วิถีหมู่บ้านปั้นครกและสาก จ.นครพนม - ยโสธร | ซีรีส์วิถีคน [CC]

A nearly 200-year-old pottery village Ban Klang, located in Non Tan Subdistrict, is home to rice farming, rubber plantations, and pineapple plantations. They have inherited the pottery wisdom of their ancestors for centuries, making essential items such as fermented fish jars and mortars. Originally, the villagers primarily made jars for fermenting fish sauce and mortars. Later, jars fell out of favor, and people became the sole producers of mortars. Upon entering the village, you'll see people of all ages kneading clay, making mortars, and drying mortars. They live together, from eating to sleeping, with the same mortar. There's no place in their homes, both inside and outside, without a mortar. This is crucial to protect newly made mortars from rainwater damage. Durable Mortars: The Sound of a Bell-like Ring Ban Klang mortars are renowned for their high quality, dark stone-like color, and the distinctive sound of a bell-like ringing when struck. They're durable, attracting merchants from many provinces in the northeastern region throughout the year. Mortars come in various sizes, depending on customer demand. From jumbo sized mortars, large mortars, medium sized mortars, small mortars, tiny mortars, or even the smallest mortar, the "Tok" mortar, sells for 30 baht or more, depending on the size. The main raw material comes from a single source: Nong Kut Khao clay. Ban Klang people use clay from the land to make mortars, which is the only source available. They use a hoe for digging, and no other tools are used. Khampa Wiphan, or Uncle Pha, has been digging and selling clay for decades, earning at least 100,000 baht from selling clay. Uncle Pha says he uses three tractors to transport the clay, earning 1,000 baht. To obtain high-quality clay, he must dig about two meters deep. Anyone with the strength can dig and sell it, but the golden opportunity lasts only four to five months during the dry season. Therefore, Ban Klang mortar-making people have to maintain a shed to store the clay for year-round use. Molding can be done with a mold or by hand, depending on preference. Ban Klang people's mortar-making techniques include both molding and hand-making. Regardless of the method, the process is the same: the clay must be dried, soaked in water to soften it, kneaded to a smooth consistency, and then molded. Nowadays, molds are popular because they're easy and quick to produce according to a specified pattern. However, only a few people remain who make mortars by hand. One of the people who makes mortars by hand is Mr. Rian Sahat, or "Phi On." He said he's never used a mold because he can make them quickly, eliminating the need for molds. He simply uses his two hands. Using a Unity Kiln, Also Known as a "Scorpion Kiln." People in Ban Klang use a traditional kiln, called a "Scorpion Kiln." These large kilns can produce 1,500 to 2,000 mortars. Made from termite mound clay, they're durable and long-lasting. However, they require maintenance, including repairs to prevent collapses and the removal of glass ash to prevent glass from dripping into the mortar. Mortar kilns here are either private kilns shared among relatives or neighbors, or communal kilns, which require an annual maintenance fee of 1,000 baht. Regardless of the kiln, unity is essential, as nearly two thousand mortars are put into the kiln. The mortar's firing, which takes three to four days, including removing the kiln, requires the help of three to five families, who rotate among themselves. Good Mortar in Ban Klang, Nakhon Phanom Province, Famous Pestle in Ban Khok Wilai, Yasothon Province Ban Khok Wilai, Samakkhi Subdistrict, Loeng Nok Tha District, Yasothon Province, is a village renowned for producing high-quality pestles. Located nearly 200 kilometers from Ban Klang, the village has inherited the skill of making pestles for sale from its grandparents. Village headman, Mr. Tu (or Mrs. Tu Phutchan), explained that there are dozens of households here who make pestles, and this practice is a household industry. When they're not working in the fields, they produce pestles, providing an additional source of income for their families. Father Vee Aree Sriubon, the village's resident pestle maker, explained that pestles here are made exclusively from either Nam Kleang or Rak Yai wood, as they have beautiful colors, are long-lasting, durable, and inexpensive. Prices range from 8 to 50 baht, depending on the size, color, and type of wood used. Catch up on the series "Way of People" on Monday, September 12, 2022, from 5:30 PM to 6:00 PM on Thai PBS. Watch reruns at http://www.thaipbs.or.th/TheConnect #WayofPeopleSeries #MortarMaking #Pottery ------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our channel for more great shows at: http://thaip.bs/YSBht5j And follow Thai PBS online at: Website: http://www.thaipbs.or.th Facebook: http://www.fb.com/ThaiPBS Twitter:   / thaipbs   Instagram:   / th.  .