Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Lahu people are known for their strict adherence to gender equality.
Lahu (Musoe)
Population:
103,000
Origin:
Tibet
Present locations:
Southwest China, Thailand, Myanmar
Belief system:
Theistic animism; some groups are Christian
Cultural characteristics:
The Thai term for this tribe,
moo
ยท
seu,
is derived from a
Burmese word meaning 'hunter', a reference to their skill in the forest. The Lahu tend to
live at about 1000m altitude and can be found in remote areas of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai
and Tak Provinces. They typically live in mixed ethnic villages and are an ethnically di-
verse group with five main subsets: Red Lahu (the most numerous Lahu group in Thail-
and), Black Lahu, White Lahu, Yellow Lahu and Lahu Sheleh.
Houses are built of wood, bamboo and grass, and usually stand on short wooden posts.
Lahu food is probably the spiciest of all the hill-tribe cuisines.
Traditional dress consists of black-and-red jackets with narrow skirts worn by women
and bright green or blue-green baggy trousers worn by men.
Lisu (Lisaw)
Population:
55,000
Origin:
Tibet
Present locations:
Thailand, Yunnan (China)
Belief system:
animism with ancestor worship and spirit possession
Cultural characteristics:
Lisu villages are usually in the mountains at an elevation of
about 1000m and occur in eight Thai provinces: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son,
Phayao, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai and Lampang. Patrilineal clans have pan-tribal
jurisdiction, which makes the Lisu unique among hill-tribe groups (most of which have
power centred with either a shaman or a village headman).
Homes are built on the ground and consist mostly of bamboo and thatched grass.
The women wear long multicoloured tunics over trousers and sometimes black turbans
with tassels. Men wear baggy green or blue pants pegged in at the ankles.
