Myanmar · Structural Craft / Paper
ထီး (Hti)
Pathein hti (ထီး — 'umbrella/parasol') is the traditional paper umbrella making tradition of Pathein (Bassein) in Ayeyarwady Region — Myanmar's primary umbrella-making center for over 200 years. The Pathein tradition produces both functional parasols and ceremonial temple umbrellas (hti) — the gilded multi-tiered finials that crown Myanmar's pagodas and stupas. The making technique is similar to Luzhou (CRAFT-0364) and Hangzhou (CRAFT-0390) umbrella traditions but with distinctive Burmese characteristics: the ribs are made from sha (bamboo grass) rather than mao zhu bamboo, producing a more flexible, finer-ribbed structure; the paper is lacquered with thitsi (the same lacquer as Bagan yun) rather than tung oil; and the decorative painting uses a distinctive Burmese floral vocabulary with gold leaf application integrated into the surface painting. The ceremonial temple hti requires the highest technical level — multiple tiered canopies decreasing in diameter, each with a specific rib count determined by Buddhist numerology.
Risk level: Endangered · Myanmar national ICH list
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.
The Chin facial tattoo tradition (မျက်နှာတက် myin dat) is the practice of tattooing the faces of Chin women with sub-group-specific patterns — historically a coming-of-age practice for Chin women beginning around age 11–15, producing…
Shan paper making (ရှမ်းစာ shan sa) is the handmade bark paper tradition of Shan State — using mulberry (sa tree, Broussonetia papyrifera) and local plant fiber to produce paper for Buddhist manuscript copying, folded book (parabaik)…
Shan cheroot making (လပတ်ရေ laphet yei) is the hand-rolling tradition producing Myanmar's distinctive green leaf-wrapped cheroots — cigars rolled from a combination of cured tobacco leaf, dried tamarind, palm sugar, and corn flour wrapped…
The Wa people of northern Shan State (on the Myanmar-Yunnan border) maintain a bamboo musical instrument making tradition encompassing the bamboo flute set (khong — played in ensemble), the buffalo horn trumpet (used in headhunting…
The Palaung (Ta'ang) people of northern Shan State are Myanmar's principal highland tea growers — and their craft tradition encompasses both the carrying basket system for tea harvest transport and the distinctive Palaung women's textile…
Echizen Washi (越前和紙) is the premier Japanese paper-making tradition of Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture — producing hosho (奉書) paper for woodblock printing, calligraphy, and document certification since the Heian period (794–1185 CE), and…
The hand-engraving and ink-printing of Buddhist scriptures onto knot-free pear wood blocks, practiced at the Jinling Sutra Printing House in Nanjing (historically called Jinling) since Buddhist revivalist Yang Renshan founded it in 1866 —…
Kyō-Washi (京和紙) is the handmade paper tradition supplying Kyoto's Buddhist manuscript, screen painting, and calligraphy needs — closely linked to the paper-making centers of Echizen (Fukui Prefecture) and Ogawa (Saitama Prefecture) that…
Kyō-Sensu (京扇子) is the Japanese folding fan tradition of Kyoto — the origin of the folding fan itself (invented in Japan c.
The practice of Arabic calligraphy in Qatar, a venerated art form across the Arab world that gained particular popularity through the rise of Islam; when transcribing the Holy Quran, scholars sought to adorn the sacred text without…
Lao sa paper (ກະດາດສາ kradaat sa) is the traditional handmade paper of Laos, produced from the bark of the sa tree (Broussonetia papyrifera — paper mulberry) using a technique closely related to Thai saa paper and ultimately descended from…