Name/Title
Rain CapeEntry/Object ID
28.4.15Description
Rain Cape "Jong" use to protect from rain and sun. This kind of rain cape is from Katu ethnic group orignally
"Jong" is used only in rainy season (May - September) after that they're kept in the kitchen above the fired place. The smoke keeps away insects and increases its quality they can be last longer up to 10 years. In Chiling Village, there are about 10 rain capes and most of them are used by elders. Pepole use them when work on the rice fields, gardens and traveling from home to the rice fields.
Rain cape "Jong" is made of bamboo (Mai Hok), rattan, palm leaves (Bai Lane) or firm leaves (Bai Phak Koud). There are two layers of the palm leaves and two layers of woven bamboo. The leaves are attached to the woven bamboo with fine bamboo strips. The leaves are in between two woven bamboo then frame with bamboos. It takes about a couple days to make one rain cape (not include collecting raw materials), it depends on the maker's availibility. One "Jong" usually last from 1 - 4 years, but if a user takes care it well it can last for 10 years. The rain cape is usually made by elder men, no music, no taboos, no ceremony is required.
Collecting materials, prepare materials and make the rain cape "Jong" doesn't require or do anything special, all the maker needs are a knife, a short blade knife*, a bradawl, bamboo strips, fine bamboo strips (use to attach the leaves to the woven bamboo) and palm/firm leaves. It can be made anywhere and any time during the planting season (May - August).
Short blade knife: a knife that has longer handle that normal knife and it has short sharp blade use to cut small thing like bamboo strips, make a whole etc. It is designed to cut small stuff only
Making rain coat require special techniques and skills how to choose good materials, how to prepare the materials and how to craft it. The skills are probably the most important how to prepare the materials, how to make it strong, lighter and nicer requires a lot of effort and time. Mr Souvanla, the interviewee and one of the rain cape makers in Chaling said "I learnt the techniques and skills through watching, asking and participating from my father. It took a lot of practice before I became a master especially how to make it good, stronger, lighter and nicer". He added most of basket makers learn it through watching other people do it and then try it themselves. Today, few middle age men learn to make the rain cape and other baskets to use for themselves at home, they do the same thing as the older generation did watching and participting (trying it themselves) and asking questions if something they don't understand. No taboos or forbidden is required. It is important for basket learners to know that never cut or take raw materials at the cemetary forest this is something everyone in the village is not allowed to go in or take anything out from the cemetary forest.
In the past when we were in old village, we made and sold and exchanged stuff to other villages, but not necessary taught them to make ones. When we moved to new village some of the villagers splited them moved to different villages or married and moved out to other villages they might make this kind of rain coats around. Personally, I never teach anyone outside the village, said Mr Souvanla.
Today, both of the makers and users are less than before cuz they can buy plastic rain coat from Vietnameses sell at the village or people go to Dak Cheung or Sekong buy ones from there. The plastic rain coats are much more comfortable and light and easy to pack to much more smaller and put in their bags while the handmade ones are heavier, they aren't possible to pack, they cannot use it when they go to forest. The users have to be careful all the time during the priod of using them. Less people who know how to make it. Mr Souvanla added his generations, most of men know how to make the rain coat compare to young generations at same age few people learn and know how to make it. But not only that the materials they use to make it the rain cape are also changed overtime this is because market bought clothing and market bought materials are accessible easily. In 1999, moved to the new village about 1 km away from the old village, the makers started using plastic sheets or washing pouder bags instead of using palm leaves (Bai Lane) and firm leaves (Bai Phak Koud). Plastic sheet is much more lighter, but the palm or firm leaves are heavier and it's even much more heavier when it absorbs the rain. Today, no body uses the leaves, they use only plastic sheets.
At the moment, there are about 30 rain cape makers in Chaling which is about 3 or 4 times less than when Mr Souvanla started learning to do the rain coat and other baskets in the old village. Most of those 30 basket makers are older generations. There are few millenials are interested in learning to make the rain coat and use it, but not the younger ones who have been through school.
- In 20 - 30 years, this rain coat "Jong" might not be available for Katu future generations to see. Based on current observation, young people are not interested in learning to make it or not even using it. Mr Souvala added, I do want to teach young people how to make the rain coat, but no one asks me. Most of the rain coat makers in the village are older generations, age 30 - 90 years old. If the young generations do not want to learn how to make it once those makers pass away, the rain coat might be gone, too.
- Point of view from research team: The rain coat is special and unique, but it is in danger just simply because young people are not interested in learning how to make it, on top of that they don't want to use it anymore they prefer plastic sheet or plastic rain coat better than the traditional rain cape.Collection
Austro-Asiatic: KatuMade/Created
Date made
2018Place
Location
Ban Chaling, Dak Cheung district, Sekong province.