Academic research concerning traditional forms of Lao law mainly emphasises Lao Buddhist law codes (Lao: kotmaai buuhaan),
which had been developed under the influence of Theravada Buddhism from the 14th century on. These Buddhist law codes
were of a special juridical significance in religious and political centres such as Luang Prabang and Vientiane, for example,
where Lao Buddhist kings or noblemen of (major) müang resided. At the village level and in minor müang, especially at the
periphery where the influence and control of the rulers of major müang was not as strong as in the administrative centres,
the Buddhist law codes were of less importance than the traditional Lao hiit - khoong codes. Even in the Buddhist centres,
the hiit - khoong code, though in a “Buddhicised” version, continued to be valid. A short version of the hiit sipsoong
khoong sipsii even had been inserted in Lao Buddhist law codes, as in the raajasaat, and the phoosaraat lä
sangkhapakoon codes, for example.
This article analyses the hiit sipsoong - khoong sipsii codes of the Lao in special. The main elements of the codes are presented,
and social values of the Lao and the influence of Buddhism are discussed.