Kade's Family Tree

On our last trip to Bangkok Kade did her own look into her family tree. One weekend I went with her and her dad to visit relatives on his side of the family. They mostly live in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Kade's dad is the youngest of nine children. Like many Thais, his parents came from Chinese immigrant families who left Southern China for a more prosperous life in Siam in the 18th and 19th centuries. These Thai-Chinese, as they are called, are one of many Asian ethnic groups that make up the Thai people.

Kade's paternal grandmother's funeral

This is a Thai-Chinese Buddhist funeral, and was a burial, not a cremation, which is what's mostly done in Thailand, especially among traditional Thais.  Thai-Chinese (and that's the correct word order) would be like a certain ethnic group in the USA:  Irish-Americans, German-Americans, Jewish-Americans and so on.  Although all early Thais migrated south out of what is modern-day China, usually the Thai-Chinese classification refers to Chinese that have emigrated to Siam/Thailand in the past 300 or so years.  Kade's father's parents did just that - likely arriving as kids long before meeting, falling in love and marrying in Thailand.  They eventually had nine kids, Kade's father being the baby.  But the Chinese ventured south for different reasons - perhaps escaping wars and political upheaval, and sometimes simply for the thrill of exploration, good ole love and to pursue riches.  In the early years of Chinese settlement in Thailand, it was commonplace for the well-connected, up-and-coming Chinese to offer a beautiful young lady to the King of Siam, who had scores of wives and concubines.  Poor guy!  This gift was presented to the king to ensure that the Chinese-Thai community could establish real roots in the Kingdom.  Keep in mind, this is how the emperor Napoleon and the aristocracy of Europe and elsewhere did business, held on to wealth and established allies.  On a funny note, to show how this could backfire when it does not go as planned:  Napoleon approached Russian Czar Alexander I to ask for his daughter's hand in marriage.  The Czar, knowing in part that this was Napoleon's attempt to gain influence over Russia, rejected this proposal.  Napoleon felt insulted since he was used to getting his way.  Not long after, Napoleon led a massive invasion of Russia, only to be defeated in a war for the very first time and further humiliating the emperor.  Did not getting the girl lead to this?!!?  But back to Thailand.....the current Thai king is 1/4 Thai-Chinese, and the Thai-Chinese community, although just 15% of the population, is very prosperous......so much so they are often referred to as the "Jews of Asia." 

From the coffin to the right, Kade's dad is the 4th one in the front row.  Her brother is the same row, the third child from very the end, wearing a white cap.  To the left of the coffin, Kade is the young child sitting on her mother's lap.  Her sister was not born then.

Not exactly sure of the costumes.