The cultural mandates or state decrees ( Thai: รัฐนิยม, pronounced [rát.tʰā.ní.jōm]; RTGS: ratthaniyom; literally "state fashion" or "state customs") were a series of twelve edicts issued between 1939 and 1942 by the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram during his first term as prime minister and military dictator of Thailand. [1] The mandates aimed to create a uniform and "civilized" Thai culture at the time when the country was one of the Axis powers. Many of the mandates' practices were a result of Thailand entering World War II, and they remain in effect. [1]
The first mandate, On the name of the country, people and nationality, issued 24 June 1939, cited "public preference" for changing the name of the country. It consisted of one item: "The country, people and nationality are to be called 'Thai'." [2]
One result of this mandate was that organizations with "Siam" in the name were forced to change their names. Well-known examples include the Siam Society, which became the Thailand Research Society, [3] Siam Commercial Bank, renamed Thai Panich Bank, [4] and Siam Cement, which became Thai Cement.[ citation needed] After Pibulsonggram was deposed the first time in 1944, Siam Society reverted both its Thai and English names, while the latter two reverted only the English version of their names.
On preventing danger to the nation, issued 3 July 1939, consisted of five items:
On referring to the Thai people, issued 2 August 1939, reinforced Mandate 1 by forcing the public to stop using group names like "northern Thais", "southern Thais", or "Muslim Thais":
On honouring the national flag, national anthem, and royal anthem, issued 8 September 1939, consists of five items:
On using Thai products, issued 1 November 1939, consisted of five items:
On the music and lyrics of the national anthem, issued 10 December 1939, consisted of two items:
Urging the Thai people help build the nation, issued on 21 March 1940,
On the royal anthem, issued 26 April 1940, shortened the lyrics of the royal anthem, and replaced the word "Siam" with the word "Thai": [12]
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า (Kha Wora Phutthachao)
เอามโนและศิระกราน (Ao Mano Lae Sira Kran)
นบพระภูมิบาล (Nop Phra Phummiban)
บรมกษัตริย์ไทย (Borom Kasat Thai)
ขอบรรดาล (Kho Bandan)
ธประสงค์ใด (Tha Prasong Dai)
จงสิทธิดั่ง (Chong Sitthi Dang)
หวังวรหฤทัย (Wang Wora Haruethai)
ดุจถวายชัย (Dutcha Thawai Chai)
ชโย (Cha-yo)
On language and writing and the duty of good citizens, issued 24 June 1940, consisted of four items:
On Thai dress, issued 15 January 1941, consisted of two items:
On daily activities, issued 8 September 1941, consisted of five items:
The final mandate, On protecting children, the elderly and the handicapped, issued 28 January 1942, consisted of two items:
In 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order, a military government that rose to power after a coup, unveiled the "12 Core Values of Thailand" ( Thai: ค่านิยม 12 ประการ), a campaign intended to act as a moral guide for Thai youths, reminiscent of the earlier Thai cultural mandates. The 12 values are: [17]
The campaign has been criticized by some academics as "mere state propaganda". [18] Students were required to recite the core values daily, either as part of their flag ceremony or in their classes. [19] The core values were also turned into a song, and several stickers referencing the core values were made for the LINE messaging app. [17]
The cultural mandates or state decrees ( Thai: รัฐนิยม, pronounced [rát.tʰā.ní.jōm]; RTGS: ratthaniyom; literally "state fashion" or "state customs") were a series of twelve edicts issued between 1939 and 1942 by the government of Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsonggram during his first term as prime minister and military dictator of Thailand. [1] The mandates aimed to create a uniform and "civilized" Thai culture at the time when the country was one of the Axis powers. Many of the mandates' practices were a result of Thailand entering World War II, and they remain in effect. [1]
The first mandate, On the name of the country, people and nationality, issued 24 June 1939, cited "public preference" for changing the name of the country. It consisted of one item: "The country, people and nationality are to be called 'Thai'." [2]
One result of this mandate was that organizations with "Siam" in the name were forced to change their names. Well-known examples include the Siam Society, which became the Thailand Research Society, [3] Siam Commercial Bank, renamed Thai Panich Bank, [4] and Siam Cement, which became Thai Cement.[ citation needed] After Pibulsonggram was deposed the first time in 1944, Siam Society reverted both its Thai and English names, while the latter two reverted only the English version of their names.
On preventing danger to the nation, issued 3 July 1939, consisted of five items:
On referring to the Thai people, issued 2 August 1939, reinforced Mandate 1 by forcing the public to stop using group names like "northern Thais", "southern Thais", or "Muslim Thais":
On honouring the national flag, national anthem, and royal anthem, issued 8 September 1939, consists of five items:
On using Thai products, issued 1 November 1939, consisted of five items:
On the music and lyrics of the national anthem, issued 10 December 1939, consisted of two items:
Urging the Thai people help build the nation, issued on 21 March 1940,
On the royal anthem, issued 26 April 1940, shortened the lyrics of the royal anthem, and replaced the word "Siam" with the word "Thai": [12]
ข้าวรพุทธเจ้า (Kha Wora Phutthachao)
เอามโนและศิระกราน (Ao Mano Lae Sira Kran)
นบพระภูมิบาล (Nop Phra Phummiban)
บรมกษัตริย์ไทย (Borom Kasat Thai)
ขอบรรดาล (Kho Bandan)
ธประสงค์ใด (Tha Prasong Dai)
จงสิทธิดั่ง (Chong Sitthi Dang)
หวังวรหฤทัย (Wang Wora Haruethai)
ดุจถวายชัย (Dutcha Thawai Chai)
ชโย (Cha-yo)
On language and writing and the duty of good citizens, issued 24 June 1940, consisted of four items:
On Thai dress, issued 15 January 1941, consisted of two items:
On daily activities, issued 8 September 1941, consisted of five items:
The final mandate, On protecting children, the elderly and the handicapped, issued 28 January 1942, consisted of two items:
In 2014, the National Council for Peace and Order, a military government that rose to power after a coup, unveiled the "12 Core Values of Thailand" ( Thai: ค่านิยม 12 ประการ), a campaign intended to act as a moral guide for Thai youths, reminiscent of the earlier Thai cultural mandates. The 12 values are: [17]
The campaign has been criticized by some academics as "mere state propaganda". [18] Students were required to recite the core values daily, either as part of their flag ceremony or in their classes. [19] The core values were also turned into a song, and several stickers referencing the core values were made for the LINE messaging app. [17]