THE PEOPLE & CULTUREETHNIC MAKEUPLahu (Musoe)
Population: 103 , 000
Origin: Tibet
Present locations: south China, Thailand, Myanmar
Economy: dry rice, corn
Belief system:theistic animism; some groups are Christian
Cultural characteristics: The Thai term for this tribe, moo·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 prov-
inces. They typically live in mixed
ethnic villages and are an ethni-
cally diverse group with fi ve main
subsets: Red Lahu (the most nu-
merous Lahu group in Thailand),
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 nar-
row skirts worn by women; bright
green or blue-green baggy trou-
sers worn by men.
Lisu (Lisaw)
Population: 55 , 000
Origin: Tibet
Present locations:Thailand, Yunnan
Economy:rice, corn, livestock
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. Patrilin-
eal clans have pan-tribal jurisdic-
tion, 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 multi-
coloured tunics over trousers and
sometimes black turbans with
tassels. Men wear baggy green
or blue pants pegged in at the
ankles.