ချင်းထည် (Chin Hte)
Chin textile weaving (ချင်းထည် chin hte) encompasses the diverse weaving traditions of the Chin people — a group of closely related but culturally distinct communities occupying Chin State in western Myanmar. With over 50 Chin sub-groups each maintaining distinct textile vocabularies, the Chin weaving tradition is arguably the most diverse single ethnic textile tradition in Southeast Asia. The common technical foundation is a back-strap loom with supplementary weft pattern insertion — but each sub-group's pattern vocabulary, color palette, and weave structure is distinct enough that Chin elders can identify a person's sub-group, village, and even family from their textile. The Falam tradition is known for its bold geometric supplementary weft in red and black on white cotton; the Tedim (Zomi) tradition for its intricate diamond and chevron forms; the Haka tradition for its multi-color horizontal stripe combined with supplementary weft. The most critically endangered knowledge is the sub-group-specific pattern vocabulary held in elder weavers' memory.
Risk level: Critically Endangered · Myanmar national ICH list
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