Unique features of the Thai people's Pieu scarf

Ben brocade weaving cooperative, Lien Son village, Xuan Chinh commune.

Thai people often live in high mountains with harsh climates. Every time they go to the fields to work or go down to the stream to catch fish, Thai people have come up with a way to wrap cloth around their heads to protect them from the dew and wind in the cold weather... Over time, with the creativity of women, the headscarf is embroidered more elaborately, creating its own unique features. Therefore, the scarf not only has the function of protecting health, but is also a part of the costume that beautifies Thai women. Therefore, women often weave and embroider scarves themselves according to their wishes with brilliant patterns and call it a piêu scarf.

Depending on the region and locality, the Pieu scarf has its own nuances. At nearly 60 years old, Mrs. Cam Thi Ngoc in Lien Son village, Xuan Chinh commune is still diligently working on the loom - her companion for more than 40 years. Her hands are calloused, but each stroke of the shuttle, each thread and pattern seems to blend with the breath of the mountains and forests to create colorful brocades, containing the soul and cultural identity of the Thai community in Xuan Chinh commune. Currently, she and more than 30 women in the village participate in the Ben village brocade weaving cooperative. In the stilt house, the clattering sound resounds from the looms arranged close together, some spinning the thread, some dyeing the thread, some weaving the patterns, all creating a rhythmic, cohesive process.

Mrs. Ngoc meticulously shuttled and shared: “In the life of Thai people, the Piêu scarf has a very special meaning. The scarf is not only a beautiful ornament for women, but also a symbol of love. In the past, every girl when reaching adulthood would embroider a Piêu scarf by hand to give to the person she loved. The Piêu scarf has since become a token of love between couples."

Thai ethnic people in Xuan Chinh commune often say: "Girls know how to weave, boys know how to weave nets" to talk about the standards of people in adulthood. In daily life, from the age of 8 - 9, girls are taught by their grandmothers and mothers how to spin thread, dye fabric, and embroider to create beautiful brocades. This is also one of the important criteria to evaluate the ingenuity and diligence of Thai girls. Therefore, the Pieu scarf is a product imbued with the national cultural identity. Because of its aesthetic value, the Pieu scarf is an indispensable accessory for Thai girls when going out, attending festivals, participating in Xoe dance, bamboo dance... Together with skirts, Com shirts, belts, the Pieu scarf contributes to creating the beauty and uniqueness in the traditional costumes of the Thai people in Thanh Hoa.

Ms. Vi Thi Luyen, Head of the Ben village brocade weaving cooperative, Lien Son village, said: "Thai women use Pieu scarves every day. During their free time, women in the village diligently embroider colorful Pieu scarves with patterns typical of Thai ethnic culture. To preserve the traditional profession, we women participate in clubs and cooperatives to preserve Thai ethnic culture."

The Pieu scarf of Thai women in Thanh Hoa is usually as long as an adult's arm span, and the decorative patterns are also darker in color than the Pieu scarf of the Thai people in the Northwest region. The patterns are often embroidered in square or rectangular motifs and are located at both ends of the scarf. The colors that create unique patterns on the Pieu scarf are skillfully combined. Among them are the green of the mountains and forests, the yellow of ripe rice fields, the red and white of flowers and grass... Each pattern on the scarf contains the feelings of Thai women, expressing their love for nature and their villages. Therefore, depending on the situation, they can wear Pieu scarves with different colors and patterns. Sometimes they wear scarves with bright colors, but sometimes the scarves have dark colors as if hiding sadness, hardship, and toil. All the joys, sorrows, happiness, and suffering seem to be clearly expressed on each embroidery line of each Pieu scarf.

Nowadays, in modern life, the Pieu scarf is no longer confined to the village space, but has become a unique cultural product, appearing in festival programs, art performances, and even chosen by many tourists as a souvenir. The story of the Pieu scarf is like a continuous cultural flow, adorning women with a beauty that is both radiant, elegant and noble. Therefore, Thai women always cherish, preserve the Pieu scarf and teach it to their children and grandchildren.

Ha Hong (Source: Baothanhhoa))

Source: https://svhttdl.thanhhoa.gov.vn/van-hoa/net-doc-dao-tren-chiec-khan-pieu-cua-nguoi-thai-1009972