Tsüngkotepsü

A Tsüngkotepsü is a warrior shawl created

by the Ao Nagas of Nagaland.
Traditionally, the Tsüngkotepsü could only
be worn by warriors who had successfully
taken the heads of enemy warriors,[1] In
modern times, the right to wear the
Tsüngkotepsü is associated with
performing a mithun sacrifice, a
demonstration of wealth[1] and are a
distinctive symbol of the Ao Nagas.[2]
History
In pre-colonial Ao society, shawls were
used as a marker of social status.[3] The
Tsüngkotepsü was the highest-ranking
male shawl.

Design and symbolism

The shawl is black and red striped with a
single white stripe in the middle containing
depictions of animals and other symbols
and a brighter red region at the bottom.[2]
There are symbols in the white region
representing the sun, the moon and the
stars, which represent the resulting fame
of warriors who wear the shawl. There are
also several animals depicted in the
strip,[2] which are symbolic of the physical
power and the valour of the warrior: a
hornbill, a culturally significant bird whose
feathers are used for decorative purpose
in ceremonial costumes, is often depicted,
as are mithun, which represent the wealth
of the warrior. (as only wealthier members
of the tribe could afford to rear mithun). A
spear, dao and cock are common motifs in
the section depicting the animals.[2]

The symbols in the white band are

sometimes replaced with depictions of
mithun, which also represent the wealth
and success of the warrior, and there may
be elephant and tiger pattern prints on the
shawl to symbolise the strength of the
warrior.[2]

Cultural impact
Various Naga ethnic groups are well-
known for their shawls, and the
Tsüngkotepsü is one of the most well-
known examples.[4]

Every Time You Tell a Story

In January 2015, the filmmakers Ruchika

Negi and Amit Mahanti produced a
documentary about the Tsüngkotepsü
titled Every Time You Tell a Story, which
aims to document and preserve the
cultural tradition surrounding the shawl.[1]
The film was screened in March 2017 by
the India Foundation for the Arts.[5] The
documentary claims to "offer an
interpretation of history, a way of
understanding the shifts that this shawl-
making tradition has experienced when
confronted with the certitudes of history –
colonialism, new religion and assimilation
in the Indian State."[5]

See also
 Naga shawl
Ao Naga
Nagaland

References
1. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (9 January 2015).
"Wrapped in history" (http://www.thehindu.c
om/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayrevie
w/wrapped-in-history/article6768824.ece) .
Thehindu.com. Retrieved 5 October 2017 –
via www.thehindu.com.
2. Richa Prakash; Sharada Devi; D. Anitha
(August 2013). "Handcrafted Shawls of
Nagaland" (http://www.ijsrp.org/research-p
aper-0813/ijsrp-p2017.pdf) (PDF).
International Journal of Scientific and
 Research Publications. 3. ISSN 2250-3153
(https://www.worldcat.org/issn/2250-315
3) .
3. "CRAFTS of North-East - Textiles of
Nagaland" (http://ignca.gov.in/craft256.ht
m) . Ignca.gov.in. Retrieved 5 October
2017.
4. "Tsungkotepsu Shawls, Other Weaves and
Textiles from Nagaland, India" (http://thecul
turemaze.com/tsungkotepsu/) .
Theculturemaze.com. Retrieved 5 October
2017.
5. "Every Time you Tell a Story - March 26,
2015 - Mumbai - India Foundation for the
Arts" (http://www.indiaifa.org/events/every-
time-you-tell-story-march-26-2015-mumba
 i.html) . Indiaifa.org. Retrieved 5 October
2017.

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