HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT TAI NEUA?

Jay Jatar Tai Neua (Tai Neua's Birth Record)

2012-01-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

Everyone has their birth record after being born. But do you know the way to do the birth record is different? Tai Neua has their way to do the birth record as well. What are different?

Tai Neua, after the baby was born, the father, or relatives will go to the elders who know traditions and cultures including astrology to do a birth record for their baby.

The elder will do the birth record for the baby based on astrology or the tradition way such as Chai, Pao, Yee, Mao, Sii, Sai, Sagna, Met, Sun, Lao, Set, Kai which those are animal, Lao = Kai or cock for instance.

The most important thing is the record will be written on a white cloth which is as wide as palms or hands with the Tham alphabets, and used black and it would not be recorded by using normal calendars.

The content of birth record will indicate Name of babay, Birth day (Date, month, year), Time including what the baby relies on.

The birth record would be kept well with parents and whenever the parents do some important ceremonies for the baby, they will use the record to predict.

So do you know about Tai Neua birth record? If so, it is different? What do you know about it? Could you share with others?

Tai Neua In USA

2011-09-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

Have you heard about Tai Neua in USA? Have you heard about Tai Neua-American?

In August 6-21, 2011, I had a good opportunity to visit my relatives in USA. I spent time with my relative there for 2 weeks. I stayed at the house of my mother’s sister and brother and also with my grandparents.

Environment

In August, it is a season called spring. The environment is hot and humid as Laos, especially in WC, New York and Chicago.

There are lots of green trees in this season. Some days are hot and some days are a little bit cold and sometimes it rains.

The environment, especially in Rockford, Illinoi is calm. There are not lots of houses and cars. There are lots of lands and spaces.

Looking at houses, especially buildings in the city are old.

Life of Tai Neua People In USA

Life of Tai Neua in USA is different from Laos. They are more private than Tai Neua in Laos.

Looking at outside, all of Tai Neua people in USA seem to be comfortable and happy. They all have a nice house and fancy car. They don’t need to walk.

In addition, they have lots of comfortable things inside their house like washing machine, TV, Video, etc. for using.

However, they are busy. Their life relies on their job. Some of them work at the day time and some work at night. Some don’t even have time for their family and their children.

Without a job, their life faces a lot of difficulties such as no money for living and pay tax, especially pay for medical care which is very expensive. In USA, buying every things are deducted for tax.

They only have free time on the weekend which they will stay at home or have a small party at some of friend’s house.

Friendship And Love

One good thing I was impressive at is all of Tai Neua people seem to have good solidarity and love each other.

What Language They Speak

Most of adults or elders in USA are still speaking Tai Neua language when they communicate with each other including some of Tai Neua young people.

However, some of Tai Neua young people only speak English and sometimes they speak mixed between English and Tai Neua.

Especially children don’t speak Tai Neua at all. Moreover some of them don’t even understand Tai Neua language.

Tai Neua Meals In USA

Most of them still have rice and Tai Neua dishes, especially elders or adult. But children or young people have American food like MC for instance.

Tai Neua Family in USA

Most of new families have only two children. Some have a boy and a girl and some have both boys and girls.

Education

Tai Neua in USA has high education. The family encourages their son or daughter getting high education as high as possible. There are some of them getting Master degree and have a great job as well.

Tai Neua Culture In USA

Most of them still believe in Buddhism. They have Buddhist temple as a place to make merit and perform Buddhist ceremony including Tradition and Culture like Buddhist lent, Khao Wa Sa for instance.

In addition, they still respect Ancestors and make merit for them as belief and make Baci-ceremony for instance.

What You Think!

Many people said that life in USA is very comfortable and happy but wait a minute! I agree with that but not all of them. What do you think?

Khong Sip Si

2011-04-28T04:20:00.000-07:00

Tai Neua has also Khong Sip Si. Khong Sip Si is a long with Heed Sip Song which we always heard from elders ‘Heed Sip Song Khong Sip Si’. Khong Sip Si is a rule for practice which is related to Buddhism. There is Khong Sip Si for both common people and leaders. There are 14 rules as follow:

Khong Sip Si (for the people, especially women)

1. When the crops are ready, we celebrate and let the Pras and the elderly people eat first.

2. Merchants are forbidden to fix their scales. The scales they use to buy and sell must be accurate. They cannot cheat customers. They must speak politely to people.

3. We must help each other build fences around the Wat, build spirit houses in the four corners of the yard, and build a spirit house inside the house to welcome the Theravada.

4. We must wash our feet before we step inside the house.

5. On Van Sin (Buddha’s Day and the Day of Fasting), we pray and place flowers on the three legs of the stove, on ladders and stairs, and on the door. We thank those things and the people who made them for being part of our lives.

6. We must wash our feet before we go to bed.

7. On Van Sin each woman must bring five or eight pairs ofcandles and flowers and put them by her husband’s feet onthe bed. She must use her hair to clean his feet, and ask for forgiveness.

8. On Van Sin Dap, Sin Pang (waxing and waning days), we invite the Pras to Vai Pra in our house and have a house festival.

9. We get up early in the morning and wait for the Pras on the street with hot rice, fruit, and a glass or a jar of water. While we put the rice into the bowl, we kneel on our knees with bare feet and our heads down. We have to be careful not to let our hand touch the alm bowl. While carrying food to the Pras, itis forbidden to carry weapons, umbrellas or babies, or to wearcloths around our heads.

10. When the Pras perform Khao Watsa and Ok Watsa, we bring flowers, candles, incense and food to the Wat.

11. When we see the Pras, we put our hands together before we talk.

12. It is forbidden to walk in the shadow of the Pras. We do not walk too close to the Pras.

13. It is forbidden to feed the Pras or the husband with leftover food.

14. It is forbidden to have sex on Van Sin, holidays, or our birthdays

Khong Sip Si (For Leaders)

1. The leaders choose and appoint the men to look over the village. The men chosen must be honest, love others and have no record of abusing other people.

2. The leaders call regular community meetings. At the meetings they talk about how to help people live in peace and care about each other.

3. On the New Year, the leaders take the Prakheo, Prabang, and the Buddha statues down and sprinkle the holy water on them. Every Wat in every village celebrates for seven days and seven nights. We also pray for the Nak or Nagas (water snakes) who take care of the water and for the Theravada who take care of the land and look over us so we will have plenty of water to grow our crops.

4. During Sung Karn Khiin, the leaders invite the Pras and parade them around the village with the holy water. The Pras sprinkle the holy water on the ground and bushes while they are walking, so the evil spirits will not harm the people.

5. During Sung Karn Khiin, the leaders tell the helpers, the police, and the villagers to bring a gift of one pair of candles, white flowers, and incense to the king to show respect. Then we walk to the Cave of the Swallows to bring the images of Buddha that are kept there to the Wat and cleanse them with holy water. Afterwards, we parade the statues to every Wat in the neighborhood and bring them back to the Cave of the Swallows.

6. During Sung Karn Lueng, the leaders tell the politicians to swear in front of the Buddha statue and the Pras that they will be an honor to the country and will not mistreat people.

7. During Leuan Tiet, the leaders feed the spirits of north, south, east, and west. They follow the Heed Sip Song and the Khong Sip Si to protect the people from evil spirits so everybody will live in peace.

8. During Leuan Pet, the leaders invite the Pras to bless every corner of the village and to venerate the eight Theravadas who watch over us from the eight corners of the sky. They also bless the fifteen last names of the Nagas, who protect our riverbeds. On the last day of Deuan Pet, the leaders shoot a gun toward the sky and throw sand and soft rocks upwards to cure people who are ill.

9. During Leuan Kao, when we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh, the Feast of the Dead, the leaders tell people in the village to make rice cakes. The people bring the rice cakes to the temple to feed the ancestors who passed away a long time ago. The politicians bring the holy water to the Wat. The next day, we have the Boat Festival. At the same time, we thank the fifteen different last names of Nagas for keeping the people and the country living in peace. We offer them alcohol and food.

10. During Deuan Sip Peng, the leaders tell people to make Ho Khao Slak (rice cakes, with a jar of holy water). People give them to the Pras, then feed the ancestors who have passed away and thank the Theravada who have been looking over us and protecting us from war.

11. During Leuan Sip Et Peng, the leaders celebrate the Sim (sanctuary). They invite the Pras to bless the Sim. On the first day of the waning moon the leaders tell the people to Ly Heou Phay (put a boat made of banana trees and carrying lit candles in the water) in order to thank the fifteen different last names of the Nagas, because they keep the people and the country living in peace.

12. During Leuan Sip Song, Kine Ning Khum (first day in the twelfth month), the leaders tell people who live on the mountains and the lowland people to go to the capital (Luang Prabang) to see each other and to parade the king to the Boat Festival. The people feed and thank the Theravadas in the land, as well as in the sky, and the fifteen different last names of the Nagas for keeping peace in our country. At the same time, we bring flowers, incense, long and short firecrackers, drums, and animals. We celebrate for three days and three nights so that the people and the country will live in peace.

13. The leaders of the priesthood follow the Five- and Eight- Fold Path and Four Sublime States of Consciousness: Karuna, (compassion); Metta, (loving kindness); Mudita, (sympathetic joy); and Upekkha, (equanimity). They must be honest to the country and must not abuse the people.

14. The leaders must do fourteen perfect things: be wise in words, be wise in teaching, be moral, be collectors, be predictors, be brave elders, be honest to the heads of the villages and the people, be psychically wise, be honest men, be knowledgeable of the boundaries, be good rich merchants, be good herbal medicine men who know how to cure illness, be good at geography and census-taking, and be good to the Theravadas.

Today, some people still practice the Khong Sip Si. Some practice only part of it. The young generations are confused. They do not understand it whatsoever. It could be that they are not interested or they just ignore it. It is sad to see it disappear.

Do you know have any idea? Do you know any Khong Sip Si? Could you share with others?

Heed Sip Song

2011-04-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Tai Neua also has Heed Sip Song. One thing we can refer to is sometimes elders will metion it 'Heed Sip Song Khong Sip Si'. However there are not lots of Tai Neua people know what it is.

In fact, Heed Sip Song is kind of a list of yearly activity based on the ethnic calendar which is each family has to follow or perform through the year. There are 12 events as follow:

1. In the first month, Leuan Tieng, we feed the spirits. The spirits are the ghosts of our ancestors, who take care of the water, land, sky, and forest. The Pras are invited to chant in areas where bad spirits are suspected to reside.

2. In the second month, Leuan Gni, we invite the Pras to bless the rice. In this month, people have finished harvesting their crops. Before we eat the rice, we give thanks or have a ceremony.

3. In Deuan Sam Peng, when there is a crescent moon, we celebrate the festivals Khao Chee and Ma Ka Buxa (the Roasted Rice Festival and the Festival of the Flowers).

4. In Leuan Si, we place flowers before Buddha’s statue in our homes and in the Wat. We also go to the Wat every evening during this month to listen to the Pras chant.

5. In Leuan Har, we invite the Pras to bless the cloth one day before the New Year arrives. When the sun rises the next morning we bring rice, water, and food to the Wat to give to the Pras and to the people who have morals and neither lie nor abuse. When the food has been blessed we give it to the Buddha’s spirit, to our parents, and to our husbands. We take the statues down from the Wat for people to wash. We plant grass in front of our homes and invite the Pras over to chant for seven days and seven nights. Then we feed the Pras. After feeding the Pras, we build four small spirit houses at the four corners of our yard and then put long cloths around them. We then invite monks to chant for the spirit houses. Then we use the holy cloth to surround our home for seven days and seven nights. On the seventh day, we put seven bowls full of water and invite the Pras to bless them. Then we sprinkle the holy water around the house. Also during Deuan Ha, we write five magic words on paper or on pieces of thin copper and hang them on the front door for seven days and seven nights to keep evil spirits away from our homes. The magic words are: Anu, Vevanavava, Pana, Ma-A-Au-Na-Mo, Puthagna. During the seven days and nights that the magic words hang on the doors, people are not allowed to enter or leave the house. No one inside can go out, and no one outside can come in.

6. In Leuan Hoc, we celebrate the Visakha Bouxa, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, and Boun Bang Fay, the Fire Festival. During the full moon, we bring the cleaned statues back to the Wat and place flowers before them.

7. In Leuan Tiet, we feed the Theravada (the angels), four of whom take care of the four corners of the world and eight of whom take care of eight sides of the world.

8. In Leuan Pet, when there is a full moon, we invite the Pras to stay in the Wat at Khao Watsa (the beginning of rainy season). This occurs in the eighth Laotian month (the full moon of July). The Pras have to stay in their own Wat from July until October, or until Ok Watsa. We tell our friends to bring big homemade wax candles, food, and flowers to give to the Pras. We also go to the Wat to Fung Tham (listen to the Pras chant).

9. The ninth month coincides with the period from late August to early September. During the ninth month, Deuan Kao, we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh, the Feast of the Dead. On the morning of this holiday we bring a jar of water, rice, and rice cakes to the Wat and we let the Pras bless them. We feed the Pras and the spirits of our ancestors. We put the rice and the rice cakes on the grass. Then we call the spirits to eat them. While we are calling the spirits, we drop some water on the ground so the spirits can have some water to drink.

10. In Leuan Sip Peng, the tenth month (September-October), we celebrate Ho Khao Slak. We bring fruit, rice, and rice cakes to the Wat to be blessed by the Pras. We celebrate this festival the same way as we celebrate Ho Khao Padap Dinh.

11. In Leuan Sip Et we invite the Pras to stay for Ok Watsa (the end of rainy season). Boun Ok Watsa occurs in the eleventh month (October). We feed the Pras rice, fruits and food. We also give them yellow or white robes to wear on the next Khao Watsa. We also ask them to stay for the next Khao Watsa.

12. Right after Ok Watsa until Leuan Sip Song Pang, we celebrate Boun Khan Thinh (the Money Trees Celebration). We cut a branch or some bamboo, and on it we hang money, books, pens, pencils, packs of cigarettes and other things on the tree. We then give the money tree to the Pras, so the monks will have materials for writing and money to spend on fixing the Wat. We also celebrate the national religious holiday this month. This festival is called Boun Pra Thad Luang.

Today people cannot perform as many of these rituals as they used to because they don't know what it is as well as they are not interested in Heed Sip Song. On top of that, some think this is out of date!

However different places practice Heed Sip Song different way. Sometimes the activity is also different from above mentioned. Do you know any Tai Neua Heed Sip Song? Could you share with others?

Gam Tai Neua (Tai Neua Language)

2011-04-12T01:01:00.000-07:00

These days, some of us even speak Tai Neua, but we speak by using only Tai Neau accent. We really don’t use much real Tai Neua word.

Actually, even though Tai Neua Language, there are lots of words being similar with other languages like Lao, Leu, etc. But there are lots of words being different from other language as well. I'll give you some of example which you can use it daily.

However, please note that even though I tried to write down here, but the accent is something difficult to make it as Tai Neua accent or the tone of Tai Neua therefore, it needs to ask Tai Neua for real accent with Tai Neua people.

Arjang (behavior, character)

Aenoy (baby)

Ae mun (heart of )

Aay (Mr..)

Cheua kheua (race)

Ee (Miss.)

Faanghaay (not nice)

Gaa (go)

Gun (if)

Gerd (think)

Gark (big spoon)

Gan tork (hammer)
Gaep (shoe)

Hopo (head of group)

Hed mao keung mao kang (not completed)

Horm lone (mint)

Im xim (Phak ee tou)

Jaay (elder brother)

jin (eat)

jeng (kieng)

Jai (right, be )

Jaam touy (try on)

Je ne (tidy)

Joe (being born)

Jerng (martial art)

Jorm (accompany with)

Khogol (shield)

Khaem gin hor (very good)

Korm gou (pencil)

Khoy (envy)
Kin (so, very)

Len nar len ta (not respect)
Louk on (child)
Laak Len (chaak ka chee)

Merd (finish)

Man to jaay eur (accidently)

Mo (pot)

Maak Kouy Keng (Maak See Da)

Mao aeng hor (Crazy, mental)

Mark goui (fist)

Mark khi loung (ball)

Moi (tired)

Moi kin (so tired)

Naay (hate)

Naay (grandma)

Naay Nang Nar (hate)

Nung nar (naughty)

Narp te nai ga pang khao paay nar (from now on)

Oad (tell)

Ou (yaa, grandma)

Pork (peel)

Peuksanar (dull)

Phid mo po hai (having trouble with one but doing bad thing with another)

Pou (Phor Pou, grandpa)

Pik pork (go back)

Por Por ( sit)
Poy (festival)

Toay (look)

Ted im xim (so quiet)

Ta (grandpa)

Te gone on se nun (before)

Un nai (this one)

Vote fa (support a man to be a monk)

Waan (bowl)

Wone (boon. Lao)

Waayaak (disobey)

War Paed (lei)

Xon thii (careful thinking)

Xang (underestimate)

Xouk xark (bother)

Yaapi (don’t) Yao haang (not be able to do)

Yao haang (not be able to do)

Yar pi ga (don’t go)

Yieng (elder sister)

Yar pi hed sa pork (Never do it)

Yiing (tai neua traditional song)

Gam Tai Neua is one of Tai Neua identities. As Lao proverb said “Pha Sa Bork Saad Malayaad Bork Ta Koun” (language indicates the nation and manner indicates where we are). Without Tai Neua language, it is difficult to tell who we are and where we are from.

Therefore, we should ask and learn Tai Neua language with elders, speak Tai Neua to each other with Tai Neua words more and more.

Again, don’t forget that WE SHOULD SPEAK TAI NEUA WITH TAI NEUA ACCENT AND ALSO WITH REAL TAI NEUA WORD.

Do you know any real Tai Neua word? Could you share with other Tai Neua?

Poy Wang Fai Tai Neua (Tai Neua Rocket Festival)

2011-04-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

Tai Neua also has Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival) as other ethnic groups in Laos which is one of other Tai Neua traditions. Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival) will be organized every year. Traditionally, the rocket festival is the sixth Lunar month ceremony that Lao people have conducted for many generation(s). What is history? Why does Tai Neua people still organize Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival)?

Rocket Festival's History

Once upon a time, when the lord Buddha was not yet enlightened, he had to be born and reborn to accumulate sufficient merit fitting to be the Buddha. In one of his lives, he was born Phya Khankhaak, the Toad King.

Because of his merit making and loving kindness, all the humans and animals respected him. The news of this well-respected human king made the rain god, Phya Thaen so jealous and humiliated.

In order to spoil the name of the Toad King, Phya Thaen did not send the rain to the earth for 8 years and 8 months. People had no water for cultivation and consumption. A huge number of vulnerable people and animals died. Only the strong could survive.

All surviving creatures on earth decided to fight Thaen for rain. The Naga King and his naga or mythical serpent troops volunteered to start the war against the god of rain. In this battle, the Naga King and his naga or mythical serpent troops lost and they received many wounds. After the wounds were healed, the naga and snakes' bodies became multi coloured.

Then the King of Bees and his army took over the war. The fighting took many days and huge numbers of bees were killed. The King of Bees and his troops met the same fate as the Naga army and their bodies became multi-coloured as well.

All other creatures were very afraid. Finally, the Toad King decided to go to the front and he had a clever plan of three steps. The first step, he sent the termites to eat the handles of the swords of the god of rain and his army.

The second step, he sent the King of Scorpions and his troops to the sky to hide themselves in the firewood and clothing of the gods and goddesses and be ready to bite at any time. In the morning when the God of Rain and his soldiers woke up, they would be bitten when they took their firewood and when they got dressed. When they took the handles of the swords, all handles would be destroyed and broken and become useless.

The third steps, the Toad King ordered his troops to begin the fight. Since the God of Rain's soldiers were suffered from the bites of scorpions, they were not brave enough to fight. When they took the weapons, all their weapons became useless. The King of the Toads sat on the horse back and chased after the God of Rain. And finally the God of Rain was captured and tied up. The King of Toads was the winner. They made an important treaty after they had seized the God of Rain.

The peace treaty was made. Some articles were outlined as follow:

1. The rocket must be made to communicate between the earth people and the God of Rain. Every year, before the rainy season arrives, the earth people have to prepare the rockets and send them to the sky to remind the God of Rain to pour the rain down for ricefields and other crops.

2. The sounds of the frogs are the signals to show that the rain has already fallen down. So when the rain arrives, the frogs have to shout out, signaling that there is plenty of rain available for rice planting.

3. Kites and the flute sounds are the means of signaling that the harvest season has arrived. There is no longer need for rain. When the God of Rain hears these sounds, he has to stop sending the rain and wait until he sees the rocket in the next year.

Type of Rocket

There are two types of the rockets. The first type has no tail. These are : Wangfaiphou, Wangfaiphaniang, Wangfaitalai, Wangfai dokmai, Wangfaikongkao, Wangfaima. The second type has tail and classified as four sorts as below :

1. Wangfainoi is the small rocket. It is used to check that the rain will arrive on time or not. If it goes very high up that means lucky.

2. Wangfaihoi is the one which contained less than 12 kilos of gun powder. It was made for competition.

3. Wangfaimune is the one which contained between 12 kilos to 119 kilos of gun powder.

4. Wangfaisene is the biggest rocket which contained 120 kilos of gun powder.

Why do we prepare the rocket festival?

Poy Wang Fai (Rocket Festival) is a very important event that we could not abandon since the early period of time. It is also the important symbol of unity and friendship used to fight against dry weather and to request rain.

Even though, belief in the rain god is less now than in former times, the Lao still respect this tradition and continue to prepare the rocket festival as one of the most significant activities that takes place before of the season of rice cultivation. In addition to the preparation of rockets, there are some Buddhist ceremonies such as waterblessing rituals that the senior monks perform at the same event.

The Rocket festival is the only annual chance the farmers have to request rain from the god called Phaya Thaen. Because of the strong belief held since ancient times, when the land was dry and farmers did not have enough water for rice production. So the rocket festival were instituted..

It is the one means for human beings to communicate symbolically with the god to request rain.

Conclusion is even if the rocket festival is the old tradition, Tai Neua people are still believe because the festival made good results as follow :

1. To promote the friendship relations among the villagers.

2. To keep the ethnic group heritage.

3. Describing conditions of people lives.

4. Be confidence to gain rain from God for crops cultivation.

5. Reduce the worries by merits and fun making.

6. Motivate people and tourists.

7. Better markets promotion and gain more incomes.

What do you think of Rocket Festivals? Do you know any think about Tai Neua Rocket festival?

A History Related To Tai Neua In Meuangsing And Bokeo

2011-04-01T05:15:00.000-07:00

Archaeological evidence including stone tools found in the Nam Jook River Valley in Vieng Phoukha and cliff paintings near Nale suggest that Luang Namtha Province was inhabited as early as 6,000 years ago.

The first local written account of the province’s history appears in the Xieng Khaeng Chronicles that recount the founding of Xieng Khaeng on the banks of the Mekong River in the early 15th century by Chao Fa Dek Noi, a Tai-Lue that originated in the court of Chiang Rung.

Xieng Khaeng grew into a modest principality that later found itself under the influence of the Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand until the early 16th century and then become a Burmese vassal from the mid 16th to the early 19th century. Beginning in the first half of the 19th century, Xieng Khaeng fell under Siamese domination and suffered from numerous conflicts.

In 1885 Chao Fa Silinor eventually led more than 1,000 Tai-Lue subjects to what is present day Muang Sing for both strategic military reasons and in search of more expansive agricultural land. South of Muang Sing it appears that there were considerable population movements taking place from the 16th to the 19th century as well, in both the Nam Tha Valley and Vieng Phoukha.

In 1587 a group of 17 Tai-Yuan families arrived in the Nam Tha Valley from Chiang Saen, settling near present-day Vieng Tai Village. By 1624 Muang Houa Tha was established under the traditional Tai Muang administrative structure, ruled by 4 nobles of the Saenhansulin family.

In 1628, Pathat Phoum Phouk and Pathat Phasat were constructed as symbols of friendship and neutrality between Muang Houa Tha and Chiang Saen. The original Pathat Phoum Phouk still exists and is located south of Luang Namtha Township. The ruins of Pathat Prasat, on the other hand, are north of town near the source of the Nam Dee Stream but have almost completely disappeared.

Vieng Phoukha was also prospering by the 17th century, with the construction of dozens of Buddhist monasteries and pagodas in the Nam Jook and Nam Fa River valleys. Evidence of what must have been a large population in Vieng Phoukha can be seen just north of the district capital, where an extensive khou vieng (earthen rampart) surrounds the ruins of sprawling Vat Mahaphot and many smaller pagodas.

Though Muang Houa Tha enjoyed peace and stability through most of the 17th century, beginning in 1709 a series of natural disasters weakened the Muang and it briefly came under the influence of the Sipsongpanna Kingdom centered in southern China. A population exodus to Muang Sing, Muang Nan (Thailand) and Muang Ngern (Sayabouli Province) ensued, eventually causing the Nam Tha Valley to become nearly completely abandoned for 155 years.

During the late 1700’s prior to the reign of Chao Fa Silinor, one of the first main population movements into Muang Sing began with a group of Tai-Lue from Xieng Khaeng, led by a woman named Nang Khemma. Nang Khemma was the widow of Xieng Khaeng’s ruler at the time and went on to commission the construction of That Xieng Teung Stupa in 1787. Today, That Xieng Teung remains highly revered by Tai-Lue Buddhists throughout the region and is believed to contain a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha.

In 1890, the Tai-Yuan returned to the Nam Tha Valley under the aegis of Chao Luangsitthisan to re-establish Muang Houa Tha. Vat Luang Korn, one of Luang Namtha’s largest, was constructed shortly thereafter in 1892. However, the newly resettled Muang Houa Tha was to enjoy its independence for only two years.

In 1894, following a meeting between the French, British and Siamese colonists, it was agreed that Muang Houa Tha would be administered by the French and the Mekong from the northern reaches of Muang Sing to Chiang Saen would serve as the border between French Indochina and British-ruled Burma.

Not long after this divide took place the first group of Tai-Dam arrived from Sip Song Chou Tai in north western Viet Nam and established Tong Jai Village on the east bank of the Nam Tha River. At about the same time the Tai-Dam arrived, migrations of Tai-Neua, Tai-Kao, Akha, Lanten, Yao and Lahu originating in Sipsongpanna, Burma and northwest Viet Nam began to migrate to the area’s fertile valleys and the forested mountains surrounding them.

By the late-1950’s following France’s withdrawal from Indochina after their defeat at Dien Bien Phu, Muang Houa Tha again found itself embroiled in conflict - this time between the US-backed Royal Lao Army and the resistance government’s communist inspired Pathet Lao forces.

On 6 May 1962, Muang Houa Tha came under control of the Pathet Lao and was renamed Luang Namtha Province, while the area between Houei Xay and Vieng Phoukha was called Houa Khong Province, nominally controlled by the Royalists until the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in 1975.

Between 1975 and 1983 Houa Khong and Luang Namtha were administered as a single province and then partitioned into what is present day Luang Namtha and Bokeo.

AUTHOR TALK

2011-04-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

Who is ‘Tai Neua’? The answer to this question is kind of mysterious. Lots of website from the internet talked about it but it seems to be limited and inadequate.

This blog will provide you ‘Thai Neua’ related information. Some of them may be from media, a study, literatures, articles, verbal, etc. And it would be updated from time to time. Most importantly, this can be a room for sharing your thought and please kindly write to me what you know about 'Tai Neua' .

You will see other topic on the left hand side. You can read any of them as you want.

If this blog or any subjects presented are useful for you, your work and can contribute to create a good thing for this world, I would like to dedicate that to all of you who contribute to this blog.

I won’t talk much to waste your time. The further discussion we can talk via my personal email: ssouphon@gmail.com I’ll be happy to see you there.

Have a nice day and ENJOY SEARCHING THIS BLOG!

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Meuang Sing, One of Other District Where Tai Neua Lives

2011-04-01T05:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ventured deep into the northern provinces?

If not, visiting Meuang Sing district in Luang Namtha province could be a worthwhile place to begin your tour of discovery.

Meuang Sing is a mountainous district located in the north-west of Luang Namtha province.

Close to borders with Myanmar and China, it features a number of interesting tourist attractions. It also is a nexus for the Akha ethno-cultural group.

Glorious That Xieng Tung, the pride of Meuang Sing's inhabitants.

It has many historical sites including a stupa said to contain a sacred relic of the Lord Buddha himself.

Also to be found are ancient city walls and a moat, the residence of the former Meuang Sing Chaofa Panya Xekong, a colonial French garrison and traditional Tai Lue houses.

The town also boasts a hospital founded by Dr Tom Dooley, an American doctor who was stationed here in the 1960s.

Once closely linked to the Sipsongphanna Kingdom which was centred in present day Yunnan in China, the town has been influenced over the years by Chinese, Myanmar and French occupants.

Originally constructed in the 18th century following a deliberate urban plan, you can see the old city walls and moat about 7 blocks north of the museum, and also an old rampart in the northwest part of the Sing valley.

Around the corner from the District Administration Offices you will see the old French garrison.

The garrison is now used by the Lao army and is off-limits to all but official visitors.

Across the street is the former district hospital, built in 1919.

The most important religious monument and pride of Meuang Sing’s inhabitants is the That Xieng Tung (Xieng Tung stupa).

It is believed locally that the stupa contains a relic of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha.

The stupa is located on top of a hill in That village, 5 km from the centre of town on the road towards Luang Namtha.

When the stupa was first constructed remains a mystery.

From the left of the monument is a stone stairway that leads to a sacred fountain.

If you follow the path to the right of the stupa heading downhill you might be able to spot remnants of the old moat and wall that used to surround the site.

The biggest festival of the year, Boun That Xieng Tung, is held here every year during the full moon of the 12th lunar month (usually November), on the same day as the That Luang Festival.

The festivities attract a large number of people from around the province as well as Tai Leu Buddhists.

About 2 kilometres from That Xieng Tung is the multi-tiered Namkeo waterfall that can be visited as part of a guided tour from the Meuang Sing Guide office or while travelling on the Akha Experience.

You can also visit the Pha Nheuang waterfall in the Nam Ha National Protected Area in the north of the province.

About 40km by road from Luang Namtha to Meuang Sing, it’s within range for a day trip.

If you get weary on your travels to the waterfall, you should stop for some khaosoi (noodle soup) a speciality of Meuang Sing.

The name literally means “rice cut”, as the rice noodles are made by cutting a rice pancake into thin strips.

You can see khaosoi noodles being made in any of the many Tai Lue and Tai Neua villages.

To see rice noodles in the making you might try Ban Siliheuang, a Tai Neua village located on the road to Xiengkok about 2km down the road.

Meuang Sing market is one of the best places to identify the ethnic groups in northern Laos, as people from Akha, Lue, Hmong, Yao, Tai Dam and Tai Neua villages come here to sell their fruit, vegetables, meat, non-timber forest products and handicrafts.

The best time to visit the market is in the early morning.

The market is also a great place to get to know local food such as soybean paste, waffles and the local sweet “khanom” made from sticky rice and coconut.

Above all, you should visit the Meuang Sing museum to learn about local culture and history.

It boasts an interesting collection of historically and religiously significant pieces located on its top floor.

The building was once the royal residence of the Chaofa Phanya Xekong. It is open to the public from 9am to 11:30am and from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, on Monday to Friday.

The admission fee is 5,000 kip with an additional 5,000 kip to view the Akha film.

So if the provinces are calling you, come out to Meuang Sing and take a dip into the diversity of history and culture that abounds.

Meuang Sing, One of Tourist Places Related To Tai Neua

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Muang Sing features a number of interesting tourist attractions. While trekking tours and village visits should always be booked through a tour guide office (to ensure the villages will benefit from tourism), the following attractions can easily be explored without a guide. Simply stroll around town and take in its history or sample some famous food and ethnic handicrafts.

Muang Sing Town Walk

History

Muang Sing is a town of much historical significance. The museum is an old wood and brick building. This was formerly the home of the Jao Fa Noi (Little Prince), who was actually not a prince but rather an economically powerful figure in the area. The building is now residence of a private citizen. Close to the post office, around the corner from the district administration offices, you can find the old French military fort. The fort is now occupied by the Lao army. Across the street is the former hospital, built in 1919. You can search for the old city wall and moat, which is now partly dry

That Xieng Tung

That Xieng Tung (Xieng Tung Stupa) is the most important stupa in Muang Sing. It is said to contain the adam's apple of Buddha. To the left of the stupa are some stairs which lead to a sacred fountain and a sacred stone. If you follow a path to the right of the stupa downhill (be careful!) you might be able to find the old moat and wall of the stupa. The biggest festival of the year, That Xieng Tung Festival, is held here every year during the full moon of the 12th lunar month (usually in late October or early November). The stupa is located 5.5 km from the center of town, on the road towards Luang Namtha, situated on top of a hill. A dirt road leads up to it on your right as you're coming from Muang Sing.

Muang Sing Museum

The Muang Sing Museum, presenting local culture and history, has an excellent collection of historically and religiously significant pieces, located on the top floor. The building was once the royal residence of the Jao Fa (Prince), Phanya Sekong. Open 9:00 - 11:30 & 1:30 - 3:30, Monday-Friday. Admission 5,000 kip (plus 5,000 kip extra for the Akha film).

Morning Market

The Muang Sing market is one of the best places to see ethnic groups in northern Lao, as people from Akha, Lue, Hmong, Yao, Tai Dam and Tai Neua villages come to sell their fruits, vegetables, meats, non-timber forest products and crafts. The best time to visit the market is in the early morning. The market is also a great place to get to know local food such as soybean paste, waffles and local sweets ("canome") often made from sticky rice and coconut.

Attractions in Muang Sing District

Khao Soi (Noodle Shop)

Muang Sing is also known for its kao soi (noodle soup), which literally means "rice cut", as the rice noodles are made by cutting a rice pancake into strips with scissors. You can see kao soi noodles being made in the many Tai Lue and Tai Neua villages. To see rice noodle production you might try Ban Siliheung, a Tai Neua village located on the road to Xiengkok (2 km).

Tai Dam Weaving

Tai Dam weaving and textile production is mainly performed in Ban Nong Boua and Ban Xieng Yun. Look for the large weaving looms located under or beside houses. Don't be shy to sit down and drink a cup of tea if you are invited into someone's home. Just remember: Ask before you take photos and remove your shoes before entering a house. To show your gratitude and support local crafts you may choose to purchase one of their handmade textiles.

Lao Whisky
Ban Koum is known for producing the best Lao whisky (lao lao) in Muang Sing. Lao whisky is distilled in big drums outside. If you decide to try some be careful, as it is extremely strong. Ban Koum is located off the road to Luang Namtha 4 km from the center of town.

Yao Crafts
Ban Nammai is a Yao village close to the Chinese Border.,. Yao tradition is quite strong here. Every year in November/December you can see the production of bamboo paper-used for making religious ceremonies and books-in this and other nearby Yao villages. The village has developed a small handicrafts cooperative which offers a good selection of traditional Yao textiles.

Akha Villages
The Akha represent about 47% of the population in Muang Sing District. Many of the Akha villages are located in the hills and require a guide to visit. You can book tours at one of the tour operators in town.

Chinese Border
The China border is only 10 km from town and makes for a refreshing journey on a bicycle which can be rented in town. You can't cross the border, however the scenery along the way is beautiful and worth the ride.
The multi-tiered Namkeo Waterfall is located about 2 kilometers from the That Xieng Tung and can be visited as part of a guided tour from the Muang Sing Guide Office or while on the Akha Experience.

Pha Yueng Waterfall
The waterfall, found in Nam Ha National Protected Area in the north of the Luang Namtha Province, is a good place for visit. It’s located on the road to Muang Sing about 40 km northeast of Luang Namtha.

Xieng Kaeng Region
Xieng Kaeng is a largely unexplored, stunning region only a couple of hours from Muang Sing town. Due to its remoteness embedded between mountains and the Mekong River, its 13 villages (Akha and Tai Lue) are still very traditional and have remained largely isolated. As the Mekong rushes out of China into the Green Triangle bordering Myanmar, it makes its way through steep canyons before slowing down further south. This section can be accessed by boat from Xiengkok in Long District, but also by gravel road which was recently rebuilt and leads over the mountains from Muang Sing. Travelers will find beautiful green mountains with waterfalls and caves, and remote villages with still kept traditions and culture. From scenic Xieng Kaeng village, a beautiful stretch of the Mekong can be explored by boat. It is strongly recommended to only visit Xieng Kaeng with a qualified guide as the villages have only recently started to receive tourists, and negative impacts can occur quickly. The organized tours ensure that a fair price is paid to the villages, and that every family can take part in the home stay rotation system. Please make sure that you respect the culture and traditions, and take every opportunity to support the people. A good way to offer support is by purchasing products directly from the villages, such as handicraft.

Temples & Monasteries
The Tai Lue is devoutly Buddhist. Hence, there are 23 vats (temples) and monasteries in the area. Vat Luang, the most important vat in the area, is located off the main road next to the museum. Vat Namkeo Luang, which has a large monk residency, is also quite beautiful and is located on the road to Xiengkok, just as you turn off from the paved road to Namtha on the right. Vat Xieng In and Vat Xieng Lae is a short walk from Vat Luang.

Nam Keo Waterfall

Have you ever been to Meuangsing? What do you think of it?

Origin of Tai Neua Belief, Culture and Traditional

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Every ethnic group has their own belief which received from the ancestor. But what do Tai Neua people believe in? What factors is there influents Tai Neua belief?

Tai Neua is a group of minority that adapts themselves and applies other culture and traditional easily. Therefore, this is an advantage and on the other hands, it is also disadvantage.

If you live with Tai Neua people, you will notice that Tai Neua will have a mixed practice in term of belief, culture and traditional.

Tai Neua believes in Buddhism

Buddhism is one main religion which Tai Neua people believe in. It is also one religion that influents Tai Neua people’ belief, lives and culture.

Obviously, wherever Tai Neua people settle, they will build a temple for them. On top of that, they will support their son become a novice and a month when they are 20.

There are lots of cultural and traditional activities which associated with Buddhism such as Buddhist lent, Won Khao Pan Sa, Won Auk Pan Sa, Won Khao Sa Laak, for instance.

More importantly, Tai Neua believes that there is ‘Sin’ and ‘Good’, ‘Hell and Heaven’ which means whoever does a good thing will get the good result and on the other hands, who does bad things will get bad result.

Tai Neua believes in Brama

In addition to Buddhism, Tai Neua also believes in Bramar. There will be lots of activities related to this such as ‘ New Year Festival’, find a good day before living in the new house, believe in fortune, a ceremony for solving a bad thing for instance.

Tai Neua believes in Animist

It is said that Buddhism is a main religion that Tai Neua people believe in. But however, there are lots of practices show that Tai Neua people also believe in Animalist such as worship their ancestors, and some of them will make a special place for spirit in their houses.

A main evident is ‘Boun Paang Meuang’ (Spirit worship with a big animal). The worship will be organized every year at the jungle (a special place where allocates for this special worship). During the worship, buffalo will be killed and offer to spirits and spirits will be invited to use a woman body called ‘Mae Ti Nang’ to communicate with people.

The committee who organizes that worship ceremony will ask spirits about the destiny of villages or town for next year. At the same time, people who have the problem about their health, life and etc. also coming and let spirits heal them. In addition, they will ask questions about life, health, trade, and so on.

Conclusion

Those religions formed Tai Neua belief, culture and traditional. Some of them become daily practice which could not ignore it. However, there are some of them become less and less practice and are finally ignored and are only remembered as a story.

What do you think of this? What do you know about Tai Neua belief, culture and traditional?

Another History Related To Tai Neua

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If you are a person who is interested in Tai Neua, you might wonder who is Tai Neua and with whom Tai Neua is associated and why Tai Neua is similar with some of other ethnic group like Tai Yai, Tai Leu for instance. Before answering these questions, it is necessary to study about ‘Shan’.

The Shan (Burmese: IPA: [ʃán lùmjóʊ]; Chinese: 掸族; pinyin: dǎn zú) are a Tai ethnic group of Southeast Asia. The Shan live primarily in the Shan State of Myanmar, but also inhabit parts of Mandalay Division, Kachin State, and Kayin State, and in adjacent regions of China and Thailand.^[1]The Shan are estimated to number ~6 million; a reliable census has not been taken since 1935. The capital of Shan State is Taunggyi, a small city of about 150,000 people. Other major cities include Thibaw (Hsipaw), Lashio, Kengtong and Tachileik.

Etymology

The Shan identify themselves as "Tai", which means "free men" while "Shan" is a Burmese language term.^[2] The Shan share their creation myth with the Lao people and believe their race was founded by Khun Borom the first king to establish Sip Song Pan Na (12 thousand Fields) along the Mekong (Mae Nam Kong).

Ethnicity

The Shan people as a whole can be divided into four major groups:

The Tai Yai or "Shan Proper"
The Tai Lue, located in Sipsong Panna (China) and the eastern states
The Tai Khuen, the majority of Keng Tung
The Tai Neua, mostly in Sipsong Panna

Culture

The Shan are traditionally wet-rice cultivators, shopkeepers, and artisans. Most Shans are staunch Theravada Buddhists, being one of the four main Buddhist ethnic groups in Myanmar - the others being the Arakanese, Burmese and Mon.

Language

The Shan language, which is spoken by about 5 or 6 million is closely related to Thai and Lao, and is part of the family of Tai-Kadai languages. It is spoken in Shan State, some parts of Kachin State, some parts of Sagaing Division in Myanmar, parts of Yunnan, and Mae Hong Son Province in northwestern Thailand.^[3] The two major dialects differ in number of tones: Hsenwi Shan has six tones, while Mongnai Shan has five.^[4] Its written script is an adaptation of the Mon script (like Burmese), although several other scripts exist.^[4] However, few Shan are literate, and many are bilingual in Burmese.

History of Chan People

The Tai-Shan people are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in China. The Shan are descendants of the oldest branch of the Tai-Shan, known as Tai Long (Great Tai) or Thai Yai (Big Thai).

The Tai-Shan who migrated to the south and now inhabit modern-day Laos and Thailand are known as Tai Noi (or Tai Nyai), while those in parts of northern Thailand and Laos are commonly known as Tai Noi (Little Tai - Lao spoken)

The Shan have inhabited the Shan Plateau and other parts of modern-day Myanmar as far back as the 10th century AD. The Shan kingdom of Mong Mao (Muang Mao) existed as early as the 10th century AD but became a Burmese vassal state during the reign of King Anawrahta of Bagan (1044-1077). Note: the Mao people are considered a Shan subgroup.

After the Bagan kingdom fell to the Mongols in 1287, the Tai-Shan people quickly gained power throughout South East Asia, and founded:

Pinya in central Myanmar
Ava by Burmanized Shan kings
States in the Shan hills, Kachin hills, Yunnan and parts of Vietnam.
Lan Xang (Laos)
Lanna (Chiang Mai)
Ayutthaya (Siam)
Assam

Many Ava and Bago kings of Burmese history between the 12th and 16th century were of (partial) Shan descent. The kings of Ava fought kings of Bago for control of Ayeyarwady valley. Various Shan states fought Burmanized Shan kings of Ava for the control of Upper Myanmar. The Shan kingdom of Mohnyin (Mong Yang) defeated the Ava kingdom in 1527, and ruled all of Upper Burma until 1555.

Burmese king Bayinnaung (1551-1581) conquered all of the Shan states in 1557. Although the Shan states would become a tributary to Ayeyarwady valley based Burmese kingdoms from then on, the Shan Saophas retained a large degree of autonomy.

After the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, the British gained control of the Shan states. Under the British colonial administration, the Shan principalities were administered separately as British protectorates with limited monarchical powers invested in the Shan Saophas. ^[5]

After World War II, the Shan and other ethnic minority leaders negotiated with the majority Burman leadership at the Panglong Conference, and agreed to gain independence from Britain as part of Union of Myanmar. The Shan states were given the option to secede after 10 years of independence. The Shan states became Shan State in 1948 as part of the newly independent Burma.

General Ne Win's coup d'etat overthrew the democratically elected government in 1962, and abolished Shan saopha system.

Do you know about ‘Shan’ people? What do you know about ‘Shan’ people? And could you share how it is related to Tai Neua?

Khaen (Tai Neua Martial Art)

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Tai Neua is like other ethnic groups. They have a martial art called ‘Jerng’.If you have joined some of Tai Neua festival like Wone Than Tham for instance, often you will see Tai Neua people performing Jerng dance.

Jerng is a type of martial arts in the world which uses for fighting and self-defend. In fact, Jerng means fighting strategy.

Jerng will perform by using hands such as fist, palm, elbow, fingers, etc to punch, hit, chop, etc. and using legs such as toes, soles, knees, etc. to kick, push, etc.

There are many types of Jerng. Some of them perform by using nothing ‘empty hand’. Some use other arms like sword for instance.

To be able to perform Jerng, it needs to learn or practice with ‘Aachaan’ (master) or Guru for a year, a couple of year, a few years or longer. It depends on talent of person.

Learning Jerng, it needs to prepare ‘Khan’ or called ‘Tang Khan’ for masters which will have a standard for preparation what it should be included for example money and sometimes there will be also a holly ceremony related to first time.

Moreover, learning Jerng, sometimes there will be spell and tattoo concern like a person who learns Jerng need to learn spell or have tattoo for strong power- nobody can shop for instance.

In addition, sometimes a person who practices Jerng need to follow a rule such as shall not eat some types of meat in their life like dog meat for instance.

Do you know Jerng? What do you know about this? Could you share with other?

Leek (Tai Neua Literature)

2011-03-30T04:23:00.000-07:00

If you are Tai Neua or you live in Tai Neua community, you will see that Tai Neua when they have some traditional ceremonies. They will read 'Leek'.

Leek is a book which recorded a story related to Buddism, Tai Neua belief, and tradition and culture including folktals. It is written by using Tai Neua manuscript called 'Dto Leek'.

Leek is recorded by using papers which made from one type of tree called ' Sa' and used black ink which made from animal bile mixing with smoke.

Actually Leek can have more than 5- 10 pages depending on the story and can also have many pages like a bible.

Reading Leek, not only needs a person who can read and understand 'Dto Leek' but also needs someone who know the tone of Leek or a rythme as well.

This kind of book will be read whenever there is a Tai Neua ceremony such as make merit to death people... for instance.

Conclusion is Leek is a Tai Neua literature which is recorded by using Dto Leek and including some of Tai Neua belief, tradition and culture.

What do you know about Leek? Could you share it?

Difference Between Tai Neua and Lao languages

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Tai Neua language is easy to learn. If we compare Tai Neua language with Lao language, we will obviously see the difference between Tai Neua and Lao language and make more easily understand.

If you live in the Tai Neua community, you have a chance to listen to Tai Neua people when they speak to each other, you might notice that Tai Neua will use:

· ‘L’ instead of ‘D’ e.g.

Kwouy Dam (black buffalo) - Khaay Lam,

Chai Dam (unkindness) -Chai Lam, etc.

· Uses ‘W’ instead of ‘B’ e.g.

Boun Bang Fai (rocket festival) -Wone Wang Fai,

Boun Mee -Wone Mee, etc.

· ‘Ch’ instead of ‘K’ e.g.

Kin Khao (eat rice)-Chin Khao,

· ‘K’ instead of ‘P’ and ‘Kh’ e.g.

Pai Lin - Kaa Layne,

Khone Dee -Kone Dee

· ‘Sang ’ instead of ‘Yang’ e.g.

Bor Pen Yang – Mao Pen Sang

Chao Hed Yang- Meai Hed Sang!

· ‘Kha’, ‘Tu Kha’ (I, we) instead of ‘Khoi’, ‘Phouak Khoi’ e.g.

Khoi Khao Chai - Kha Khao Chai,

Phouak Khoi Pen Nak Hen- Tukha Pen Naak Hen.

· Use ‘Ayne’ instead of ‘IN’ , ‘Aak’ instead of ‘Uk’, ‘Eng’ instead of ‘Ieng’, ‘Euang’ instead of ‘erng’, e.g.

Lin Nam Kan – Layne Chom Kan

Tuk Nam – Taak Num

Sieng Fa Hong – Seng Fa Hong

Meuang Savan- Merng Savan

This can be considered as a clue or SECRET OF TAI NEUA LANGUAGE for who learn to speak Tai Neua. In other words, the more you pay attention to those above mentioned, the correct, you are when you speak Tai Neua.

What do you think? Do you know any clue how to speak Tai Neua? Could you share with others?

Tai Neua Tattoo

2011-03-25T23:02:00.000-07:00

Tattoo was used to be considered as a fashion in the past of Tai Neua society.

When I was a child, sometimes I saw some elders having tattoo on their entire body. I saw it when they naked and took a bath.

Some of them had tattoo on their body such as arms, legs, chest, even their head. I wondered why they had it.

However, I still remember some of tattoos looked like an art or some of them were scripts (To Tham).

In fact, I also have tattoo. But it is only small tattoo on my leg. I’ve got tattoo since I was a novice.

At that time, there was no modern equipment like these days. They used pins and bamboo (making like jobstick) and tied them together and put in the black ink and stuck on the skin.It was every paintful.

I wondered why they are able to get tattoo their entire body. But some told me that before that they smoke a lot of opium utill they did not feel painful. That's why some of elders in the past addicted opium and could not stop it.

You might ask me why I did. Because some months said if you had some tattoos, you would have a power which it is able to protect you from guns and swords for instance. Yes, I did that because I wanted a power.

However, when I grew up, I had a chance to learn and get more information and I understood why they had tattoo.

They told me the truth that some of them had tattoos because of girls. If they didn’t have tattoo at that time, they would say ‘Khouay Don’ (white buffalo which is an expression that you are weak). Therefore, men have to have tattoo.

And as said earlier, some have tattoo because they wanted a power. Those types of people are likely solders, fighters for instance.

To sum up, in the past, Tai Neua elders had tattoo because of beauty; and moreover they wanted to get more power.

So what do you know about Tai Neua Tattoo?

Difference Between Tai Neua and Tai Leu

2010-11-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

Often other ethnic groups who don’t know deeply about Tai Neua are confused, especially foreigners. They are confused who is Tai Neua and who is Tai Leu, what is difference between Tai Neua and Tai Leu.

On top of that, some of people think that Tai Neua is Leu and they even don’t think there is Tai Neua in this world. Therefore, you can identify similarity and difference as follow:

Similarities

· Came from China

· Looks similar

· Believe in Buddhism- Theravadee

· Have similar occupation- Farmer

· Gardening

Differences

· Speak different language

· Different accent and sound

· Culture is a little different

· Traditional clothes are different

· Have different funeral

· Food

These days, both Tai Neua and Tai Leu look very similar because of wearing modern clothes. However, language is still a main thing that can obviously identify between Tai Neua and Tai Leu.

Nam Keung Mai, One of Other Tai Neua Villages in Lao PDR

2010-11-23T03:18:00.000-08:00

Nam Keung Mai is a small and mountainous village. It is in Ton Pheung district, Bokeo province. It is far from Houayxai city ~ 25 kilometers and far from Tonpheung district ~ 20-26 kilomesters. The village is situated beside or a long the mountains.

Actually, Nam Keung Mai was named based on the existing name 'Nam Keung Kao' (Nam= river, Mai= new, Kao= old, exist). This is to distinguist between both villages.

Nam Keung Mai used to be Mien's village. Before revolution, there were lots of Mien people living there. At that time, there was another name called ' Ban Chao Lar'. Chao Lar was a Mien leader. He ruled Nam Keung Mai village.

After revolution (1975), Chao Lar escaped from the village. Mien people also moved out and at the same time, Tai people started moving in more and more to settle down there. Most of them are Tai Neua and Tai Leu who moved from Meuang Sin, Louang Nam Tha province because of the War.

Recently, there are not only Tai Neua and Tai Leu living in, there are also other ethnic groups moving in such as Lao Tai, Youan, Tai Dam, Lao Theung, Lamed. Therefore recently Nam Keung Mai is a mixed village. There are lots of ethnic groups and also variety of culture.

However, some of traditional practice of Tai Neua still remain such as Won Leuan Sam (Tai Neua New Year) for instance.

Tai Neua in Myanmar

2010-11-22T22:55:00.000-08:00

Identity
Although the Tai Nua are part of the official Dai nationality in China, they speak their own distinct language. They should not be confused with the identically named but different Tai Nua of Laos.

Language
Linguists have pointed out that Tai Nua is "a name given to at least two quite different southwestern branch groups." The Tai Nua profiled here are members of the Southwestern branch of the Tai language family, while the Tai Mao language spoken throughout Dehong Prefecture is similar to the Shan language of Myanmar. The confusion of names is caused partly by "the Chinese tendency to group languages together into nationalities, exemplified by the Dai nationality, which includes all the Southwestern Tai languages of China."

History
The Tai Nua are historically part of the great Tai race of Asia, which dispersed during the past millennia to now inhabit parts of China, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, and, of course, Thailand. "Based on evidence from Neolithic finds unearthed by archeologists during recent decades it is now believed that before migrating southwards, the forefathers of the present day Thais lived in most parts of Guangxi and Sichuan, plus parts of Guizhou and Yunnan."

Customs

After a Tai Nua wedding ceremony the bridegroom goes to live with his bride's family. Traditionally he must take with him gifts of tea, rice, meat, bananas, four eggs, and two salted fish for his new in-laws. Upon arrival, the village elder takes the packets of tea and rice out to the road and calls on the spirits of heaven and earth to witness the marriage. He then ties a white thread seven times around the wrist of the bride and once around the wrist of the groom to indicate their unbreakable commitment to each other.

Christianity
There are no known Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the Gospel.

"Religion
Although they are nominally Theravada Buddhists, the Tai Nua have many aspects of animism and polytheism mixed into their beliefs. The very first Tai god was Shalou, the god of Hunting. "Before a hunt, sacrifices were offered to Shalou to avert danger and to ensure success in the hunt."

Christianity
There are no known Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the Gospel."

Tai Neua in Lao PDR

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Tai Neua lives everywhere around the world.Tai Neua is one of 69 ethnic minority groups in Lao PDR. There are in Meuang Sing, Nam keung Mai, and Phongsaly.

Tai Neua in Phosali

Based on the history, Tai Neua moved from China and entered to Phongsali. Therefore, there are some Tai Neua living in there.

Tai Neua in Meuang Sing

Some of Tai Neua moved from Phosali to Louangnamtha and Meuangsing. Therefore Meuangsing is one of districts in Laos where there are more Tai Neua people living in. According to district and provincial record(2006), the population of Tai Neua in Lao PDR has 2, 354 people of which 1, 205 are female.

Tai Neua in Nam Keung Mai

In addition to Meuangsing, Bokeo is also one of other places where Tai Neua lives. In fact, Namkeung, Tonpheuang district, Bokeo province used to be part of Louangnamtha. Before revolution, Louangnamtha was called Kwaeng Hau Khong which included both Louangnamtha and Bokeo province now. After revolution, it was separated into 2 provinces as these days.

What do you know about Tai Neua in Laos?

Yiing (Tai Neua Traditional song)

2010-11-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard Tai Neua traditional song? Do you know what it called? When does Tai Neua sing it?

Tai Neua is like other ethnic groups. There is a type of traditional song which is called 'Yiing'. 'Yi ing' is kind of poem. There is a rythme and tone of song. It can be any stories or issues which the singer raise and sing. This traditional song is one of other identities of Tai Neua or other culture or traditionals that remain til these days.

However Yiing doesn't often hear from new generation or Tai Neua young people. In the past, Yiing can be mostly heard when there is a Tai Neua ceremony. Some of traditional singer expert will sing to tell some of stories like Buddha story for instance. Sometime it will be debaste between male and female singers on some issue.

In addition, we can sometimes hear from young women and men flirting each other while they are working in the field or in the forest including mothers sing for their child while they are sleeping.

Singing Yiing, it can be single or two persons singing. Sometimes they will sing 'Yiing' to flirt each other. It can be romance, story, history, life, etc.

Theset days, not many new generations can sing 'Yiing'. In addition, 'Yiing' is rare to hear it except for only when there is a tradititional ceremony such as Tai Neua New Year (the same day as Chinese New Year).
Do you know any thing about Yiing and what do you know about it? Could you share it ?

Tai Neua Food and Desserts

2010-11-19T02:12:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to Tai Neua Community? and have you ever tasted Tai Neua food and dessert? Tai Neua food has its unique characteristics.

Tai Neua Food

As said earlier, Tai Neua Food has its unique characteristics. However some of them are adapted from other Lao ethnic groups. Currrently, Tai Neua food that you can find it from Tai Neua market is--

Saa
Khao Laeng Feun
Khao Soi
Nam Feek Ung
Nam Some Ta Ka
Naang Pong
Naang Yum
Khao Sen Meip
Nam Pheek
Hau Peuak Vong
Phaak Some
Thau Nao
Thau Fu Yee

Tai Neua Dessert

In addition to food, Tai Neua also has desserts. Basically desserts made from rice, sugar, herb, which are its main ingredient. Tai Neua dessert that remains is-

Courtesy My RC Videos

Khao Hu Jaang
Khao Pod Mar
Khao Mao
Khao Xoui
Khao Khi Mar
Khao Laam Kathi
Khao Laam Moon
Nam Waan
Khao Taen
Khao Khope
Khao Tauk

These days, some of those food and dessert are rare. Not a lot of new generations can made them and become less and less.

Education And Tai Neua

2010-11-17T06:36:00.000-08:00

You might ask how was education of Tai Neua people in the past and how different it is from these days. This will provide you the answer after you have gone through this.

Education of Tai Neua people might be divided into two periods—education of Tai Neua in the past and education of Tai Neua at present.

Education of Thaineua in the past

1# study with family

Tai Neua is like other ethnic groups. Family will be the first place that educated their children. Fathers will teach their son whatever they skilled and similarly mothers will teach their daughter whatever they skilled depending on the family. If thier father is a farmer, they willtrain their son to become a farmer as them for instance.

Most importantly, most of family likes to set up a future goal for their children such as they wish their children becoming a teacher, they will influent their children to choose it for instance. Unfortunately, some parents force their children to study what they like. Therefore, some of children don’t have any choice to choose what they like.

2# study with elders

There is another way of thier study. That is learning from elders. Most of elders mentioned here are from the temple. People called them ‘ Naan or Khanaan’ This only called a person who used to be s a month and then left the temple.

Those people will be knowledgeable on culture, traditional, religions and philosophy including fortunetelling.

3# study from temples

Tai Neua believes that every boy should become a novice. This will be a best thing to make merit for their mother and similarly becoming a monk will be for their father.

Therefore, most of Tai Neua boy will be influenced by their parents or family and become a novice or a month. While being in the temple, they will have a chance to learn or study on traditional, culture, literature, religion, philosophy, etc. This practice remains these days.

4# study from schools

In the past, Tai Neua boy didn’t have a chance to study from school because of War II, and there was also not many schools.

During the War, they have to move from a place to another place in order to escape from the War. There was no time to study. Educational system was not good. People could not access to it. Highest education was only high school. On top of that, study was only for the rich. Therefore there were not many people literate.

Education of Tai Neua in these days

These days, study with family, elders, and temples are rare. Most of Tai Neua people go to school and learn from teachers at schools and universities. There are lots of Tai Neua people have high education from bachelor degree, master degree until doctors.

On the other hands, there are not lots of people being interested in what elders told and taught. This makes Tai Neua tradition and culture including wisdom new generation know less and less. On top of that, some of Tai Neua traditional and culture dispeared.

Tai Neua Around The World

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Tai Neua is one of ethnic groups in the world. Even though, Tai Neua is a small ethnic group but they live almost everywhere around the world. The biggest group is in China and then Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand and USA.

China

Population	540,000 in China (Zhou and Luo 2001). Population total all countries: 647,400. Ethnic population: 610,000.
Region	South central Yunnan, Dehong Prefecture, southwest of Dali near Lancang (Mekong) River. May be in north Viet Nam. Also in France, Laos, Myanmar, Switzerland, Thailand.
Language map	Southwestern China
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Chinese Tai, Dai Kong, Dai Na, Dai Nuea, Dehong, Dehong Dai, Tai Dehong, Tai Le, Tai Mao, Tai Neua, Tai Nü, Tai Nue, Tai-Kong, Tai-Le, Yunannese Shan, Yunnan Shant’ou
Dialects	Dehong, Tai Pong (La, You, Ya, Ka, Tai Ka, Sai), Yongren. Lexical similarity: 29% with Qabiao [laq] and Lachi [lbt], 22% with Gelao [gio].
Classification	Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai, Southwestern, Northwest
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 84%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1931–1948.
Writing system	Tai Le script.
Comments	Classified as Dai nationality. Northern Shan-like varieties in China are referred to collectively as Tai Na, or Dehong Dai in Chinese. SVO; modifiers follow heads. Agriculturalists: paddy rice, sugar, Pu’er tea, bananas, coconuts, papayas, rubber. Buddhist (Theravada), polytheist.

Laos

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Language name	Tai Neua
Population	35,000 in Laos (1995 L. Chazee).
Region	Northwest. Possibly in north Viet Nam.
Language map	Laos, reference number 65
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Neua, Tai Nuea
Comments	Called ‘Dehong Dai’ or ‘Shan’ in China. A different dialect from that in China. Traditional religion.

Myanmar

Language name	Tai Neua
Population	72,400 in Myanmar (1983).
Region	Possibly also in northern Viet Nam.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Kong, Tai Neua
Comments	Called ‘Dehong Dai’ in China. The Laos dialect is different from the dialect in China.

Thailand

Language name	Tai Neua
Region	Possibly also in north Viet Nam.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Dehong Dai, Tai Man, Tai Neua

USA

Language name	Tai Neua
Region	Possibly also in Illinoi.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Neua

Do you know any body (Tai Neua) around the world? Where do they live? How many are there? How are they?

Origin Of Tai Neua

2010-11-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

Basically, the word “Thaineua “ has two words-Thai and neua. Thai means human or people. Neua means above or the north or the top. Thaineua means people who live the north or move from the north.

In addition, the Word “Thai” is opposite of the word “Khaa” which in the past Laos was governed by kings. There were a few level of society like India- Therefore, Thai means general people who are not servants. Khaa means servants.

Historically, a group of people who live in 12 phana (Yunan), the south of China (Yunan). These groups of people moved down to the north of Laos because of Indochina’s War. Currently there are still the rest of Thaineua group living in 12 Panna. They spoke 2 languages-Chinese and Thaineua.

The Tai Neua has lived in Lao for many centuries. The Tai Neua originated in China, they moved from the southern part of China and entered into Laos

First they had lived in Soye, Adth and Xieng Kho district in Huaphan province. Then they moved to settle in the Ma River region of Phongsali province.

Finally, they moved to the Muang Sing area about 200 years ago and were involved in the early chiefdoms in Muang Sing in the 18th century. They spread out across the north of Laos and Myanmar.

Today, there are also the Tai Neua in many countries such as Vietnam, and China, Thailand and United State.

According to district and provincial records, the population of Tai Neua in Lao PDR has 2,354 people (2005), of which 1, 205 are female.