A Glimpse of Siam

杨伊伦斯特 / 顾得隆The Commercial Press · ChinaOct 2021

3.0

Word count: 26K words
Chapters: 19

Summary

The people of Siam (present-day Thailand) are certainly not indigenous, though no one knows exactly where they came from. The most reliable account is the one that traces them to the west. Their ancestors originally lived on the high slopes of Tibet, then gradually migrated eastward and spread across the provinces of China proper. Only when the Han Chinese occupied the Central Plains did they move south. According to Chinese historical records, the Siamese are a branch of Funan, originally known as the Kingdom of Chitu. Their first contact with China occurred during the Daye era of the Sui Dynasty.

Editor's review

Siam at a Glance is a small volume reprinted from an old Commercial Press edition. Though the author, Yang Yilunsite, calls it a "glance," it is no hurried travelogue but a survey of the origins of the Siamese (present-day Thai) people and early Sino-Siamese contacts. Starting from the premise that the Siamese are not indigenous, the book cites the westward-origin theory, describes their ancestors' gradual eastward migration from the Tibetan plateau and their southward movement after the Han Chinese occupied the Central Plains, and compares this with Chinese historical records of "a branch of Funan" and the "Kingdom of Chitu," treating the contacts of the Sui Daye era as a key node. The book is short but information-dense, suitable as an introductory booklet for readers interested in Southeast Asian historical geography and the history of Sino-foreign contacts. Its value lies in presenting an early perspective on foreign lands and a particular way of organizing material; it should be read with the awareness that this is an observation from a certain period, not as a definitive conclusion for Thai studies today. The writing is concise and the evidentiary threads are clear, making it suitable for quiet, unhurried reading; paired with maps and annotations, the rewards will be more substantial.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Introductory readers interested in Southeast Asian historical geography and the history of Sino-foreign contacts
Research-oriented readers seeking early perspectives on Siam and historical source clues
Collectors who appreciate old Commercial Press reprints and the booklet format
Readers who want to approach Thai history through Chinese-language sources

Not a good fit for

Readers looking for a contemporary Thailand travel guide or cultural handbook
Readers expecting a systematic general history and the latest scholarly conclusions
General leisure readers who prefer light, narrative-driven writing

Reading tips

Start with the table of contents and annotation conventions to understand the author's sources before entering the main text.
Keep a map of Southeast Asia at hand and compare the migration routes and ancient kingdom locations mentioned in the text as you read.
Read claims such as the "westward-origin theory" and "a branch of Funan" as the understanding of a particular period, and pay attention to how they are argued.
The book is short and can be read in two or three sittings; after each, restate one main thread in your own words.

About the publisher

The Commercial Press China · Founded in 1897

The Commercial Press is a publisher known for classic works and academic publishing, with titles spanning Eastern philosophy, foreign literature, world history, social culture, and applied psychology. Its list includes classical commentaries such as Zhu Xi's Collected Commentaries on the Analects and Wang Bi's Commentary on the Zhouyi, as well as modern annotated translations like Zhuangzi with Modern Notes and Translation. In foreign literature it offers War and Peace and Crime and Punishment, while in world history it carries Braudel's The Mediterranean and the Mediterranean World in the Age of Philip II. Applied psychology is represented by Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy, and ethical texts include a Greek-Chinese-English edition of the Nicomachean Ethics. Its authors and translators include Zhu Xi, Wang Bi, Yalom, Braudel, and translators such as Huang Zheng, Zhang Yiling, Shen Dongyu, and Tang Jialong, balancing the editing of original texts with academic translation.

版权信息
第一章暹罗略史
第二章东方的威尼斯：曼谷
第三章湄南河的风景
第四章暹罗的儿童
第五章暹罗的学校
第六章暹罗的娱乐
第七章释迦牟尼
第八章暹罗的和尚
第九章寺庙
第十章剃顶发
第十一章暹罗的房屋
第十二章食物和衣服
第十三章捕鱼
第十四章稻
第十五章播谷盛会
第十六章象
第十七章白象
第十八章水火审判

FAQ

Is this book a travelogue or a historical study?

Despite the word "glance" in the title, the content is closer to a survey of historical geography, discussing the origins and migrations of the Siamese and their correspondence with Chinese historical records, rather than personal travel impressions. It is short with clear threads, more like an introductory historical booklet than a scenic travelogue.

Do the views in the book align with current research?

The "westward-origin theory" cited in the book and the approach of linking the Siamese to Funan and the Kingdom of Chitu belong to a particular period's way of organizing material and understanding. It is best read as an early foreign observation and a set of historical source clues rather than as a definitive conclusion for Thai studies today; comparing it with modern research would be more prudent.

Can I read it without a background in Southeast Asian history?

Yes, but it requires some patience. The book involves terms such as Funan, the Kingdom of Chitu, and contacts during the Sui Daye era; it is advisable to read the annotations first and keep a map at hand, noting the spatial relationships of ancient kingdom names as you go. It is short with relatively concentrated threads, making it suitable as an introductory booklet—though one should not expect a popular, story-driven account.

Why is an old reprinted booklet worth reading?

Its value lies not in offering the latest conclusions but in presenting how Siam was understood and how material was organized from the perspective of early Chinese sources. For readers concerned with the history of Sino-foreign contacts and interested in how "knowledge of the other" is formed, such an old work is itself readable corroborating material and also illustrates how an academic booklet is written.

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About the author

杨伊伦斯特 Author

Yang Yilunsi is an author about whom limited public information is currently available; his nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background are not clearly recorded. According to the existing bibliographic information, only one work by him is known, namely A Glimpse of Siam. Judging from the title and its common classification, the book belongs to the category of cultural writing and may offer observations on the society, customs, and culture of Siam (present-day Thailand), resembling a travel essay or cultural sketch. Since this is the only work by the author included in the catalog and no direct materials about his life or creative career are available, it is difficult to assess his writing style as a whole or to evaluate his specific influence among scholars or readers. For readers interested in Sino-foreign cultural exchange or writings on Southeast Asia, A Glimpse of Siam may serve as a reference text for understanding images of Siam at the time; however, more public information is still needed to verify details about the author.

顾得隆 Author

Gu Delong is an author about whom little public information is available; details such as nationality, dates of birth and death, and educational background remain unconfirmed. What can be established is that Gu focuses mainly on cultural writing, with one work held in the collection, A Glimpse of Siam. Judging from the title and its usual classification as culture, the book is likely a collection of cultural essays or accounts of travels abroad, observing and recording the social landscape, customs, and everyday life of Siam (present-day Thailand), and combining travel writing with cultural observation. Writing of this kind often presents foreign scenes in a lively tone, emphasizing detail and a sense of place, and offering readers a direct way to understand local culture. Although little is known about the author's life, A Glimpse of Siam, as his representative work, still reflects an interest in and commitment to writing about foreign cultures and serves as the main basis for understanding his approach to writing.