วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๕๗ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑

Traditional Skills and Knowledge of the Tai People of NE India

Wilaisak Kingkham๑

Introduction Historically, the Northeastern part of India is, nowadays, the geographically inhabited location, where, long ago, the racial groups of Mongoloid people have settled down. So far as we know thoroughly, the Mongoloid were very rich of various language families such as the speakers of Indo-Chinese language belonged under Mon-Khmer family etc. The other groups of Indo-Chinese language such as Siamese- Chinese etc., were known and realized well, and especially, Shan was grouped and included in the earlier said Siamese-Chinese as well. Primarily, the group of Shan or Tai people, according to the credible ethnic history, was found the existence in Yunnan. After that, they emigrated from the valley in the Southern part of Yunnan to the Shweli valley, where was located in the upper part of Burma in the sixth century. Afterwards, in the thirteenth century, the Tai Ahom minority people entered into Assam and then they, nowadays, still live in this state, where is located in the Northeastern part of India. The Tai Ahom people, as observed generally, have their severally subdivided groups namely; Shane state composed of Tai Khamti, Tai Phake, Tai Aiton, Tai Turung and Tai Khamyang. Their geographical evidences of the habitation, at the present time, can obviously be found in the administrative district of Dibrugarh and Sibsagar, state of Assam and beyond the administrative district of Lohit, state of Arunachal Pradesh.

๑Associate Professor Wilaisak Kingkham Ph.D. Former Dean of Faculty of Humanities, Kasetsart University, Thailand. This article is presented in the international seminar during 4-5 March 2014 organized by Dibrugarh University, Assam, India. วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๕๘ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑

Traditional Skills conduct (Sila), charity (Dana) and With respect to Tai people, they, wisdom (Panya). extensively speaking, were trained and 4. Samajivita: Tai people with the taught profoundly through the thorough suitable and comfortable livelihood, are principles of doctrine in Buddhism that able to think analytically and desire the they have obtained the religious sufficiency life by not to spend too little succession continually from Burma. and too much money through their own Undoubtedly, they have brought such incomes together with expenses. the Buddhist principles of doctrine in Contrarily, they emphasize and seek for order to guide the good, right and the stable way to increase their more suitable livelihood and, sometime, apply incomes than expenses, prefer to spend to earn living in their everyday life. For economically and make saving for the an example regarding the Buddhist necessary circumstances. principles of doctrine that Tai people Usually, the group of Tai people used usually in life style, is about the will hold fast to the Buddhist principles Fourfold Virtues Leading to Benefits in of doctrine strictly and firmly. In the Present (Ditthadhammikattha- particularly, they earn living that Samvattanika-Dhamma) namely comprised of the honest and right 1. Utthanasampada: Tai people livelihood. According to the Buddhist with the fully conducted diligence principles of doctrine as mentioned in towards their professional works, an the above, it can obviously be observed honest livelihood and professional skills, and touched from the Tai people’s are endowed absolutely with the behavior through the thorough achievement of wealthy to earn living. professions as follows; 2. Arakhasampada: Tai people with 1. Tai people are able to work, the watchfulness are endowed exactly grow rice, earn living, know how to work with the achievement of wealth and choose the suitable seeds of rice for collection and protection including the growing at farm in different seasons and succeeded works, which are derived receive the good product later. from the hard effort and diligence. 2. Tai people are able to garden. 3. Kalyanamittata: Tai people, who That is to say that they know to do are omniscient in order to associate with kitchen garden and bring the kitchen good company, can think analytically to garden plants in order to cook such as build up friendship with only the person, vegetable and fruit etc. They grow who is full of the faith (Saddha), moral banana tree and sweet potato not only for eating, but also for selling in order to วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๕๙ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ increase more incomes to their family 2) Kindly Speech (Piyavaca): Tai status. people like to use the lovely, polite and 3. Tai people are able to do sweet speech in order to bear the needlework. That is to say that all the goodwill and love each others. groups of Tai people as specified in the 3) Useful Conduct (Atthacariya): Tai above have about the intellectual ability people prefer to conduct the valuable, to do weaving for both the personal use useful and beneficial things for the and selling. Especially, the cloth that general public and the other people they have weaved consists of and concerned in their associations or reflects upon the differently conducted societies. symbols of Tai people in state of Assam 4) Even and Equal Treatment and Arunachal Pradesh. (Samanattata): Tai people know to do 4. Tai people compose of the the equality consisting in the impartiality generosity and like to help each others. and participation and behaving oneself That is to say that they probably prefer properly in all the circumstances to exchange both the eatable and namely; status, condition, person, event uneatable belongings among the groups and environment. of Tai people such as; chicken to be In accordance with the light as exchanged with rice and chili to be specified in the above, an example of exchanged with banana etc. the story regarding Tai people would be 5. Tai people hold fast to the brought to show here in order to sufficiency economic system. All the illustrate clearly. The Tai Phake people, groups of Tai people follow explicitly like other groups of Tai people, are about the contentment (Santosa) as regarded as an important group in given in Buddhism and they are cleaver Assam that their community, as in order to spend money as much as observed generally, is very strong and necessary. Particularly, they like to hold stable by pushing the village into and pay attention to practice extremely development and supporting the about the following Fourfold Bases of children into education in their own Social Solidarity (Sangahavathu) for each community. By doing so, their village has others. increasingly been developed and, at the 1) Giving (Dana): Tai people have same time, incomes of the Tai Phake gladness to give, generosity, charity and people, who are educated, have help each other via giving the general obviously been increased highly. materials or belongings as well as the Consequently, the Tai Phake people, at useful knowledge and instruction. the present time, become the already วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๐ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ developed men in both the balanced Buddha’s Doctrines). Another important materials and spirits, and especially, Buddhist literature is Poo Sorn Lan their faces, sincerely speaking, are full of (Grandfather Taught Grandchild) that the the happy smiles. beneficial doctrines of Buddhism about the sevenfold aspects of wife have been Clinging to the Buddhist Principles of added. Regarding the Sevenfold Types Doctrine of Wives as mentioned earlier, it is As observed generally, the several classified by considering thoroughly the ethnic groups of Tai people came from morality, behavior, habit and practices the important base of Buddhist to husband as follows; followers. Nowadays, almost Tai people, 1. Vadhakabhariya: a wife, like a except Tai Ahom and Tai Khamyang that slayer, has malice, lives together as wife are similar to Assamese, still follow the without contentment, enjoys associating principles of doctrine as given in with other men and always thinks in Buddhism strictly. Moreover, for Tai order to destroy her own husband. Ahom and Tai Khamyang people, 2. Coribhariya: a wife, like a robber, sometime the practical way of likes to steal the husband’s wealth. So, Buddhism has implicitly been changed this kind of wife can be compared with in order to approach to the Hindu robber. activities. In the past time, the Tai 3. Ayyabhariya: a wife is lazy to people composed about the Buddhist work, always do nothing without eating, literatures by emphasizing the usage of being sharp-tongued, rude, ruthless and Tai language as the original manuscript. she likes to bully own husband. So, this At the present time, the earlier said kind of wife can be compared with valuable literatures have been studied mistress. and transliterated as appeared in 4. Matabhariya: a wife, like Buddhist temples of Assam and mother, always wishes own husband to Arunachal Pradesh. get well, takes care husband, like According to the original mother takes care child, and prefers to manuscript of Tai people, it is disclosed keep or collect the wealth that own that Tai language was used to write in husband worked hardly and such the manuscript aged about 1,000 overwhelmed. So, this kind of wife can years. It is discovered and kept in the be compared with mother. Buddhist temple. This original 5. Bhaginibhariya: a wife likes to manuscript is called among Tai people respect to own husband, as if the as the Tripikaka (Three Baskets of younger sister or brother respects to the วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๑ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ elder one, being gentle-mined, Tai people in Assam have the courteous and follows own husband. So, important identity for each group. this kind of wife can be compared with Villages will locate around the temple younger sister/ brother. and school. Importantly, they will set 6. Sakhibhariya: a wife, like the temple to play a large role as the companion, has good behavior and is central place in order to run the glad to see own husband as if friends different religious activities. Especially, are very glad to see each others. So, this the culture that will be succeeded from wife can be compared with the friend. the temple obviously in the different 7. Dasabhariya: a wife, like a Buddhist Holydays such as the Buddhist handmaid, always obeys to the Holydays; Magha Puja Day, Vesak Puja husband’s authority, is castigated or Day, Asalha Puja Day, the Buddhist Lent flogged and not get angry to the Day and the End of Buddhist Lent Day husband. So, this kind of wife can be etc., has been ran in the temple area. compared with slaver. Tai people will go to make a general Within the important literature merit, republic benefits at the temple, entitled Grandfather Taught Grandchild participate in order to practice the (Poo Sorn Lan), it is stated obviously Dhamma and observe the precepts. that the wives in types of 1 to 3 Particularly, the ancestors are regarded mentioned in the above, are regarded as as the important prototype in observing the bad wives, but the wives from the the Five Moral Precepts as follows; remaining types of 4 to 7 are regarded 1. Panatipata veramani: abstaining as the good wives and they are from killing or all kinds of injuring each suggested to choose the spouse. At the others. same time, the types of husband, like 2. Adinnadana veramani: abstaining the types of wife, have also been from taking the belongings of others or written obviously in such the literature. stealing. Especially, the Poo Sorn Lan literature 3. Kamesumicchacara veramani: has always be brought to read and give abstaining from sexual misconduct or instructing to all the ethnic groups of Tai infringing the loved husband/wife of people, and the same has later been other people. held to practice strictly. So, it caused Tai 4. Musavada veramani: abstaining people to receive happiness and have from lying, false and untruth speech. the warm family at the present time. 5. Suramerayamajjapamadatthana veramani: abstaining from drinking Ancestors as the Important Prototype intoxicants causing heedlessness. วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๒ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑

Proficiency Knowledge in Other Fields According to this activity as said in Regarding the proficiency the above, people in the Northeastern knowledge in other fields that Tai part of Thailand called it as Boon Khao people have occupied already from the Jee. For the Tai people in Assam, they former times till the present times, it have practiced and followed according can obviously be addressed here, such to the practical ways that their own as ability in composing the literatures ancestors taught and introduced. It will entitled Grandfather Taught Grandchild annually be started to run around etc., ability to choose spouse for December after farming season. Within wedding, ability to comport and do the ceremony, there will be the formal different ceremonies by focusing on the invitation of monks in order to pray and praying words towards such the also other Buddhist followers in order to literatures. participate in the morning time. The mostly aged women are regarded as the Holding Fast to the Agricultural key women or representatives of others Culture to bring the tray of food and offer The culture of Tai people, which is respectfully to the Buddhist monks at regarded as another important activity temple, lighten the incense and candles has been succeeded continually long for worshiping the Stupa and start ago. Such the culture is known well as praying to recall the Buddha's grace. the Culture of Eating the Pounded After such the religious activity, they will Unripe Rice. The earlier said culture has be back to their village. At the village, widely and obviously been recognized when the monks and Buddhist followers among the group of Tai people in got ready in the ceremony, the monks Assam. Not only that, such the culture will start to pray by uttering Pali has also been found in the group of language as follows; Thai people in Thailand, but its naming Bhavatu Sabbamanggalang May is called or pronounced differently all good fortune come to you, according to the linguistic identity of Rakkhantu Sabbadevata May all each locality. However, the practical the deities protect you, way to run such the activity, as Sabbabuddhanubhavena By all observed truly, is similar each other very the power of the Buddha much namely; they bring it and offer Sada sukhi bhavantute May you respectfully to the monastic orders as always enjoy well-being. monks and novices at the temple After the chief of monks in the nearby/within their own villages. ceremony delivered Pali language in วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๓ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ order to give the five moral precepts (as life that they succeeded continually stated already in the item no.4), the from the previous generations to the monks will start to read Mongkalarattana present one of Tai people in Assam. It is Sutra and Karaniyamettayya Stura and regarded as another important culture give a sermon to the villagers. This is of the several phenomenon of the called Hotala. Then, the villagers in the existing culture. The holding fast to the ceremony will start to pray and request principles of doctrine in Buddhism apologizing from the monks. This is makes the Tai people’s mind strong and called Ka Kan Tor Jao Mon. It can be the Buddhist language that they used to said that the Buddhist activity takes part pray is still the Pali language, but their in this culture and it ends by making a praying pronunciation and accent merit devoted to Goddess of earth. This regarding the Pali language, as observed is called Yern Nam Her Nang Ma Chung. generally, may be different a little bid. It will be done by those persons, who There seems to be the similar have experienced the monastic order as pronunciation and accent to Burmese monks already. This is called Pa Tao. language, because they obtained the However, while Tai people are pouring Buddhism succession continually from the water onto the earth, there will be Burma from the beginning. praying words as Pali language as follows; Knowledge of Tai People in Assam Raja Dosa May the king’s anger not Obviously, Tai people in Assam come to us hold fast not only to the principles of Jora Dosa May the robbers not doctrine in Buddhism, but also have the disturb us professional knowledge and skills that Manussa Dosa May the human not they have succeeded continually from disturb us their own ancestors in order to earn Amanussa Dosa May the non- their living. They are, as observed truly, human not disturb us able to make about the instruments or Aggi Dosa May the Buddha protect equipments for many activities such as us from fire farming, gardening, hunting and fishing Udaka Dosa May the Buddha etc. Moreover, they are very able to protect us from flood produce clothes creatively and Eventually, the ceremony will be compound the herbal medicines. finished about 10.00 am. 1. Farming Instruments According to the religious activities Tai and Thai people have as specified in the above, it takes part of knowledge and skills about surveying วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๔ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ the materials which will be brought to river. However, in the deep river, the make as tools, farming or gardening kind of bamboo fish-trap with a narrow instruments such as plough, harrow, neck will better be used. barn, cart for containing materials in 2.2 Coop-like trap for catching fish: house. According to the different tools it made of the small bar of bamboo that as mentioned earlier, they are as brings to weave as the fishing follows; instrument. Plough: mostly, it made of 2.3 Kind of bamboo fish-trap with Pterocarpus macrocarpus, because it is a narrow neck: it, like the bamboo fish the hardwood, which is able to endure trap, made of the bamboo too, but the using longer. The harrow, like the sizes of the bamboo strip, are made plough, is made of such the wood. bigger than the bamboo fish trap, so Barn: Tai people know to make that can trap fish in the deep river. the barn in order to contain materials. 2.4 Fishnet: Tai people are able to About their intellectual ability, they are make the fishing implements. Fishnet able to choose different categories of here is regarded as the important one wood in order to make the barn namely; that Tai people in Assam have the Padauk wood: it is used for making skillful ability by bringing the thread to the yoke and barn structure. weave the fishnet consisting of 6-8 sizes. Velvet tamarind wood: it is used The fishnet is held as the fishing for making the barn axle. instrument, which is available among Selangen batu wood: it is used for the group of Tai people or Thais. making the barn hub. Xylia kereii craib wood: it is used Knowledge of Food Preservation for making the wheels of a cart. 1 Shrimp Paste (Kapi) According to the light as showed As the cleaver men, Tai people the different categories of wood in the know to bring the fish to dry out and above, each category of wood will be ferment such the fish with salt (1 suitable for making as the barn Kilogram of fish per 50 grams of salt) equipment that is held as the incredible and then contain it in the bamboo tube, folk wisdom succeeded continually from bind and close the mouth of bamboo the ancestors. tube tightly. Such the shrimp paste, as 2. Fishing Instruments the special food, can be bought in order 2.1 Bamboo fish trap: it made of to welcome the visitors as well as the the bamboo knitted with rope. Its closed up relatives. About this, it can benefits are to entrap fish in the shallow วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๕ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ later be kept for eating approximately 2 explicitly be kept about 1-2 weeks and months. then, it can be brought to eat. 2. Dried Meat (Nue Haeng) Contrarily, the fermented fish in Regarding the dried meat, its Thailand can be kept to eat longer. practical procedure to cook is, as 5. Pickled Cabbage (Phak Kad observed generally, similar to the shrimp Dong) paste, but the kind of dried meat can Intellectually, Tai people are shortly be kept for eating about 1 cleaver to bring the fresh vegetable to month only. sun softly, do mixing such the vegetable 3. Pickled Fish (Pla Som) with salt, the cooked rice, and contain in About the pickled fish concerned, the bamboo tube or pot. After keeping Tai people know to bring the fresh fish delayed about 7 days, it can be brought to mix with the already cooked rice to eat. including salt, contain in the bamboo For cooking other kinds of food tube and keep delayed about 5-6 days. such as flour, popped rice, dried rice Such the pickled fish can be brought to etc., Tai people in Assam and Thai eat, especially in the several important people in Thailand, proudly speaking, occasions such as the wedding have the special ability and body of ceremony etc. It can shortly be kept knowledge in order to cook very well about 1 month. For another kind of and the practical procedure of cooking doing the pickled fish, this kind of is regarded as the great way of food pickled fish, like the fresh fish as said preservation and flavor. The body of above, will be brought to chop as the knowledge that brings the materials to small pieces and then, start to ferment cook is derived explicitly from the such the fish. nature, and without chemical 4. Fermented Fish (Pla Ra) harmfulness. By practicing so, it causes According to the practical Tai people to become the healthy men procedure of doing fermented fish, it with long living. So, it can be said that can be explained obviously that the such the practical procedure of cooking body of fish must be brought to mix still is regarded clearly as not only the with salt and the already cooked rice food preservation, but also the and then ferment it in the bamboo environment preservation in the world tube. Such the fermented fish are held as well. as the eatable local food of Tai people in Assam and Thai people in Thailand. The fermented fish of Tai people will วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๖ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑

Indigenous Folk Wisdom Concerning Explicitly, Tai people know to bring the Dyeing Colors from Nature the core of jackfruit to cut as the thin 1. Making Alkali Water and small pieces, start to crush by both Intellectually, Tai people know to hands, wrap all pieces of jackfruit with bring the old and auburn trunk of spiny the clear white cloth and boil the amaranth to dry out, and then burn it as wrapped cloth about 4 hours. After that, ashes mixed with pure water. Having they will bring the cloth that they want delayed it to precipitate, they started to do dyeing for boiling about 1 hour, pouring only the clear and pure water in and then start to sun it to make it dried. order to mix with colors to be dyed. 5. Dyeing Red Color Derived from 2. Dyeing Black Color Derived from Roots of Leek Ebony Ball Undoubtedly, Tai people know to Usually, Tai people know to bring bring the root of the old leek for cutting the fresh ebony ball to pound as the small pieces, put them into the crushingly and keep soaking it in the boiling water, lay the cloth in the already prepared water, which have the colored water and soak about 3 roots of black Roselle mixed with ebony minutes, and then bring it to dry out. ball. Afterwards, they bring their clothes 6. Dyeing Indigo Color from Leaves and do dyeing clothes about 3-4 times. of Indigofera Tinctoria In all the times of dyeing clothes, Clearly, Tai people cut and roll up clothes must always be dried out. the leaves of indigofera Tinctoria, bind 3. Dyeing Purple Color Derived and soak it in water about 2-3 days until from Jambolan Plum its leaves become soft. After that, they Obviously, Tai people know to will bring the trunk with leaves and crab, bring the ripe Jambolan Plum to which are derived from burning squeeze for bringing out the purple extremely the roots of banana to mix. water. Then, they will bring such the Having delayed it about 2-3 nights, Tai already squeezed water to boil people start to pour out the water that approximately 1-2 times. After that, they put in, and put indigo color as much as will put the colored clothes in the they want. boiling water in order to do dyeing. 7. Dyeing Green Color from Leaves While dyeing their clothes, they often of Indian Almond stir in order to embed the colors into Exactly, Tai people know to bring the body of clothes deeply. the leaves of Indian Almond tree to 4. Dyeing Yellow Color Derived pound, squeeze it to receive the from the Core of Jackfruit Tree colored water, filter and boil. Then, they วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๗ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑ put the cloth to do dyeing and bring it to dyeing the cloth, Tai people will bring to dry out. the different parts of tree concerned 8. Dyeing Green Color from Leaves such as trunk, bark, root, core, leaf and of Myrobalan Bark fruits etc., in order to grind colors, Truly, Tai people know to bring according to the practical procedure of the Myrobalan bark to boil, simmer until dyeing through their indigenous folk it becomes dried, pour the water into wisdom. clay pot, put the cloth, which is dyed Such the practical procedure of firstly by the indigo color into the hot dyeing always consists of and implies colored water, boil about 1 hour and about the incredible body of knowledge then, bring it to dry out. for utilizing fully the naturally derived Tai people in Assam or Thai materials. For this point, it can clearly be people in Thailand, at the ancient time, uttered that Tai people, by their have probably preferred using the characteristic, often give precedence to naturally derived colors in order to do preserve and, at the same time, dyeing thread, cotton including silk, emphasize to protect their own because they believed obviously that environment undoubtedly. To the naturally derived colors, deeply summarize herewith, it can shortly be feeling, will truly be colorful, and the said that Tai people realize the same are not harmful to the users uncountable values of nature, because surely. As looked back in the former a man, as they believed deeply, who times, Tai people admired extremely to will be alive in this world, must depend do dyeing silk, breast cloth, robe of the upon the alive forest and, at the same Buddhist monk, cotton cloth, fishnet as time, the forest that will be alive in this well as seine by themselves. In respect world, must depend upon a man too.

วารสารครุศาสตร์ปริทรรศน์ฯ - ๑๖๘ – ปีที่ ๕ ฉบับที่ ๒ พฤษภาคม-สิงหาคม ๒๕๖๑

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