The Migration, Conservation of Chinese Music in Thailand and Thai Cultural Influence

Abstract

    The cause of the Chinese music migration to Thailand came from the migration of the southern Chinese people, which resulted in the migration of Chinese opera troupes. in the late Ayutthaya era, many troupes, merchants, and lords brought the Chinese operas from Minnan and Yuedong to Thailand and they became popular.The Xiqin (Lantan) was especially popular among the people. In the Thonburi and early Rattanakosin eras, Chouzhou operas, Kuileixi, and Budaixi puppets entered. In the 4th reign of Rattanakosin era, the latest Chouzhou operas and Hainan operas entered. In the 5th reign, Cantonese operas and music, Gong-tek ceremonies, complete Chouzhou operas, and Sizhu’s entered Thailand. After the golden age of Chouzou operas in Thailand had passed.    The conservation of this musical legacy became very important. This study examined the various lists of objects and activities that had been preserved, as well as their transmission, promotion and the advertising of restorative activities.    In its musical analysis research, this study found that the Thai cultural influences came from the Thai materials used, such as the scale, theme, melodic movement, rhythm, and sound relationship. This influence came from the Thai classical songs in the Chinese style as it used different melodies and scales from those in original Chinese music: predominantly the Hexatonic scale, decreasing the use of Zhi mode (5-mode), and the pentatonic characteristic which is “clear but nonconforming”. It increases the pentatonic motif value, the average motif notes being into 4 notes in the motif contour, and thus 3 note motifs less than in the original Chinese music.    This study’s results cover all aspects of Chinese music in Thailand. The findings are based on more than 200 years worth of data that show the interaction between Thai and Chinese music, the potential of the Thai music masters, and the value of Chinese music is still present in Thailand today.Keywords: Thailand, Chinese Music