Lao Folklore Story #1 Pu Nyoe Ya Nyoe
We are Japanese volunteer group who are researching and translating folklores in Laos, a land locked country in the South-East Asia. (more detail)
This time, we completed English translation of the story, named “Pu Nyoe Ya Nyoe”.
Also, at the bottom of this article, we introduce commentary and explanation video made by Dr. Taizo Yokoyama (Reseach Director at Research Center of Lao Folklore, Luang Prabang)
This story has researched by Dr. Taizo Yokoyama, Mr.Khampeanh, and Ms.Chitsawan with a voluntary support of translation from Ms.Mei, Ms. Rio and Ms.Maya.
Once upon a time, there was a district called “Meung Paya Taen” in the sky. There was a strange, dangerous vine there. It had been growing bigger and closer to heaven, and the sunlight could no longer keep the land warm. People in “Taen district” were distressed and worried because the climate was getting colder and colder, day by day. “Khoun Boulom”, the mayor of “Taen” asked his servants about how to cut the large danger vine (kheu khao kad). He had not been able to come up with a solution himself.
Thinking upon his servant’s advice, they agreed to ask volunteers who someone could cut the vine.
However, noone came to volunteer even after seven months and seven days. Finally, one old couple, named “Pu yer” and “Ya yer” show up to become volunteer to cut a huge branch of the tree. Khoun Boulom was very happy when heard the news because he had been worried that no one would come. At the same time, when seeing older the couple showed up was than his expectation, he was not sure whether such elders would be able to cut a huge treesuccessfully.
Khoun Boulom showed appreciation to the courage of two elders when they visited his palace. There, he announced, “I will give them anything they ask for if they complete this big challenge without dying. Also, I will ask all people not to forget their names.” After listening to this offer, the two elders headed towards the high mountains, and used a giant ax to cut the vine.
Scene : Pu yer Ya yer have an audience with Khoun Boulom
“Pu yer Ya yer” took 3 months and 3 days to cut most of the kheu khao kad danger vine. Finally, the dangerous vine fell down. The lost sunlight finally came back and warmth returned to “Taen” as before. But sadly, a mountain of crumbled the tree they had cut, fell down on and pressed “Pu yer Ya yer”. Unfortunately, both of them passed away.
After the couple’s death was announced, the villagers have been expressing their condolences for the two elders to today.
Even now in Laos, when the villagers have ceremony with meals, they made it a rule to call their names, “Pu ma yer Ya ma yer, Pu kin yer: Ya kin yer” , “Ma kin Khao”, when people do not eat, Kin yer! Pu (grandfather) yer(grandmother), Ma yer (come and eat), yer (eat), ), paying homage to them every year.
In the New Year parade in Luang Prabang (in April), we can see people dressed as “Pu yer Ya yer”. It has a large round face made of wood painted red. It also has long hair made of rope and they have a lion beside them as their pet, named “Sin Kap”. The dress with face mask and their lion has been passed down from village to town, since ancient times. But, the costume always has to be fixed because “Pu yer Ya yer”s hair is pulled out by the villagers every year.
People living in Luang Prabang use the “Pu yer Ya yer” hair tie to their children’s wrists. It is believed that the string will protect the children from ghosts and evils. If children cry at night with fever, the parents try to find the “Pu yer Ya yer” hair to tie their wrists.
Those who perform the traditional ceremony as a “Pu yer Ya yer”, with the lion must be selected from the same family of ancestry, which is inherited from the past. Also, they have to respect and take care of the person who dress “Pu yer Ya yer” every time when using it in the Lao New Year. “Pu yer Ya yer” has a role in the rituals during the period. The ceremony parade starts from Xieng thong temple to Ma ha tad temple all the way.
“Pu yer Ya yer” is like a representative of ancestors of all the Lao people.
Commentary movie; Dr. Taizo Y at Research Center of Lao folklore, Lecturer at National University of Laos
https://medium.com/media/2f8c7cd144c1bce5f5898aa65edf8d10/href
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