“The Unchanged Uniqueness”

Whenever the subject of talk is the Cultural Heritage of Thailand, the legend of
Mae Nak Prakanong is one that absolutely rates a mention due to its importance to Thai
culture. The legend of Mae Nak Prakanong dates back to the beginning of Rattanakosin
Era. According to the legend, Mae Nak dies during the pregnancy with Mak, a soldier
who is away fighting in a battle field. Without knowing that his wife and his son has
already passed away, Mak comes back and lives normally with his dead wife. This
reflects the love that Mae Nak has with Mak, she never let death stops her from being
with her love. Her love for Mak will never fade away. For this reason, the love of Mae
Nak represents the cultural uniqueness of Thailand. Thainess is handed down from
generation to generation along with the changes of society and culture. It is represented
through our Thai Costume, which is a costume of Mae Nak.
Thai Costume has changed throughout the ages, due to outside influences or what
best suited the functionality required at the time. The clothes that we make are the Thai
Costume during Mae Nak Prakanhong period or during the reign of King Rama III.
Women during that time usually wear “Saibai”, which is a long piece of cloth use to
wrap the upper body, and the “Jong Kaben”, which is the ancient day lower body wear.
In addition to demonstrate the traditional Thai wear during that period, it also shows the
beauty and flourish of the traditional thai dress that gradually evolves into present days
dress but still retains its uniqueness. From the legend of Mae Nak Prakanhong, the
audience can see the strong bond and the importance of the family institution in Thailand.
In addition to being able to see into the way of life of Early Rattanakosin people through
the dress, the use of “Sabai” also illustrates the beauty, simplicity, and delicacy of Thai
dress. On the other hand, the “Jong Kaben” emphasizes the adaptability and flexibility of
Thai tailors, who can adjust them to match functionality while still retaining movability.
In addition to all these characteristics that reflect the ways of living of Thai
women in the past, the dress also shows that aside from having a very unique culture,
Thai people have the ability to adapt them into useful tools. For example, Thai food
retains its uniqueness and trademark even through the passage of time, the signature taste
and presentation still remain the same. Language and etiquette, although they are now
modernised, they still have their hard hallmark of Thai culture: respect and humility
towards the elders. Even family institutions, which become smaller and woman take
bigger roles on it, still retain the warmth that parents share with the children.
If we look at Thailand and our Thainess only at the surface, we may say that
foreign and technological influences have changed Thai society in many different ways.
But on a closer inspection, we can see that Thai people have actually retained their
cultural uniqueness and heritage even through the passage of time.