The emergence and development of the Thonburi Kingdom in the context of the Chinese Era, 1727-1782

Abstract

The period between the mid-eighteenth and nineteenth century was an era of dyamic commercial expansion in Southeast Asia and a peak period of Chinese mirration into Southeast Asia. The major factor for this phenomenon was the expansion of the Chinese commerce after the imperial ban was lifted in 1727. Several new political and economic centers in mainland Southeast Asia were emerged from that economic movement and one of them was the Thonburi Kingdom. This research sims to reexamines the history of the Thonburi period under the argument that the Thonburi Kingdom emerged and gain significant economic strength from her proximity to a booming China. This research shows that the expansion of the Chinese commerce in Southeast Asia led to the emergence of new political and economic center. King Taksin took advatage of the increasing maritime trade by seizing an important port emporium and creating a commercial network form the Chao Phraya Delta to the Gulf of Siam. The profit from the junk trade became the main revenue, which helped Thonburi expand her territory, population, and productive capacity within a relatively short period. The Chinese migrants in Southeast Asia paid important roles in the emergence and development of the Thonburi Kingdom. Trade between China and Thonburi was private trade before the revival of the tributary system at the end of the Thonburi period.