Symbols in Akha’s Clothing: Semantic and Cultural Communication

สัญลักษณ์ที่ปรากฏในเครื่องแต่งกายของอาข่า: การสื่อสารทางความหมายและวัฒนธรรม

Authors

  • Ananta Sookawat Program of Thai Language and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University
  • Abhisara Bolnarattana Program of Thai Language and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University
  • Kriasit Jamonjansakha Program of Thai Language and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University
  • Rungroj Tonpradit Program of Thai Language and Culture, Faculty of Humanities, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University

Keywords:

Symbols, Akha ethic group, Clothing, Cultural and semantic communication

Abstract

This article aims to study the symbols appearing in the Akha ethnic group’s clothing that indicate the identity of this ethnic group. The study area is Doi Pha Mi, Wiang Phang Kham Sub-district, Chiang Rai Province, which belongs to the Akha Ubya ethnic group. The research objectives are 1) To study the symbols in the clothing of the Akha Ubya ethnic group in terms of the communication of cultural meanings; and 2) To study the existence and change of symbols in the clothing of the Akha Ubya ethnic group in the current society. Through a qualitative research, the results of the study reveal that the clothing of the Akha ethnic group is comparable to a historical record. Their stories, ways of life, and beliefs are preserved through the symbols in order to remember their own Akha history. For the persistence and change of the symbols in the clothing of the Akha U-Bya ethnic group in the present society, it has been found that the Akha people produce their clothing in two categories: clothing with beauty but without Akha symbols and beliefs to meet the market’s needs, and traditional clothing with Akha symbols that indicate the people’s beliefs and that are made within their families and worn in traditional ceremonies and activities.

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Published

2024-06-28

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2024): January-June

Section

บทความวิจัย (Research Article)

License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.