Bulang people

The Blang village of Manpo, Xishuangbanna.

The Blang people (known in China as Bulang; Template:Lang-zh) or Plang (Template:Langx)<ref name = sac>Template:Cite web</ref> are an ethnic group. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They live in the areas of southern China, and parts of Myanmar and Thailand.<ref name = sac /> There are estimated 1,200 of them in Thailand, living mostly in Chiang Rai province with some emigrated to work as laborers and settle in Nakhon Pathom province and in Greater Bangkok.<ref name = sac />

Names

Yan & Zhou (2012:147)<ref name="YanZhou">Yan Qixiang [颜其香] & Zhou Zhizhi [周植志] (2012). Mon-Khmer languages of China and the Austroasiatic family [中国孟高棉语族语言与南亚语系]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academy Press Social Sciences Literature Press.</ref> list the following autonyms of ethnic Bulang in various counties.

• Template:IPA (布朗): in Xishuangbanna
• Template:IPA (阿佤): in Shuangjiang and Lancang counties
• Template:IPA (乌德尔): some Bulang of Shuangjiang; means 'mountain people'
• Template:IPA (乌): in Yongde (Template:IPA in Gantang 甘塘), Zhenkang, Shidian (Template:IPA in Hazhai 哈寨), Changning counties
• Template:IPA (佤): in Mojiang County

Exonyms for Bulang include (Yan & Zhou 2012:147):<ref name="YanZhou"/>

• Template:IPA (谟): Dai exonym for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna
• Template:IPA (阿别): Hani exonym for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna
• Template:IPA (拉): Dai exonym for the Bulang of Shuangjiang
• Template:IPATemplate:IPA (卡朴): Lahu exonym for the Bulang
• Template:IPA (巴尔克): Wa exonym for the Bulang of Cangyuan
• Puman (濮曼, 蒲满): Han Chinese exonym for the Bulang

In Thailand, they are known as Plang. According to the database of ethnicities in Thailand by Sirindhorn Anthropology Center, names of the Plangs include:<ref name = sac />

• Hka Plang: an endonym meaning "upper" or "upper", referring to their habitats in higher altitude, akin to a word for "hill tribe"
• Pang Chung
• Lua: more commonly used by the official records of Thailand, combining Plangs with Lua people, and also sometimes used as an endonym by Plangs
• Palong (Template:Lang), a mistaken name formerly used to refer to Plangs in Chiang Rai province

Languages

People classified as Bulang in China speak various Palaungic languages, including Blang and U.

The Blang language belongs to the Palaungic branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Within the Palaungic branch, Blang belongs to the Waic subgroup, which also contains the languages of the Wa and Lawa peoples in addition to Blang. Some Blang also speak the Chinese language and Southwestern Tai languages in addition to Blang. Two systems of writing, based on the Latin alphabet, have been developed: 'Totham' in the Xishuangbanna and 'Tolek' from Dehong and Lincang.

History

Chinese ethnographers identify the Blang as descendants of an ancient tribe known as the "Pu" (濮), who lived in the Lancang river valley during ancient times. It is believed that these people were one branch of a number of peoples that were collectively known to the ancient Chinese as the Bǎipú (百濮, literally Hundred Pu).

Plangs are believed to have arrived in Thailand in the 1970s, in seeking of job opportunities and escaping oppression from Myanmar.<ref name = sac/>

Culture

Template:See also Traditionally, the Blang considered teeth blackened by chewing betel nuts a beauty characteristic.

The women usually dress in jackets with black skirts. The men had tattoos in the torso and the stomach. They dressed in wide black trousers and jackets buttoned to the front. Often, they would wear turbans of either white or black fabric.

The houses of the Blang are made out of bamboo and usually consist of two floors. The first floor is designed as a warehouse for food and a stable for livestock animals, such as chickens, whereas the second is designed to house the family. The chimney is located in the center of the house.

The Blang are traditionally divided into small clans, with each clan owning its own land. Every Blang town has its own cemeteries, which are divided by clans. The deceased are buried, with the exception of those who perished due to unnatural causes. In this case, they are cremated.

Bulang are among the earliest known cultivators of tea, with natural tea forest canopy home to unique species & ecosystems as opposed to monoculture fertilizer & pesticide-consuming tea plantations.

Religion

A Buddhist pulpit made of paper from Plang community at Wat Chantharam temple in Thailand, used for monk to sit and preach Vessantara Jataka

The Blang are traditionally associated with animism, ancestor worship, and Theravada Buddhism. Writing in 2011, James Miller described these overlapping traditions as follows: Template:Blockquote

A Christian missionary source describes them as "ardent followers of Theravada Buddhism", and offers as an estimate that 80% of the Bulang are "professing Buddhists", with a lower estimate of 35% being "practicing Buddhists".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Thailand exists a community of Christian Plangs, who in 2008 founded their own church building in Nakhon Pathom province.<ref name = sac />

Distribution

China

The Bulang are distributed in the following villages of Yunnan province (Tao 2012:16-18).<ref>Tao Yuming [陶玉明]. 2012. The Bulang people of China [中国布朗族]. Yinchuan: Ningxia People's Press [宁夏人民出版社].</ref> Except for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna, the Bulang of most of these counties speak the U language (Svantesson 1991).<ref>Svantesson, Jan-Olof. 1988. "U." In Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 11, no. 1: 64-133.</ref> Locations from Wang & Zhao (2013:173-179) are also included.<ref name="Wang2013">Wang Xingzhong [王兴中] & Zhao Weihua [赵卫华]. 2013. Geography and multilingualism in Lincang [临沧地理与双语使用]. Kunming: Yunnan People's Press [云南人民出版社]. Template:ISBN</ref>

• Menghai County (pop. 30,678; 33% of all ethnic Bulang in China)
  • Bulangshan (Bulang Mountain) Township 布朗山乡
  • Bada Township 巴达乡
  • Xiding Township 西定乡
• Shuangjiang County (pop. 12,527; 7.9% of all ethnic Bulang in China)
  • Bangbing Township 邦丙乡 (17 villages)
  • Dawen Township 大文乡 (12 villages)
  • Mengku Township 勐库镇 (3 villages, including Gongnong 公弄村<ref name="Wang2013"/> and Mangna 忙那村<ref name="Wang2013"/>)
  • Shahe Township 沙河乡 (3 villages)
• Yongde County (pop. 6,630)
  • Yongkang Township 永康镇: Songgui 送归,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Luo'ade 罗阿德, Xiaobaishui 小白水,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Luoshuiba 落水坝,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Xiamangping 下忙坪,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nanmusuan 南木算,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Manghai 忙海,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yatang 鸭塘,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Duande 端德村,<ref name="Wang2013"/> Mangkuang 忙况村,<ref name="Wang2013"/> Reshuitang 热水塘村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Xiaomengtong Township 小孟统乡: Dazhai 大寨,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hudong 户董,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hewei 河尾,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Landizhai 烂地寨,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Banpo 半坡<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Mengban Township 勐板乡: Ganzhe 甘蔗, Xiazhai 下寨, Dazhai 大寨, Huangguozhai 黄果寨,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Datian 大田,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nandongshan 南董山,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Xiahuya 下户丫<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Dashan Township 大山乡: Huwei 户威, Hongshan 红山,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Malizhai 麻栗寨, Pahong 怕红<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Dedang Township 德党乡: Qianshandong 钻山洞村,<ref name="Wang2013"/> Mangjiantian 忙见田村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Menggong 勐汞乡, Zhaigang 寨岗乡, Daxueshan 大雪山乡 Townships
• Yun County (pop. 5,741)
  • Manghuai Township 忙怀乡: Bangliu 邦六,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Gaojingcao 高井槽<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Manwan Township 漫湾镇: Dapingzhang 大平掌,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Manjiu 慢旧,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hetaolin 核桃林村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Maolan Township 茂兰乡: Mao'an 茂岸, Zhanglong 掌龙
  • Dazhai Township 大寨乡: Xinhe 新合, Pingzhang 平掌, Dacun 大村, Reshuitang 热水塘
  • Yongbao Township 涌宝乡: Shilong 石龙,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Langbashan 浪坝山,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Laolu 老鲁<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Lishu Township 栗树乡: Mangbang 忙蚌,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Manlang 慢郎,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Xiaobanggan 小邦赶<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Gengma County (pop. 2,957)
  • Manghong Township 芒洪乡: Keqie 科且村,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Anya 安雅村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Mengyong Township 勐永镇: Mangnuozhai 忙糯寨<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Gengxuan Township 耿宣镇: Mangfu 芒福, Bakazhai 坝卡寨<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Xipaishan Township 西排山乡: Dongpo 东坡村, Bankang 班康村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
• Lincang County (pop. 450)
  • Pingcun Township 平村乡: Nayu 那玉村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Zhangtuo Township 章驮乡<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Mayidui Township 蚂蚁堆乡 (small population)<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Quannei Township 圈内乡 (small population)<ref name="Wang2013"/>
• Zhenkang County (pop. 452)
  • Muchang Township 木场乡: Dalong 大拢村 (majority of Bulang)<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Nansan Town 南伞镇: Daoshui 道水村 (small population)<ref name="Wang2013"/>
• Fengqing County (pop. 1,276)
  • Dazhai Township 大寨乡: Dalise 大立色村, Qiongyin 琼英村, Pingzhang 平掌村<ref name="Wang2013"/>
  • Sanchahe Township 三岔河乡: Shantoutian 山头田村
  • Dasi 大寺乡, Yingpan 营盘乡, Fengshan 凤山乡, Luodang 洛党乡 Townships
• Shidian County (pop. 6,712)
  • Bailang Township 摆榔乡: Hazhai 哈寨, Upper and lower Mulaoyuanzhai 上下木老元寨, Dazhong Jianshan 大中尖山, Yaoguang 姚光
• Changning County (pop. 1,000+)
  • Kasi Township 卡斯乡: Xingu 新谷, Shuanglong 双龙, Yingbaizhai 应百寨, Ergoudi 二沟地
  • Gengga Township 更嘎乡: Baicaolin 百草林, Dachushui 大出水
• Lancang County (pop. 6,500)
  • Huimin Township 惠民乡: Manjing 蛮景,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Manhong 蛮洪,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wengji 翁机,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wengwa 翁洼<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Qianliu Township 谦六乡: Dagang 打岗,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dagun 打滚,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Machang 马厂,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Danao 大脑
  • Dongwen Township 文东乡: Shuitang 水塘,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Jiuku 旧苦,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pasai 帕赛<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (in Nagongzhai 那巩寨<ref name="Bulang1991"/>), Nasai 那赛
• Mojiang County (pop. 1,000+)
  • Jingxing Township 景星乡: Taihe 太和村
• Jinggu County (pop. 1000+)
  • Bi'an Township 碧安乡: Guangmin 光明村
  • Mengban Township 勐班乡: Manhai 蛮海村 ("Lawa" 拉瓦话 speakers<ref>Tao, Chengmei 陶成美. 2016. Bulangyu Lawahua de zhicheng daici i55 布朗语拉瓦话的指称代词 i55. In Minzu Fanyi 民族翻译 2016(1):68-74. Template:Doi</ref><ref>Tao, Chengmei 陶成美. 2016. Bulangyu duoxiang dingyu ji qi yuxu yanjiu 布朗语多项定语及其语序研究. M.A. dissertation. Beijing: Minzu University 中央民族大学.</ref>)
  • Banpo Township 半坡乡: Bandu 班督村
• Jingdong County
  • Baodian Township 保甸乡<ref name="Bulang1991"/>
• Simao County
  • Zhulin Township 竹林乡: Cizhulin 茨竹林村,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dacheshu 大车树村<ref name="Bulang1991">布朗族研究 (1991)</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ethnic Bulang villages are also located in Jinghong City, including in Kunhan Dazhai 昆罕大寨村 in Dahuangba Village 大荒坝村, Dadugang Township 大渡岗乡.<ref>陈娥; 郭云春 2016. 昆罕大寨布朗族经济发展与母语保护. 曲靖师范学院学报.</ref>

Thailand

According to the database of ethnicities in Thailand by Sirindhorn Anthropology Center,<ref name = sac /> Plang initially arrived and since have settled in Chiang Rai province especially in Mae Chan and Mae Sai. Some of them emigrated to work as laborers in Greater Bangkok; majority of which settled in Nakhon Pathom province.

External links

• RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage
• Samtao in RWAAI Digital Archive
• U in RWAAI Digital Archive