RELIGIOUS AND STATUS-MARKING FUNCTIONS OF TEXTILES AMONG THE TAI-SPEAKING PEOPLES OF VIETNAM
Speaker: Michael Howard

The paper examines how textiles in the past functioned among Tai speaking peoples in Vietnam as markers of status and in relation to religious beliefs and practices. It will focus on the Tay, Nung, and Thai ethnic groups.

In the past, particular patterns, types of cloth, and colors were associated with ruling elites. One especially important pattern, for example, depicted a gray heron. This was a symbol of the ancient rulers of the Lo clan and was associated with the so-called Dongson culture. Later its use on textiles was reserved for women of the aristocracy.

In regard to religious beliefs and practices, there were distinctive costumes worn by priests and textiles used to adorn shrines as well as special textiles and clothing used for life-crisis rites.

Particular atention is paid to variations in the use of textiles for funerals. The paper concludes with a look at what has survived of these beliefs and practices.

Introducing
MICHAEL C. HOWARD

Michael C. Howard, Professor of Anthropology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, is the author of numerous books and articles on the textiles of Southeast Asia. These include three volumes on the textiles of the highland peoples of Vietnam co-authored with his wife, Kim Be Howard: Textiles of the Diac Peoples of Vietnam, Textiles of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and Textiles of the Highland Peoples of Northern Vietnam (White Lotus Press, 2002). He began conducting research in Vietnam in 1995 and initially focused on the Tai speaking peoples of northern Vietnam. Recently he has expanded his research interests in Vietnam to include the Cham.