Asian Studies Page

• Equality
• Classlessness
• Consensus
• Fairness

Source: Encarta Dictionary Tools

It's surely undeniable that the king's description of the government's actions is undemocratic. He spoke about holding absolute power, which counters against equality and fairness. The fact that rebellion broke out is the opposite of the belief of consensus, "a concept of society in which the absence of conflict is seen as the equilibrium state of society" (Microsoft® Encarta® 2006. © 1993-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.)

By leaving only one person, may it be the king, out of party member elections, the belief of classlessness is ruled out. The king, even though higher, is set back like any other ordinary commoner and is given no right to choose the cabinet.

• Created the "Wild Tiger Corps" paramilitary group.
• Created the Junior Boy Scouting group.
• Changed the flag to the one seen today.

1. Abolished Slavery
2. Became Friends with Foreign Rulers
3. Prevented Colonization in Thailand
4. Set Relatives as Court Advisors and Other High Positions
5. Sent Others and His Sons to Other Foreign Countries
6. Built the First Railway
7. Set Telegraph and Post Services into Use
8. Set up Education for Commoners in Thailand
9. Took a Step to Constitutional Monarchy by Appointing Councils
10. Provided a syllabus for Education

Source: "Thailand A Simple History" and "A Window on Thai History"

I considered abolishing slavery very important because it is a step to freedom and it cancels out any other possible problems such as a slave uprising. Freeing slaves gives commoners a better point of view of the king. Instead of rejecting the king, they favor. It helps future kings know what a good king is like. Abolishing slavery could indirectly help the economy grow also. Peasants who work on their own will are more likely to do better than being enslaved.

1. Photography could reveal a subject in different ways. From perspective or point of view for example, a photographer could make one look high and mighty by taking the photo from a low point of view. Photographs are pictures of a subject posing (otherwise it would be candid), or basically, acting and creating facial expression. It could mislead others as one may look wise, but isn't really.
2. Photography communicates to viewers. It is based on mood, events and personality. Photography could tell others about a person's personality and what the times were like as in if the picture was taken during the great depression. Moods from photography could reveal strength, power and knowledge. Photography allows viewers to understand past lives and even depict stories.
3. Future kings could use photography to store images for future reference. Other kings could refer back to old pictures to know what life was like before and what their ancestors looked like. Photography could also publicize the king's image to citizens and foreigners.
4. The difference in clothing is people nowadays wear suits and military uniforms. Kings also sometimes wear suits, while previously, citizens wore simple clothing where they wrap themselves with silk cloth. Contemporary clothings come in cotton and wool and other fabrics, unlike the old thai clothing which is mainly composed of silk. The hairstyles differ a lot. People back then did not have stuff like hair gel or wax to keep their hair up, so mostly they have straight hair or are bald. People nowadays take advantage of hair gel and spike it up. Fashion has changed obviously.
   
   Similarities between the past and current clothings is basically traditional wear. Thailand has kept its cultural clothing and dancers and perhaps some extreme conservatives still wear clothing worn previously in the past. Many people, if not most, still keep short hair or long hair, not spiked up.

• Recover the culture of Ayutthaya. (arts, music and dancing)
• Encourage Buddhism to flourish as it did in Ayutthaya.

2. How would you create a national pride amongst your people?

• Write poetry and plays about the strength of Thailand and its great culture.

3. Where would you get the money for all your rebuilding?

• I would get the money to rebuild through import and export, and taxing foreign imports.

• Founded Bangkok, a.k.a. Krung Thep.
• Built the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
• Changed the law to fit the new society of Thailand.
• Rewrote "Ramakien", an indian storyof the Hindu Ramayana.
• Restored Bhuddist literature and texts that lay in the ruins of Ayutthaya.

Source: "Thailand A Simple History" and "A Window on Thai History"