Page 154 - Tsubomi

Ban Muangkun, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai Province
Ban Muangkung is the ancient village located in Chiang Mai and was previously named as "Ban San Dok Kham Tai". Most inhabitants are Tai people who had been forcibly moved from two ancient cities (Pu City and Sad City) of Lanna Kingdom which presently is in Shan State of Myanmar. In the beginning period, ancestors landing their colonization at Ban Muangkung had made farming, when entering dry season, villagers spaded soils from farmland near the village to make “Nam Mor” (a pot for drinking water in local language) and “Nam Ton” (a water jug in local language) for storing drinking water. This is the lifestyle continually carried on more than 200 years as we can observe from the molding of Nam Ton and pottery for selling inside and outside the village area. Besides, villagers usually place their pots or Nam Ton in front of their houses in order to provide drinking water for passers-by to quench thirst. So, this village is called the village of "drinking water pot and clay man legend”.
With the village’s plain area suitable for agriculture and good quality clay, in the past, Muangkung inhabitants made pottery, especially Nam Ton and Nam Mor, for household use and rites, like making merit. And if there are remaining pots and jugs, they will be exchanged or sold to inhabitants in nearby villages. Therefore, the making of Nam Ton is considered as the main occupation of this community.
Regarding to the modelling of Nam Ton and Nam Mor, Ban Muangkung people will use hard and compact soil generally found in the Northern part area to model by Jaak (hand molding platform by spinning) made of teakwood, with handle made of bamboo. Before molding, the potter will dry the soil and grind it with mortar. After that, it will be sifted to remain only fine soil, before being mixed with water and fermented for one night. After molding, it will be coated by laterite comprised of coconut oil or diesel. Next, let it dry moderately then scrub it with stone to clear soil porosity and make the pottery’s surface shiny. Finally, dry it with sunlight then put it in the kiln.
There are many shared kilns installed in many spots throughout Ban Muangkung. When potters from man houses finished molding of Nam Ton in the volume enough, they will be jointly burnt in the same kiln with temperature approximately 800 – 1000oC. As for the fuel, scraps of woods from the wood sculpture at Ban Tawai, including Longan wood or formwork panel from construction are used here.
However, under the changing society, only senior potters of Nam Ton stay in the community while younger people increasingly work outside the village. Meanwhile, the number of population is expanded; ancient kilns had to be partially removed for more space for house building. The pottery products are produced in more various styles; potters make not only Nam Mor and Nam Ton, but also home decor and
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