Forest Recollections-Background framework

Like many countries in the region, Thailand was as not homogenous as perceived to be. There were many many different ethnic races - Laos in the Northeast, Siamese in the Central Plain, Shan, akong the western borders, Isan, Khmers. It ethnic has its own practise, custom and languages. Even within the region, each village may has variation of the region practice. It was not till the regin of Siamese King Chulanlongkorn (1868-1910) that a centralised state of Siam was formed (p 7.) A "modern state" Buddhism evolved, using Bangkok Thai language was to unify the different region and people.
This is not much different from todays Burma - see earlier review :m Among insurgents -walking through Burma. There were many ethnic races. however, the Burman, through sheer power, began to be identified as Burmese. The Siamese (Thai) in Central Plain, began to impose its power, culture and language to extert control. Buddihsm was hijacked as one of the tool to "unify" the different races.