Dai (Yindu)
Encyclopedia
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. The Burmese used to call the Dai "Yindu Chin" because of their clothing styles. In particular, Dai women used to wear their clothes from the breast to knee. They live in the mountain ranges of Chin, Myanmar, and are known for their face tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
s. The Dai are one of 53 tribes of Chin and 135 tribes of Myanmar.
The Dai people are from Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
located in southern Chin. The Dai are one of the 32 Chin tribes, which have been registered by the Government of Burma since 1890. The recent Military Regime
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
’s census mentions the Dai tribe as the 62nd of 135 tribes of Burma. Researchers sometimes refer to them as Dai or Yindu in the ethnic survey book of Burma. The word Yindu, meaning "from chest to knee", derives from the Dai dress code, which stretches from chest to knee. The Dai-Chin appear to be of Mongolian
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
, Indo-Chinese
Indochina
The Indochinese peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly southwest of China, and east of India. The name has its origins in the French, Indochine, as a combination of the names of "China" and "India", and was adopted when French colonizers in Vietnam began expanding their territory...
, and Tibeto-Burman descent as the other Chin tribes do. The Dai people live in the Mindat
Mindat
Mindat may refer to several places in Burma:*Mindat, Chin State, in Burma*Mindat Township, in Burma*Mindat District in Chin State, Burma*Mindat, Magway State in Minhla*Mindat, Yebyu, Tanintharyi Division*Mindat, Thayetchaung, Tanintharyi Division...
, Paletwa
Paletwa
Paletwa is one of the westernmost towns of Burma , in Chin State 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat for Paletwa Township.-External links:*...
, Matupi
Matupi
Matupi is a town in Chin State in western Burma , in Southeast Asia.Matupi is the second capital City, one of the townships of Chin State of West Myanmar, South-east Asia...
and Kanpetlet
Kanpetlet
Kanpetlet is a town in the Chin State of West Myanmar. it is the home of Kanpetlet Township administration body.-Kan Pet Let:Kan Pet Let is the home town of southern Chin tribes of Dai, Upu, and Ya clans. It's the famous town of the Chin state for its own beautiful scenery of Myanmar. Around its...
townships of the Southern Chin State, Burma. There are more than 180 Dai villages with a total population of somewhere between 60,000 and 90,000. Their population makes the Dai-Chin the majority tribe in the Southern Chin Hills.
History
The Dai land was an independent country until the British expedition in 1890British rule in Burma
British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948, from the Anglo-Burmese Wars through the creation of Burma as a province of British India to the establishment of an independently administered colony, and finally independence...
, and later annexation in 1897 by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Dai language varies slightly between subtribes. Their ethnic tribes symbol is khuum (rocket tail drongo). The ling leih (Bulbophyllum refractum
Bulbophyllum refractum
Bulbophyllum refractum is a species of orchid in the genus Bulbophyllum.-References:**...
, one of orchid species) is their royal flower. Traditionally Dai women wear face tattoos. Guuk Booi is the main dish of Daai people. 99% of Dai people are Christians. They live in the mountain ranges of their own Dai land, Chin state
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
, Myanmar. The alternative names are Daai, Dai, Yindu Chin (by Burmese language).
Location
The Dai inhabit a part of the Southern Chin StateChin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
of Myanmar, located on the mainland of Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. It is surrounded by China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to the north and northeast, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
to the east, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to the east and southeast, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to the northwest, Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
to the west and the Andaman Sea
Andaman Sea
The Andaman Sea or Burma Sea is a body of water to the southeast of the Bay of Bengal, south of Burma, west of Thailand and east of the Andaman Islands, India; it is part of the Indian Ocean....
to the south. The country is divided into four topographical zones. The Eastern Shan Plateau
Shan Plateau
The Shan Plateau, in the Shan State of eastern Burma, is the primary source of the nation's sapphires, rubies and other gems for which Burma is famous. The plateau averages about 3,000 feet in elevation, and is sparsely populated. The Salween River runs through the region, which is also a principal...
is a highland region that merges with the Dawna and Tenasserim Yoma mountain ranges. The central belt zone covers the valleys of the Irrawaddy, Chindwin and Sittang rivers as well as a mountainous region to the north and a low lying delta to the south. The third region is the western mountain zone, also known as the Arakan Mountains, a series of ridges that start in the northern mountain area and extend to the southwestern corner. The Arakan coastal zone is a narrow alluvial strip lying between the Arakan Mountains and the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
.
The Dai land is situated in the southern part of the Chinland (Chin state) located on the western mountain zone of Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. It is also located between north latitude 20˚ 30' and 21˚ 30', and between east longitude 93˚ 10' and 94˚ 10'. Dai land covers the west of Mindat Township
Mindat Township
Mindat Township is a township located in Mindat District in the Chin State of Myanmar. The township is located between latitude 21.19 and 21.47, longitude 93.23 and 94.29. The third highest peak in Myanmar, Nat Ma Taung at 3053 meters, is located here.The "Kcho" or "Cho" people are the main...
, the northwest of Kanpetlet
Kanpetlet
Kanpetlet is a town in the Chin State of West Myanmar. it is the home of Kanpetlet Township administration body.-Kan Pet Let:Kan Pet Let is the home town of southern Chin tribes of Dai, Upu, and Ya clans. It's the famous town of the Chin state for its own beautiful scenery of Myanmar. Around its...
township, the northeast of Paletwa
Paletwa
Paletwa is one of the westernmost towns of Burma , in Chin State 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat for Paletwa Township.-External links:*...
township and to the southeast of the Matupi township. The longest part of their land is about 120 miles (193 km) and the narrowest part is roughly 60 miles (96 km). The Dai land is mountainous and situated between 800 m–3200 m above sea level. The highest mountain in Dai land is Khawnusuum (Mt Victoria). Dai Land has thousands of slope ranges of mountains, brooks, streams and two small rivers: the Laymyo river and Moun river. Many natural water courses flow through the mountain ranges running from north to south, forming valleys and gorges.
Population
The overall Dai population is estimated somewhere between 60,000 and 90,000. 15% of the total population (500,000) of the Chin State are Dai people. Some of the Dai people live in and around Myanmar and all over the world. Dai people are descended from SinoSino
Sino may refer to:*Sino-, a prefix used to refer to China*Sino Group, a property development corporation based in Hong Kong** Sino Land, a subsidiary and listing company of Sino Group*Sino Centre, a shopping centre in Mong Kok, Hong Kong...
- Tibetan
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
, Tibeto - Burma, Kuki - Chin - Naga
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
, Kuki
Kuki
Kuki can refer to:* Kuki, Saitama, a city in Japan* one of the Kuki peoples who live in northeastern India * one of the Kukish languages spoken by the Kuki and related peoples...
- Chin, Chin - Dai.
Politics
Dai land is divided into four parts within the southern Chin state: Kanpetlet, Mindat, Matupi and Paletwa townships. Today Dai land encompasses Chin state, Myanmar. The local government separated Dai land into Kanpetlet Dai, Mindat Dai, Matu Dai and Paletwa Dai.Education
There are only basic educational institutions, such as middle schools (students from 5 to 14 years of age) in Dai lands. Basic primary school is available in almost all villages. Higher education is available only in a few villages. Today, Dai people are receiving further education in various Christian colleges such as in the capital cities of YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Falam, Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
, Kalay, Maymyo.
Health
There are government clinics and dispensaries in some villages, but there is no medicine in those dispensaries. People go to the nearest Burmese villages and the cities to buy medicine. There are no doctors in Dai land. Sometimes medical staff and nurses visit Dai lands. They occasionally administer government-provided vaccination to the Dai people.Language
All Dai tribes speak the Dai language. These are slightly different styles between the subtribes of Kanpetlet township and Matupi township. Despite this, the different dialects are usually mutually intelligibleMutual intelligibility
In linguistics, mutual intelligibility is recognized as a relationship between languages or dialects in which speakers of different but related languages can readily understand each other without intentional study or extraordinary effort...
. Dai writing was developed in the 1990s with the help of German people, with an alphabet based on the German alphabet
German alphabet
The modern German alphabet is an extended Latin alphabet consisting of 30 letters – the same letters that are found in the Basic modern Latin alphabet plus four extra letters.In German, the individual letters have neuter gender: das A, das B etc....
.
Villages
There are more than 180 villages in Dai land. Dai villages make up 13% of the 1,355 total villages in the Chin State. Villages range from 10 to 140 houses, the largest and most populated village in Dai land is Makui Innu Village in the Mindat township, west of the central part of Dai land.Religion
Approximately thirty years ago, Dai people practised animismAnimism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
. Since then, most Dai people have converted to Christianity within the last two decades. Currently about 99% of the Dai people are Christian.
Shifting cultivation
Dai people practise shifting cultivationShifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
, known as 'Taungya" in Burmese and "Lou" in the Dai language. Cultivators cut and burn forests and raise agricultural crops for one to two years before moving on to another site, only returning to the original after 10 to 11 years.
The Dai people living in western part of Myanmar and southern part of Chin State have rich customs and traditions. Their traditions and rituals are associated with their shifting cultivation in the hills. The practice of shifting cultivation is deeply rooted in Dai culture. Shifting cultivation for the Dais is more than sustenance, it is a way of life, the foundation from which emerged their economic and social traditions.
In its early period, shifting cultivation provided food for the Dai. However, these days it serves as the economic mainstay for the Dai, providing money to buy clothes, attend school, and trade with their neighbours.
Economy
The Dai people cultivate rice, corn, millet, beans, peas, cucumber, pumpkin, gourd, egg plant, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, ginger, sesame and celery in their gardens or farms. Dai farmers cultivate at the beginning of monsoon season (the mid-April to June) and harvest crops in October and November. The cultivation method is dependent on monsoon rains.Generally, Dai land is mostly used for slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation, with the least-developed regions inhabited by the indigenous hill tribes of Myanmar. Dai people earn their livelihood by shifting between cultivation (Taung Ya) and subsistence farming. Farming and gardening are only for their subsistence and personal consumption, transportation systems and markets are not developed in Dai land.
Dai people in Malaysia
Some Dai people migrate to Malaysia because their lives and political, cultural, and religious freedoms are threatened in Myanmar. There, the parents struggle for their daily bread as undocumented migrants, vulnerable to arrest for immigration offences, and are often subject to detention, prosecution, whipping and deportation for several months.Dai refugees in Malaysia originate from Myanmar, where current conditions do not permit them to return. Dai refugees are scattered throughout Malaysia in places such as Johor Baru, Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, the Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations. It covers an area of .To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border with Perak....
, Kalang, Ka Jang, Rawang, and others.
There are no refugee camps in Malaysia. Instead, Dai refugees share living spaces in groups of up to 20 people, living in low-cost apartments, urban villages or housing estates near Malaysian homes. Many also live in makeshift camps in jungles near construction sites where they seek employment.