tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2007-09-12:/en//4 2010-02-17T03:45:40Z Movable Type Commercial 4.21-ja tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2010:/en//4.1391 2010-02-17T03:43:50Z 2010-02-17T03:45:40Z

The DVD "Silkworm Festival 2008 at Wisdo...

IKTT伝統の森 蚕まつり2008 The Silkworm Festival at Wisdom from Forest [DVD]

]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2010:/en//4.1390 2010-02-17T03:40:05Z 2010-02-17T03:41:24Z

When I expected to spend a quiet holiday...

When I expected to spend a quiet holidays because half of PWF villagers went back to their hometowns during Cambodian New Year holidays, I received a visit of my well-known friend at PWF. As a result of it, I have been involved in talking with my friend for whole 3 days. We had similar experience in talking for whole 3 days when Asian Kasuri road festival was held at Haebaru-cho of Okinawa prefecture in November 2000. Since then, we have met once a year and spent talking together. When I was a trainee of hand-made Yuzen dyeing at Kyoto, I liked to browse artistic books at the bookstore "Kyoto Shoin" at the center of Kyoto downtown. At that time, the extra binding book in the box was too expensive for me because my salary was only equal to pocket money. There was one Japanese magazine named "Senshoku to Seikatsu" which means dyeing and weaving with life, on the expensive dyeing and weaving books shelf. I still remember I found one article of the first issue of the Japanese magazine. It was by his article introducing the dyeing and weaving of Timor of Indonesia. It was in early 1970's. Still I keep this magazine at my PWF house book shelf. And there was curious coincidence, when I visited to one professor at National Museum of Ethnology at Senri Expo Park of Osaka prefecture, I happened to meet him. At that time, he was busy to prepare to go researching at Indonesia. At that time, I myself started the project related to villager's textiles work in Thailand in 1980's. In the middle of 1990's, I set up the small project of growing silkworms at Kampot village following the start of Cambodia UNESCO investigation, I have spent days and nights to revive the textile's technique of old days together with Takeo province elderly women weavers. At that time perhaps he was visiting for the textiles various fields of all over the world. His journey has been continuing even now to find out the textiles histories and skills of fascinating such mysterious textiles world. This time we talked about the tools of making mat that were found at Jomon period remains and those fibers and colors on the historical side, and the conversation expands geographically wide on the other side about Mediterranean Sea and South America, and Southeast Asia that could be said as the textile roots from Indonesia, and clothes of East Asian like China and Japan, additionally West Asia, Central Asia and Africa. Our talking went endless. I have opportunities to meet several world's researchers and collectors related to dyeing and weaving as my job. But I have never met such person like him who did researches and studies visiting the places of all over the world himself. In many cases the researches and studies are usually limited to particular places and textiles. In case of me, I am interested in the mysterious story of yellow raw silk of Cambodia as material relating to Cambodian textiles, additionally to try to find the mystery of derivation of the unique Cambodian textile, a silk ikat in a 2/1 twill. And I get really involved in the wonderful world imagination through such textiles. This time when I talked with him, looking at the very heavy but fine figured black color cloth dyed by persimmon ebony makleua (Diospyros mollis) that one elderly woman wore who I met during my research in 1995. While we were talking about her family and detail of wearing tools of this cloth, I felt sure her family came from Cambodian ethnic minority Kuay. That feeling was backed up by his past experiences. I had looked for the Kuay weavers around 1996. The Kuay people have been called Forest People in Cambodia since Angkor periods and they were also very famous as the elephant trainer. Such people have their own traditional textile world. The tradition has been barely inherited at northeast of Thailand. In Cambodia the Kuay people's villages has been almost disappeared under the local war, but their handloom and tools have characteristic feature. While I talked with him about Kuay village in Thailand, checking again the black crest figured cloth, I found Cambodian Kuay weaver's world in the textile. There is an unique big Niddy-Noddy to make skein. I saw the tool at this elderly woman's house. I had something on my chest the tool was the same as Thai Kuay people's tool. That was different from Khmer and Lao people's one. I checked it again by photo with him and we had no doubt about it. The woman died several years ago. Her family gave me the cloth she always wore as remembrance. Glowing silkworms and reeling raw silks, further the technique was unique that reeling high quality raw silks on her barefoot knees, it was such her remembrance. We had a sigh in front of such wonderful textile. The other day one of the Cambodian Royal Princess visited to PWF. We showed her several old textiles. This textile was included among other textiles. Princess took it and said she remembered it. She said her mother also wore the same touch black cloth. The old weaver who created such wonderful textiles is not alive now. I want to produce this textile at PWF. It is so difficult though I want to create some day. It is one of my highest hurdles. The talking on this textile might be the biggest achievement during 3 days New Year holidays this year. It is my assurance and it could be said a discover. Our conversation developed to changing of looms' figure and those varieties. He suggests the possibilities that the looms of the minority people of Yunnan province in China might be the origin of Cambodian loom. And our conversation continued to go down Mekong River, South China Sea and even Palembang of Sumatra. And continue to another famous Cambodian weavers Cham people. tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2010:/en//4.1389 2010-02-17T03:37:31Z 2010-02-17T03:37:58Z

The article "Morimoto Kikuo: Resurrectin...

The article "Morimoto Kikuo: Resurrecting a Cultural Ecology" introduced on the English magazine "Kyoto Journal No.73" that is published in Kyoto. Actually I was invited to make a speech session at the event "IMAGINE PEACE" held at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies two years ago. After the session I took part in the long interview by Kyoto Journal. They wrote the article by the interview, additionally reading my book "Bayon Moon". I would like to offer my appreciation. ▼Kyoto Journal http://www.kyotojournal.org/ In Japan you can purchase the Kyoto Journal at 1200 yen. In case of purchasing from oversea, it is U.S 12 dollars ( plus shipping fee 3 dollars). Please check the details at the Kyoto Journal web-site. tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1266 2009-07-16T01:56:44Z 2009-07-16T01:58:56Z

Cambodian raw silk is really beautiful y...

Cambodian raw silk is really beautiful yellow color. When the raw silk gets sunshine, it shines golden so that we could say as the Golden Silk. But regrettably the beautiful yellow color will fade after refining. The color fades to creamy color after refining that is of course also wonderful color. I have been specialized in dyeing and I think the dyeing color is wonderful but such natural color is the best. I like this natural. ]]> In Cambodia the white color is the most superordinate in the traditional colors, because white color is the root of all colors, so I can understand it. The visitors who came to IKTT surprised by looking at such beautiful yellow raw silk, because they thought the raw silk was white. They could not understand the yellow color was natural color. They asked me what kind of foods the silkworms eat and spin such beautiful color. And when I answered the cocoons eat mulberry leaves same as Japanese one, they were surprised again. The yellow raw silk is surprising for us, because we used to see Japanese and Chinese white raw silks. The yellow raw silk has the original good quality compared to Japanese and Chinese raw silks which are too developed by breeding improvement. The yellow raw silk has the same good quality as Yuuki tumugi and Ueda tumigi traditional Japanese textiles) of 50 years ago. It can be washed roughly by hands. We tell the visitors that silk is the same kind of human hairs as we wash by shampoo and tell them not to use dry cleaning. Washing with water is basic for a natural fiber. I have been fascinated by the yellow raw silk for 25 years since my Thai periods. And I have worked for the textiles made of this raw silk. At that time, a lot of experts of sericulture from Japan looked down the silkworms that spin the yellow raw silk. But now the time has changed and such natural yellow raw silk is getting high value. Recently one Japanese young girl visited IKTT who wanted studying the silk as her job. IKTT always keeps the stance we never refuse for people coming and never hold back for people leaving. So we received her. She studied at the agricultural department of a university and she will join us by taking temporally absence from the university fascinated by this yellow raw silk. I think the good quality of the yellow raw silk is getting known more in future. So what she tried to work with the yellow silk is good also for her future. But I always tell them that you have to be prepared for betting whole yourself into the job. I tell clearly to them if you do not have such determinations, you had better to quit. But she seems not to give up even so. tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1253 2009-06-24T02:32:43Z 2009-06-24T02:35:08Z

The 2008 fashion show might be recieved ...

The 2008 fashion show might be recieved well, We recieved some questions of the schedule of this year's fashion show. This year's is going to be held 6 September (Sun) and the eve festival is 5 (Sat). *About the Silkworm Festival IKTT has held the Silkworm Festival at PWF (Project site of Wisdom from the Forest) on full moon day in September every year. As you may know, we produce the Cambodian traditional silk textiles. We rely on our living by selling the silk textlies. So to speak, the silkworms feed us. But as you know silkworm cocoons are boiled in a bath for reeling into raw silk thread. Thus, it is a cruel procedure for silkworms. In Cambodia, a lot of people are pious Buddhists, such cruel procedures are of cource prohibited for Buddhists.The PWF villagers said us that they do not want to do those cruel procedures. But I explained the villagers that the cruel procedures are not futility, because we relied on our living by it. There were ceremonies to enshrine silkworms written in the old Chinese documents. And there are silkworm temples in Japan and Viet Nam. So it is no wonder that there are habits to enshrine silkworms in the prosperous silkworm raising places. We decided to hold the Silkworm Festival at PWF on the date of full moon in September every year since 2004. Of cource we are going to hold the Festival in this year. Details of the Festival will be forwarded to you separately. The following contents is the 2008 Festival. *Reference : The contents of 2008 Silkworm Festival. [The Eve of the festival] Children knockout dance contest Fashion show and so on [The silkworm Festival] Holding a mass for silkworms (Recitation of the sutras by monks) Performance of the village's band Preparing for the meal. Enjoy the meal together Disco under the blue sky and so on ]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1257 2009-04-29T04:53:20Z 2009-06-29T04:55:15Z

About 20 people visited to IKTT from the...

About 20 people visited to IKTT from the villages of Siem Reap province and Banteay Meanchey province. Recently in Cambodia the activities of creating the special local products of each province or village are coming out introduced from the Trade Department of Cambodia like Japanese one local product from one village activity. The visitors are the leaders of such activities. The visitors are the group of observers including village heads and women. They all listened carefully to the lecture of natural dyestuffs. And their curiosity was for the textile's prices and of course the beautiful natural colors. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1254 2009-04-29T02:38:24Z 2009-06-24T02:41:19Z

I like cooking. But it might be a little...

I like cooking. But it might be a little misleading. Actually what I mean is that I like to eat delicious foods. It has passed about 10 years since I live in Siem Reap. At first the cooking ingredients were limited. When I was over 50 years old, I became to want having Miso soup again at almost everyday meal. But at that time I could not get Miso at Siem Reap. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1255 2009-04-28T02:42:22Z 2009-06-24T02:45:05Z

The buffalos that were pastured around t...

The buffalos that were pastured around the Project site of "Wisdom from the Forest"(PWF) by their owner came into PWF field and ate all the leaves of mulberry trees and corns last year. The owner knew about it and pastured around the buffalos. The mulberry leaves were not planted for buffalos. Of course they were for cocoons. The futile cat-and-mouse chase against the buffalos was not to be ended. The buffalos came in dark night and the village men bounced out and sometimes caught them. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1249 2009-04-20T00:47:43Z 2009-06-23T00:48:56Z

The TV program "Le cri de la soie" (the ...

The TV program "Le cri de la soie" ]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1196 2009-04-17T01:09:53Z 2009-04-17T01:10:26Z

In the morning, the people living in PWF...

In the morning, the people living in PWF come first to each workplace, and then women living in near villages come to PWF by bicycle. Recently, the numbers of mothers with their children are really increasing. Thus the morning work in PWF starts. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1250 2009-04-17T00:50:26Z 2009-06-23T00:54:23Z

The Cambodian New Year is coming. The Ne...

The Cambodian New Year is coming. The New Year holidays are from 14th to 16th April. We finished this yearend payment of salary before New Year's Day is coming same as every year. I always try to pay them before New Year is coming as much as I can, although it is always a little delay in normal month. But this yearend payment became more difficult because of unusual decrease of sales, especially for the people coming from distant Takeo province and Kampot province. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1294 2009-03-13T00:28:40Z 2009-08-31T00:31:19Z

The natural silkworms existed in Cambodi...

The natural silkworms existed in Cambodian forests 5000 years ago together with the mulberry trees. This silkworm's spinning raw silk was wonderful and it was brought out together with the mulberry trees from the forests, and sericulture history started at Yangtze River of China. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1177 2009-03-07T08:05:23Z 2009-03-07T08:07:02Z

Rever Books which is a Thai publication ...

Amazon.com ]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1176 2009-03-07T08:02:29Z 2009-03-07T08:04:24Z

It is dry-season in December. Moon light...

It is dry-season in December. Moon light is bright at late evening maybe because it was full moon a few days ago. One German lady who read my English book "Bayon Moon" wanted to see the Bayon temple shined by such bright moon and she left her hotel with guide at late evening. But recent Angkor Thom is closed completely at night. Even local people can not go through after eight pm, so there are no chances to see the beautiful Bayon temple under moon light. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]> tag:iktt.esprit-libre.org,2009:/en//4.1184 2009-01-25T01:55:57Z 2009-03-17T01:59:18Z

Today 25th January is Chinese New Year's...

Today 25th January is Chinese New Year's day. It is also in Vietnam. We celebrate the New Year at IKTT by setting up flowers and fruits. At IKTT main weavers from Takeo province are originated to Chinese. So some members go back to their home town on the Chinese holiday. Translation by Mr.Takurou MATSUOKA]]>