THE PEOPLE & CULTURE
ETHNIC MAKEUP
Hmong (Mong or Maew)
Population: 151 , 000
Origin: south China
Present locations: south China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
Economy: rice, corn, cabbages, strawberries
Belief system:animism
Cultural characteristics: The Hmong are Thailand’s second-largest
hill-tribe group and are especially numerous in Chiang Mai Province
with smaller enclaves in the oth-
er northern Thai provinces. They
usually live on mountain peaks
or plateaus above 1000m. Kin-
ship is patrilineal and polygamy
is permitted.
Hmong tribespeople wear sim-
ple black jackets and indigo or
black baggy trousers with striped
borders (White Hmong) or indi-
go skirts (Blue Hmong) and silver
jewellery. Sashes may be worn
around the waist, and embroi-
dered aprons draped front and
back. Most women wear their
hair in a bun.Karen (Yang or Kariang)
Population: 420 , 000
Origin: Myanmar
Present locations: Thailand, Myanmar
Economy: rice, vegetables, livestock
Belief system: animism, Buddhism, Christianity, depending on the group
Cultural characteristics: The Karen are the largest hill-tribe group
in Thailand and number about 47% of the total tribal population. They
tend to live in lowland valleys
and practise crop rotation rather
than swidden agriculture. Their
numbers and proximity to main-
stream society have made them
the most integrated and fi nan-
cially successful of the hill-tribe
groups. Karen homes are built on
low stilts or posts, with the roofs
swooping quite low. There are
four distinct Karen groups – the
Skaw (White) Karen, Pwo Karen,
Pa-O (Black) Karen and Kayah
(Red) Karen.
Thickly woven V-neck tu-
nics of various colours are typi-
cally worn (though unmarried
women wear white). Kinship
is matrilineal and marriage is
monogamous.