Ayutthayan Economy and Lifestyle

h became synonymous with land ownership aftermusic and listening to flutes and stringed instruments,
1454, when King Trailoknat (1448-1488) bestowedsome-times, evidently, to excess : a late 15th century
titular and land ownership favours on civil and militaryroyal decree specifically forbade musical activity in or
officials. The quantity of land granted was based onnear royal palaces without prior royal approval.
each official’s rank. Although this land legallyOther forms of entertainment included various types
remained the king’s, the titled beneficiary hadof dance drama such as lakrn and likay and sports
the right, and the duty, to levy taxes on all produce insuch as boat races. During such occasions young men
his fief. Part of the revenue went to the royal treasuryand women met each other, such meetings often
and the remainder went to support the official’sleading to marriage.
household.Girls were educated at home. Those highborn or
Additionally, external trade was con-ducted under royalenjoying special privileges were sent to live in the royal
authority or under li-cence, the Crown again levyingpalace where they studied Buddhism, Thai history and
taxes. In this fashion the kings establish widespreadcustoms, and culinary and domestic arts. King and
levy systems to finance the royal court, wars andprinces most often chose their wives from such young
public works (building temples, fortresses, roads andwomen. Often, leading merchants and suzerain
canals). Subjects paid taxes in food, cash, preciouschieftains sent their offspring to the royal court,
metals or corvee labour.ostensibly to demonstrate loyalty, but commonly hoping
Through such central controls, trade flourished both inthat their children would receive court educations and
the kingdom and abroad. As the Thai economybenefit from the consequent social prestige.
prospered, new classes of craftsmen such as potters,Besides being administrative centres, palaces were
swords-makers, goldsmiths and jewellers emerged.cultural focal points wherein court poets, writers,
Trade and commercial specialization developedminstrels, musicians and dancers were maintained to
simultaneously to serve the new economy.entertain their royal hosts.
The peace synonymous with security enabled culturePeace also made administration infinitely easier. Control
to flower and architects, sculptors and painters couldcould be extended to the remotest corners of the
serenely fashion the spectacularly beautiful templeskingdom. With peace and plentiful, fertile land, and a
and palaces that so awed the first European visitorssmoothly functioning government the country enjoyed
to Ayutthaya. Artistic genius was lavished on templesan era of relatively undisturbed prosperity.
because they were focal points of community activity,Agriculture was free to develop without interruption.
sites for ordinat ions, funerals, merit-making festivitiesFarmers worked their fields, confident they
and other religious ceremonies.wouldn’t have to abandon their crops and go
The temples were also spiritual and secular educationoff to fight wars, while their families could pursue
centres for monks and laymen alike. Many boys andhousehold handicrafts. Regular rice harvests provided
men learned the rudiments of reading and writing Thai,sufficient food for the peasantry, and through levy,
simple arithmetic and the major Buddhist precepts insupplied the royal court. Because the soil was rich,
temple schools; laymen would often sojourn thereyields were abundant. Surpluses became available for
temporarily to study the Buddha’s teaching.trade mainly with China, which imported Thai rice in
Music was a particularly popular Ayutthayanexchange for implements and technology.
entertainment. People loved composing and playing