Thailand is divided into 75 provinces (จ ั ง ห ว ั ด, "changvat") and one municipality, the country's capital Bangkok ( "krung thep ty nakhon" (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) in Thai). Some Thais still feel Bangkok separate province, which he chaired until 1972, which had been the country with 76 provinces. Each province is divided into districts, as of 2006 there are 796 districts (อ ำ เ อ ภ, "amfoe" (amphoe)), 81 subdistricts (ก ิ ่ ง อ ำ เ อ ภ, "King amfoe" (king amphoe)), and 50 urban areas of Bangkok (เ ข ต, khet (khet)). <br /> <br />In each province there is one central region (อ ำ ภ เ อ เ ม ื อ ง, "amfoe myueang" (amphoe mueang), for example, in Chiang Mai is a "Amfoe Myueang Chiang Mai" (Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai). The exception is Ayutthayya (Ayutthaya) where Province and the central region has been completely called "Fra Nakhon Si Ayutthayya" (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya). Los Angeles, California sometimes is jokingly called "outstanding province, Thailand, as the city is home to some 200,000 Thais. In Bangkok suburbs called khet (เ ข ต), which are further divided into kvaengi (แ ข ว ง) roughly similar tambonam (communities or sub-areas) in other provinces. Tambon further divided into mubany (ห ม ู ่ บ ้ า น), the towns (villages).

King lost absolute power, but it was still champion of Buddhism and a symbol of unity. The present king is fully respected by the nation, which is sometimes used during political crises. The Prime Minister appointed by the King, de jure, but de facto it becomes leader of the majority in Parliament. Thai bicameral parliament, the National Assembly - is divided into the House of Representatives to 500 seats and the Senate for the 200 seats. Members of both Houses shall elect the people of Thailand. Thailand is an active member of the Association of nations YUVA

The history of the country goes back to the origins of the kingdom Sukotay, formed in 1283. Succeed his kingdom was Ayutiya (Ayutthayya) founded in 1350. Thai culture experienced influenced by China and India. Contacts with Europe began in the XVI century, but Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized. However, Thailand was forced to leave three of its southern province, which later became the three northern states of Malaysia. <br /> <br />This was the interests of Britain, attempting to subdue Thailand. Thai people are proud that their country was never a colony. There are two reasons : Thailand wanted to keep as a buffer between the parts of Asia that have been colonized by Britain and France. The second reason is that Thailand at the time were very powerful rulers. Mostly peaceful revolution in 1932 led to Thailand became a constitutional monarchy. Previously known as Siam, Thailand, for the first time, received its current name in 1939, and for the second time, has been finally, in 1949, after the Second World War. <br /> <br />During the war, Thailand was an ally of Japan after its defeat and fell into a zone of the United States. Official Thai calendar is based on the Buddhist Ere and is the 543 year of the western calendar. For example, 2006 is 2549 in Thailand. December 26, 2004 at the southwestern coast of Thailand devastated by the tsunami. There were 5000 people in Thailand, half of them tourists.

Thailand is famous for folk arts and crafts products. They are everywhere - the largest crafts centres in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Many shops offer products made of gold, silver, black tree breed, ceramics, carving, raspisannye fans and umbrellas, articles of bronze and brass, Thai puppet, etc.

The ceremonial, the Imperial and religious life Thais music has always figured prominently. <br />Traditional Orchestra consists of a street, bells, stringed, ksilofonov. For Europeans Thai music sounds rather unusually. She and now accompanies important public ceremony and presentation of classical theatre.

The Thai architecture provided mainly monasteries, prichudlivo combines Indian and Chinese elements. They like sculpture differed in style according to the period of construction and local traditions. The most striking example distinctive architectural Thais is a complex of temples and the Grand Royal Palace in Bangkok. <br /> <br />Buildings in the temples, with different form and meaning is normally a sanctuary, rooms for religious ceremonies, libraries and schools. Walls can decorate scenes from the Hindu epic ( "Ramakian") and the images engraved animals. In the courtyard of monasteries frequent sacred Bodhi tree. It also presents numerous sculptures of mythical creatures with supernatural powers and protect the monastery.

<br />Buddhism and other beliefs and religion are reflected in Thai art and life in monasteries. Historically, there have been two Siame culture : Gaeseong based on Buddhist values and has assumed elements of Hinduism, the other culture is a culture of the peasant villages with folk songs and dances (the most famous of them ramvong, which usually involve and tourists), belief in ghosts, fairytales, Ceremonies agricultural cycle and the cycle of life. The folk culture also relevant scale-manufacturing household items, wood, silk homework, wickerwork, rattan and many others. <br /> <br />The Imperial culture can be attributed Thai classical drama "khon", accompanied by traditional Thai music orchestra "phi" phat, singing and voice reading architecture Buddhist monasteries, temples wall murals, sculptural images of the Buddha. Traditional sculpture Thailand before, especially on the images and are among the most important manifestations of Buddhist art in the world. Buddha was portrayed in the bible poses with meaning for the Buddhist, but there are also many styles skulpturnogo images are all located in the National Museum in Bangkok.

In Thailand, the king is not only head of state but also benefactor, protector of all religions. In times of crisis, he serves as a reconciling mediator without taking sides. King is a leader and a national symbol, it is above politics, and he is interfering in the political affairs only when necessary to prevent bloodshed. Love and respect for the royal family in Thailand is a religious nature. That love is a response to the interest in the welfare of its people, which characterizes King Phumiphona. <br /> <br />The faith in their King Thais practise Buddhist teachings. In the XIII century. Thailand was officially recognized Buddhism hinayany meaning, "a narrow path of salvation". This teaching has its own strict rules, which allowed the disparaging tone (especially tourists) is a respect for the image of Buddha, the temples, monks, as well as certain restrictions on the freedom of women.

"Thailand" (Thailand) - anglizirovanny version of the name of the country, put into use in Chuk. XX. , Which means "country" Thais, the Thai version sounds like "Myang Thay" or "Prathet Thai". Self "Luba" Thais refer to themselves as "free", hence Thailand-Thais "country" or "free" country. <br /> <br />The title is justified : Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia, with its independence, whereas all the neighbouring countries were colonies of France or Britain.

The Thai people is composed largely of ethnic Thais and Laotians. There is also a large ethnic Chinese population, which belongs to the former Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra. Other ethnic groups are the Malays, mongami, Khmer and Vietnamese who settled in eastern Thailand back to the time of the Viet Nam War. 94.6% of the population are Buddhist Thailand. 4,6% are Muslims, mostly Malays living in the south.