Wmltusa at 00:03, 29 December 2025

2025-12-29T00:03:55Z

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{{short description|Traditional conical hat of Assam, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox instrument
| name = Jaapi
| image = Jaapi of Assam.jpg
| image_size = 300 px
| alt =
| caption = A jaapi
| background =
| names =
| related =
*''[[Nón lá]]'' ([[Vietnam]])
*''Do'un'' ([[Cambodia]])
*''Koup '' ([[Laos]])
*''khamauk'' ([[Myanmar]])
*''dǒulì'' ([[China]])
}}
'''Jaapi''' or '''Japi''' ([[Bodo language|Bodo]]: Khofri) is an [[Asian conical hat]]. It is made from tightly woven [[bamboo]] and/or cane and ''tokou paat'' ([[Trachycarpus martianus]]) a large, [[Palm (plant)|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 [[Chutia people|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.{{sfn|Khanikar|1991|p=100}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://brahmaputra.ceh.vjf.cnrs.fr/bdd/IMG/pdf/parallele_ahom-assamais2-2.pdf |title="Then the Sutiyâ king desired to send silver and gold lipped Jâpi (''Kup-ngiun-kham''), gold bracelets (''Mao-kham''), gold basket (''Liu-kham''), gold ring (''Khup-kham''), gold bookstand (''Khu-tin-kham''), gold pirâ (''Kham-ku''), horse (''Ma''), elephant (''Chang-pai''), and two Âroans (''Phra-nun'') and Xorais (''Phun'') to the Ahom king." |access-date=7 February 2020 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728195005/http://brahmaputra.ceh.vjf.cnrs.fr/bdd/IMG/pdf/parallele_ahom-assamais2-2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> After annexing [[Sadiya]] in 1524, the Ahom king received a lot of treasure and bounty, which included Jaapis.{{sfn|Mahanta|1945|p=10}} 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 people|Shan]] state in present [[Kachin State]] of [[Upper Myanmar]] (called Nora in [[Buranji]]s) who had attacked Sadiya.{{sfn|Bhuyan|1960|p=62}} During the Ahom rule, ''Jaapi-hajiya Khel'' (guild for making Jaapis) was monopolised by [[Chutia people | Sutiyas]], which indicate that they were experts in weaving Jaapis.<ref>"The Sutiyas were engaged in all kind of technical jobs of the Ahom kingdom. For example, the Khanikar Khel (guild of engineers) was always manneed by the Sutiyas. The Jaapi-Hajiya Khel (guild for making Jaapis) was also monopolished by them."{{harvcol|Dutta|1985|p=30}}</ref> Apart from this, the [[Baro-Bhuyan]]s 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.{{sfn|Bhuyan|1960|p=135}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Rice 02.jpg|A [[rice]] farmer in northern [[Cambodia]] wearing a {{lang|km-Latn|do'un}} 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
</gallery>

==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.{{sfn|Handoo|2003|p=46}}<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=reuQbFK9Rz4C&dq=jAPI+WORN+Bihu+dance,&pg=PA98|title=Assam General Knowledge|publisher=Bright Publications|isbn=9788171994519|pages=98}}</ref>

==Types==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* 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.
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Conical Asian hat]]
*[[Culture of Assam]]
*[[List of hat styles]]
*[[List of headgear]]
*[[Textiles and dresses of Assam]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Citation |last=Dutta |first=Sristidhar |title=The Mataks and their Kingdom |publisher=Chugh Publications |place=Allahabad |year=1985}}
* {{citation|last=Khanikar|first=S|title=Chutia Jaatir Itihax aru Luko-Sanskriti|year=1991}}
* {{citation|last=Bhuyan|first=Surjya K.|title=Satsari Buranji|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.452953/page/n86/mode/1up|year=1960}}
* {{citation|last=Handoo|first=Jawaharlal|title=Folklore in the Changing Times|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8VuAAAAMAAJ&q=Japi+is+a+traditional+symbol+of+Assamese+folk+culture|publisher=Indhira Gandhhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya|year=2003|location=Original from Indiana University}}
* {{citation |last=Mahanta |first=S |title=Assam Buranji.D.H.A.S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YELHow5lP9kC |year=1945}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120220023856/http://www.teafestivalassam.com/generalinfo.html Some information about Assamese culture]

{{Hats}}
{{Clothing}}
{{Clothing in South Asia}}
{{Assam}}

[[Category:History of Asian clothing]]
[[Category:Pointed hats]]
[[Category:Textiles and clothing of Assam]]
[[Category:Bamboo weaving]]

Jaapi - Revision history

Wmltusa at 00:03, 29 December 2025