This thesis has 3 major objectives; 1) to study faith and beliefs toward textiles in Buddhism 2) to study forms and patterns of textiles in Buddhism among Tai-Lue people in Chiangkham and 3) to study religious textiles in Buddhism of Tai-Lue people in Chiangkham. This study has the approach as a documentary research focusing on the study of the Tipitaka and in-depth interviews of Tai-Lue people living in Chiangkham District, Phayao Province, Thailand.

Information regarding types and details of textiles was found in limited amount in the Tipitaka. The informative contents are found in terms of the explanatory records. The practices of donating textiles are found only in Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka, but not in Abhidhamma Pitaka. The motive of textile donation originated from personal admiration of the faith and the merits from practicing Buddhism. There are two levels of the merits; namely in this world and other existence. This is not only in merits of donation, but also requires the serious observation of the Buddhist precepts and pursues of dhamma. The offering of religious textiles could be of personally made, purchased, or family heirloom.

Regarding pattern of textiles, there are several distinctive and traditional motifs, even though the weaving material has been changed. Some textiles keep the traditional pattern such as Tung, Pha Mung-Bon, and Pha Sangha. Tung Prasat and Pha Ched Noi are two textiles that are usually home-made and kept in their traditional pattern. Pha Ched Noi is more popular for donation because it is rather simple in making and affordable. On the contrary, Tung Prasat is more costly and difficult to weave. However, with the beliefs in Buddhist cosmology, Tung Prasat remains as important donation. There seem to be no practice of scripture covering cloths offering among Tai-Lue in the last 40 years. 

With strong faith in Buddhism, Tai-Lue seems to take serious respects to the Triple Gem. Although it is not shown in the interviews, the respect can be found from the way they make textiles offerings for the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha. There are various types of textiles used for offering in Buddhism as a result of beliefs in good merits from donation. The merits also are distributed to the deceased ancestors. All above are the results traditional beliefs in Buddhism which affect Tai-Lue’s lifestyle up to now. For example, Tarn-Tung, which is Tung Prasat offering hoping to gain wellness in the next life happen during Songkran festival. Tarn-Horpha which is the small model house offering during Tarn-Dham traditional ceremony in the month of March is another example.