Abstract:
This research aimed at studying the djat, a wind instrument of the Mien people.
The research was done in Pa Changnoi subdistrict, Pong district, Payao province.
The researcher also studied the making of the djat at a Mien village in Ban Saew
subdistrict, Chiang San district, Chiang Rai province. This was qualitative research,
studying the djat’s physical characteristics, how to make a djat, and the role of the djat
in Mien culture and society.
The research found that the physical characteristics of the djat consists of five
parts : Sao or reed, Djat Jarng or mouthpiece, Djat Pien or pirouette, Djat Gaeng or
pipe, and Djat Hoy or bell. There are many steps to make a djat. The most difficult and
the longest djat making method is the making of Djat Jarng or mouthpiece because it
has a small size, so, it should be made it delicately. However, the most important part
is Sao or reed because it is the part that makes the noise. If the reed is not good, it will
cause a bad noise. The djat is played with other musical instruments such as Yoe
(Drum), Chao-Joui (Cymbals), and Law (Gong).
There are nine important roles of the djat in Mien society. They are the role in
belief, tradition and ritual, the role in entertainment and making a relationship, the role
in dividing up the work according to gender, the role in social structure, the role in the
identity of Mien, the role in communication and uniting Mien people, the role in
education and social discipline, the role in the economy and earning a living, and the
role in cultural changes