).

A little geography

The majority of the population of Thailand is employed either in agricultural production or in the tourism business. Both of these activities are facilitated by the state's geographic location. Thailand is stretched vertically, its length is 1860 kilometers. Hence the climatic diversity, in which fruits on agricultural plantations have time to ripen many times during the year. The tourism season stretches, flowing from north to south and vice versa. It is no coincidence that the “Land of the Free” is a year-round paradise for tourists from all over the world.

Density and numbers

According to official data, the population density of Thailand is 130.5 people per square kilometer. About three dozen different nationalities live here. About three quarters of them are Thai (75%, according to other sources - up to 80%). There are ethnic Chinese (14%, according to other sources - 10%), Malays (3%) and Vietnamese. Overall, Thailand's population is 61.8 million.

In the “Land of the Free,” the king is the leader and symbol of the nation, he is the patron and protector of all faiths. The popular adoration of the royal family here is almost religious in nature. Almost the entire population professes Buddhism (94.6%), and only a small part of Thais living in the south are followers of Islam (4.6%). Christianity has been mentioned here since 1505, when a certain Louis from Warsema, traveling in these places, noted the Armenians permanently living in Siam. Judging by his notes, the occupation of these representatives of the teachings of Christ at that time was trade with India.

Economic potential

Despite the fact that Thailand, in the minds of Russians, is associated with tourism, it is a country with very high economic potential, occupying a fairly high position in the world. Judging by official statistics, Thailand's GDP per capita is 150 billion USD, this is the 33rd world indicator and is approximately a third of Russia's GDP.

Thailand is the largest Asian supplier of light goods. Interestingly, the local population is very successful in making handicrafts. All the surrounding shops are full of boxes, fans, umbrellas, and inexpensive jewelry. The Thais are the largest producers and exporters of rice (up to 9 million tons/year, including the so-called “jasmine” rice). Other agricultural crops include corn, pineapples, coconuts, and sweet potatoes, but most of the income here is obtained by exporting durian, known throughout the world as the “king of fruits.”

Peasant

Culture

And Thailand, of course, is a country of Buddhist temples, including the world's largest Buddha statue (Phra Pathom Chedi, height - 127 meters). There are 32,700 temples here, with 1 monk per 170 people. Thailand has its own Buddhist calendar, and the highest temperatures are recorded in April-May - from 35 to 40 degrees Celsius.

In addition to dilapidated architectural monuments, beautiful nature and other attractions, any country is also famous for its population. People whose great-grandfathers built monuments that are unique today, people who cultivate the land under your feet and which you admire. And naturally, your final impression of the country largely depends on them. A close acquaintance with the population of a particular country can tell you much more about it than the rarest exhibits from a museum. St. Petersburg - Finland tours are the most popular for the New Year holidays. But believe me, Thailand is much warmer.

This privileged position was due to his diplomatic flexibility, which allowed him to respond positively to the demands of Britain and France and to the interests shared by the two European powers, in order to maintain the state of relations between their respective areas of influence. Having finished off Japan during World War II in hopes of regaining some of the territories given to the Westerners, at the end of the conflict Thailand managed to avoid being treated as aggressive states thanks to the government's secret support for the Allied-backed Free Thai Movement, with the US at the head.

The population of Thailand is more than seventy million people, and the ethnic composition of the inhabitants is very diverse, but most of them are still Thais and Lao peoples. The Thais originally lived on the territory of Thailand, and it was they who built ancient Ayutthaya.

The remaining peoples make up little more than 20% of the population of Thailand and due to the fact that there are a great many of these peoples, there are very few representatives of each nationality. The exception is residents of Chinese nationality - about 15% of them here. Representatives of other nationalities (Viets, Khmers, Karens, Malays, etc.) live mainly in areas close to the country’s border.

With the end of the Cold War, the alliance with the United States remained stable as it had since been demonstrated to allow the use of bases on Thai soil during the First Gulf War. However, along with its alliance with the United States, Thailand is strengthening its ties with the People's Republic of China, with which it has had significant strategic rapprochement since the late 1970s. Indeed, in the 1970s, in relation to relations with Vietnam, ties with China accelerated.

The consolidation of a unified Vietnam led to the revival of political and territorial tensions between China and Vietnam and ultimately strengthened the close ties between the latter and the Soviet Union. In response, the People's Republic of China cut off support for the Communist Party of Thailand, and Thailand promised to facilitate the transit of Chinese military aid to the Khmer Rouge. While relations with China and the United States appear stable, the same cannot be said for relations with neighboring states destabilized by the presence of separatist minorities, border disputes with Malaysia and Myanmar, and border disputes such as in Cambodia.

The main industry of the Thai population is agriculture. The main religion is Buddhism, the main language is Thai. Thais are usually smiling, nice and friendly people and, as a rule, leave only pleasant impressions about themselves among guests of the country. English is the second language in the country and is spoken mainly in tourist regions. The ratio of female to male populations is approximately equal (rather minor “shifts” in the ratio occur among different age groups).

Since then, 11 attacks of the state have been successful, and the country has had 17 constitutional documents. Just the presidential ceremony at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was the spark that sparked the anti-Thaksin and Philomonahar campaign based on the slogan "We Love the King" and implemented by the opposition Pad Party with the support of the real house. The new document reduced the government's freedom of action, increasing the role of the judiciary, special commissions and the Senate. The latter is no longer fully elected, but provides for the appointment of 80 members selected from representatives of business, academia and public administration.

Externally, Thais look different - this is explained by the large number of different nationalities living in the country. Although, of course, everyone has the same general facial features.

Communication with Thais is usually a very pleasant process, and it is probably the friendliness of the Thai population that has played into the hands of the popularity of this country's resorts around the world. Thailand is rightly called the “Land of Smiles” and, looking at the local people, you understand why.

The new Senate is also apartheid and candidates must not have been members of the party in the previous five years. This held the majority until the start of the square demonstration by the Yellow Shirts and the subsequent dissolution of the party by the Constitutional Court, which paved the way for the election of Democratic Party Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. High political instability also increases due to the crucial issue of the king's succession. He is the ninth ruler of the Chakri dynasty, who led the country for 229 years and, despite lacking significant formal powers, is a symbol of national unity and is much loved by the people, also because in the past he was able to avoid internal fractures, degenerative, risk of That such a delicate and uncertain phase of political life in Thailand may be missing what has been a fundamental phase in recent decades increases the difficulty of national reconciliation.

Population of Thailand - who lives in Thailand? Why are Thais so calm and always smiling? How many local residents live in the kingdom?

Who lives in Thailand - population, numbers, character, philosophy and way of life

The composition of the people of Thailand is much more colorful than it might seem at first glance. According to official data, population of Thailand– 80% are representatives of the Thai group, and 96.5% of them profess Buddhism. The Thai group is divided into percentages of 2/3 - Thai, 1/3 - Lao. Also permanently living in Thailand are the Chinese and Malays.

More than a fifth of Thailand's population is under 15 years of age. However, the country's population growth rate has declined steadily over the past few decades, also due to the success of birth control programs adopted in the 1970s. Despite the steady growth of a concerned population, Thailand is still currently a predominantly rural country, with two-thirds of its people living in rural areas, with a particular focus on rice-growing areas. Most of the urban population is concentrated in the Bangkok metropolitan area.

Every eighth resident of Thailand is ethnic Chinese. Throughout the country there are communities, districts, and even entire settlements of Chinese.

Population of Thailand

As of 2017, the population of Thailand is 68 million people. Every year the number is growing - the country is prospering: labor migrants come from neighboring countries, families are formed with CIS citizens, the flow of tourists who want to stay in Thailand forever is increasing. This is not surprising, because in the character and way of life of Thais, foreigners find something cozy and warm for themselves. And stunning nature and excellent food strengthen the overall positive impression.

This is an important cause of political tension in Thailand, as capital is blamed in other provinces that are growing disproportionately, both geographically and economically, at the expense of the rest of the country. Ethnically, Thailand is one of the most homogeneous countries in Southeast Asia, with 75% of its residents having Thai ethnicity and 14% having at least one Chinese ancestor. However, estimates that best approximate the reality of the proportion of the population with at least one Chinese ancestor may be closer to 30% of the total, with peaks in large cities.

Thai family

These amazing Thais are the character of the population

“Khontai” is a free, calm person - this is the translation of this word. This is exactly what the Thais consider themselves to be, primarily for their way of life, freedom and open-mindedness about the world around them. Secondly, Thailand has never been a colony; they have tried to conquer and enslave the kingdom many times, but so far no one has succeeded. Thirdly, the Thais believe that their language and writing is the most complex and unique in the world. Just look at the 5 tones of pronunciation used in it. Thanks to these components, passed from “father to son,” balance has become the main trait of the Thai character. Of course, this is also influenced by the mass “idea” of life...

However, some pronounced variations in the ethnic language can be traced across the country. For example, almost a third of northern villagers speak Laotian and other non-obvious dialects from those who speak Thai. Not only is there a difference in prestige between Bangkok Thai and the Thai and northeastern varieties, mirroring the fractures and political tensions across the country. Thailand's main social glue is religion: 95% of residents are of the Buddhist faith, and almost all adhere to the doctrines of the Theravada school.

Philosophy and way of life

In general, the general “ideology” of the life of indigenous Thais is based on “three pillars”. “Suai” – beautiful; "Sanuk" - pleasure; “Sabai” is nice. A similar attitude towards the world around us lies in religion - Theravada Buddhism, and, of course, in the visual picture, which historically encourages calm.

Despite this, the religious minority is one of the biggest problems for the country: 4% of Muslim believers are mainly Malaysians and live in southern Thailand, bordering Malaysia. For several years, the separatist tendencies of this ethnic group led to an escalation of violence, causing the deaths of soldiers and civilians.

Finally, the last point concerns the status of immigrants and refugees in the country. On the one hand, due to 20 years of heavy immigration from neighboring countries and Thailand's restrictive immigration laws, more than 3 million people living in the country are believed to be stateless.


Group of Thai friends

If you take a closer look, it becomes clear why the country of smiles is so “measured”, and its inhabitants are slow, balanced and always armed with a smile. For a long time, the population of Thailand did not have to go on multi-day hunts in search of food to feed their families - there was free access to marine resources from the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea from almost all sides.

Thaksin has also periodically used charges of defamation - a crime for which penalties under the Penal Code are high - to silence his critics. There is also a law in the country which is an article of the criminal code that defines the crime of wounded. Broad interpretations of this rule allow the penis to be jailed for up to 15 years for anyone who insults the king, the royal family or Buddhism.

Internet access is limited to about a quarter of the population. Moreover, over the past twenty years, Thailand has positioned itself among the top thirty-two global economies in the world, ahead of most so-called developing countries, behind only Indonesia in Southeast Asia, and the levels of some European countries.

An abundance of fruits and vegetables helped maintain and improve health, developing strong immunity to various diseases.

The only catch in getting food was growing rice. Not a single meal was complete without it. The constant need to sow and harvest rice prompted the Thai population to improve their craft - they began to grow rice in water. “Hard” work was made easier.

In addition to exports, trade as a whole represents a share due to the highest inflation than the rest of the world, with the exception of only eight states. Large incoming and outgoing commercial flows are divided between different partners, each of which has a share of no more than one-fifth of the total exchange volume. However, trade with China is increasing sharply, and until the mid-1990s it did not exceed 2.8% of exports and 3.7% of imports, currently it absorbs 16.8% and 12%, respectively, 7%.

Again, in terms of exports, Thailand is the fourth largest high-tech exporting country in the world in terms of total exports as it exports mainly to the automobile and electronics sectors. At the same time, the political situation is weighing on the economy and prolonged instability could undermine current levels of growth. Tourism, for example, is a sector that could be greatly affected by uncertainty in the near future.

Thais are concentrated mainly in the central region of Thailand, where most of them are employed in rice plantations. In Isan in the northeast, the majority of the population is Lao. The northern part of the country, covered with mountains, has a mixed population consisting of small Thai ethnic groups.

Thais are the indigenous people of Thailand

The self-name of the Thais comes from the word from the Thai language “thai” - “free”. The word “franc” had the same meaning in Europe.

The Thais lived in China until the 13th century, from where they were driven out by the Mongols. Gradually settling the territory of the Mekong Valley, they, in turn, ousted the Khmers who lived there and created their own state of Ayutthaya, also known as Siam. The Siamese borrowed writing from the Khmers, and Buddhism from the surrounding peoples.

Absolute monarchy and the veneration of the king as a god always existed in Siam, until the coup of 1932. Then Siam was renamed Thailand and a constitution was adopted, after which the power of the monarch decreased, but not much.

Thus, the division of the Thai language into common and palace, which is spoken only at the royal court, has been preserved.

Buddhism has a very large influence on the lives of modern Thais. There are about 400 Buddhist temples in Bangkok alone. The largest one is Bencham-Obopit, translated as Marble Temple, which is really built of white marble. As in neighboring countries, Buddhist monks do not have the right to work and live on alms.

Traditionally, Thais are engaged in agriculture. They mainly grow rice, vegetables, various cereals, and tea. Fruits include bananas, citrus fruits and mangoes, and in smaller quantities apples and peaches (they have taken root only in the valleys of the northern part of the country).

They raise buffalos, horses for heavy work, all kinds of domestic animals and poultry: goats, pigs, cows, chickens. They catch fish in the sea and rivers with bamboo traps from heavy boats. Some villages specialize exclusively in fishing.

Wood carving is considered the main and most honorable craft. This is a profession that is usually passed down from generation to generation along with all the secrets of the skill. Traditionally, pottery and weaving are considered women's crafts; there is a loom in almost every home. The Thais know how to process precious stones, but they do not work with gold and silver.

The main food is rice, as well as fish, vegetables and fruits. Meat is eaten on holidays. While eating, they sit on mats around a tray of food or a low table. Traditional clothing for men is rolled, unstitched pants - panung, for women - sweaters, a wide scarf - crotch and skirts, also unstitched. The headdress common to men and women is a hat made of palm leaves and sandals as shoes. However, they also go barefoot, this is a common thing.

Lao - inhabitants of the Northeast region of Thailand Isan

The Lao are a distinct ethnic group, most of whom occupy the northeastern region of Thailand called Isan. The Lao have their own language, Lao (close to Thai), which has several dialects, and two types of writing: everyday and sacred, for religious texts.

The main occupation of the Lao people is traditional agriculture. Rice, tea, coffee and pepper are grown. Animals are also raised, although not very actively: buffaloes for work, small livestock and poultry.

Roots and herbs are collected as an additional food source. The soil in this region is not very fertile, and some of the land is completely solid rock. So they rarely harvest more than one harvest a year. However, part of Laos is covered with mountain forests, so the region's economy is significantly supported by logging.

Lao crafts are well developed. They can provide themselves with almost everything they need. Men's occupations include making tools and bamboo utensils, jewelry and blacksmithing, stone and bone carving. Men also make vehicles: two-wheeled carts and dugout boats. Women engage in cotton spinning, embroidery, weaving, shoe making and rice straw weaving. They are also responsible for pottery.

The main type of food, along with rice, is fish. The Mekong River, Asia's largest river, flows through Isan and is rich in fish. They catch it with a special top trap, or hit it in shallow water with a spear. The Lao Fishing Festival is celebrated in the 10th month of the lunar calendar.

Settlements are usually small. Each one must have a temple complex, inside of which there is a statue of Buddha. Houses on stilts, with gable roofs and two or three entrances, are randomly scattered in groups of eight to ten. The house has two or three entrances and two fireplaces - one for family members, the other for guests.

The hearth is made like this: a bamboo frame is filled with earth and clay, and a tripod with a hook for the boiler is placed above it.

The main piece of furniture is a mat; wooden benches and bamboo stools are also used. The menu is based on rice, fresh or dried fish, and vegetables.

For clothing, men wear shirts and jackets made of canvas, regular pants or a piece of cloth wrapped like pants.

Women wear bright dresses decorated with embroidery, sweaters with a stand-up collar and skirts also decorated with an embroidered pattern. A wide scarf acts as a belt. Men and women wear straw hats and headbands as headdresses.

Small Thai peoples of Northern Thailand

Centuries ago, in the Northern region of Thailand, there was the state of Lanna, inhabited by mountain peoples. Their life has remained virtually unchanged since then. They have preserved their traditional culture and way of life, which can be seen thanks to specially organized excursions. Let's name the most numerous of them.

Karens

The Karen are a tribal union. It consists of numerous subgroups, each with its own customs and dialect. Of those seen by tourists, the tribe of "long-necked women" (Paduong, meaning "copper ring") is the most famous.

For women, starting from the age of five, a spiral of hollow brass wire is wrapped around the neck. The wire is thick, and its turns look like rings. With age, the spiral is replaced with a new one, with a higher number of revolutions. Reaches up to twenty-five to twenty-eight rings, weighing from three to eight kilograms. The first wedding night is the only time when a woman can take off the rings, and then they are put back on, but the number of turns is not increased from that moment on.

It must be said that the neck does not physically lengthen at all - it is the collarbones that lower under the weight of the metal. This is a reversible process, and if a woman stops wearing rings, her skeleton will be completely restored within a couple of years.

Akha

Outwardly, they are noticeably different from other peoples of the North of Thailand with their elegant and richly decorated clothes. Their headdress is especially famous. This hat (there are three types) is inherited and represents an entire structure. It is covered with dozens of cowrie shells, silver flakes and coins of various origins and considerable denominations sewn in dense rows.

Due to the large amount of metal, the caps of the Akha people are called “iron”, although it is silver that is used in them. The hats offered to tourists are similar in appearance, only they have tin instead of silver and aluminum Burmese pyyas instead of full-sized Indian rupees. A variety of things are also used to decorate hats: plant seeds, dyed chicken feathers, scraps of fabric, mirror fragments and much more.

Mien

The Mien people (other tribes call them Yao) are the only people among the peoples of mountainous Thailand who have a written language. Many of them make good money by selling handwritten religious scrolls with Chinese-style designs added to them. All men of the tribe know hieroglyphic writing; the boys are taught by their fathers. Sometimes the entire village hires a Chinese teacher to teach all the children together.

Mien women wear easily recognizable clothes: long black jackets with lapels made of bright red wool, similar to boas, a black turban and trousers decorated with rich embroidery. Children's clothing is finished with special care and love.

Some of the Myen have recently adopted Christianity, but they all retain faith in spirits and stars and carefully observe the commandments of their ancestors and the instructions of shamans.

Conclusion

The population of Thailand consists of many nationalities whose ancestors came from the Middle East. For the most part, these people retained traditional m