Materials
social status
ICH Materials 483
Photos
(74)-
Khon, Masked dance drama in Thailand
Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world. The many episodes depict Rama’s life, including his journey in the forest, his army of monkeys, and his fights with the army of Thosakan, king of the giants. On one level, Khon represents high art cultivated by the Siamese/Thai courts over centuries, while at another level, as a dramatic performance, it can be interpreted and enjoyed by spectators from different social backgrounds. Khon has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, Khon was transmitted in the royal or princely courts, and in dance masters’ households. Today, however, transmission occurs mostly in educational institutions, while still adhering largely to traditional methods. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the continuity of the practice, including through the establishment of training and performance clubs that help reach out to young people.\n\nHanuman is the main character of the Ramakien. He is the monkey commander of the monkey army of Rama. He is regarded as the ideal combination of strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence and emotional devotion to Rama. In Thai Khon performance, Hanuman mask is in white color with opened mouth.\n
Thailand -
Khon, Masked dance drama in Thailand
Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world. The many episodes depict Rama’s life, including his journey in the forest, his army of monkeys, and his fights with the army of Thosakan, king of the giants. On one level, Khon represents high art cultivated by the Siamese/Thai courts over centuries, while at another level, as a dramatic performance, it can be interpreted and enjoyed by spectators from different social backgrounds. Khon has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, Khon was transmitted in the royal or princely courts, and in dance masters’ households. Today, however, transmission occurs mostly in educational institutions, while still adhering largely to traditional methods. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the continuity of the practice, including through the establishment of training and performance clubs that help reach out to young people.\n\nHanuman is the main character of the Ramakien. He is the monkey commander of the monkey army of Rama. He is regarded as the ideal combination of strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence and emotional devotion to Rama. In Thai Khon performance, Hanuman mask is in white color with opened mouth.
Thailand -
Khon, Masked dance drama in Thailand
Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world. The many episodes depict Rama’s life, including his journey in the forest, his army of monkeys, and his fights with the army of Thosakan, king of the giants. On one level, Khon represents high art cultivated by the Siamese/Thai courts over centuries, while at another level, as a dramatic performance, it can be interpreted and enjoyed by spectators from different social backgrounds. Khon has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, Khon was transmitted in the royal or princely courts, and in dance masters’ households. Today, however, transmission occurs mostly in educational institutions, while still adhering largely to traditional methods. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the continuity of the practice, including through the establishment of training and performance clubs that help reach out to young people.\n\nHanuman is the main character of the Ramakien. He is the monkey commander of the monkey army of Rama. He is regarded as the ideal combination of strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence and emotional devotion to Rama. In Thai Khon performance, Hanuman mask is in white color with opened mouth.
Thailand -
Khon, Masked dance drama in Thailand
Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world. The many episodes depict Rama’s life, including his journey in the forest, his army of monkeys, and his fights with the army of Thosakan, king of the giants. On one level, Khon represents high art cultivated by the Siamese/Thai courts over centuries, while at another level, as a dramatic performance, it can be interpreted and enjoyed by spectators from different social backgrounds. Khon has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, Khon was transmitted in the royal or princely courts, and in dance masters’ households. Today, however, transmission occurs mostly in educational institutions, while still adhering largely to traditional methods. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the continuity of the practice, including through the establishment of training and performance clubs that help reach out to young people.\n\nHanuman is the main character of the Ramakien. He is the monkey commander of the monkey army of Rama. He is regarded as the ideal combination of strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence and emotional devotion to Rama. In Thai Khon performance, Hanuman mask is in white color with opened mouth.
Thailand -
Khon, Masked dance drama in Thailand
Khon, the Khon Masked Dance Drama in Thailand, is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances – which involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes – depict the glory of Rama, the hero and incarnation of the god Vishnu, who brings order and justice to the world. The many episodes depict Rama’s life, including his journey in the forest, his army of monkeys, and his fights with the army of Thosakan, king of the giants. On one level, Khon represents high art cultivated by the Siamese/Thai courts over centuries, while at another level, as a dramatic performance, it can be interpreted and enjoyed by spectators from different social backgrounds. Khon has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil. Traditionally, Khon was transmitted in the royal or princely courts, and in dance masters’ households. Today, however, transmission occurs mostly in educational institutions, while still adhering largely to traditional methods. Concerted efforts are made to ensure the continuity of the practice, including through the establishment of training and performance clubs that help reach out to young people.\n\nHanuman is the main character of the Ramakien. He is the monkey commander of the monkey army of Rama. He is regarded as the ideal combination of strength, heroic initiative and assertive excellence and emotional devotion to Rama. In Thai Khon performance, Hanuman mask is in white color with opened mouth.
Thailand -
The Bilum of Papua New Guinea_BUKI ARAPESH DIALECT PATTERN NAMES
These are main features of the popular sacred Sepik bilum designs and patterns. With names in Buki Arapesh dialect, these pieces depict the most sacred traditions, cultural values, rituals for harvest and festivals, leadership status, and prestige in a traditional social system.
Papua New Guinea -
The Bilum of Papua New Guinea_BUKI ARAPESH DIALECT PATTERN NAMES
These are main features of the popular sacred Sepik bilum designs and patterns. With names in Buki Arapesh dialect, these pieces depict the most sacred traditions, cultural values, rituals for harvest and festivals, leadership status, and prestige in a traditional social system.
Papua New Guinea -
The Bilum of Papua New Guinea_BUKI ARAPESH DIALECT PATTERN NAMES
These are main features of the popular sacred Sepik bilum designs and patterns. With names in Buki Arapesh dialect, these pieces depict the most sacred traditions, cultural values, rituals for harvest and festivals, leadership status, and prestige in a traditional social system.
Papua New Guinea -
The Bilum of Papua New Guinea_BUKI ARAPESH DIALECT PATTERN NAMES
These are main features of the popular sacred Sepik bilum designs and patterns. With names in Buki Arapesh dialect, these pieces depict the most sacred traditions, cultural values, rituals for harvest and festivals, leadership status, and prestige in a traditional social system.
Papua New Guinea -
The Bilum of Papua New Guinea_BUKI ARAPESH DIALECT PATTERN NAMES
These are main features of the popular sacred Sepik bilum designs and patterns. With names in Buki Arapesh dialect, these pieces depict the most sacred traditions, cultural values, rituals for harvest and festivals, leadership status, and prestige in a traditional social system.
Papua New Guinea -
Hela Weda Mahima: The Glory of Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka_Veda Gedara (physician's house)
Some houses belonging to well-known indigenous families are declared as national treasures by the Department of Archeology; they are protected by law. A house with such prestige and status reflects social class and the reputation of a family tradition. Family heritage and ancestral reputation are most important factor to show the glory of knowledge that they inherited from the previous generation as cultural symbol.
Sri Lanka -
Indonesian Batik
Indonesian batik is a traditional handcrafted textile rich in intangible cultural values, passed down for generations in Java and elsewhere since the early 19th century, and even more widely since the mid-1980s. The earliest reference to batik is found in the text of Siksa Kanda, 1517AD. Batik is made by applying dots and lines of hot wax to cloth using a copper pen-like instrument (canthing tulis), or copper stamps (canthing cap), to resist hand-dyeing. The wax is later removed by boiling and/or scraping, repeating the process for each colour. The entire process is carried out by hand, mostly as a cottage industry. Batik patterns and motifs possess deep symbolism related to social status, local community, nature, history and cultural heritage. Batik culture clearly promotes cultural diversity, culture-based industry and human creativity, keeping in mind symbolic and cultural values.
Indonesia