Origins of The Thai and Lao people

Zhuang, the oldest Tai by Professor Pranee Vongthes and S.Vallbhotama

Thai soldiers, Bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat temple, 12th century

Thai and Khmer soldiers, Bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat temple, 12th century                                                                        

Khmer Angkor Wat inscription with the mention of Syam Kuk, 12th century

By Dr. Michel Tranet

PHNOM PENH, 6th May 2012 (Cambodia Herald) - The migration of Thai or Tai people westward predominantly occurred in the middle of the 13th century and resulted in the establishment of Thailand and Laos on pre-Angkor territory. This occurrence has been documented by many researchers in history books on the Southeast Asian region.
Consequently, the establishment of Thailand and Laos on Khmer soil led to the transfer of scientific knowledge from the Khmer people to the new migrants.

The Arrival of Thai people in Khmer Territory
In the reign of the Khmer king Suryavarman II when Angkor Wat and Beng Mealea temples were built, Thai people had yet to establish their own states. Tai people were employed in the Khmer army or as laborers. Sculptures on Angkor Wat’s walls depict evidence of the Thai immigration that went on to integrate under Khmer civilization. The Thai commanders and soldiers had the characteristics of the Chinese and not of the Khmer and Mon.

Thai soldiers, Bas-reliefs of Angkor Wat temple, 12th century
Not all Thai migrated into Khmer territory but stayed in China (mostly in Yunnan province) and still maintain their original culture to this day. According to historical documents, Tai people belonged to the Thai-Viet, stock ethnic groups, unlike the Khmer who belong to Mon-Khmer. Due to the constant invasions by the Mongols, The Thai decided to emigrate from Nan-chou city in Southern China to the Angkor Empire in Indochina.

During this period of migration, many strong Tai commanders who lost their war in South China resided in Khmer territory under the control of the powerful king Suryavarman II.
Thai people had lower living standards than that of the Khmer residents and consequently found themselves working for them. That is why many sculptures on the walls of temples depicted Tai commanders working for Khmer troops. During that period they did not have their own country and written language until the establishment of Sukhothai in the 12th century and Ayutthaya in 1350 AD. It was evident that the ancient Khmer were powerful at that time because the Siamese/Thai were still employed as soldiers.
Siamese/Thai sculptures showed the influence of ancient Khmer kings who not only built Angkor Wat but also showed their highest level of development by employing foreign troops to work and fight for them against invasions made by the Champa Kingdom.  Establishing a prosperous cultural foundation depended on production and man-power which was the pride of the Khmer nation. The Khmer kings desired to proudly exhibit this through their large military parades.
Many achievements made by the Khmer kings were shaped by the form of the Brahman myth for the creation of the universe. For example, fighting for sacred water was depicted on the temple walls as finding sacred water was considered a source of happiness for all Khmer people in its Empire.

Chinese Characteristics of Sculptures Depicting ‘Syam-kok’ Siam Employed Soldiers
On the walls of Angkor Wat is a sculpture carved by the Khmer in the reign of Suryavarman II, of a Thai commander and soldiers walking in parade. Critical examination of this sculpture reveals information previously unexpected.
Originally the men were believed to be Kuoy or Suoy but upon comparison with the faces of those ethnic minorities, this would appear not to be the case. Instead they exhibit similar facial characteristics to Tai tribes with Chinese features quite different from those of the Khmer community and other provinces in present-day Thailand and Laos.
These reliefs were carved to depict and honour the courage of the Thai soldiers in thanks for helping the Khmer to fight against the Champa soldiers. The many generations of integration between the native Khmer and Mon later led to a change in the original characteristics of the Thai race. This is the reason why it is now sometimes difficult to distinguish between Thai and Khmer people based solely on their looks.  .
Therefore it was education and culture rather than pureness of race that were important in determining who was Khmer and who was not and as the Thai became more integrated, this racial discrimination began to fade. (M. Tranet)