These have traditionally been produced in the area around Ban Bo Sang. The tourism industry has made the once small craft thrive. Frames for umbrellas are produced in stages, and it is common to see men or women underneath houses working on a batch of umbrellas at one stage of the production process. Different households may specialize in one stage of making the umbrellas.
Sa paper production has been through a similar transformation driven by increasing local and tourist demand for decorative paper. The paper is produced by drying the woody stems of the Sa plant (a kind of mulberry). Then they are soaked and pulverized into a mush in a mill. Color is added and the mix is placed in tubs where it is suspended in water. By drawing a fine mesh grill through the tub, sediment accumulates on the grill in thin sheets. In drying the sediment coagulates to form the sheets of paper. These are then sold, or fashioned into souvenirs such as cards and notebooks.
[ Where to see umbrella and Sa paper making ] [ Where to buy Sa paper products ]
Luang Por Inthaa - The Esteemed Elder who established the Legend of the Umbrella Making Village of Bo Sang
Compiled by - Por Noi Srinuan Taa-Saeng, a former monk
The making of umbrellas in Bo Sang village is a handicraft occupation of the villagers which has made its name known throughout the country and abroad until the parasol has become one of the symbols of Chiang Mai. How did this come about? Who introduced this art form and how many years ago? The author has based this narration on the words of the village elders as follows:
Approximately one hundred years ago there was a monk named Phra lnthaa (his ranking status was not stated) who had taken holy orders at Wat Bo Sang. The monk practiced Dhamma regularly (but had never been with the temple due to his pilgrimage travel). It was his nature that he liked to observe and investigate the local customs which he found in the area which others had not seen or encountered at that time. On one occasion the monk went north " close to Burma, and stayed for many years. Being close to the Burmese border, the people who came to make merit and give alms to the monks were probably both Thai and Burmese.
One day, while the monk was taking his morning meal, a Burmese, inclined to make merit, brought an umbrella to offer to the monk because he had seen that the monk did not have one, which caused difficulties.
After the monk had blessed the Burmese who had brought the umbrella, he asked him if he had made the umbrella himself. The Burmese answered that indeed the umbrella was his own handiwork which he had made to offer to the monk. The monk then asked where the Burmese lived. He said that he lived not far from where the monk was staying. One could get there within one day's walk.