Trang, July 5 – Unveiling the ancient wooden coffin-making profession that has been passed down from generation to generation. Although air-conditioned coffins and cheaper plywood coffins have replaced them, the elderly in the community still tell their children to put their bodies in wooden coffins, even if they cost tens of thousands of baht, generating income for those who do this profession of 30,000-80,000 baht per month.

Mr. Thirawat Woonpan, 32 years old, uses the vacant space next to his house in Village No. 8, Ko Pia Subdistrict, Yan Ta Khao District, Trang Province, to open a factory to make wooden coffins in the old-fashioned way since his grandfather’s generation. They use jackfruit wood, artificial neem wood, santol wood, or wood that customers bring in. Prices start at 9,500-12,000 baht per piece, depending on the difficulty of the wood or the size of the deceased. Most take one day to make them. Each month, he sells 3-4 coffins, up to 8 coffins per month, generating income of 30,000-80,000 ba
ht per month.

Mr. Thirawat Woonpan, a maker of ancient wooden coffins, said that wooden coffins are still popular only with the elderly. They will not buy bodies from accidents because they are not stored in the same condition as air-conditioned coffins. Wooden coffins are only used by the elderly aged 60 and above, whose bodies will be stored for several months or for some bodies for a year, at least 5 months or more. They will not emit odors for 2 years, even if the body is inside, because the wood is durable.

Source: Thai News Agency