Textiles from Laos, Lan Na and the Isan are prized for their artistic brilliance and aesthetic beauty. They speak volumes on a weaving tradition that has evolved through centuries and shaped the socio-cultural life of the people associated with it.

This book studies the iconography of the design elements typically employed by craftspersons of textiles from these areas: it deals with their art of weaving, various textile forms to be found in the region and the suitable and inherently powerful motifs woven. With numerous splendid illustrations of the designs, it involves study of design elements on articles of daily use as well as those used for ceremonial purposes and the kind of forms and iconography depicted -- like ancestor figures, animal and plant forms, water creatures, objects used in ceremonies and geometric forms. Viewing Buddhism as the prime influence upon the objects though Hinduism is also an important referent, it explores the symbols the design elements involve and their many meanings and the dimensions they encompass -- their fertility-related, religious and universal associations, for instance. The designs considered in the study are based upon the square grid and the design elements are shown in the typical graph form employed by weavers. It also gives Indian (Sanskrit) and Thai equivalents for English terms of plant and animal species and clarifies a number of terms all of which make this painstakingly-conducted research a thorough work on the subject.

The book will be very useful to scholars of Textile designs, Buddhist art and culture; and the cultural traditions of South-east Asia.

Preface
List of Plates
List of Figures
Abbreviations
Introduction

Pha-biang and Pha-chet

Pha-biang I 
Pha-biang II
Pha-biang III
Pha-biang IV
Pha-biang V 
Pha-biang VI
Pha-biang VII
Pha-biang VIII 
Pha-chet I 
Pha-chet II

Pha-kham-lai 
Pha-sin and Related Forms

Pha-sin I (tin-sin) 
Pha-sin II (tin-jok)
Pha-sin III (tin-jok)
Pha-sin IV
Pha-sin V  (tin-jok)
Pha-sin VI (tin-jok)
Pha-sin VII (tin-jok)
Pha-sin VIII (tin-jok)
Pha-sin IX (tin-jok)
Pha-sin X (tin-jok)
Pha-sin XI (tin-jok)
Pha-sin XII
Pha-sin XIII (tin-sin)
Pha-sin XIV (tin-sin)
Pha-sin XV (tin-sin)
Pha-sin XVI (luntaya)
Pha-sin XVII (luntaya)
Pha-sin XVIII (tin-sin)
Pha-sin XIX 
Pha-sin XX 
Pha-sin XXI 
Pha-sin XXII (tin-jok)
Pha-sin XXIII (tin-jok)
Pha-sin XXIV (tin-jok) 
Pha-sin XXV 
Pha-sin XXVI 
Pha-sin XXVII 
Pha-sin XXVIII
Pha-sin XXIX
Pha-sin XXX 
Pha-sin XXXI 
Pha-sin XXXII 
Pha-sin XXXIII 
Pha-sin XXXIV
Pha-sin XXXV 
Pha-sin XXXVI 
Pha-sin XXXVII 
Pha-sin XXXVIII
Pha-sin XXXIX
Pha-sin XL 
Pha-sin XLI
Pha-sin XLII

Pha-chong kaben

Pha-chong kaben I
Pha-chong kaben II

Tung and Other Ceremonial Textiles

Tung I
Tung II
Tung III 
Tung IV 
Tung V 

Pha-mem 
Pha ho-kham-pi  144
Bed Covers

Pha-hom I 
Pha-hom II 
Pha-hom III 
Pha-hom IV
Pha-hom V 
Pha-hom VI 
Pha-hom VII 
Pha-hom VIII
Pha-hom IX
Pha-lop I
Pha-lop II 

Curtains

Ceremonial Curtain I
Ceremonial Curtain II

Bed Curtain (Mosquito Net)

Door Curtain I 
Door Curtain II
Door Curtain III 
Door Curtain IV 
Door Curtain V

Miscellaneous Forms
Maun End

Maun Panel I 
Maun Panel II
Maun Panel III 
Maun Panel IV 
Pha-khoma I 
Pha-khoma II 

Khit Pattern from sampler
Si-ho 
Individual Elements
Apologia
Ancestors 
Animal Forms
Nak (Naga) 
Water Creatures
Bird Forms
Plant Forms
Ceremonial Objects
Geometric forms
Hooks 
Water Elements 
Miscellaneous Forms

Bibliography
Apendix A
Apendix B
Acknowledgements