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Thailand
ICH Materials 9
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The Recipe and History of Thai Tomyam KungTomyam kung, or spicy shrimp soup, is a typical Thai dish that became popular only 50 years ago. Tomyam kung is a hot soup made by mixing various ingredients, including herbs, in boiling water. The basic ingredients include ground cilantro root, lemongrass, galangal, torn kaffir lime leaves, lime juice, fish sauce, bird’s-eye chilies and shrimps. In addition, mushroom, tomatoes, and onions may be added depending on preference. \n\nThe word “tomyam” is a compound word in the Thai language. It consists of two words — “tom” and “yam,” which mean “boiling” and “mixing,” respectively. These two words refer to the Thai cooking process. \n\nTomyam is a traditional Thai dish originating from the country’s central region. The oldest recipe was found in King Rama V’s reign. It was stated that only snakehead fish and stingray should be used in tomyam pla, or spicy fish soup. There are some secondary sources referring to dishes that had similar ingredients and recipes to tomyam kung. However, they still lacked some of the important ingredients that are familiar in the dish today, such as lemongrass, galangal, and torn kaffir lime leaves.\n\nThe very first “tomyam kung” recipe appeared in a book, Khong Sawoei (Thai royal cuisine), written by Mom Rajawongse Kitinadda Kitiyakara. The writer cooked fresh shrimp soup for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great (Rama IX), Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, and the prince and princesses at the Klai Kangwon Palace, Hua Hin, in 1962. The recipe started with the instruction to make a soup from shrimp shells and heads, seasoned with fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass. This was then strained to retain only the broth, which was poured into a bowl of boiled shrimp and seasoned with lime juice. Ground chilies and more fish sauce were added before serving. \n\nThe precise flavor of tomyam kung has never been fixed; it can be seasoned according to the consumer’s preferred tastes. However, a basic recipe is as follows:\n\nSlice the lemongrass, galangal, tomatoes, chilies, mushrooms, and shrimp\nBring a pot of water to the boil on the stove \nAdd the sliced lemongrass, galangal, and kaffir lime leaves\nBoil for about 5 minutes and then add the shrimp\nAdd the sliced Thai chilies, mushrooms, and tomatoes\nFlavor by adding a little fish sauce and sugar (you can add more if desired)\nTake the pot off the heat and squeeze in the lime juice (if you do this before taking the pot off the stove, the heat will turn the lime juice bitter) \nThere are in fact types of tomyam kung: clear and thick. The clear soup is the original style, while coconut milk is added to make the thick variety.\n\nTomyam kung is a Thai national soup that very popular among both Thais and non-Thais. It has high nutritional value and is not too spicy. Its fragrance derives from vegetables and spices that are thought to help blood circulation, bringing good health. Tomyam kung is a very popular dish in every Thai restaurant. In addition, many popular snacks and instant noodles also use the flavors of tomyam kung. \n\nIn 2011, tomyam kung was inscribed by the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage under the domain of Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe. Recently, the government of Thailand is seeking to have tomyam kung listed by UNESCO as part of the country’s cultural heritage.\n\nPhoto : Tomyam Kung ⓒ shutterstockYear2019NationThailand
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Nuad Thai: Traditional Thai Massage as ICHNuad thai or Thai Massage is a body and mind therapy, a traditional method of healing integrating the knowledge of science and art and local wisdom. Transmitted from generation to generations since the ancient times, it is still remarkably widespread throughout the country because of its effectiveness. In the past, it was practiced only within family bounds, such that wives or children would massage their husbands, parents, or grandparents after farming or gardening to relieve muscle ache.\n\nBasically, nuad skills involve applying hands, elbows, knees, and feet to press, squeeze, chop, stretch, knead, and pound. Thai people believe that the human body consists of four basic elements: earth, water, air, and fire. Nuad can stimulate energies of the body, and thus it betters blood circulation. In 2011, the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture inscribed nuad thai on the list of National Intangible Cultural Heritage under the domain of Knowledge and Practices Concerning Nature and the Universe.\n\nNuad has two important purposes. One is to secure the capacity of one’s health to carry out the demands of professional life. In fact, people can select a kind of massage according to their individual preference such as reflexology, oil massage, hot herbal ball massage, hydrotherapy massage, or foot massage. For this purpose, plenty of spas or massage houses provide this kind of comforting service. On another hand, nuad thai is a remedy to health problems. In this case, therapists are required to be specialized and certified for this treatment to diagnose, cure, heal, or relieve the symptom. Felling off the pillow, low back pain, ankle sprain, constipation, and paralysis are some example of this treatment.\n\nNowadays, nuad thai is more extensively famous, not only for farmers or workers but also for other areas of work. As modernization, social pressure of technology, and increase of office work, burnt-out people tend to have nuad to reduce their body pain and relax their minds. Nuad has gained a wider acceptance as self-care practice for social value as the body and mind treatment. In fact, it recently becomes more popular for foreign tourists, too.\n\nPhoto : Nuad Thai 1ⓒ The Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture in ThailandYear2018NationThailand
Open Archive 2
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Tae Na Gu - Karan musical instrument
Karen (Pgaz K' Nyau) tribe’s unique culture has remained largely intact because of its isolation. The traditions are deeply connected with the forest and the tones of the music echo their histrionic landscape that ranges from deep wild and valleys. Their main way of living is living with and taking care of the forest. The Karen musical instrument called “Tae Na Gu”, has its own sound and character with a very long history. A soft sound, bright and gentle is the colour that would paint your heart in light colours. The root of this instrument could trace back to more than 200 years ago. Its name usually appeared in tribal's ancient rhymes. From generation to generation this ancient instrument has been transferred. It has significant changes. For example, the strings used to be 9 - 12 with a minor scale, now it has only 6-9 strings in major scale so they could play with other musical instruments perfectly. Also, many new generations of Pgaz K' Nyau musicians bring it back to life by designing, changing colours and forms. But one thing that would not change is it exquisitely represents the character of the Pgaz K' Nyau people. Gentle, adaptive and caring for their inheritance.
Thailand -
Hear and Found - Online Local Music and Sound Library
In the Thailand context, we are fully aware that the indigenous people have been looked down on for a very long time because of fallacious news and social media which represent only one side of the story. As a consequence, indigenous kids have been bullied in the school, only because they’re wearing their indigenous dresses. They are afraid to tell other people about who they really are. With this problem, we were inspired that “if we could use the beauty of their culture to communicate with people to solve this problem”. And if we do not want our generation to lose the chance to know about who they really are. By having these concepts in mind, we are trying to let people learn more about other cultures, music, language and local wisdom. We started to hear their songs and found that these songs can be used as a tool to share their untold stories. Just recently, we’re creating an online platform as a medium to share their music and stories. The objective of our work is not only about building public awareness, but we also aim to preserve the beauty of cultural diversity in order to let the audiences create value from the culture as to how they perceive it. What we offer on the platform is music, sound, and story while the indigenous musician earns more income.
Thailand