A Fading Tradition, Part 1Illuminating the Living Tradition of Lao Manuscript Culture

9 July 2025

A new film by Agnieszka Helman-Wazny and Volker Grabowsky, two experts in Southeast Asian manuscript cultures and papermaking traditions, sheds light on one of the world’s few remaining regions where traditional manuscript culture continues to thrive: the forests and villages surrounding Luang Prabang in Laos.

Unlike many regions where ancient manuscript cultures have disappeared under the pressures of globalisation, Laos stands out as a place where the production of manuscripts has never ceased. Throughout the 20th century and into the present day, monks and lay scribes in Laos have preserved ancient techniques of writing and book-making, maintaining a continuous lineage that connects present practitioners with centuries of tradition.

Thousands of manuscripts, crafted on palm leaves and traditional handmade papers, are safeguarded in monasteries and private collections across Laos. Yet, documentation of the tangible techniques used to create these artefacts is scarce, leaving a gap in our understanding of how these precious documents were — and still are — produced. As a result, despite the vibrancy and importance of this culture, Lao book-making remains barely known in the West.

Recognising the urgent need to preserve the knowledge of these fading traditions, Agnieszka Helman-Wazny and Volker Grabowsky have spent years conducting field research in the countryside of northern Laos. Their sustained engagement has enabled them to record the voices and stories of expert practitioners who continue to produce manuscripts using time-honoured methods. ‘A Fading Tradition’, their new documentary, brings these rarely-seen practices to an international audience, offering unique insights into Lao manuscript culture and the enduring skill of its craftspeople.

The film explores how traditional papermaking techniques contribute to the distinctive material features of Lao manuscripts, advancing our ability to study and preserve these objects in archives and libraries worldwide. By capturing the living processes and personal testimonies of practitioners, the film both documents a unique cultural heritage and advocates for its protection.

‘A Fading Tradition’ was produced as part of the CSMC project on the ‘History of Paper of Ethnic Groups in Southwest China and Mainland Southeast Asia (in Zomia)’ (RFA06), led by Helman-Wazny. A further documentary focusing on the manuscript culture of Thailand is currently in preparation and will be released shortly.