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Betel-Chewing in Mainland Southeast Asia

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Betel-Chewing in Mainland Southeast Asia RESEARCH Southeast Asia is the cradle of betel-chewing. Used as a stimulant and to treat minor ills, the custom spread from Southeast Asian islands to mainland Vietnam probably around the first millennium B.C. Thailand seemingly received the practice from neighbouring countries to the west. These two main regional actors influenced Laos and Cambodia. Our decade-long research and observation, which intensified in 2002-04 and 2006-07, delved into this declining but storied tradition. Betel-chewing in mainland Southeast Asia Nguyê˜n Xuân Hiên and P. A. Reichart tions on betel-chewing. Until 2004, it was believed that this was the only betel-chew- Traditional lime pot from Viet- etel-chewing goes way back. Areca ing-related folktale in existence, with mul- nam (Nguyê˜n Xuân Hiê’n). Bnut and betel leaf are its two crucial tiple versions adapted from its original components, born by the areca palm tree source, L˜ınh Nam chích quái liê˛ t truyê˛ n and betel vine, respectively. The areca (Collection of Extraordinary Tales from L˜ınh palm tree was domesticated somewhere Nam, hand-written version, 1695). But a in the Malaysian archipelago. While exca- careful screening of ancient and modern vations of ancient archaeological sites literature written in ch˜u’ Nho,1 ch˜u’ Nôm,2 ’ 3 have never turned up betel vine or leaf ch˜u’ Quôc Ng˜u’ï (ch˜u’ Viê˛ t), French, Eng- remains, human skeletons bearing evi- lish and German from the 11th century to dence of betel-chewing, dated to about the present led to a wonderful discovery: 3,000 B.C., have been found in Duyong the tale is actually only one of a series of Cave in the Philippines. At Spirit Cave in six different types on the motif ‘The Ori- north-west Thailand C. F. Gorman found gin of the Betel Chewing Custom’. The five Typical cancer risk of betel carbonised areca-like grains carbon-14- other types are less popular, and each one chewers (P. A. Reichart). dated to 7,000-5,500 B.C. (1970: 98), but presents its characters differently. All are their domesticity needs to be scientifically told by the Viê.t ethnic group, while seven confirmed (C. F. Gorman, personal com- other ethnicities (Dao, Tày and Tháy in the munication to Hiên, 1978). north, Co, Katu, Sedang in central Vietnam and the Khmer in the south) contribute Hailing from a time closer to ours, the their own folktales on the same motif. Vietnamese folktale ‘The Story of the Betel and the Areca Nut’ is well known Moreover, folktales about other motifs Traditional lime tube from Thailand all over the world and quoted in publica- related to betel-chewing were also dis- (P. A. Reichart). covered, such as ‘The Monk Turned into country. Handicraft skills, patterns, and a Lime Pot’, ‘The Novice Turned into a decorative motifs depend on local history Spittoon’ and a tale about the specific way and culture. the Vietnamese prepare betel rolls, ‘Why Do We Use a Tip-cut-off Betel Leaf?’. In Lime containers in mainland Southeast addition, we found nine tale variants with Asia can be divided into two types: lime details and/or episodes concerning the tubes in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, areca tree, betel-vine, betel quid and quid were made of bronze or silver with a stupa- remains. Betel-chewing peoples are famil- shaped lid, richly decorated and never tall- iar with at least some of this rich folktale er than 15 cm; lime pots in Vietnam were tradition. All of the tales share the same made of ceramic or porcelain (or, very clear impact of Buddhism, as their char- rarely, of bronze, silver or gold), shaped acters experience endless incarnation, like the areca nut or a globe and stylisti- enlightenment. cally glazed. The latter type is divided into two sub-types: one has a curved handle Betel basics (north and south Vietnam) and the other Betel quid composition varies from place has a nodule-shaped handle (in central to place, but its core elements remain the Vietnam, where Champa influence still same and consist of three components: exists). A round spatula hole is also a main the betel leaf, the areca nut and slaked characteristic of Vietnamese lime pots, lime. In northern Thailand, and to a lesser and some are decorated with calligraphic extent in Laos and Cambodia, dried areca poems. Some Vietnamese lime pots were grain is used in place of the fresh areca nut actually made in China or England. that is popular in other areas. White lime is popular in north and central Vietnam, The Buddhist sects strongly influenced while coloured (mainly pink) lime can be lime container shape and design. In found in betel-chewing areas through- Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, where the out mainland Southeast Asia. Tobacco is Theravada sect attracted major followers, sometimes added to betel quid and the the tube lid was stupa-shaped. In Vietnam, geographic distribution of its use is sup- where the Mahayana sect was strongest posedly linked to coloured lime use. The and pagodas didn’t include a tower, the manufactured ready-to-chew variety (usu- potters chose to make their products in ally sold under the name pan masala) is the shape of the areca nut. Today these unknown in Southeast Asia, except in once popular lime containers have totally southern China. disappeared from daily life. Collectors seek out ancient lime tubes and pots, while fake Every betel chewer has to use certain tools pots are made with a modern design and to prepare his betel quid: a cutter or knife reserved for foreigners. to cut the areca nut into quarters and a container for slaked lime. A complete betel In Thailand, and to a lesser degree in service includes up to five components Cambodia and Laos, areca cutters were in Laos and Cambodia-areca cutter, lime developed in several forms and shapes, Areca nut tube, betel box, spittoon and betel mortar especially in royal courts and aristocratic and nine in Vietnam-areca knife, lime pot, families of dethroned dynasties. Nowa- bronze betel box, wooden betel box, spit- days, these highly decorated cutters have toon, betel bag, lime tube, betel mortar, disappeared and been replaced by ordi- betel cloth/towel. Betel service style and nary but sharp knives. In Vietnam, where materials differ largely from country to areca cutters were unknown, areca knives IIAS NEWSLETTER # 4 7 S p r i n g 0 0 8 RESEARCH higher than in neighbouring countries, as statistical data reveals a stable old guard of chewers, but only time will tell how long that will last. The presence of betel and areca in rituals, however, seemingly flour- ishes everywhere: among majority and minority ethnicities, from Vietnam in the east to Thailand in the west. Sustained by religion, spirituality and fashion, and pos- ing less of a health risk than tobacco, we hope that the ceremonial and ritual use of betel will endure. Prof. Nguyê˜n Xuân Hiê’n (ret.) was Director of the Center for Vietnamese Studies, Amsterdam. [email protected] Prof. P. A. Reichart is the Director of the Department of Oral Surgery and Dental Radiology, Charite Campus, Berlin. email address: [email protected] Notes 1 Chu˜˙ Nho is an old Vietnamese script that uses Chinese characters but with different pronunciation, grammar and syntax; it is not a kind of ‘WYW is WYS’. 2 Chu˜˙ Nôm is a Vietnamese script that was modified from the chu˜˙ Nho and represent- ed the language of people on the street; it Betel nut stand in Burma is a kind of ‘WYW is WYS’. 3 Chu˜˙ Quô’c Ngu˜˙ = Chu˜˙ Viê¸ t is the current script of the Vietnamese, based on Latin became smaller and the blade thinner and ration. However, the special quid named only decorative, because the chewing cus- able to freshen and sweeten the breath characters. sharper owing to technological advances. trâu cánh phu’o.’ng (betel quid in the shape tom is disliked among the young. and to cleanse the mouth’ (Dô˜ Thiê. n 1914: 4 Landes, A. 1885. ‘Contes et légendes anna- In the Bangkok suburbs, the Sam Sen mar- of phoenix wings) is highly appreciated The Vietnamese enclave of Jiang-bin Dis- 243).5 But recent research reveals numer- mites : Histoire de con Tâ’m et de con ket is famous for different commodities in rituals, wedding ceremonies, religious trict, in Kwuan-xi Province, is home to ous high risks and side effects. The Inter- Cám’. Excursions et Reconnaissances 9-22: from Vietnam. The market is located in the festivities, and sometimes daily offerings 19,000 Chinese- and Vietnamese-speak- national Agency for Research on Cancer 363. ˜ former làng Gia Long (Gia Long village), to the ancestors altar or Spirit house. This ing inhabitants (as of 2004). According to (IARC 2004), in its Betel-quid and Areca- 5 –Dô Thiê.n. 1914. La coutume de chique du where at the end of the 18th century Prince kind of betel can be prepared in multiple a local folk song, they moved from the –Dô` nut Chewing, states that there is sufficient bétel. Hanoi: F. H. Schneider. Nguyê˜n Ánh (who later became King Gia ways and it’s not easy to decide which is So’n area (which today is a commune in evidence in humans of the carcinogenic- Long) twice sought refuge and local vil- the most elegant and attractive. The betel Ha’i Phòng City) to Jiang-bin in 1511. While ity of betel quid without tobacco, which lagers are still called (pejoratively) yuan quid’s ritual role in such ceremonies has another age-old custom, the consumption causes oral cancer, and of betel quid with ’ Sam Sen.
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