Editing Mon people (section)

==Culture==

=== Symbol ===
[[File:Shwedagon Crown.JPG|thumb|220px|Ceremonial helmet of Queen regnant [[Shin Sawbu]], now at the [[Victoria and Albert Museum|V&A Museum]], London]]The symbol of the Mon people is the [[hamsa (bird)|hongsa]] ({{langx|mnw|ဟံသာ}}, {{IPA|mnw|hɔŋsa|}}), a mythological water bird that is often illustrated as a swan. It is commonly known by its Burmese name, ''hintha'' ({{langx|my|ဟင်္သာ}}, {{IPA|my|hɪ́ɰ̃θà|IPA}}) or its [[Thai language|Thai]] name: ''hong'' (หงส์). The hongsa is the state symbol of Myanmar's [[Bago Region]] and [[Mon State]], two historical Mon strongholds. Also, the hongsa is the city symbol of Thailand's [[Pak Kret|Pak Kret City]], a historical Mon settlement area.
<gallery>
File:Flag of Mon State (2018).svg|[[Hamsa (bird)|Hongsa]] (the symbol of Mon people)
File:วัดหมื่นพุทธเมตตาคุณาราม Wat Muen Buddha Mettakhunaram Chiang Rai (October 2021) - img 04.jpg|Hongsa in Thai-Mon style
File:Mon Traditional Flower-garlands.jpg|Mon Traditional Flower-garlands
</gallery>
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===Marriage===
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=== Music===
[[File:Kong mon គងមន or Khong mon ฆ้องมอญ.jpg|thumb|260px|''[[Khong mon]]'' in Thai-Mon style]]
[[File:Chakhe.jpg|thumb|260px|The musical instrument known as 'Kyam' in Thai-Mon style is also called 'Chakhe']]
Mon culture and traditional heritages includes spiritual dances, musical instruments such as the [[kyam]] or "crocodile xylophone", the [[la gyan hsaing]] gong chime, the [[saung]] harp and a flat stringed instrument. Mon dances are usually played in a formal theater or sometimes in an informal district of any village. The dances are followed by background music using a circular set of tuned drums and claps, crocodile xylophone, gongs, flute, flat guitar, harp, violin, etc.<ref name="td">{{cite web|url=https://www.unesco-ichcap.org/kor/ek/inc/pdf/mon.pdf|title=Making Inventory of Craftsmanship and Performing Arts of Mon Traditional Musical Instruments|access-date=16 February 2021}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Burmese Ramayana dance.jpg|A theatrical performance of the Mon dance
File:Lorchestre thaïlandais piphat mon (musée de la musique) (3771128467).jpg|Mon musical instruments
File:Kyam at Mon Buddhist Temple Fort Wayne.jpg|A ''[[kyam]]''
</gallery>

===Art===
====Pottery====
The Mon people in Thailand have been producing pottery for over 200 years. Their ancestors settled in [[Ko Kret|Koh Kret]] and [[Nakhon Sawan]], using their pottery making skills to earn a living in both places. The area is known for its high-quality clay and the Mon pottery, including containers and decorative items, is a symbol of their heritage and expertise. The pottery is made of porous earthenware in light orange to red color and features unique designs inspired by nature. Despite technological advancements, the Mon continue to preserve this traditional handicraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Koh Kret Pottery|publisher=Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand|url=https://www.sacit.or.th/uploads/items/attachments/1a3d6a5affbc4a3a84214366730c4a80/_f7c5b81313883f49a64f0170a4d091fe.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The inspiration to inherit "Mon Pottery"|publisher=Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand|url=https://www.sacit.or.th/uploads/items/attachments/cceb1161867ab91def7fac026ead455c/_957c4efe123c30c4ee28fdd962456716.pdf|access-date=February 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/cultural_approach/article/view/239874|title=Creating Value Products from Local Wisdom, Ban Mon Pottery, Ban Kaeng Sub District, Nakhon Sawan Province under the Concept of Creative Economy|publisher=Journal of Cultural Approach|author=Jiratach Daosomboon|date=Sep 15, 2021}}</ref>

====Floral umbrellas====
Floral umbrellas have a long history in Mon culture, dating back to ancient times. In fact, inscriptions have been discovered in northern Thailand that mention the use of umbrellas and [[palm-leaf manuscripts]] in Mon religious ceremonies during the [[Hariphunchai Kingdom]], which lasted from the 7th to the 13th century.<ref>{{citation|title=A new look at the Old Mon inscriptions of northern Thailand|page=8|url=https://www.academia.edu/25226531|access-date=March 31, 2023|author=Hunter I. Watson}}</ref> Today, floral umbrellas are still used in various ceremonies and festivals throughout Mon communities, such as weddings, ordinations, and temple fairs, and remain an important part of Mon cultural heritage.

===Literature===
Mon literature is a rich collection of works created by the Mon people in Myanmar and Thailand, including chronicles, poems, songs, folktales, and religious texts. "[[Lik Amin Asah|Lik Smin Asah]]" is a legendary tale about the establishment of the city of Pegu, "Sangada" is a well-known Mon folktale that has been adapted into Thai and Laotian literature as "Sangsinchay", and "Rājādhirāj" or "Razadarit" is a chronicle of the Mon king translated into Burmese as "[[Razadarit Ayedawbon]]" and into Thai as "Rachathirat." Mon literature is considered important cultural heritage in Myanmar and Thailand. These works are highly valued for their cultural and historical significance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sure.su.ac.th/xmlui/handle/123456789/1838?attempt=2&|title=Lik Smin Asah : an analytical study|publisher=Silpakorn University Central Library|author=Thongpian Saramart}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Thai and Mon Literature:The Forgotten Role of the Mons of Siam Three examples of shared pieces of literature|author=Patrick McCormick|author2=Mathias Jenny|publisher=The Siam Society|date=November 15, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Jenny |first=Mathias |date=2011 |editor-last1=McCormick |editor-first1=Patrick |editor-last2=Jenny |editor-first2=Mathias |editor-last3=Baker |editor-first3=Chris |title=The Mon over two millennia. Monuments, Manuscripts, Movements. |publisher=Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University |pages=147–167 |chapter=The story of Prince Saṅgadā: a Mon legend in Southeast Asian context |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242204127 |doi=10.5167/uzh-49529 |isbn=9786165513289}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vithidkul |first1=Jiaranai |last2=Tudkeao |first2=Chanwit |date=2020 |title=Burmese, Mon, Thai, and Pali: The Diversity of Rachathirat Literatures in Thailand |url=https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jletters/article/view/234530 |journal=Journal of Letters |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=49–66 |access-date=2024-12-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Bunjoon |first=Ong |date=2016 |script-title=th:“บ้านทุ่งเข็น”: ชุมชนชาติพันธุ์มอญร่วมสมัยแห่งสุพรรณบุรี |trans-title="Ban Thung-Khen": The Contemporary Mon ethnic Community of Suphanburi |pages=88–90 |url=http://ethesisarchive.library.tu.ac.th/thesis/2016/TU_2016_5424300134_5308_5667.pdf |degree=PhD |language=th |publisher=Thammasat University}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
The Mon people have a mix of spiritual beliefs and [[Theravada Buddhism]] as their religion, with a majority of them practicing the mixture. Before Buddhism, three traditional beliefs were followed in the Mon Kingdom, including belief in Kalok (spirits), Isi (holy hermits), and [[Hinduism]]. The Mon people traditionally believed in various types of Kaloks (spirits), including family/clan kalok, guardian kalok of the house, town, village, farms, forest, and mountain. Kalok is considered to be a spirit, demon, or immaterial being that can take on a visible form.<ref>{{cite journal|title=An Analytical Trend in the Development of Buddhism in Mon Region of Myanmar in the next decade|publisher=Journal Of International Buddhist Studies College|date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>

=== Festivals ===
[[File:Mon National Day 72 Bago.jpg|thumb|220px|Mon National Day celebration in [[Bago, Myanmar]] (2019)]]
[[File:Mon_Youth_Day_by_Hein_Htet_Aung_(8).jpg|thumb|220px|Mon Youth Day celebration]]
Festivals celebrating Mon culture are an important part of the Mon community in Myanmar and Thailand. One such festival is the Loi Hamod Festival, which has its roots in the Hariphunchai era and is believed to be the precursor to the Loi Krathong Festival. While the festival is still observed in some Mon communities in [[Lamphun Province]], it is now referred to as "Jong Gring", which is derived from other Mon cultural practices and means "Loi Krathong". However, the Jong Gring tradition of Mon people in Lamphun is different from the general Loi Krathong festival, as it resembles the ancient "Loi Hamod" tradition of Mon people in Hariphunchai, which involves offering food, both fresh and dried, and lighting some lanterns and small krathongs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://konlanna.com/contents/read/1728|title=ประเพณี "ลอยหะโม้ด" สายสัมพันธ์หงสาวดี-หริภุญไชย|language=th|website=konlanna.com}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://lp.mcu.ac.th/userfiles/file/%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%98%E0%B9%8C/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%8D%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%97/%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B2/2562/MCU62020258.pdf|title=A Study of Buddhadhamma in Yi Peng Tradition of Lanna|date=2018|author=Phrakhru Sathitthammaphinan|access-date=27 February 2021}}</ref>{{rp|7,8}}<ref name="lpw"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.matichonweekly.com/column/article_14572|title=ปริศนาโบราณคดี : ประเพณี "ลอยหะมด" ของมอญหริภุญไชย คือต้นกำเนิด "ลอยกระทง" ในสยาม?|date=13 November 2016|access-date=27 February 2021|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.m-culture.go.th/lamphun/ewt_news.php?nid=540&fbclid=IwAR3MD1Wvj3ZxrIWMaLKtjK5FF_GSi8ZN5ZbXJ6ERh8bub8fgi-5aHxYe53Y|title=ประเพณีลอยโขมดตำบลต้นธง ประจำปี 2559|date=10 November 2016|access-date=27 February 2021|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thainews.prd.go.th/th/news/detail/TCATG201108073719199|title=เทศบาลตำบลต้นธง จังหวัดลำพูน สืบทอดงานประเพณีลอยโขมดตำบลต้นธง ซึ่งครั้งนี้ได้จัดขึ้นเป็นครั้งที่ 6 อย่างยิ่งใหญ่ เพื่อเป็นการ อนุรักษ์ และสืบสานประเพณีวัฒนธรรมอันดีงามของท้องถิ่นให้คงอยู่สืบไป|access-date=28 February 2021|date=8 November 2020|language=th}}</ref>

Another traditional Mon festival is the Luknoo Festival, which marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the new year. It involves the launch of homemade rockets, food offerings to spirits, and cultural activities such as music, dance, and games. The festival is an important part of Mon culture and helps to connect with the community, preserve traditions, and bring good luck for the coming year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/thailand/233393/rocket-of-mon|title=Rocket of Mon|date=23 April 2011|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.m-culture.go.th/phatumthani/ewt_news.php?nid=403&filename=index|title=ประเพณีการจุดลูกหนู|date=1 July 2019|access-date=20 February 2021|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WujUlS_XdQw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/WujUlS_XdQw| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=ประเพณีการจุดลูกหนู (english subtitles)|date=11 August 2015|access-date=20 February 2021|language=th}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The Mon Floating Boat Festival is another traditional festival celebrated during the Mon New Year. It features boat races, music, dance, feasting, releasing lanterns, and gift exchanging. The festival brings the Mon community together to make offerings for peace and prosperity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/noname/30354455|title=Mon Floating Boat Festival 2018|date=14 September 2018|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tatnews.org/2018/06/mon-floating-boat-festival-2018/|title=Mon Floating Boat Festival 2018|date=27 June 2018|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dhammathai.org/culture/boat_kanchanaburi.php|title=ประเพณีลอยเรือจำลองสะเดาะเคราะห์ จังหวัดกาญจนบุรี|language=th|website=dhammathai.org}}</ref>

The Hae Hang Hong Tong Ta Khab Festival, also known as the Tawai Tong Ta Khab Festival, is an important tradition of the Mon people in Thailand, primarily in [[Pathum Thani]], [[Pak Kret]], and [[Phra Pradaeng]]. The festival is held during the Songkran festival and features a parade of flags that move towards the Hongsa Pole to offer tribute to the Buddha. Prior to the festival, the flags are prepared through the collective efforts of many individuals who come together to sew and decorate them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jcosci/article/view/138054|title=A Study the Traditional Identities of Hae Hang Hong Thong Ta Khab to be Development of Cultural Capital: The Creative Design Performance for Presentation of Tourism Image in Pathumthani Province|author=Pravit Rittibul|website=tci-thaijo.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.m-culture.go.th/chachoengsao/ewt_news.php?nid=314&filename=index|title=ประเพณีแห่ธงตะขาบ|date=11 April 2017|access-date=20 February 2021|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://culture.mcru.ac.th/8-en/86-en/6.pdf|title=Swan and Centipede Parade Festival|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thailandexhibition.com/Eat-Travel/1065|title=เที่ยวชมประเพณี แห่หงส์ ธงตะขาบ พระประแดง|date=18 April 2018|access-date=20 February 2021|language=th}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ilove8riew.com/en/event/%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%93%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%98%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%9A/|title=Centipede Flag Parade|access-date=20 February 2021}}</ref>

During the [[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]] festival in Thailand, the Mon residents of [[Phra Pradaeng District]] host unique Mon traditional ceremonies and folklore performances.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Songkran 2020 in Thailand - Dates|url=https://rove.me/to/thailand/songkran|access-date=2019-09-04|website=rove.me|language=en}}</ref> These festivals and traditions are a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Mon people and serve as an important way to pass down their history and customs to future generations.

=== Traditional dress===
Mon women wear traditional shawl-like ''[[Sbai]]'', known as ''Yat Toot'' in Mon language, diagonally over the chest covering one shoulder with one end dropping behind the back. This tradition distinguished Mon women from other 134 ethnic groups in Myanmar. Archaeological evidence from the [[Dvaravati]] era portrays that Dvaravati ladies wearing what seems to be a piece of ''Sbai'' hanging from their shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web|title=มรดกช่างศิลป์ไทย : งานปูนปั้น|url=https://www.chatnirun.com/%e0%b8%a1%e0%b8%a3%e0%b8%94%e0%b8%81%e0%b8%8a%e0%b9%88%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%87%e0%b8%a8%e0%b8%b4%e0%b8%a5%e0%b8%9b%e0%b9%8c%e0%b9%84%e0%b8%97%e0%b8%a2-%e0%b8%87%e0%b8%b2%e0%b8%99%e0%b8%9b%e0%b8%b9/}}</ref> Mon people of Myanmar and Thailand today are the descendants of ''Dvaravati.''

Mon men in Myanmar wear clothes similar to the Bamars. Those living in Thailand have adopted [[Thai people|Thai]] style garments. It seems that Mon clothing has been shaped through its dynastic traditions as well as external influences.

[[Thanaka]] is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made from ground bark that is widely used in Myanmar, particularly by the Mon people. It is applied to the face, arms and legs as a form of sun protection and to beautify the skin. Thanaka has been a part of Mon culture for centuries and remains an important part of traditional beauty and skincare practices in the country.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Naturally beautiful: Cosmetic and beauty products from forests|publisher=Food & Agriculture Org|date=2020|isbn=978-9251323984|pages=44–50}}</ref>

=== Cuisines ===
[[File:Htamanè.JPG|thumb|''[[Htamanè]]'' glutinous rice]]
[[File:KhaoChae.JPG|thumb|Mon inspired ''Khao Chae'']]
Mon cuisines and culinary traditions have had significant influences on the [[Burmese cuisine]] and [[Thai cuisine#Regional cuisines and historical influences|Central Thai cuisine]] today. Some of dishes that are now popular in Myanmar (Burma) and Thailand were originally Mon dishes. For example, [[Htamanè]] (ထမနဲ) in Myanmar, and [[Khanom chin]] and [[Khao chae]] in Thailand. A traditional Mon dish served with rice soaked with cool candle-and-jasmine-scented water is consumed by the Mon people during the Thingyan (Songkran) Festival in the summer. In Thailand, the dish is known as Khao chae (ข้าวแช่) and was considered "royal cuisine".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://travel.cnn.com/bangkok/eat/khao-chae-101-811318/|title=It's khao chae season: How to eat Thailand's classic summer treat|last=Chirapongse|first=Kitty|date=2012|work=CNN|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://guide.michelin.com/en/article/features/a-guide-to-royal-thai-cuisine|title=A Guide to Royal Thai Cuisine|website=MICHELIN Guide|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07}}</ref> As the dish is served during Thingyan as part of their [[merit-making]], it is known as [[Thingyan rice]] (သင်္ကြန်ထမင်း) in Myanmar today.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmtimes.com/special-features/234-thingyan-2017/25640-how-to-spend-long-thingyan-holidays.html|title=How to spend long Thingyan holidays|date=2017-04-07|website=The Myanmar Times|language=en|access-date=2019-09-07}}</ref> Like Cambodian, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, [[Pla ra|fermented fish seasoning]] are used in Mon cuisine.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sukphisit|first=Suthon|date=9 June 2019|title=An acquired taste|work=Bangkok Post|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/1692012/an-acquired-taste|access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref> 
<gallery>
File:Ngapyawbaung.jpg|Mon banana pudding
File:Khao khluk kapi, Pathum Thani, 2018-04-02 (3).jpg|Mon inspired [[Khao khluk kapi|Khao Khluk Kapi]] dish
File:Khanom Chin - Thai rice noodles.JPG|''Khanom Chin'' rice noodles
File:Nga paong thohk with a spoon.jpg|''Nga baung thohk'' (steamed fish dish wrapped in banana leaves)
</gallery>

=== Folk games ===
Many games in both Myanmar and Thailand were Mon origins. Among them, Len Saba ({{Lit|saba tossing game}}; {{langx|mnw|ဝိုင်မ်ဟနဂ်}}; {{langx|my|ဂုံညင်းဒိုး}}), Lor Kon Krok (Rolling a Mortar Bottom) and Mon Son Pa (Mon Hides a Cloth) are the most famous Mon traditional children games and are recognised as [[Intangible cultural heritage]] by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{Cite SSRN|date=2019|title=Local Folk Games and Health Promotion: Case Study, Saba Tossing Game of Thai Raman People in Ongkarak District, Nakornnayok Province|ssrn=3335646 |last1=Puncreobutr |first1=Vichian |last2=Wattanasan |first2=Piyada |last3=Thianthong |first3=Wilawan }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Intangible Cultural Heritage|url=http://www.unescobkk.org/culture/ich/children-games/games/by-research-sites/bkk/|website=UNESCO Bangkok}}</ref>