User:Sirada Sri/sandbox

Pha KaoMa (ผ้าขาวม้า), or Pha Kien-Aew (ผ้าเคียนเอว) is an old, traditional Thai cloth that known for its pattern: the colorful chess and strips. It was inspired from the Shan’s headband and used since 16 B.E. or around Chiang Saen Period (อาณาจักรเชียงแสน). The evidence of its existence reflect in the wall-painting in Phumin Temple, Nan province, in the region it is mainly produced, North-eastern of Thailand. It becomes useful for long distance travel – for example, use for wrapping around weapons, carrying baggage, using as a bed sheet, and wiping out dirt – hence, gain its popularity ever since.

=General Characteristic= There are various sizes of Pha Kaoma. The common one is 2 sok wide by 3-4 sok long (1 metre wide by 1.5-2 metre long) which would fit perfectly for the average Thai men’s height. It is mostly made of cotton while sometimes, silk, raw yarn, and hemp are also used in the production. These fabrics varied the price of Pha Kaoma and affect how Thai apply it to usage. For example, the silk Pha Kaoma is more expensive in cost, thus people use it to put across shoulder instead of a multi-purpose cloth. These days, Synthesis fabric and artificial color are increasing in use for the production industry too.

=Etymology= Its former name, Kien-Aew, come from the combination of Kien — a Thai word which means tying, wrapping, strapping, or covering — cloth and waist, its meaning develops to ‘the cloth that uses for tying around waist’. Thai elder, generally, used this name rather than Pha Kaoma that was defined later. Kaoma is not originally a Thai word, but possibly got alter from different language and theory. One of them, in linguistic mean, state that it comes from Persian’s “Kamarband”. With Kamar means waist or the lower part of the body, and band means tying around, giving out a similar result to Kien-aew in its definition. Other assumptions are from other languages that probably share the same root word such as Malay’s Kamarban, Hindi’s Kamar band, and English’s Commer band. An expert also suggested that it could be shortening from Indo-European’s Garismata which would relate to its chess pattern. While another professor persuades that there is a table pattern like the Thais in Japanese Kama cloth. Lastly, Thai people also have a theory that it distorted from various Thai compound words such as Pha Kor-Khama (ผ้าขอขมา; cloth for an apology).

Other distinctive terms that referred to Pha Kaoma (divided by region) :

=Usage= Pha KaoMa is a useful cloth that can be adapted to suit different situations.


 * as shower robes
 * clean your body
 * as handkerchief
 * as sitting mat
 * tight around your forehead as a sun blocker
 * as a cradle
 * Wear as a pant
 * Tie around your waist
 * cover your body
 * wrapping personal belonging
 * use as Sarong
 * brush away insects and mosquitoes
 * use as a rope/string
 * for changing cloth
 * roll up to be a pillow
 * as shade/shelter
 * cleanse tools
 * use as a towel
 * mat
 * as a fan
 * covering wound
 * Apron
 * Table wrapper
 * Sanitary Pad
 * Diapers
 * Children toy
 * Suicide (hanging himself)
 * Wreath

=Cultural Value=

Thai Culture
Pha Kaoma was seen as a plain, outdated cloth to these days' young age people. However, without knowing, one thread leaping vertically, overlapping the another, could mean raising luck or fortunate. The thread below associated with fate means longevity life. It also connected with life sufficiency and Confucius' idiom "Hundred people, hundred thought, hundred life, hundred fate". Therefore, Pha Kaoma is used as a gift and souvenir for everyone, even the elders.

Lan Na Culture
In Lan Na Culture, Pha KaoMa associate with medical treatment called "Pha Tong's way" (วิถีแห่งผ้าต่อง). The idea is to apply the cloth together with some act, such as tiding chest and arm (or leg)-lifting, in order to give relaxation to our body. In a ceremonial way, Pha KaoMa is also used as the welcome gift.

Burma Culture
Burmese use Pha KaoMa in their everyday circumstance. They do:
 * wrap across their shoulder when they go to a temple. Sometimes use it when during the praying.
 * fold in half to make it narrow, and put over their shoulder, letting one end hang on the back, in a formal ceremony.
 * place across both of their shoulders, left both ends backward in a fair
 * tight around their waist when need mobility in their work.

=References=