 |
We might be familiar with the tribe of Tai Lue and theirculture that can be easily found in Nan and most of the upper north provinces, however, an-cestors of Nan were actuallyfrom Tai Yuan. The popula-tion of Nan is approximately 514,688 comprising the vari-ous tribes as follows
Tai Yuan is the found the most in Nan, living and doingagriculture in basin areas along Nan River. Some scholarspresume they are Nan's ancestors that had moved from Lanchang living in the left side of Maekong River.
Tai Lue was based in the border line between SipsongPanna, Chiantung, Lao, and Lanna. They had immigrated intoSiam many times for several reasons i.e. privation, oppression from Chinese and Burmese, refugee from China revolution, commerce, etc. Tai Lue and Tai Yuan share similar cultures interms of language, religious, costume, food, handicrafts, and especially the "Ed-Na-Mueang-Loom" production or paddy-seed-ling farming. The cultural uniqueness of Tai Lue is Lai-Nam-Lhai pattern weaving textile, and Lue pattern. The weaving technique is so called "Kao" (scratch) or "Luang" (pick).
Lua / Tin is the original tribe in Nan including some who moved from Chaiburi districtin Lao PDR. Tin is an official name for original community in Nan. Lua people generally locate their residence up at 2,500 - 3,000 above sea level. Along the subriver of Nan such as Namwang, Namwa, andNammang, people earn their living |
by growing upland rice, selling forest products, and basketry making, for instance. However, in many villages people still believe in nature-related ghosts such as forest ghost, water ghost, field ghost, and ancestor ghost. Thebiggest tradition of the year is "Sa-lode" or "Kin Dok Dang" which celebrates the offspring, and welcomes the new producing year. Currently, most Lua people settle down in Ampur Chaloem Prakiat, Ampur Bor-Kluea, Pua, Tungchang, and Chiangklang. |
Kamu was presumed to be located in borders of Nan andLaos for over 200 years ago, and that in the year 2343 B.E.they were forced to be workmanship for Nan city wall. JamesF. McCarthy who made a mapping survey in the north regionduring 2433-2436 B.E., mentioned that there were 2 groups of Kamu - Kah Lao (under Laos - governance), Kah Kwan (under Nan's governance). Kamu people have a reputation of beingskill-blacksmith, making good quality of metal equipments such as knife, sword, spud, hoe, etc.
Hmong (Maew) descended from Tibet highland, Siberia, and Mongolia to China, Laos, and Thailand. It is believed that Hmong had immigrated to Nan during 2433-2442 B.E.. They are skillful in commerce, cattle, growing industrial crop such aslychee, longan, as well as silverware making. They believe that silver represents richness and auspice. |
Mien Old Man |
 |
Yao (Mian) descended from Yunnan, Hunnham, Guangxi, Guang Zhou, and other cities from east China. Their residences are located over 1,000 meters above sea level. There- fore, Mian's cultures are influenced from Chinese such as language, husband's lastname adoption, using of Sae (Chinese family name), Chinese new year. Most Mian people are living in Ampur Muaeng, skillful in embroidery. |
|
|
