An Exploration of Traditional Houses and Belief Systems of the White Hmong: A Case Study of Kong Kham Village, Houaphanh Province, Lao PDR

Abstract

This study investigates house-building beliefs among the White Hmong in Kongkham Village, Xiengkhor District, Houaphanh Province, Lao PDR. The study aims to: (1) examine the house construction process among the White Hmong in Kongkham Village; and (2) investigate their traditional beliefs associated with house construction. The study involved five villagers from Kongkham Village, Xiengkhor District, Houaphanh Province. Data were collected through interviews and field investigations, supplemented by relevant literature and oral histories. The study analyzed the house construction procedures and traditional beliefs of the White Hmong to explain the construction process and the internal and external structures of their houses.

The findings reveal that the house construction process among the White Hmong consists of several stages: preparing building materials, selecting a house site, beginning construction, dividing interior spaces, and constructing exterior structures. The building materials are derived from natural resources. The division of interior spaces is guided by traditional beliefs, while the exterior structures vary according to the surrounding natural environment. The interior structure, in particular, is closely associated with various traditional beliefs.

House-building beliefs are observed throughout the construction process, including the preparation of building materials, the selection and preparation of the building site, the determination of auspicious dates and times, and the commencement of construction. Each White Hmong house incorporates beliefs associated with its interior structure. Sue Kha is regarded as the household spirit and the spiritual protector of the male head of the household. The spirit associated with the spirit door is believed to protect the female head of the household. The central pillar spirit is associated with the main pillar of the house, while ancestral spirits include both paternal and maternal ancestral spirits. These beliefs reflect the spiritual significance of the house and the relationship between its physical structure, household members, and ancestral traditions.