Kachin people

Kachin traditional dress

The Kachin people are a group of ethnic groups who largely inhabit the Kachin Hills in northern Burma's Kachin State and neighbouring areas of China and India. More than ninety nine percent of the Kachin people identify themselves as Christians, while less than one percent follows Buddhism and some also adhere to animism. Kachin people name themselves as "Jinghpaw Wunpawng". Jinghpaw people are living in India, China and Burma. the language Singhpo (Jinghpaw) is spoken in Northeast India and Jingpo in Southwest China. Kachin state is also known as the land of jades and gold.

The term Kachin includes a variety of different linguistic groups with overlapping territories and integrated social structures. These are notably the Rawang, the Lisu, the Zaiwa, the Lashi/Lachik and the Lawngwaw and Jinghpaw.[1] Such definitions carefully distinguish Kachin and Shan (Tai) peoples though some Kachin people have defied the Western expectation of lineage-based ethnicity by culturally "becoming Shans".[2]

Common Language - Jinghpaw language standardised and recorded by Dr. Ola Hanson.

Behaviour and traditions

The Kachin people are traditionally known for their disciplined fighting skills, complex clan inter-relations, craftsmanship, herbal healing and jungle survival skills. In recent decades, their animist beliefs have been largely supplanted by their accelerated embrace of Christianity.[3] As such, many of their formerly animist events and symbols, such as the annual Manao festival in Myitkyina, have been largely re-interpreted as "folkloric" celebrations and items.[4]

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ Kachin National Museum, Myitkyina
  2. ↑ Leach, E. R. (1965) Political Systems of Highland Burma: a study of Kachin social structure. Boston: Beacon Press.
  3. ↑ Joshua Project analysis
  4. ↑ Manao Festival description

Kachin ( six major Group) Jing Hpaw, Zai wa, Rawang, Lisu, Lauvo, Laqid

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