Lao Brand - Phaeng Mai

Lao Animist Woven Textiles- (article #4) Ving, A Finshing Net

Fishing Net

“Ving” is a type of Lao fishing apparatus and technique, made of very durable yarns tied into a net on a frame of bamboo for an open access. The net is the main article for Shaman conducting the ceremony for healing the illness caused when one’s spirit is misplaced. The Shaman would carry the net, and wearing a baby carry-cloth with the articles of clothing belonging to the sick person inside, also a basket of sticky rice with boiled egg or boiled chicken has been prepared as offering to comfort the spirit.

The Shaman would wander the village, searching for spirits along the street, on the banks of river, or in the bush, and locations where he expects to find the lost spirit.

When the Shaman finds the spirit he will persuade him out of his hiding place and catch him with the fishing net and take home with him.

Lao Animist Woven Textiles – (article #3) Baby Carry Cloth

Baby Carry Cloth

The baby carry cloth not only items for family’s every day use, but it has been coordinated with specific pattern in belief to protect the child. Some woven with Butterfly motif as believe for happiness and fertility, Sun image represents the wisdom and strength while Chequer, Circle, and Oval shape are stand for the safeguard eyes.  The baby carry cloth is also an importance item for the shaman, he uses it to transport the lost and found spirit to re-locate to one’s body. 

 

Lao Animist Woven Textiles – (article #2) / Yarns

Silk or cotton yarns is an article which Lao Animist take serious about.  The yarns is used in different ceremonies; the yarns is to tie the spirit to one body, or to cut them apart to separate the connection of spirit of a couple who live in different world,  which one is deceased and the others is still alive. The picture below is taken from the ceremony called “Tum Ming, Tum Naen”, means “Correcting the Spirit”. This ceremony is conducted when one person has his or her spirit left their body and they fall sick. The silk yarns is tied onto the banana tree, people believes a banana tree is a house of one of spirit. Therefore the Shaman will invite the spirit of sick person to come and stay at the tree, after the spirit get into the tree, the Shaman will tie the yarns around to protect the spirit not to escape anymore. 

Several Motifs - Similar Belief

The entire life of Lao women has been associated with making textiles, the women of Laos not only produce textiles to serve the traditions and the social circumstances, but her personality and attitude also have a great impact through her fabrics. The women weave little lovely birds and colourful flowers when she is in love, she weaves Naga, Elephants and Lion when she needs to be more secure, and for fertility, she weaves Frog, Crab, and Butterflies…

Lao Motifs

Many motifs of Lao textiles are named after nature, plants, animals, objects, mathematics, and imagination. 

Sample of motifs named after plants:

Rattan Flower

 Water Lily Flower

Kaap Flower (Dok Kapp)

Shaman's Clothes

There are 2 different types of Shamans one is for healing and the other for sending spirit of the dead people to the sky. 

The Shaman wears different colours to go with the conditions, when the Shaman talks to the ancestor spirit he wears the cool colour clothes or white headband, but when he fights with the bad evil he wears the red attire or red headband.

Healing Shaman

  

Shaman for sending the spirit to the Sky