Palm-leaf manuscript or Short Balan

       The Northeast with the culture and learning from the experience and knowledge accumulated by ancestors of the interesting and valuable stories are written down on palm leaves, commonly known as "Book a yard short or Short Balan"

          The terminology of "Kom" in E-Saan is short. Book a yard short or Short Balan is a book made ​​of 2 inch wide and about 12-14 inches long for the hole in the middle of the rope. Rope that was called "the line". Short Balan one tie has 20-25 Palm leaves are referred to as the standard size and will cover two front yard is called "Front cover" and "back cover"  Palm front cover to a title or a subject matter of record. In general, there is no wood like a Book-binding.          

          Short Balan is like a wide range of knowledge and wisdom jointly with the Northeast as a guide to life and carry the wisdom of one generation to future generations. The cultural inheritance which has been collected and applied to a successor to the present. The inscription stories in the Short Balan commonly used Fair letters for their faith, holiness, worship, prayer rituals and black magic. And used the Thai script or in connection with the legal framework governing the treatment of casting epic prose poem, and there was a different language is a mixture of the E-Saan, Pali and Sanskrit. There are four types of poetry as poem, a poem, long talk, and prose.
           In the matter of classification and analysis of Short Balan. Supon Somjitsripanya (2536) referred to in Ekkawit Na Thalang (2544)defined as the following eight categories.
                 1. About the culture, such as heat, twelve, fourteen and the heat it's the law, etc..
                 2. On ideological beliefs and rituals, such as magic, prayer, obedience Patiomkks, compensation, etc. exorcise.
                 3. Governmental about the rule of law, teaching, etc..
                 4. On the economy, such as rice, etc. The first field in the first.
                 5. Related to the treatment, such as textbooks, medicines, etc. The magic magical forest.
                 6. Amatory such as Paya (E-Saan poem), the words of love, miss so much, etc. 
                 7. Tales like Vessantara poetry, fairy tales are.
                 8. Sciences such as mathematics, the formula of the abacus, poemsfor the sermons and preaching, classic poems, epic Vientiane, and astrology, etc.

          In summary, Short Balan is a valuable local literature. Because it is the social well-being, ideally, local customs and ideological beliefs of the owners of the literature. The content of the book, I go to the ceremonies and activities to prevent errors and omissions that may occur in practice. It is a guide book on the rituals and activities, as well as to educate the parents to make their own farmers and villagers are calling it the book is called. "Books to be used" as well as the holy books. Must be kept on a shelf offering. May be used with respect to the main palace.

Written and photographed by Nayika Derdkhuntod