"Thai peoples" redirects here. For the subgroup of the Tai, see Thai people

Tai

Tai women in Yunnan.
Regions with significant populations
China (Dai), Myanmar/Burma (Shan), Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and India (Ahom)
Languages
Tai–Kadai languages, languages of resident countries
Religion
Theravada Buddhism, animism, Hinduism

Tai peoples are anybody predominantly descended from the original proto-Tai speakers. This includes those who have Tai blood but no longer speak Tai languages, some 8-10 million people in Northeastern India (not limited to Assam) claim descent from Ahomese, but may have intermarried with others and now speak Assamese, another tens of thousands in India still use Tai languages (mostly in Arunachal Pradesh). Aside from India, where language has eroded, Tai groups can be traced through their language.

Different Names[link]

Today, Tai peoples are split among nations, leading to different names for them. In China, Tai peoples (excluding Rauz peoples) are lumped together as Dai people, despite not self-identifying as "Dai", and in Burma they're similarly lumped together as Shan people (again, a bureaucratic designation not ethnic self-identity), in Vietnam Tay, and Laos Lao, and Thailand Thai people.

Origin of the Tai[link]

In a paper published in 2004, Linguist Laurent Sagart hypothesized that the proto-Tai–Kadai language originated as an Austronesian languages that migrants carried from Taiwan to mainland China. Afterwards, the language was then heavily influenced by local languages from Sino-Tibetan, Hmong–Mien, or other families, borrowing much vocabulary and converging typologically.^[1][2] Much closer to the present, some peoples speaking Tai languages migrated southward over the mountains into Southeast Asia, perhaps prompted by the coming of the Han Chinese to south China.

Linguistic heritage is not synonymous with genetic heritage, because of language shift where populations learn new languages. Tai people tend to have very high frequencies of Y-DNA haplogroup O2a with moderate frequencies of Y-DNA haplogroups O2a1 and O1. However, it is believed that the O1 Y-DNA haplogroup is associated with both the Austronesian people and the Tai. The prevalence of Y-DNA haplogroup O1 among Austronesian and Tai peoples also suggests a common ancestry with the Sino-Tibetan, Austro-Asiatic, and Hmong–Mien peoples some 35,000 years ago in China.^[3] Y-DNA haplogroup O2a is found at high frequency among most Tai peoples, which is a trait that they share with the neighboring ethnic Austro-Asiatic peoples of Yunnan in southern China. Y-DNA haplogroups O1 and O2a are subclades of O Y-DNA haplogroup, which itself is a subclade of Y-DNA haplogroup K, a genetic mutation that is believed to have originated 40,000 years ago, somewhere between Iran and Central China.^[4]

Tai groups and names in China[link]

Other Tai populations[link]

Throughout Asia[link]

There is a large Shan community within Sri Lanka which settled in Sri Lanka from mainland India.^{[citation needed]} In other parts of Asia, substantial Thai communities can be found in Japan, Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.

Tai of North America[link]

The United States is home to a significant population of Thai, Lao, Tai Kao, Isan, Lu, Phutai, Tai Dam, Tay and Shan people. There are a significant number of Thai and Lao people living in Canada as well.

Tai of Europe[link]

The most significant communities of Tai peoples in Europe are in the Lao communities of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Switzerland, the Isan communities of the United Kingdom and Iceland, the Thai communities of Finland, Iceland and Norway, the Tai Dam and Tay communities of France, and the Southern Thai community of the United Kingdom.

Thai of Oceania[link]

There is a sizable Thai community in Australia, as well as a Northeastern Thai community in New Zealand.

Lao of Argentina[link]

In recent times, large numbers of Lao have migrated to Argentina.

References[link]

The Lao Song (Thai: ลาวโซ่ง [laːsoːŋ]^{[missing tone]}) are an ethnic group of Thailand. The Lao Song are also known as the Tai Song (ไทโซ่ง), Lao Song Dam (ลาวโซ่งดำ) or simply as the Song or Song Dam.

History[link]

The Lao Song are descendants of Lao peoples from the areas of Tonkin and areas east of Luang Prabang when they were forcibly removed to the areas of Central Thailand today as slaves and corvée labourers during Siamese annexation during the 18th and 19th centuries. Most were members of the Tai Dam ethnic group (counted by the Chinese government as members of the Dai ethnic group) and the traditional dress, language, and culture is remarkable as a preservation of Tai Dam culture in the heart of Central Thailand and Thaification policies. The Lao Song were used as guards for the royal courts and to help control the powerful Chinese minority, which explains their widespread distribution.

Geographic Distribution[link]

There are approximately 34,000 Lao Song spread out over Central Thailand, including Phetchabun, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi, Chumphon and Nakhon Pathom Provinces.

Religion[link]

Although originally they believed in animism, most Lao Song are now Theravada Buddhists, but this often co-exists with the older religion.

Economy[link]

• Crop farming
• Handirafts

References[link]

• Lao Song Crafts
• Hattaway, Paul. (2004). Peoples of the Buddhist World: A Christian Prayer Guide. Pasadena: William Carey Library.
• Zhu, Liangwen (1992). The Dai: Or the Tai and Their Architecture & Customs in South China. Bangkok, Thailand, and Kunming, Yunnan, China: D D Books and The Science and Technology Press of Yunnan.

This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the Chinese Wikipedia. (July 2011) Don't speak Chinese? Click here to read a machine-translated version of the Chinese article. Click [show] on the right to review important translation instructions before translating. Google's machine translation is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into English Wikipedia. Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. After translating, {{Translated|zh|任賢齊}} must be added to the talk page to ensure copyright compliance. For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation.

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. It includes attribution to IMDb, which may not be a reliable source for biographical information. Please help by adding additional, reliable sources for verification. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2008)

Richie Ren
Chinese name	任賢齊 (Traditional)
Chinese name	任贤齐 (Simplified)
Pinyin	Rèn Xiánqí (Mandarin)
Jyutping	jam6 jin4 cai4 (Cantonese)
Pe̍h-ōe-jī	Jīm Hiân-chuê (Hokkien)
Birth name	Jen Hsian-Chih
Ancestry	Jiangxia, Hubei
Origin	Taiwan
Born	(1966-06-23) June 23, 1966 (age 46) Changhua County, Taiwan
Occupation	Actor, singer
Genre(s)	Mandopop
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, harmonica
Label(s)	Rock Records
Years active	1996-present
Children	Rati , Cody
Official Website	Richie Ren blog
Awards Hong Kong Film Awards Best Original Film Song 1999 Fly Me to Polaris Golden Melody Awards Best Video (12th)

Richie Jen^[1] is a Taiwanese singer and actor. He has become extremely popular throughout Asia, particularly in the Chinese-speaking countries. He graduated from the Chinese Culture University's physical education department.^[2]

Filmography[link]

Films[link]

• Scheme With Me 双城计中计 (2012)
• The Allure Of Tears 倾城之泪 (2011)
• Legendary Amazons 杨门女将之军令如山 (2011)
• Life Without Principle 夺命金 (2011)
• Mayday 3DNA 追梦之旅 (2011)
• Punished 报应 (2011)
• Adventure of the King 龙凤店 (2010)
• Flirting Scholar 2 唐伯虎点秋香2 (2010)
• Fire of Conscience 火龙对决 (2010)
• Accident 意外 (2009)
• The Sniper 神枪手 (2009)
• Lady Cop & Papa Crook 大搜查 (2008)
• Contract Lover 合约情人 (2007)
• Happy Birthday 生日快乐 (2007)
• Exiled 放-逐 (2006)
• 2 Become 1 天生一对 (2006)
• Seoul Raiders 韩城攻略 (2005)
• Breaking News 大事件 (2004)
• 20 30 40 20 30 40 (2004)
• Elixir of Love 花好月圆 (2004)
• Silver Hawk 飞鹰 (2004)
• 6th Floor Rear Flat 六樓后座 (2003)
• Honesty 绝种好男人 (2003)
• Summer I Love You 好心相爱] (2002)
• Marry a Rich Man 嫁个有钱人 (2002)
• Life Express 生死速递 (2001)
• Summer Holiday 夏日的麽麽茶 (2000)
• Fly Me to Polaris 星愿 (1999)
• A Beautiful New World 美丽新世界 (1999)
• Gorgeous 玻璃樽 (1999)
• No Sir 3 报告班长3 (1994)
• Top Cool 傲空神鹰-想飞 (1993)
• Cops & Robbers 官兵捉强盗 (1991)

^[3]

TV series[link]

• Supreme Fate 富豪海湾至尊家缘 (2004)
• The New Adventures of Chor Lau Heung 新楚留香 (2001)
• State of Divinity 笑傲江湖 (2000)
• The Return of the Condor Heroes 神雕侠侣 (1998)
• Taipei Love Story 台北爱情故事 (1996)
• Master Huang 黄飞鸿与十三姨 (1994)
• Dreams Awakening 梦醒时分 (1994)
• Hard To Forget 意难忘 (1992)
• The Orphans 人海孤鸿 (1989)

Discography[link]

Album + EP, single ^[4]

• 1990-06-01 Ask Again (再問一次)
• 1991-03-01 Cold & Tender (冷漠與温柔)
• 1991-06-01 Fly To My Own Sky (飛向自己的天空)
• 1996-06-01 I Feel Good! (依靠)
• 1996-12-01 Heart Too Soft (心太軟)
• 1997-12-01 Hurt Badly (很受傷)
• 1998-08-01 Love Like Pacific Ocean (愛像太平洋)
• 1998-09-01 Hey Girl Look This Way (對面的女孩看過來)
• 1999-06-01 Series Compilation & New Songs (認真精選輯)
• 1999-08-01 Care (著緊)
• 2000-01-07 Desperate With Love (為愛走天涯)
• 2000-08-01 Wanderer (流浪漢)
• 2000-12-05 Angel Brother and Hunk (天使兄弟小白臉)
• 2001-09-14 A Flying Bird (飛鳥)
• 2002-02-06 I'm A Rich Man (我是有錢人)
• 2002-09-01 One Richie (一個任賢齊)
• 2003-04-15 A Wonderful Man (男人真幸福)
• 2004-03-25 The Years Of Richie (情義)
• 2005-01-01 So Far So Close (兩極)
• 2006-02-27 Old Place (老地方)
• 2007-04-26 If Life's Goin' Without You (如果沒有你)
• 2009-04-27 Qi Dai R.S.V.P (齊待)
• 2010-05-28 Music Traveller (音樂旅行者)
• 2011-12-02 Daredevil Spirit (不信邪)

Richie Ren also appeared in the MV of beijing welcomes you.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Richie Jen

• Richie Jen at the Internet Movie Database
• Richie Ren at LoveHKFilm.com
• (Chinese) Richie Jen official website
• Richie Ren's Lyrics

This article about an Taiwanese actor is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

This article about a Taiwanese singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Tai Orathai (Thai: ต่าย อรทัย) is a Luk thung singer from Ubon Ratchatani, Thailand. She was born on March 27, 1980. She graduated from Ramkhamhaeng University in 2009. She was the first Luk thung singer to sell 1 million albums.

External links[link]

• Tai Orathai's Official Webpage (in Thai)
• Tai Orathai's Official Message Board (in Thai)

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