Thailand is an agricultural country, and its feudal land system has had a significant impact on the development of rice farming. In history, the rice crop tax "kana" was a source of income for rulers, supporting the national system and aristocratic life. In the mid to late 19th century, King Rama IV and King V implemented reforms, and under the influence of Western colonizers, the feudal land system gradually disintegrated. This article discusses the changes in the Sardina system and its impact on Thailand's rice export economy in the early 20th century.

1、 The state of land system before the reform of King Rama V

Before the reforms of King Rama V, Thailand's land system was centered around "Sadina", which defined the social hierarchy structure through land distribution and had significant political and social significance. Under the Sardinian system, the king granted land to the nobles, who then arranged for serfs to engage in agricultural production, forming a pyramid shaped socio-economic structure. Over time, the Sadina system shifted from a land allocation mechanism to a human resource management system for rapid military mobilization and labor control.

2、 Land system reform and its impact during the reign of King Rama V

At the beginning of the 19th century, Thailand's economy mainly relied on agriculture, especially rice cultivation in the Mekong Delta region. With the increasing demand for rice in international trade, the scale of rice paddies has expanded, rice production has increased, and the commodity economy continues to develop. The socio-economic reforms implemented by King Rama IV and King Rama V led to significant changes in Thai society, with the feudal system gradually being phased out. In 1905, the Sardina system was officially abolished, and many slaves became rice farmers, gradually transforming Thailand into a capitalist country.

3、 Conclusion

During the reign of King Rama V, Thailand's land system underwent significant changes, abolishing feudal serfdom and personal restrictions on land, liberating labor, and promoting rice production and exports. During this period, the Thai economy gradually integrated into the world market, and the rice trade and rice hulling industry developed rapidly, forming an economic pattern dominated by rice exports. However, the reform also has limitations, such as incomplete land system reform, backward productivity, and a single export structure of agricultural products. The feudal hierarchical system and corv é e system have long constrained economic development, and the agricultural production mode is backward. Agricultural growth mainly relies on expanding the area of arable land. Thailand is at a disadvantage in international division of labor and exchange, becoming a rice production base and industrial product dumping market for Western powers, reflecting its semi feudal and semi colonial nature.