ABSTRACT
The first foreign influence brought to bear on the early Thai culture was Chinese, though it can hardly be said to survive in connection with any Ceremony, with the possible exception of the First Ploughing. Little is at present known as to the nature and extent of the influences of the first two kingdoms, but there can be no doubt that the Brahmanism which forms the basis of most of the Siamese Royal Ceremonies was derived from Cambodia, where similar Brahmanic ceremonies are performed to this day. In studying the Siamese State Ceremonies we have frequently been brought in contact with important phenomena of wide application and great general interest. With reference to the ultimate derivation of most of the Siamese State Ceremonies from India it is satisfactory to note that it has been possible to trace the more important features in nearly every ceremony back to their Indian prototypes.
