Difference Between Tai Neua and Tai Leu

Often other ethnic groups who don’t know deeply about Tai Neua are confused, especially foreigners.  They are confused who is Tai Neua and who is Tai Leu, what is difference between Tai Neua and Tai Leu.

On top of that, some of people think that Tai Neua is Leu and they even don’t think there is Tai Neua in this world. Therefore, you can identify similarity and difference as follow:

Similarities

·         Came from China

·         Looks similar

·         Believe in Buddhism- Theravadee

·         Have similar occupation- Farmer

·         Gardening

Differences

·         Speak different language

·         Different accent and sound

·         Culture is a little different

·         Traditional clothes are different

·         Have different funeral

·         Food

These days, both Tai Neua and Tai Leu look very similar because of wearing modern clothes. However, language is still a main thing that can obviously identify between Tai Neua and Tai Leu.

Nam Keung Mai, One of Other Tai Neua Villages in Lao PDR

Nam Keung Mai is a small and mountainous village. It is in Ton Pheung district, Bokeo province. It is far from Houayxai city ~ 25 kilometers and far from Tonpheung district ~ 20-26 kilomesters. The village is situated beside or a long the mountains.  

Actually, Nam Keung Mai was named based on the existing name 'Nam Keung Kao' (Nam= river, Mai= new, Kao= old, exist).  This is to distinguist  between both villages.

Nam Keung Mai used to be Mien's village. Before revolution, there were lots of Mien people living there. At that time, there was another name called ' Ban Chao Lar'.  Chao Lar was  a Mien leader. He ruled Nam Keung Mai village.

After revolution (1975), Chao Lar escaped from the village. Mien people also moved out and at the same time, Tai people started moving in more and more to settle down there. Most of them are Tai Neua and Tai Leu who moved from Meuang Sin, Louang Nam Tha province because of the War.

Recently, there are not only Tai Neua and Tai Leu living in, there are also other ethnic groups moving in such as Lao Tai, Youan, Tai Dam, Lao Theung, Lamed. Therefore recently Nam Keung Mai is a mixed village. There are lots of ethnic groups and also variety of culture.

However, some of traditional practice of Tai Neua still remain such as Won Leuan Sam (Tai Neua New Year) for instance. 

Tai Neua in Myanmar

Identity
Although the Tai Nua are part of the official Dai nationality in China, they speak their own distinct language. They should not be confused with the identically named but different Tai Nua of Laos.

Language
Linguists have pointed out that Tai Nua is "a name given to at least two quite different southwestern branch groups." The Tai Nua profiled here are members of the Southwestern branch of the Tai language family, while the Tai Mao language spoken throughout Dehong Prefecture is similar to the Shan language of Myanmar. The confusion of names is caused partly by "the Chinese tendency to group languages together into nationalities, exemplified by the Dai nationality, which includes all the Southwestern Tai languages of China."

History
The Tai Nua are historically part of the great Tai race of Asia, which dispersed during the past millennia to now inhabit parts of China, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, and, of course, Thailand. "Based on evidence from Neolithic finds unearthed by archeologists during recent decades it is now believed that before migrating southwards, the forefathers of the present day Thais lived in most parts of Guangxi and Sichuan, plus parts of Guizhou and Yunnan."

Customs

After a Tai Nua wedding ceremony the bridegroom goes to live with his bride's family. Traditionally he must take with him gifts of tea, rice, meat, bananas, four eggs, and two salted fish for his new in-laws. Upon arrival, the village elder takes the packets of tea and rice out to the road and calls on the spirits of heaven and earth to witness the marriage. He then ties a white thread seven times around the wrist of the bride and once around the wrist of the groom to indicate their unbreakable commitment to each other.


Christianity
There are no known Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the Gospel.

"Religion
Although they are nominally Theravada Buddhists, the Tai Nua have many aspects of animism and polytheism mixed into their beliefs. The very first Tai god was Shalou, the god of Hunting. "Before a hunt, sacrifices were offered to Shalou to avert danger and to ensure success in the hunt."

Christianity
There are no known Christians among the Tai Nua and very little outreach is presently focused on bringing the gospel to them. Little improvement in their spiritual condition has taken place since the 1920s when one missionary lamented, "There is not a missionary working south of [Kunming] to Mohei, I am here alone and my little candle is the only light. Yet in these mountains are thousands of tribesmen who have never heard of the Gospel."

Tai Neua in Lao PDR

Tai Neua lives everywhere around the world.Tai Neua is one of 69 ethnic minority groups in Lao PDR. There are in Meuang Sing, Nam keung Mai, and Phongsaly.

Tai Neua in Phosali

Based on the history, Tai Neua moved from China and entered to Phongsali. Therefore, there are some Tai Neua living in there.


Tai Neua in Meuang Sing

Some of Tai Neua moved from Phosali to Louangnamtha and Meuangsing. Therefore Meuangsing is one of districts in Laos where there are more Tai Neua people living in. According to district and provincial record(2006), the population of Tai Neua in Lao PDR has  2, 354 people of which 1, 205 are female.

Tai Neua in Nam Keung Mai

In addition to Meuangsing, Bokeo is also one of other places where Tai Neua lives. In fact, Namkeung, Tonpheuang district, Bokeo province used to be part of Louangnamtha. Before revolution, Louangnamtha was called Kwaeng Hau Khong which included both Louangnamtha and Bokeo province now. After revolution, it was separated into 2 provinces as these days.

What do you know about Tai Neua in Laos?

Yiing (Tai Neua Traditional song)

Have you ever heard Tai Neua traditional song?  Do you know what it called? When does Tai Neua sing it?

Tai Neua is like other ethnic groups. There is a type of traditional song which is called 'Yiing'.  'Yi ing' is kind of poem. There is a rythme and tone of song. It can be any stories or issues which the singer raise and sing. This traditional song is one of other identities of Tai Neua or other culture or traditionals that remain til these days. 

However Yiing doesn't often hear from new generation or Tai Neua young people. In the past,  Yiing can be mostly heard when there is a Tai Neua ceremony. Some of traditional singer expert will sing to tell some of stories like Buddha story for instance. Sometime it will be debaste between male and female singers on some issue.

In addition, we can sometimes hear from young women and men flirting each other while they are working in the field or in the forest including mothers sing for their child while they are sleeping.

Singing Yiing, it can be single or two persons singing. Sometimes they will sing 'Yiing' to flirt each other. It can be romance, story, history, life, etc.




Theset days, not many new generations can sing 'Yiing'. In addition, 'Yiing' is rare to hear it except for only when there is a tradititional ceremony such as Tai Neua New Year (the same day as Chinese New Year).
Do you know any thing about Yiing and what do you know about it? Could you share it ?

Tai Neua Food and Desserts

Have you ever been to Tai Neua Community? and have you ever tasted Tai Neua food and dessert? Tai Neua food has its unique characteristics.



Tai Neua Food

As said earlier, Tai Neua Food has its unique characteristics. However some of them  are adapted from other Lao ethnic groups. Currrently, Tai Neua food that you can find it from Tai Neua market  is--

Saa
Khao Laeng Feun
Khao Soi
Nam Feek Ung
Nam Some Ta Ka
Naang Pong
Naang Yum
Khao Sen Meip
Nam Pheek
Hau Peuak Vong
Phaak Some
Thau Nao
Thau Fu Yee


Tai Neua Dessert

In addition to food, Tai Neua also has  desserts. Basically desserts made from rice, sugar, herb, which are its main ingredient. Tai Neua dessert that remains is- 

Courtesy My RC Videos

Khao Hu Jaang
Khao Pod Mar
Khao Mao
Khao Xoui
Khao Khi Mar
Khao Laam Kathi
Khao Laam Moon
Nam Waan
Khao Taen
Khao Khope
Khao Tauk

These days, some of those food and dessert are rare. Not a lot of new generations can made them and become less and less.

Education And Tai Neua

You might ask how was education of Tai Neua people in the past and how different it is from these days. This will provide you the answer after you have gone through this.

Education of Tai Neua people might be divided into two periods—education of Tai Neua in the past and education of Tai Neua at present.

Education of  Thaineua in the past

1# study with family

Tai Neua is like other ethnic groups. Family will be the first place that educated their children.  Fathers will teach their son whatever they skilled and similarly mothers will teach their daughter whatever they skilled depending on the family. If thier father is a farmer, they willtrain their son to become a farmer as them for instance. 

Most importantly, most of family likes to set up a future goal for their children such as they wish their children becoming a teacher, they will influent their children to choose it for instance. Unfortunately, some parents force their children to study what they like. Therefore, some of children don’t have any choice to choose what they like.

2# study with elders

There is another way of thier study. That is learning from elders. Most of elders mentioned here are from the temple. People called them ‘ Naan or Khanaan’  This only called a person who used to be s a month and then left the temple.

Those people will be knowledgeable on culture, traditional, religions and philosophy including fortunetelling.

3# study from temples  

Tai Neua believes that every boy should become a novice. This will be a best thing to make merit for their mother and similarly becoming a monk will be for their father.

Therefore, most of Tai Neua boy will be influenced by their parents or family and become a novice or a month. While being in the temple, they will have a chance to learn or study on traditional, culture, literature, religion, philosophy, etc. This practice remains these days.

4# study from schools

In the past, Tai Neua boy didn’t have a chance to study from school because of War II,  and there was also not many schools.

During the War, they have to move from a place to another place in order to escape from the War. There was no time to study. Educational system was not good. People could not access to it. Highest education was only high school. On top of that, study was only for the rich. Therefore there were not many people literate.

Education of Tai Neua in these days

These days, study with family, elders, and temples are rare. Most of Tai Neua people go to school and learn from teachers at schools and universities. There are lots of Tai Neua people have high education from bachelor degree, master degree until doctors.

On the other hands, there are not lots of people being interested in what elders told and taught. This makes Tai Neua tradition and culture including wisdom new generation know less and less.  On top of that, some of Tai Neua traditional and culture dispeared. 

Tai Neua Around The World

Tai Neua is one of ethnic groups in the world. Even though, Tai Neua is a small ethnic group but they live almost everywhere around the world. The biggest group is in China and then Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand and USA.

China

Population	540,000 in China (Zhou and Luo 2001). Population total all countries: 647,400. Ethnic population: 610,000.
Region	South central Yunnan, Dehong Prefecture, southwest of Dali near Lancang (Mekong) River. May be in north Viet Nam. Also in France, Laos, Myanmar, Switzerland, Thailand.
Language map	Southwestern China
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Chinese Tai, Dai Kong, Dai Na, Dai Nuea, Dehong, Dehong Dai, Tai Dehong, Tai Le, Tai Mao, Tai Neua, Tai Nü, Tai Nue, Tai-Kong, Tai-Le, Yunannese Shan, Yunnan Shant’ou
Dialects	Dehong, Tai Pong (La, You, Ya, Ka, Tai Ka, Sai), Yongren. Lexical similarity: 29% with Qabiao [laq] and Lachi [lbt], 22% with Gelao [gio].
Classification	Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Be-Tai, Tai-Sek, Tai, Southwestern, Northwest
Language development	Literacy rate in L2: 84%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1931–1948.
Writing system	Tai Le script.
Comments	Classified as Dai nationality. Northern Shan-like varieties in China are referred to collectively as Tai Na, or Dehong Dai in Chinese. SVO; modifiers follow heads. Agriculturalists: paddy rice, sugar, Pu’er tea, bananas, coconuts, papayas, rubber. Buddhist (Theravada), polytheist.

Laos

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Language name	Tai Neua
Population	35,000 in Laos (1995 L. Chazee).
Region	Northwest. Possibly in north Viet Nam.
Language map	Laos, reference number 65
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Neua, Tai Nuea
Comments	Called ‘Dehong Dai’ or ‘Shan’ in China. A different dialect from that in China. Traditional religion.

Myanmar

Language name	Tai Neua
Population	72,400 in Myanmar (1983).
Region	Possibly also in northern Viet Nam.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Kong, Tai Neua
Comments	Called ‘Dehong Dai’ in China. The Laos dialect is different from the dialect in China.

Thailand

Language name	Tai Neua
Region	Possibly also in north Viet Nam.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Dehong Dai, Tai Man, Tai Neua

USA

Language name	Tai Neua
Region	Possibly also in Illinoi.
Alternate names	Chinese Shan, Tai Neua

Do you know any body (Tai Neua) around the world? Where do they live? How many are there? How are they?

 

Origin Of Tai Neua

Basically, the word “Thaineua “ has two words-Thai and neua. Thai means human or people. Neua means above or the north or the top. Thaineua means people who live the north or move from the north.

In addition, the Word “Thai” is opposite of the word “Khaa” which in the past Laos was governed by kings.  There were a few level of society like India-  Therefore, Thai means general people who are not servants.  Khaa means servants. 

Historically, a group of people who live in 12 phana (Yunan), the south of China (Yunan). These groups of people moved down to the north of Laos because of Indochina’s War. Currently there are still the rest of Thaineua  group living in 12 Panna. They spoke 2 languages-Chinese and Thaineua.

The Tai Neua has lived in Lao for many centuries. The Tai Neua originated in China, they moved from the southern part of China and entered into Laos

First they had lived in Soye, Adth and Xieng Kho district in Huaphan province. Then they moved to settle in the Ma River region of Phongsali province.

Finally, they moved to the Muang Sing area about 200 years ago and were involved in the early chiefdoms in Muang Sing in the 18th century. They spread out across the north of Laos and Myanmar.

Today, there are also the Tai Neua in many countries such as Vietnam, and China, Thailand and United State.

According to district and provincial records, the population of Tai Neua in Lao PDR has 2,354 people (2005), of which 1, 205 are female.

Clothes and Wearing

Today, Tai Neua women are still industrious weavers of cotton and fine quality silk “phaa sins” (long cloth worn as skirt) Many households earn additional income from their member’s weaving skills, selling the “phaa sins” as far away as the capital Vientiane. Tai Neua men are skilled weavers of bamboo mats, containers and baskets. Besides that the Neua work as agriculturists, growing wet rice, maize, cassava and vegetables

Laos, Ban Neua

Sin Mi (Woman's Funerary Skirt), Late 19th century

 

Sin Mi (Woman's Funerary Skirt), Late 19th century

Silk and cotton, plain weave with supplementary patterning wefts; resist dyed; edged with cotton and silk, plain weave
149.8 x 78.8 cm (59 x 31 in.)
Warp repeat: 48.9-50.3 cm (19 1/4-19 3/4 in.)
Christa C. Mayer Thurman Textile Endowment, 1997.189

Thai Neua Script

One of the most important evidents  that showed that there is 'Thai Neua' on this planet is 'Thai Neua' script.

On your left hand side, you will see the character which comparing with Lao character (red). You can notice that some of them can be pronounced many sound.


Take a look closely at them. They look like  'Nangseutham'  which the Lao monk uses for writing or recording the buddhist history in the temple.


There was no evident who created and where it was from. My assuming is they are adpted from Nangseutham.  

Let’s Have A Quick Look At What This Blog Contains

I quess you are interested in knowing about 'Tai Neau' and you found this blog. Therefore, you may wonder and want to ask what this blog contains.

As you have seen, the name of this blog is ‘HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAI NEUA?’, therefore, this will provide you a variety of subject related to ‘Tai Neua’. Basically as follow:

·         Author Talk

·         Why Am I Creating This Blog and What For?

·         Tai Neua Around The World

·         Tai Neua Language

·         Tai Neua Character

·         Tai Neua and Education

·         Tai Neua and Health

·         Tai Neua and Agriculture

·         Tai Neua and Buddhism

·         Tai Neua Culture/Traditional

·         ‘Ying’ (Thai Neua Traditional song)

·         Tai Neua Clothes

·         Tai Neua Traditional Food

·         Won Leuan Saam (Tai Neua New Year)

Etc.

Conclusion, this blog will provide you the information related to ‘Thai Neua’ and give you a picture who is ‘Thai Neua’. So let’s have a quick look at a specific topic that you are interested in.

Don't miss it!!!!

Tai Neua Language

In addition to alphabet, Thai Neua has their own language. It called ' Kam Tai Neua' (Tai Neua language). 

The language is an Austro-Thay language that is in theTai-Kadai group.

The Tai Nüa Language

Language Name:	Tai Nüa
Alternate Name(s):	Chinese Shan Chinese Tai Dai Kong Dai Na Dai Nuea Dehong Dehong Dai Tai-Kong Tai-Le Tai Dehong Tai Kong Tai Le Tai Man Tai Mao Tai Neua Tai Nü Tai Nue Tai Nuea Yunannese Shan Yunnan Shant'ou
Dialect Name(s):	Dehong Tai Pong Yongren
Alternate Dialect Name(s):	Ka La Sai Tai Ka Ya You
Spoken in:	China France Laos Myanmar Switzerland Thailand
Language Code :	tdd (Former code: TDD)
Status:	Living
Family:	Tai-Kadai
Subgroup:	Northwest Southwestern Tai
Subgrouping Code:	TKCABBDAC
	Find more information on Tai Nüa
Retrieve:	Everything on Tai Nüa in the LINGUIST Database
View:	Listing of Tai Nüa documents in the Odin Database
	Ethnologue Description
Search in:	Google Database