Jaapi or Japi (
Bodo: Khofri) is an
Asian conical hat. It is made from tightly woven
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial plant, perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily (biology), subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in th ...
and/or cane and ''tokou paat'' (
Trachycarpus martianus) a large,
palm leaf. The word ''jaapi'' derives from ''jaap'' meaning a bundle of ''tokou'' leaves. In the past, plain jaapis were used by ordinary people in Assam and by farmers for protection from the sun, while ornate decorative jaapis were worn as a status symbol by the royalty and nobility. Decorative ''sorudoi jaapi'' are made with intricate cloth designs (primarily red, white, green, blue, and black) that are integrated into the weaving.
History
The medieval
Sutiya kings used the jaapi as a cultural symbol. The last Sutiya king gifted gold and silver embroidered Jaapis (Kup-ngiun-kham) to the Ahom king
Suhungmung (1497–1539) as presents in his attempts for a treaty in the year 1523. After annexing
Sadiya in 1524, the Ahom king received a lot of treasure and bounty, which included Jaapis. In the year 1525, the Ahom king gifted some of the silver Jaapis obtained from the Sutiya king and other items, to negotiate peace with the
Mongkawng chief Phukloimung, a
Shan state in present
Kachin State
Kachin State (; Jingpho language, Kachin: ) is the northernmost administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. It is bordered by China to the north and east (Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet and Yunnan, respectively), Shan State to the sou ...
of
Upper Myanmar
Upper Myanmar ( or , also called Upper Burma) is one of two geographic regions in Myanmar, the other being Lower Myanmar. Located in the country's centre and north stretches, Upper Myanmar encompasses six inland states and regions, including M ...
(called Nora in
Buranjis) who had attacked Sadiya. During the Ahom rule, ''Jaapi-hajiya Khel'' (guild for making Jaapis) was monopolised by
Sutiyas, which indicate that they were experts in weaving Jaapis. Apart from this, the
Baro-Bhuyans of Central Assam are also said to have used Jaapis. As per the ''Satsari Buranji'', the Ahom kings adopted the ''Tongali'', ''Hasoti'' and ''Tokou-patia Japi'' from the Baro-Bhuyans.
File:Rice 02.jpg, A rice
Rice is a cereal grain and in its Domestication, domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice)—or, much l ...
farmer in northern Cambodia
Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...
wearing a similar to Jaapi
File:Varun Japi.jpg, Upper metal part of an ancient Varun (Tupi) Japi known as ''Sula'' used during the rule of Sutiya kings kept in the Gharmora Satra.
File:Jaapi.jpg, Sarudaya jaapi
File:DecorativeJaapi.jpg, An ornately made jaapi
File:Japi.JPG, A jaapi at Kalakhetra, Guwahati
File:Jaapi,Dhemaji.jpg, Jaapis made in Dhemaji
Cultural symbol
Today the jaapi is an important symbol of Assam and its culture. It is used during
Bihu dance, as protection against the elements, offered as a sign of respect in ceremonies, and placed as a decorative item around the house especially in the walls as a welcome sign.
Types
* Sorudoi japi: Used by women, especially brides.
* Bordoi japi: Used by royalty since ancient times (Kamrupa).
* Panidoi/Haluwa japi: Used by farmers in fields.
* Garakhiya japi: Used by cattle herders.
* Pitha japi: Used as hoods, sometimes during cultivation.
* Tupi/Varun japi: Used in rain as protective hats.
See also
*
Conical Asian hat
*
Culture of Assam
*
List of hat styles
Hats have been common throughout the history of humanity, present on some of the very earliest preserved human bodies and art. Below is a list of various kinds of contemporary or traditional hat.
List
See also
*List of headgear
References
...
*
List of headgear
Headgear is worn for many purposes, including protection against the elements, decoration, or for religious or cultural reasons, including social conventions. This is a list of headgear, both modern and historical.
Hats
File:Akubra-style hat.j ...
*
Textiles and dresses of Assam
References
External links
*
*
*
*
*
Some information about Assamese culture
{{Clothing in South Asia
History of Asian clothing
Pointed hats
Textiles and clothing of Assam
Bamboo weaving