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Thaeng yuak


Thai banana stalk carving or thaeng yuak (แทงหยวก, from Tang meaning "stab or carving", and Yuak mean "Banana stalk") is the Thai local art of carving the banana stalk for temporary decoration in funerals and cultural events such as religious ceremonies and ordination ceremonies. It is categorized as the fresh material carving section in the main 10 Thai art skills (ช่างสิบหมู่) although the population of thaeng yuak artists is very low compared to other art skills sections.

Thaeng yuak is a carving art that was popular in the lower part of central Thailand such as Phetchaburi and Ayutthaya province but most information about thaeng yuak art has been saved in Phetchaburi community more than it has been in other provinces. The main purpose of Banana Stalk Carving is to decorate the bier and funeral area. Also, thaeng yuak is made by the very skillful artists and the people who want to respect the dead. In the other words, it is used for funerals of well-known monks, remarkable people and important people. However, the popularity of thaeng yuak has reduced since the new culture has become more interesting to the youth.

The history of thaeng yuak is still unclear because the date and the first province where thaeng yuak was invented are not recorded. There is a little information that could be used to estimate the timeline of it. Yet, the only information that could state the oldest period of thaeng yuak is the Thai poem name Khun Chang Khun Phaen. It is the epic poem that was written in the Ayutthaya period (in the middle of 17th century). In the Khun Chang Kun Phaen poem, thaeng yuak is mentioned in the Funeral of Wan Tong chapter when Khun Phaen ( the main character) decided to arrange the formal funeral for Wan Tong, one of his lovers.

Furthermore, in the 19th century, thaeng yuak art was a very common carving art in many provinces. There is a record that said almost every high monk in Phetchaburi can perform thaeng yuak art which it would be used for Buddhist festivals. More importantly, the important property of a banana stalk is fire resistant:.Banana is the plant that has volume of water inside the vessel, therefore people in the past discovered it and used it to protect the bier from the fire. This knowledge has passed through generations and becomes an art at the end.


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