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Tais, traditional textile marks_1
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00001985
    Country Timor-Leste
    ICH Domain Oral traditions and representations Social practices, rituals, festive events Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe Traditional craft skills
    Address
    Tais is a cultural element that is inherent to all Timorese people. Tais can be found across the territory of Timor-Leste (in all municipalities, namely; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro, Covalima, Dili, Ermera, Lautem, Liquiça, Manatuto, Manufahi, Oecusse and Viqueque). Within the territory, Tais has variety of colors and motifs based on ethnic groups. With regard to Aileu Municipality, culturally, people did not weave Tais, although they have been using Tais in various cultural occasions. However, being inspired by some women weavers who married from other areas, nowadays, the local communities including cultural leaders are getting eager to support weaving Tais in Aileu Municipality as well.
Description Tais, Timor-Leste’s traditional textile, is a cultural heritage that has been passed from the ancestors, from generation to generation. Tais has an important role in Timorese people’s life, starting from their birth until death. They use Tais to welcome guests, as well as to show their cultural identity and social class. It is also used as an object of value, for example, 'barlake' (dowry) which is given from family of bride to family of groom. Tais is used not only as an element to tighten the relationship between families, but also to pay penalty when people did not follow the rule within the community. Tais is traditional clothes, which has men's style and women's style. In Timor-Leste, Tais has a variety of colors and motifs varying by ethnic groups. These days, cultural creative industry using Tais with respect to the tradition, is also growing. Tais is made from cotton and natural plants are used to dye color. Production of Tais has been mainly done by women, since the past until now. Normally, Tais is woven manually using simple equipment such as 'atis', 'kida', and others. Process of producing Tais is complex and takes long time. Traditionally, Tais has been woven by individuals. However, some family members also contribute to mitigate the work of women weavers, such as in process of preparing cotton, 'kesi futus' (tie-dye) and dying cotton. These days, weavers also began to form groups to facilitate their weaving activities.
Social and cultural significance Tais has been an inherent element within the community since a long time ago. Nowadays Tais still maintain its sociocultural function in Timorese people's life, from their birth until death, for example; when a baby is born people use Tais to welcome the baby; when people get married they hold traditional wedding ceremonies using Tais; and when people die his/her corpse is wrapped with Tais. There are other traditional rituals that use Tais, such as inauguration of sacred houses and 'sau batar' (corn harvest ceremony). In these ceremonies, Tais is used as principal clothes for all participants. It is also used in modern events such as; welcoming guests, attire for festivals and dances, decoration, and others. Tais is used as an object of value, for example, 'barlake' (dowry) which is given from family of bride to family of groom. Tais is used not only as an element to tighten the relationship between families, but also to pay penalty when people did not follow the rule within the community. In some areas, having the knowledge of how to weave Tais is a prerequisite for women before getting married. Tais has cultural meanings related to the origin of each Tais. These meanings are expressed through the color and the patterns each Tais has. These patterns represent cultural meanings and traditional beliefs passed from the ancestors. On the other hand, these patterns are used to identify the different social classes in the communities, as well as to distinguish ethnic groups from one another.
Transmission method Historically, knowledge of weaving Tais has been transmitted in traditional ways, where mother weavers weave Tais and their daughters assist their mothers learning the knowledge since they are still kids. This learning process can be seen often in rural areas, where children imitate their mothers weaving Tais, using simple materials such as banana tree's bark, betelnut flower's skin or palm-leaf. Nowadays, traditional transmission of knowledge is still continued. In addition, another method is taken, which weavers transmit their knowledge to the next generation through trainings within weaver groups. Some of the weavers have transmission of knowledge through weaver groups because; firstly, there are some weavers whose children do not like to weave, and on the other hand, there are some youth who wants to learn weaving but they have no one in their family who can teach them how to weave Tais; secondly, when weavers work in groups, they will get more motivated to continue transmitting this tradition to the future; and thirdly, there are advantages for weavers to receive assistance from government and NGOs to facilitate improving the quality of their Tais, to continue transmitting their knowledge to youth, and to advocate the preservation of the tradition.
Community Tais is an integral component of Timorese culture. Within communities, Tais is woven predominantly by women, who work as individuals or in groups. There are a large number of weaver groups across Timor-Leste, as listed in section 4.e. including for example, Feto Fitun Fronteira (Oecusse Municipality), Feto Buka Rasik (Bobonaro Municipality), Grupu Hadame Malu (Covalima Municipality), Haburas Cultura (Lautem Municipality) and Dul Madik Ana (Ainaro Municipality).
Type of UNESCO List List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding
Incribed year in UNESCO List 2021

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