Thaeng yuak

Thaeng yuak is a carving art that was popular in the lower part of central Thailand such as Phetchaburi and Ayutthaya province but most information about thaeng yuak art has been saved in Phetchaburi community more than it has been in other provinces.

[2] The main purpose of Banana Stalk Carving is to decorate the bier and funeral area.

In the Khun Chang Kun Phaen poem, thaeng yuak is mentioned in the Funeral of Wan Tong chapter when Khun Phaen ( the main character) decided to arrange the formal funeral for Wan Tong, one of his lovers.

There is a record that said almost every high monk in Phetchaburi can perform thaeng yuak art which it would be used for Buddhist festivals.

[4] Banana is the plant that has volume of water inside the vessel, therefore people in the past discovered it and used it to protect the bier from the fire.

Moreover, thaeng yuak was meant to add more attractive elements to the funeral state, the shelter and also decorate the stand for a bier, called "Mae Ru".

[5] Mae Ru is a decorated stand or a shelter for the bier usually used in important or high class funerals.

The reason is It is made in the same scale as high class Mea Ru, and it will be decorated with thaeng yuak.

Because of its beauty and delicate carving, King Rama IV (1851 A.D - 1868 A.D) decided to established thaeng yuak as the treasure of country.

To be more specific, the master of thaeng yuak usually kept their technique only for their students and taught them by experience and did some workshop rather than a book.

However, new generations of thaeng yuak artists have begun to share their knowledge with the public more in order to preserve the culture and art.

The essential tools for thaeng yuak are the sharp carving knives, hammer, and nail.

2. lae laai Knife (มีดแรลาย) – It has a short blade with the colour which is used to paint the line to make it more visible.

Colored aluminium foil paper – Using the property of glitter, it will make the pattern look more dominant and the colour is long lasting.