The Palaung ( my, ပလောင် လူမျိုး ; Thai: ปะหล่อง, also written as Benglong Palong) or Ta'ang are a Mon–Khmer ethnic minority found in

Shan State Shan State ( my, ရှမ်းပြည်နယ်, ; shn, မိူင်းတႆး, italics=no) also known by the endonyms Shanland, Muang Tai, and Tailong, is a state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos ...

of Burma,

Yunnan Province Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the ...

of China and

Northern Thailand Northern Thailand, or more specifically Lanna, is geographically characterised by several mountain ranges, which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar to Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them. Though like most of Thail ...

. In China, they are referred to as the De'ang ( also spelt Deang) people. They live mainly in the northern parts of Shan State in the Pa Laung Self-Administered Zone, with the capital at Namhsan. The Ta'ang (Palaung) State Liberation Army, the armed wing of the Palaung ethnic group, began fighting against the Burmese military in 1963. It entered a cease-fire agreement with the central government in April 1991, but is currently continuing the insurgency. Both the government and the rebel armies have derived benefit from poppy cultivation, which has caused serious drug addiction among the local people.

Groups

There are three main subgroups of Palaung: the Palé, Shwe and Rumai. The Chinese government groups together the Palé, Riang, Rumai and Shwe peoples as the De'ang ethnic nationality. The group also includes the Danau (Danaw) who may no longer have a separate identity from the Palé.

Language

There are three main principal Palaung languages.

Distribution

In China, the De'ang are found in the following villages of Zhenkang County and Gengma County.中国少数民族社会历史调查资料丛刊》修订编辑委员会. 2009. 德昂族社会历史调查, p. 94. Beijing: Minzu Chubanshe. In China, they are known as the ''Laopulao'' (牢普劳); there are six other De'ang groups located in Burma. *Dazhai Township (大寨乡), Muchang District (木厂区), Zhenkang County: Bangwa (邦娃) Dazhai (大寨), Xiazhai (下寨), Huoshishan (火石山), Laobandeng (老班登), Mahuangqing (蚂蟥箐) of Chaikao (柴考) *Nansan Township (南伞乡), Pengmushan District (彭木山区), Zhenkang County: Xiaochanggou (销长沟), Beiyan (北岩) *Hongmulin (红木林) and Manxing (曼兴) of Hewai District (河外区), Gengma County: Junnong (君弄), Mamao (马冒), Jinmo (金莫), Muyin (木因), Xungang (巡岗)

Religion

Most Ta'ang are adherents of Theravada Buddhism and Buddhist temples can be found in most of their towns. Buddhism is present in all of the daily activities of this ethnic group. At the age of ten, many children are sent to the monasteries, primarily for education. Most of them return to lay life in later years. The Riang are the only one of the four groups who have never converted to Buddhism. The majority of the Riang are animists.

Gallery

References

External links

*
Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization
{{Authority control Ethnic groups officially recognized by China