“Yok Dok : Art on Silk”

Lamphun’s Yok Dok silk or brocade, especially that woven with gold threds, seems closer to art than craft. The beauty and delicateness of the finished product suggest that even the slightest touch would be enough to spoil it.

The weavers combine thread after thread to create a priceless piece of fabric which the proud owner can value as a fine piece of art. Those who have seen the masterful products willingly call the creators artists.

The Yok Dok artists of Lamphun have assisted Her Majesty Queen Sirikit in tracing the patterns of ancient robes and recreating them. They have also been honored by having their cloth be part of  Her Majesty the Queen’s wardrobe and shown abroad. Furthermore the Department of Fine Arts has commissioned the artisans to study and collect ancient patterns, and to weave those patterns anew for future generations to study.

Lamphun’s Yok Dok silk has also been presented to the Queen of Japan, and given as a souvenir to many visiting dignitaries. Not to mention all the famous people across the world who have bought it.

The creation of Yok Dok silk is a complex process which requires highly skilled weavers. The sophistication of the pattern varies, but the more shuttles are used the more refined the end result. The finest pieces of work can reach very high prices when sold.

Although Yok Dok silk has been around for a long time, the difficulty of making it meant it meant that it was very rare in former times, so it was normally only worn by royalty and nobility for special occasions.

The people of Lamphun have woven cotton cloth for use around the home for a long time, but in the past the designs were very simple. It was Chao Dara Rasmi, the royal consort of King Rama V and a relative of the Royal Governor of Lamphun, who passed on the knowledge of fine brocade she had learned from the royal court. She first taught the techniques to the Royal Governor’s wife and daughter. In turn these techniques were passed from the palace to the people of  Lamphun. From there, Lamphun has developed into an important national center of Yok Dok silk weaving.

Since 2475 BE (1932 CE), the demand for Yok Dok silk and other hand woven silks from Lamphun has grown greatly, and not only among the royal court. Locals with vision established Yok Dok manufacturing facilities which have become very successful enterprises, producing silk brocade and also cotton brocade. And today the products can be seen all around. Though fashions may have changed, the essentials of the art-from remain the same.

Whether  you go to the Tha Singh Bridge, also known as kua Mung, in front of Wat Phra That Haripunchai, or drive out Tambol Wieng Yong, the Yok Dok manufacturing sites of Lamphun are easy to find. The cotton and silk road through the longan orchards will take you via many villages which produce brocade. You’ll find that some producers work in cotton, some in silk, and others in both. In some villages such as Ban Mae Saan Ban Tong and Ban Sri Muangyu, the rhythmic sound of the loom has been heard every day for over 100 years.

There are many shops were you can examine the local products and make a purchase if the fancy takes you. You’re more than welcome to ask questions, and will surely get a good price as well as plenty of friendly smiles. Not to mention plenty of longan, if you happen to come in the right season!

A piece of cotton Yok Dok fabric takes many days to complete, and silk Yok Dok takes almost twice as long. The prices for which the fabric can be bought in the villages are remarkably low given the work involved and the quality of the product. It’s no surprise then to see both Thais and foreigners eagerly seeking out a length of cloth to take back home.

“Yok Dok : Art on Silk”

As it’s name clearly indicates, Tambol Wieng yong is a Yong community. The Yong are the majority inhabitants of  Lamphun today. They speak a musical dialect and are highly skilled artisans.

In 2325 BE (1782 CE) the leaders of  Lanna joined together to drive out the Burmese. Many eities, including Chiang Mai, were left deserted as people fled from the war which lasted many years. Chao Kawila tries to gather people together to return to live in the city, through persuasion and by attacking cities in the North around Chiang Sean, Chiang Tung, Payak and Muang Yong. He succeeded in getting the Tai Yong, Tai Lue and Tai Keun to settle in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. He used Wieng Pasang as a base for gathering people together. Many of these people were Tai Yong, hence the strong Yong ancestry in Lamphun today.

In 2348 BE (1805 CE),  Phaya Lamphunchai, the first Royal Governor of Lamphun set aside some land on the riverside opposite Phra That Hariphunchai for the Yong to settle. That group of people became the skillful weavers who to this day speak their melodious language by the Kuang river. Read More...