Thai Wisdom In Blooming Flowers

Thai people were knowledgeable with floral handicrafts for hundreds of years. Though there were no proofs of when the Thais began to craft flowers, we can say it has been fully developed during the Rattanakosin Era. Through selections of flowers, needlework, binding, and threading, the Thais created various and distinctive floral crafts.      

The ladies of the court played a major role in encouraging their ladies-in-waiting to develop floral craft skills since they were young. Thus, the floral crafts were renowned for their precise and meticulous creativity.

The ladies-in-waiting were assigned to floral crafts every day since their ladies of courts were regularly responsible for decorating royal ceremonies. The work was systematic; the younger ladies-in-waiting were entitled to thread small pieces, the older were responsible for assembling the whole piece, and the chief supervised all the process. If it occurred to be a large ceremony, the flower work would be delegated between each palace, and they would help put everything together in the end.

Floral crafts, however, were not only arranging flowers into vases but creating innovative floral arts with every possible components of the flowers. For instance, Thai people made flower hanging to decorate the doors and windows, made creative and unique flower garland patterns, and made flower lamps for religious offerings.

Thai flower sashes were invented by Prayoon Wong, King Rama V’s concubine. These flower ruffles with pendants were used as sashes across the shoulder of the King’s officials and courtiers.

Flowers were also used as various forms of perfumeries such as facial talcum, scented candle for ornaments, and also body fragrance. 

Flowers were also used as religious offering to the divine that one believed in. Hence, flowers weren’t associated only with beauty but also with the faith of the people. 

Clay-core floral lamps are ancient religious offering. In the past, the ladies used clay to form a high lotus-bud-shaped lamp then put rows and columns of sticks around it and topped the sticks with blossoms. This required precision and expertise to excel a delicate pattern of flowers and to form this religious offering. These days, foam boards are used as the core in lieu of clay making the original style nearly extinct.

Preserved magnolia champaca, invented by M.R. Sa-dup, King Rama V’s concubine, was aimed to preserve the beauty of flowers in a glass bottle through time. It was used to pay respect to Buddha or given as presents for the elders.

Thai flowers are also edible. Flowers can be found in various recipe since ancient time; peonies are cooked in clear soup, frangipanis are battered, deep-fried and eaten with chili paste, and viburnums are dipped with dressings. They are not only appetizing but also medicinal.

Floral handicrafts didn’t serve only as leisure but also reflect Thais’ wisdom of using flowers with maximum benefit. You can see that flowers are closely linked to Thai culture and lifestyle from womb to tomb.