Hill Tribal Crafts IX

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Tai or Shan (called by Burmese) or Dai (called by Chinese) or Tay (called by Vietnamese & Lao) or Thaiyai (called by Thai), is the second large ethnic population in Burma (Myanmar). Most Tai are living in Shan State of Burma, and some has migrated to Thailand from the political issue and for job seeking since 17^th century.

The Poy Sang Long Festival of Tai people, is for a large group of 7-14 years old boys to be ordained as novice monks at the same time. They will be dressed up like princes in imitation of the Lord Buddha and be carried on the shoulders of their older male relatives for three days before ordaining.

Tai people’s surnames are prefix with ‘Loong’, such as Loong Kam, Loong Pang, etc., because they don’t know how to set a good surname, so they use their pass away cousins’ names to put after ‘Loong’.

Their famous and special food is ‘soybean fermented’. It’s very useful for health, and looks like ‘Shrimp Paste or Kapi’.

Recommended book for Today is ‘The Shan: Culture, Art and Crafts’. The culture of the Shan peoples of Burma and their rulers is extensively explored in this volume. Shan courts flourished in the late British colonial period, and in this book rare early photo graphs, never before published, document life in the courts and in the hill regions of Shan dominion.

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Hill Tribal Crafts VIII

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Palaung or De-ang or Ta-ang or Dara-ang, Burmese call them as Palaung, Tai call them as Pa-long or Kun-loi (means hill tribe people).  From the history, Palaung were populated in San-Wee city of Shan State of Burma. They are Mon-Khmer ethnic minority who now live in Burma, China & Thailand. In 1968-1984 A.D. (2511-2527 B.E.), Palaung immigrated into Thailand close to Doi Ang Khang (Ang Khang Mountain of Chiang Mai Province) from the military situation in Burma.

Palaung dislike to get married with people from other races. Youth will date in festival season or religious ceremony. The young man will court a lady with the clarinet or sueng (a northern Thai musical instrument) in front of her house. If she accepts, she will open the door to invite him to talk with at the fireplace through the night without sex.

The production of crafts by Palaung is very limited. Their trade is based on both dry and pickled tea. However today, let us recommend some books and songs (courting songs) of Palaung as follows:

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Hill Tribal Crafts VII

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Lisu or Lishu (Thai call li-soo or li-sor), meaning as knowledge seeker for life, and the other meaning: Li means culture or tradition, Su means human, Lisu means group of people who are proud of their culture/tradition. 

They lived in eastern Tibet and Yunnan, China and migrated to Thailand, Burma and India in 19^th century. Many Lisu in Burma and China are Christianity from beginning of 20^th century. They are a group of high self-confident and freedom race.

Today recommended Hill Tribal Craft of Lisu is Table runner, 'Lisu Suns' by NOVICA (who works in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers).

Bright diamond suns shine with surreal elegance in a cotton table runner by Sangrawee. She honors the textile arts of the Lisu hill tribe with this vibrant appliqué work, which she masterfully executes by hand.

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Hill Tribal Crafts VI

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Mien, Iu Mien or Yao, their origin was from Hunan province of China around 2,000 years ago. Chinese called them ‘Yao (meaning as barbarian)’ or ‘Iu Mien (meaning as human)’. They migrated into the Thai highlands, Vietnam and the highlands of Laos around 100 years ago from Chinese invasion. A lot of Yao were able to obtain sponsorship from the United Nations to go to USA. They immigrated and settled mainly in Northern California, Oregon and Washington states.

Their tribal crafts are about clothes, silver accessories, etc.
As shown on this picture, it’s a 925 sterling "Yao" - Silver Bracelet which carefully inlaid with stunning blue opal (simulated).

And the other is handmade Mien cotton cushion covers, 'Lumyai' (pair) by NOVICA (who works in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers).

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Hill Tribal Crafts V

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Akha (ar-kha or ee-gor) lived in Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan, China and migrated to Burma, Lao and Thailand. They immigrated to many Northern provinces of Thailand almost century, and now around 80,000 populated in Thailand.

Akha, Ar means a fore-word to call a person, Kha means far away, Akha means groups of people who live high on mountain, away from civilization. Akha dislike others to call Ee-gor, which means one person or one group of people.

Every Akha’s village will have an open-air soil courtyard for activities called ‘Dae-Hong’ or ‘Lan-Sao-God’. All cultural activities are happened here, i.e., Spinning Top New Year, Young People Dating, Exorcism Tradition, etc.

They are expert in blacksmithing and cloth sewing crafts. Today recommended product is handmade ‘Akha cotton cushion covers, ‘Tribal Flower’ (pair)’ ,

which is sold by NOVICA who works in association with National Geographic, searches the world to work directly with the finest artisan designers.

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Hill Tribal Crafts IV

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Hmong or Miao (Hmong people dislike others to call them Miao.), in fact, Hmong is a sub-group of the Miao ethnicity in southern China. Miao contains of four sub-groups: Ke xiong, Hmu, Hmao and Hmong. They lived in China around 3,000 years ago and migrated to Lao, Vietnam, Burma and Thailand. For Hmong in Thailand, they live in 12 of the Northern provinces.

Except from agriculture, Hmong people do household industry on Crafts, such as handmade cloth weaving, handmade silverware, etc.

Products to recommend today are handmade bags of Hmong. (please see in 'Tribal Crafts (Thailand & Burma)' category of Craft World shop in this blog.)

For example: A unique Thai 100% handmade tote Handbag is from the Hmong Tribe. Pink multi-color embroidery and sequins material. Thick and firm canvas, cotton lining outside.  Opening; Zippered top closure. So beautiful and strong.

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Hill Tribal Crafts III

Hill Tribes (cont.):

- Lahu or Mussur (The meaning of Mussur is ‘Hunter’, it’s from their expertise in wild animal hunting by crossbow.) are mainly populated in Yunnan province of China who migrated from their origin near Tibet. Some Lahu migrated from China more than a decade to live in Burma and Thailand. In the USA, the Lahu is found in the states of Minnesota, California and North Carolina.

About Lahu crafts are also as many as Karen. Today we would like to recommend a Lahu Wine Basket which is made of bamboo by Thai Tribal Craft (TTC). The wine basket is neatly woven of bamboo with holder for you to carry with to any dinner party or make a great gift for someone.

Note: Thai Tribal Craft (TTC) started in 1973 with the objective to provide opportunities for improving the quality of life for tribal people from Northern Thailand.

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Hill Tribal Crafts II

Hill Tribes:

- Karen or Kayin (Burmese pronunciation) or Kariang (Thai pronunciation) is the most population tribe in Thailand, mostly on the Thai-Burmese border, in the hills bordering eastern region and Irrawaddy delta of Burma, and in the northern west of Thailand. 

Believe that they migrated from Mongolia around 2,000 years ago by Chinese military invasion to Tibet and moved more and more southern areas of Yangtze river & Salween River through Kra Isthmus (called in Thai as kor kôt grà) of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province of Thailand.

There are four mainly groups of Karen in Thailand: 

- S’gaw (sa ko) or Pgaz K’Nyau (p-nya kae h-yow), the most population of Karen 

- Pwo (po) live in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Lamphun of Thailand and Kayin State, Burma. 

- Pa-o or Thaung Thu (called in Thai as tong-su) live in Mae Hong Son 

- Kayah live in Mae Hong Son

Many pretty crafts from Karen are attractive to travelers around the world, e.g. Karen silver earrings, pendants, necklaces. (please see in 'Tribal Crafts (Thailand & Burma)' category of Craft World shop in this blog.)

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Hill Tribal Crafts I

In the hill areas of the northern of Thailand, Burma (Myanmar) and Lao, there are various tribal inhabitants who have migrated from China and Tibet for centuries. There are many hill tribes with their different languages and cultures, i.e., Wa, Akha, Hmong/Miao, Lahu, Mien/Yao, Lisu, Karen, etc. So their apparels (clothes, shoes, hats, necklace, earrings, etc.), and other daily use items (pots, trays, etc.), even songs are also distinct and unique in style.

Same as many far from civilization tribes in the world, they need to craft things by own with inherited skills from their ancestors. Even though they have particular handicrafts from their own tribes, silver is the same popular material they use for crafting their accessories: earrings, necklaces, pendants, etc.

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Myanmar’s Crafts / Burmese Crafts II

There are many interesting and impressive Burmese Crafts or Handmade Products as follows: (Cont.)

v  Lacquerwares

o   For the past 200-300 years the art of lacquer has been one of the show industries of Burma. Early travelers to that country have commented most favorably on it and it would be a rare Burmese household or monastery which did not have at least a few prized pieces of lacquer.

o   Lacquerware Crafts are different in prices, depending on difficulties and qualities. There are a lot of Lacquerware Crafts, such as water bowl, tray, tray with pedestal, a small circular casket or box, cigarette box, kind of wooden utensil, partition, table, big jar, etc.

v  New Art Crafts

o   Many new arts or new ideas of Burmese Crafts were born in the market, for examples: Hand Painted or Screening Crafts on mugs, towels, clothes, etc.

Myanmar’s Crafts / Burmese Crafts I

Burma or Myanmar is a country in South East Asia that connected with many countries; Thailand, China, Lao, India and Bangladesh. So, Burmese cultures are affected from surrounding countries which express through Arts, Musics, Foods and Languages.

There are many interesting and impressive Burmese Crafts or Handmade Products as follows:

v  Handmade jewelries

o   The very best color in Burmese rubies is sometimes described as "pigeon's blood".

o   Burmese people credit the rubies with having the ability to protect their owner from sickness and evil.

v  Sculptures

o   Burmese traditional sculpture contains wood sculpture, stone sculpture, and plaster sculpture but more wood sculptures will be seen in many arts and crafts shops, in many cities of Burma. The wood sculptures are liked by many people in the world to-day.      

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sculpture#Myanmar_.28Burma.29)

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Thai Silk III

There are some methods to identify whether the silk craft is natural silk or artificial silk:

1. Fine silk craft will be luster which woven from thin fabric of silk and might contains some silk floss. On the other hand, coarse silk craft will be very less in luster and contains a lot of silk floss as nature of it.

2. Some silk crafts might not be pure 100% silk. We can do testing by stretching it horizontally and vertically. Some silk crafts contain only half of silk in the warp or the weft, the rest is normally woven with artificial silk. When we touch on the pure silk side, the sense will be fine and not be sharp. The artificial side will be vice versa.

3. If we can pull or cut the silk craft a bit and burn it with fire, we will know by the behavior and structure of the burnt cloth. In case that the burnt fabric shows little shrinkage, not be clottish, and smells as hair burn, that means it is natural silk. In contrary, the burnt artificial silk, the fabric will be fully shrinkage, clottish and smells as plastic burn.

During burning, the natural silk fiber will be brittle, when we use finger to squeeze, it will be powder. For the artificial silk fiber will not be ash-like, but will be sticky paste or mass.

Thai Silk II

Today, Thai silk craft is considered to be one of the finest arts in the world. Since traditional Thai silk craft is hand woven, each silk fabric is unique and cannot be duplicated through commercial means. In contrast, artificial silk is machine woven, which means that every part of the fabric is identical and has the same color.

In addition, Thai silk craft has a unique luster, with a sheen that has two unique blends: one color for the warp and another for the weft. Color changes as you hold the Thai silk fabric at varying angles against light.

In terms of price, Thai silk craft is usually 10 times more expensive than artificial silk craft.     (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_silk)

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Thai Silk I

Thai Silk Crafts are woven from the strong natural fibers which look luster and beauty in fabric. Thai Silk Crafts show the local identity of each part of Thailand. They have specific varieties of themselves on process of weaving the fabric, pattern and form of them. These can be used to determine the source of production of the craft. 

Also there are many Crafts made of silk, e.g. silk scarf, silk cushion pillow cover, silk clothes or purse for ladies, silk shirt or silk necktie for gentlemen, silk paper-napkin box, silk elephant toy for decorating, etc.

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White Elephant

‘White Elephant’ is usually presented (in the past) in royal ceremonies or royal battlements (hand-to-hand combats on elephant’s back).

To possess a white elephant was regarded (and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma) as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. Monarchs often exemplified their possession of white elephants in their formal titles. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_elephant)

Therefore, in many Crafts of Thai and Burmese people, they particularly choose ‘White Elephant’ to express this zone’s cultures as we could see on cloth, cushion pillow cover, flag, bookmark, lady purse, decorating wall hanging, or even wooden elephant toy, etc.

Preliminary II

There are many beautiful and useful Crafts from both nations which we can choose for decorating our home or to be lovely and useful gifts or souvenirs to our friends.

For example: silk cloth, cushion pillow cover, pewter mug or pewter plate, pen holder wooden box, wooden chess, wooden game, aroma candle, aroma soap, seasoning for cooking, mulberry paper umbrella or fan, etc.

Note: Please be careful, sometimes when you send a ‘Craft’ gift to your friend, you might explain what it’s purposed for. I had sent a large silk-made scarf to a friend (intended to let her use for any party), but she thought it’s a tablecloth and used it to cover her dining table.

Preliminary I

Craft (or Handicraft) is a kind of product which is made by hand with simple skills and focused to its functionality and usability in everyday life. Typically, Craft always reflects its cultural and/or religious nationalism. The product which is manufactured by automatic machine in large amount will not be called Craft or Handicraft.

Thailand (Siam) and Burma (Myanmar) are geographically connected countries with long period of co-history. They fought for getting further boundary since 1548-1855 A.D. (2091-2398 B.E.). During those sessions, there were many activities, trading and life-styles in between both of them, as cultural and religious exchange.

Especially, in the northern provinces of Thailand which are close to Burma, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Craft is one thing to confirm the above mentioned.

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