The Name “Siam” in Tibetan Literature

In classical Tibetan texts, Thailand is often referred to as “Siam” (སི་ཡམ་, si-yam). This designation traces back to the historical kingdom of Siam, a term used by various foreigners to signify the region prior to its official renaming in the 20th century. The significance of this name is not merely historical but reflects the cultural interactions and perceptions between Tibet and Southeast Asia.

Jambudvīpa and Its Connection to Southeast Asia

Another notable reference in Tibetan literature is “jambudvīpa’i lho phyogs” (ཛམ་བུ་དབྱིབས་ཀྱི་ལྷོ་ཕྱོགས་), translated as the southern part of Jambudvīpa. This term encompasses various Southeast Asian regions, potentially including Thailand. However, it’s important to note that jambudvīpa is a broader geographic term, thereby not exclusively linked to Thailand but rather indicative of its historical context within the wider Southeast Asian landscape.

Theravāda Buddhism and Regional Influence

Tibetan texts discussing Theravāda Buddhism frequently mention “lho mon” (ལྷོ་མོན་, southern Mon land), which historically referred to areas that comprise parts of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. This notion reflects the dissemination of Mon and Theravāda Buddhist cultures across the region, illustrating how intertwined the spiritual and cultural narratives are among these Southeast Asian countries.