Where does Thai unegalitarianness come from?

PS: Thai culture is much more egalitarian than many other Asian cultures, notably Japan and India, but it is still pretty egalitarian.

In Thailand, there are terms like กาลเทศะ and บุคริท that parents demand their children to follow.

Children are supposed to pay great respect to elders and follow their directions.

There is also the เกรงใจ culture where people don’t feel like fully expression themselves and use words to convey a meaning that is polite as possible.

Where did this culture come from?

Did it originate from the Chinese Confucian influence in the Tai tribes while they were still in Guangxi?

Did it originate from Indianization after the Thais had migrated into modern-day Thailand? The kingdoms in the region (Mons, Khmers, etc. were influenced by aspects of Hinduism that advocated for the strengthening of hierarchies).

Did it originate from Chinese immigrants who became an upper class and spread their Confucian values?

Was Tai culture already this way before anyone influenced it?

Overall, I don’t think it comes from Buddhism because Buddhism values harmony and lack of hierarchy.

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