WOODEN REED MAKING OF THE ETHNIC LAO-KHRANG IN THAILAND

Abstract

This research project was initiated by the concern in the endangered knowledge of wooden reed making in the ethnic Lao-Khrang in Thailand due to declining usage and aging makers. The project objectives were 1) to study and document the detailed process of wooden reed making and 2) to study and understand the context and relationship of wooden reeds to social, cultural and practical dimensions. This qualitative research studied weavers and craftspeople in Ban Rai District, Uthai Thani Province in Thailand, 26 altogether. The project was conducted using a combination of tools, for example, interviews, apprenticeship, photography and moving image recordings. The data was then analyzed, organized and submitted to an open-access online database of the British Museum. The outputs of this research project included a database of detailed images, moving images, booklets and documents on the process of wooden reed making that was demonstrated by the weaving master Jampee Tamasiri. Another output was that it demonstrated the relationship between people and the community and between people and nature. The reed also played an important role in the textile practice that expresses ethnic identity. This research project will be useful for the study of the making of traditional weaving tools. The international database will be a valuable source for academics, researchers, weavers and ethnic textiles enthusiasts in the future.