Kachin State is the northernmost state in Burma/Myanmar and borders Yunnan Province in China. The highest mountain in Burma is here, near Putao. As might be expected, it gets quite cold and one finds wool used in the textiles. Cotton is also prevalent, though commercial thread rather than homegrown and spun is most widely used. The predominant tribal group is the Jinghpaw, but there are others including the Maru, Rawang, Lashi and Azi.

Jinghpaw Skirts (‘pukhang’)

Usually comprised of three narrow bands woven on backstrap looms, these wrap skirts can take months to weave. When learning to weave, the woman first masters the “mother pattern” which runs in supplementary weft down each vertical end of the finished cloth. These patterns vary between groups, but this collection includes only two different designs: concentric diamonds on TAB150, 152, 153, 154, and an elaborate version of interlocking horns on TAB151. Kachin weaving motifs are predominantly geometric and reflect influences of both Chinese and so-called Dongson cultures.

 

For more information about Kachin textiles please see Dell and Dudley; Textiles From Burma; p.19, 69-75, and 161-177.