The Blang people (known in China as Bulang; ) or Plang () are an

ethnic group An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...

. They form one of the 56

ethnic groups An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, rel ...

officially recognized by the

People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

. They live in the areas of southern

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, and parts of

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

and

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. There are estimated 1,200 of them in

, living mostly in

Chiang Rai province Chiang Rai (, ; , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six Provinces of Thailand, provinces that lies in Northern Thailand#Regional classification of northern Thailand, upper northern Thailand and is Thailand's northernmost province. It is bordered ...

with some emigrated to work as laborers and settle in

Nakhon Pathom province Nakhon Pathom (, ,Pronunciation) is one of the central Provinces of Thailand, provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Suphan Buri province, Suphan Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, Ayutthaya ...

and in Greater Bangkok.

Names

Yan & Zhou (2012:147)Yan Qixiang ��其香& Zhou Zhizhi ��植志(2012). ''Mon-Khmer languages of China and the Austroasiatic family'' ��国孟高棉语族语言与南亚语系 Beijing: Social Sciences Academy Press

Social Sciences Literature Press Social Sciences Academic Press, abbreviated as SSAP (traditional Chinese: 社會科學文獻出版社; simplified Chinese: 社会科学文献出版社), also spelled as Social Sciences Literature Publishing House or China Social Sciences Literatu ...

. list the following autonyms of ethnic Bulang in various counties. *' (布朗): in

Xishuangbanna Xishuangbanna, sometimes shortened to Banna, is one of the eight autonomous prefectures of Yunnan Province. The autonomous prefecture for Dai people is in the extreme south of Yunnan province, China, bordering both Myanmar and Laos. Xishuangbanna ...

*' (阿佤): in Shuangjiang and Lancang counties *' (乌德尔): some Bulang of Shuangjiang; means '

mountain people Hill people, also referred to as mountain people, is a general term for people who live in the hills and mountains. This includes all rugged land above and all land (including plateaus) above elevation. The climate is generally harsh, with s ...

' *' (乌): in Yongde (' in Gantang 甘塘), Zhenkang, Shidian (' in Hazhai 哈寨), Changning counties *' (佤): in

Mojiang County Mojiang Hani Autonomous County (; Hani: ) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu'er City, in the south of Yunnan Province, China. It borders Zhenyuan County and Xinping County to the north, Yuanjiang County, Honghe County and ...

Exonyms for Bulang include (Yan & Zhou 2012:147): *' (谟): Dai exonym for the Bulang of

*' (阿别): Hani exonym for the Bulang of

*' (拉): Dai exonym for the Bulang of Shuangjiang *' (卡朴): Lahu exonym for the Bulang *' (巴尔克): Wa exonym for the Bulang of Cangyuan *''Puman'' (濮曼, 蒲满): Han Chinese exonym for the Bulang In

, they are known as ''Plang''. According to the database of ethnicities in Thailand by Sirindhorn Anthropology Center, names of the Plangs include: * ''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'' (), a mistaken name formerly used to refer to Plangs in

Languages

People classified as Bulang in China speak various

Palaungic languages The Palaungic or Palaung–Wa languages are a group of nearly 30 Austroasiatic languages, with scholars disagreeing on exactly which languages to include in the classification. They are spoken in scattered pockets across an inland region of South ...

, including Blang and U. The Blang language belongs to the Palaungic branch of the

Austroasiatic The Austroasiatic languages ( ) are a large language family spoken throughout Mainland Southeast Asia, South Asia and East Asia. These languages are natively spoken by the majority of the population in Vietnam and Cambodia, and by minority popu ...

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 Chinese ( or ) is a group of languages spoken natively by the ethnic Han Chinese majority and List of ethnic groups in China, many minority ethnic groups in China, as well as by various communities of the Chinese diaspora. Approximately 1.39& ...

and

Southwestern Tai languages The Southwestern Tai or Thai languages are a branch of the Tai languages of Southeast Asia. Its languages include Central Thai (Siamese), Northern Thai (Lanna), Lao (including Isan), Shan and others. Classification The internal classificatio ...

in addition to Blang. Two systems of writing, based on the

Latin alphabet The Latin alphabet, also known as the Roman alphabet, is the collection of letters originally used by the Ancient Rome, ancient Romans to write the Latin language. Largely unaltered except several letters splitting—i.e. from , and from � ...

, have been developed: 'Totham' in the

and 'Tolek' from Dehong and Lincang.

History

Chinese

ethnographers Ethnography is a branch of anthropology and the systematic study of individual cultures. It explores cultural phenomena from the point of view of the subject of the study. Ethnography is also a type of social research that involves examining ...

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

in the 1970s, in seeking of job opportunities and escaping oppression from

Culture

Traditionally, the Blang considered teeth blackened by chewing

betel nut The areca nut ( or ) or betel nut () is the fruit of the areca palm ('' Areca catechu''). The palm is originally native to the Philippines, but was carried widely through the tropics by the Austronesian migrations and trade since at least 1 ...

s 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 A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, a clan may claim descent from a founding member or apical ancestor who serves as a symbol of the clan's unity. Many societie ...

, 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 th
earliest known cultivators of tea
with natural tea forest canopy home to unique species & ecosystems as opposed to

monoculture In agriculture, monoculture is the practice of growing one crop species in a field at a time. Monocultures increase ease and efficiency in planting, managing, and harvesting crops short-term, often with the help of machinery. However, monocultur ...

fertilizer A fertilizer or fertiliser is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or other non-nutrient soil amendments. Man ...

pesticide Pesticides are substances that are used to control pests. They include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides, and many others (see table). The most common of these are herbicides, which account for approximately 50% of all p ...

-consuming tea plantations.

Religion

The Blang are traditionally associated with

animism Animism (from meaning 'breath, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and in ...

, ancestor worship, and

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...

. Writing in 2011, James Miller described these overlapping traditions as follows: 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". In Thailand exists a community of Christian Plangs, who in 2008 founded their own church building in

Distribution

China

The Bulang are distributed in the following villages of Yunnan province (Tao 2012:16-18). Except for the Bulang of

, the Bulang of most of these counties speak the U language (Svantesson 1991). Locations from Wang & Zhao (2013:173-179) are also included.Wang Xingzhong ��兴中& Zhao Weihua ��卫华 2013. ''Geography and multilingualism in Lincang'' ��沧地理与双语使用 Kunming: Yunnan People's Press ��南人民出版社 * 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 and Mangna 忙那村) **''Shahe Township'' 沙河乡 (3 villages) *

Yongde County Yongde County () is a county in the west of Yunnan province, China. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city A prefecture-level city () or prefectural city is an administrative division of the China, People's Republic of ...

(pop. 6,630) **''Yongkang Township'' 永康镇: Songgui 送归, Luo'ade 罗阿德, Xiaobaishui 小白水, Luoshuiba 落水坝, Xiamangping 下忙坪, Nanmusuan 南木算, Manghai 忙海, Yatang 鸭塘, Duande 端德村, Mangkuang 忙况村, Reshuitang 热水塘村 **''Xiaomengtong Township'' 小孟统乡: Dazhai 大寨, Hudong 户董, Hewei 河尾, Landizhai 烂地寨, Banpo 半坡 **''Mengban Township'' 勐板乡: Ganzhe 甘蔗, Xiazhai 下寨, Dazhai 大寨, Huangguozhai 黄果寨, Datian 大田, Nandongshan 南董山, Xiahuya 下户丫 **''Dashan Township'' 大山乡: Huwei 户威, Hongshan 红山, Malizhai 麻栗寨, Pahong 怕红 **''Dedang Township'' 德党乡: Qianshandong 钻山洞村, Mangjiantian 忙见田村 **''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, Gaojingcao 高井槽 **''Manwan Township'' 漫湾镇: Dapingzhang 大平掌, Manjiu 慢旧, Hetaolin 核桃林村 **''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, Langbashan 浪坝山, Laolu 老鲁 **''Lishu Township'' 栗树乡: Mangbang 忙蚌, Manlang 慢郎, Xiaobanggan 小邦赶 * Gengma County (pop. 2,957) **''Manghong Township'' 芒洪乡: Keqie 科且村, Anya 安雅村 **''Mengyong Township'' 勐永镇: Mangnuozhai 忙糯寨 **''Gengxuan Township'' 耿宣镇: Mangfu 芒福, Bakazhai 坝卡寨 **''Xipaishan Township'' 西排山乡: Dongpo 东坡村, Bankang 班康村 * Lincang County (pop. 450) **''Pingcun Township'' 平村乡: Nayu 那玉村 **''Zhangtuo Township'' 章驮乡 **''Mayidui Township'' 蚂蚁堆乡 (small population) **''Quannei Township'' 圈内乡 (small population) *

Zhenkang County Zhenkang County () is located in western Yunnan province, China, bordering Burma's Shan State to the west. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Lincang. Ethnic groups Ethnic Bulang are found in the following villages i ...

(pop. 452) **''Muchang Township'' 木场乡: Dalong 大拢村 (majority of Bulang) **''Nansan Town'' 南伞镇: Daoshui 道水村 (small population) * Fengqing County (pop. 1,276) **''Dazhai Township'' 大寨乡: Dalise 大立色村, Qiongyin 琼英村, Pingzhang 平掌村 **''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 Shidian County () is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Baoshan, in the west of Yunnan Yunnan; is an inland Provinces of China, province in Southwestern China. The province spans approximately and has a population o ...

(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 Lancang Lahu Autonomous County (; Lahu: ) is an autonomous county under the jurisdiction of Pu'er City, in southwestern Yunnan province, China. Lancang is the same as Lan Xang, and refers to the Mekong River (known in Chinese as the Lancang) o ...

(pop. 6,500) **''Huimin Township'' 惠民乡: Manjing 蛮景, Manhong 蛮洪, Wengji 翁机, Wengwa 翁洼 **''Qianliu Township'' 谦六乡: Dagang 打岗, Dagun 打滚, Machang 马厂, Danao 大脑 **''Dongwen Township'' 文东乡: Shuitang 水塘, Jiuku 旧苦, Pasai 帕赛 (in Nagongzhai 那巩寨), Nasai 那赛 *

(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) **''Banpo Township'' 半坡乡: Bandu 班督村 *

Jingdong County Jingdong Yi Autonomous County (; ) is an autonomous county in southern Yunnan Province, China. It is the northernmost county-level division of the prefecture-level city of Pu'er. Jingdong borders Nanhua County, Chuxiong City and Shuangbai Cou ...

**''Baodian Township'' 保甸乡 * Simao County **''Zhulin Township'' 竹林乡: Cizhulin 茨竹林村, Dacheshu 大车树村布朗族研究 (1991) Ethnic Bulang villages are also located in

Jinghong Jinghong (; ; , , ; , ; , ; also formerly romanised as ''Chiang Hung'', ''Chengrung'', ''Cheng Hung'', Jeng Hung, ''Jinghung'', ''Keng Hung'', ''Kiang Hung'' and ''Muangjinghung'') is a city in and the seat of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefec ...

City, including in Kunhan Dazhai 昆罕大寨村 in Dahuangba Village 大荒坝村, Dadugang Township 大渡岗乡.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.

Thailand

According to the database of ethnicities in Thailand by Sirindhorn Anthropology Center, Plang initially arrived and since have settled in

especially in Mae Chan and Mae Sai. Some of them emigrated to work as laborers in Greater Bangkok; majority of which settled in

References

External links

RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage

Samtao in RWAAI Digital Archive

U in RWAAI Digital Archive
{{authority control Ethnic groups officially recognized by China Ethnic groups in Thailand