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During the Vietnam War however the temples in the province were destroyed by bombing and the monks became farmers and soldiers. After the war umbrellas manufactured in China became available and paper umbrellas became difficult to come by. Only a few older men continued to make them, for their families and friends. The practice of making paper umbrellas was in danger of dying out. |
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A villager with a “khan nyu” umbrella |
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Interest in the umbrellas was renewed in 2001 by Mrs. Somboun Thedtsida, a representative of the Lao Women’s Union working with NAWACOP, a joint project between the governments of Lao and Germany. Mrs. Somboun saw the opportunity to sell the umbrellas as souvenirs and gifts to tourists and encouraged some former producers to begin making them again.
As they grew older and their eyesight and dexterity deteriorated many of the original makers stopped producing the umbrellas but the skill was passed down to younger people in the villages. Formerly it was rare to see a “khan nyu” but gradually the umbrellas are reappearing at markets and handicrafts stores around the country. |
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Trainers at a workshop held in Xieng Khouang to pass on the knowledge on how to make the umbrellas |
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A paper umbrella is an ingenious piece of engineering. Production involves a number of steps: |
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The making of the umbrella frame.This involves measuring, cutting and piecing together pieces of bamboo. The spokes and struts are made from “mai hok” bamboo and the handle from “mai lang”. Wood for the handle is soaked in water for at least two weeks to ensure it is free of insects. Of particular importance are the centre and top pieces from which the spokes and struts radiate. These are made from “mai sombao” or “mai mahk kaen”. A red hot poker is used to make holes through the hubs to allow the handle to pass. The whole frame is put together using thread. |
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Piecing together the frame of an umbrella using thread |
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| 2. |
The making of the paper. The paper for covering the umbrellas made the paper mulberry tree. The outer pulp of the tree is pounded fine and mixed with water. The mixture is then poured into a frame and the fibers separated until they are evenly distributed. The frame is then set out to dry in the sun. |
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Frames with mulberry paper set out in the sun to dry |
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Covering the frame with the paper and painting the umbrella. Once the umbrella frame has been made and the paper is dry, the paper is cut and glued to the spokes. The glue is made from the fruit of the wild persimmon tree or "mahk kouay ling". This glue can be kept for more than a year and is sometimes stored in metal tubes left over from phosphorus bombs dropped by the Americans during the war. The outside of the spokes is painted with charcoal mixed with water and glue. The paper between the spokes is dyed with natural dye depending upon the colour desired: sesame oil or “mahk nyao” fruit for the white colour, and “kok suk sak” root or cumin for the yellow colour, rose apple for the pink colour and the fruit of the "mahk bao" plant for the red colour. |
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Applying a mixture of colour, oil and bee’s wax to the umbrella over a flame |
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The production of paper umbrellas is now providing significant income to families in the villages. In some villages it is now the primary activity after the rice harvest. Formerly an exclusively male activity, umbrellas are now being made by women as well. The additional income the farmers earn is enabling them to improve their lives through, for example, buying tractors and sending their children on to further education. |
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A family with the tractor they purchased
with the income they made from making paper umbrellas |
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