Voices of Weavers (eBook)

Cover 1
Imprint 4
Acknowledgments 5
Contents 7
A Note on the Text 9
Introductory Remarks 11
1 Material Matters – Locating the Textile Cultures of Myanmar 15
Textile Culture and the International Material Culture Discourse 15
The Study of the Textile Cultures of Myanmar 19
Research Design, Methods & Analysis
2 Myanmar Transitions: Of Kingdoms, Colonial Rulers, Dictatorships and Democracy 30
The Foundations of Myanmar – A Retrospective Account 30
British Colonial Endeavors & Burma
Independence & A New Regime
History of the Peripheries – Kengtung as an Example for Ethnic Minority Regions 37
Current Political, Economic and Social Processes in Myanmar 40
3 The Lives and Crafts of Lun’t-aya Acheik Weavers in Amarapura and Sagaing 60
The History of Lun’t-aya Acheik Weaving 61
Lun’t-aya Acheik Weaving Mills of Sagaing and Amarapura 69
Weaving as a Business – Economic and Social Implications of Life as a Weaver 79
Mastering the Threads – A Technical Description 88
Summary of the Contemporary Lun’t-aya Acheik Weaving Culture 89
4 The Lives and Crafts of Handloom Weavers and Textile Artisans in and around Kengtung, Eastern Shan State 94
An Overview of Kengtung and the Ethnic Groups of the Area 102
The Ann Weaving Practices as Negotiations of Traditions and Innovations 103
The Female Entrepreneurs of the Palaung Community 114
The Akha Textile Manufactures between Traditionalism and Commercial Trade 118
Textile Material Cultures of the Akhö, Loi, Lahu Na, and Lahu Shi 128
The Contemporary Textile Cultures of the Ethnic Groups of the Kengtung Area in Summary 135
5 Conclusion: The Lives and Crafts of Weavers and Textile Manufacturers in Contemporary Myanmar 139
Publication Bibliography 145
List of Figures 155
Appendices 157
Appendix A: Timetable of Recent Historic Events 157
Appendix B: Diagram of Silk-related Professions in 1891 158
Appendix C: Overview of Referenced Languages 159
Appendix D: Alternate Spellings of Locations in Myanmar 161