Pha Sin Nang Han: Legend and Identity of Hand-Woven Fabric of Tai Dam Ethnic Group in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province

Abstract

This academic article aimed to study the legend and identity of the pha sin nang han (hand-woven fabric) of the Tai Dam ethnic group in Chiang Khan district, Loei province, Thailand. The study was explored by using the concept and identity theory, local wisdom in local fabric weaving, and reproduction. The data was collected from documentary and field study. The results showed that Pha Pha Sin Nang Han is a legend based on oral tradition without written evidence. The story structure has a beginning and ending. The legend of Pha Sin Nang Han was verbally inherited into three versions. The first legend told the story of three Tai Dam female fabric weavers. The first woman and the second woman started weaving fabrics, but later, they died of an unknown cause of death; therefore, the third woman continued weaving. Before weaving, she prayed to bring the finished woven fabric to offer to phi ban-phi ruan in sen huan ceremony. The second legend was about a Tai Dam woman named Hoong who lived in Mueang Taen and joined the army to fight the invading enemies with full ability until the enemies were chased off the city. When returning to her hometown, she started weaving fabrics to offer to the queen, and the queen named the fabric “nang han”. Thirdly, the legend was the story of the fabric weaver who wanted to weave pha sin nang han to offer to the king in order to show their respect. However, each of the legends communicates the skills and abilities of Tai Dam women who were focused, determined, and brave to finish weaving fabric beautifully. The identity of pha sin nang han is the five patterns of mud mi and khit patterned fabrics, namely the nak yai (The great Naga pattern), nak noi (the small Naga pattern), the cho prasat, the butterfly pattern, and the khit tum pattern hidden with the story of braveness of Tai Dam women. The values of pha sin nang han were found in aspects of belief, history, lifestyle, economy, local wisdom, and tourism.