The Sizang, Siyin or Taute people are primarily the descendants of Pu Thuantak, also known as Suantak in the Tedim language and by related

clan A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clans may claim descent from founding member or apical ancestor. Clans, in indigenous societies, tend to be endogamous, meaning ...

s, and their adopted sons and daughters. The

Siyin Valley Siyin may refer to: * Siyin, Burma, a village, a valley and a Reserve Forest in western Burma * The Sizang, a Chin people, also known as the Siyin or the Thaute people * Siyin Island Dongyin Township (Tungyin) (; Foochow Romanized: Dĕ̤ng-ī ...

is in present-day Chin State,

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

, and was settled by descendants of the Pu Thuantak who moved from their original home of Ciimnuai with other Zo (Chin) people such as the Sukte, Thado, Zou, and other related tribes. The Zo lived in Ciimnuai until their population increased, forcing them to find more fertile soil, and they dispersed throughout the mountains and valleys in and around Chin State. Due to communication difficulties and isolation, each group from Ciimnuai developed a unique dialect. The

Sizang language Sizang (Sizang, Shiyang), or Siyin (Siyin Chin), is a Kuki-Chin language spoken by the Sizang people in southern Tedim Township, Chin State, Burma. References *Davis, Tyler. 2018. Verb Stem Alternation in Sizang Chin Narrative Discourse'. M ...

emerged similarly to Vaiphei, Teizang, Saizang, Val, Zou, Dim, Khuangsai and Hangmi/Milhiem, and the languages are closely related. In 2019, the Sizang population was about 10,000.

Etymology

''Si'' means "salt water", and ''zang'' is a northern side or plain; the Sizang originated north of a brine spring. ''Taute'', as they are known in Manipur records, means "fat people".

Culture

The Sizang had a warrior tradition similar to that of the Naga people. Headhunting was widely practiced. Sizang society was patriarchal, with inheritances going to sons. The marriage of a man and woman from the same village, known as ''phungkhawm'', was forbidden. The eldest man in the groom's tribe would go to the bride's tribe to propose marriage, bringing a gift of ''modokzu'' () for the bride's family. If the proposal was declined, he returned with the ''modokzu''. Male babies are named five days after birth, and female babies after three days. They are given a temporary surname to protect them from spirits. Parents choose the name; the first son is named after his paternal grandfather and the first daughter is named after her paternal grandmother.

Religion

Before their conversion to Christianity, the Sizang were

animist Animism (from Latin: ' meaning 'breath, Soul, spirit, life') is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct Spirituality, spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—Animal, animals, Plant, plants, Ro ...

s; they worshiped nature, Doai (the devil), and Pathian (God). They also worshiped unknown spirits to avoid harm. Illnesses were believed to be caused by evil spirits. The Sizang believed that their ancestors emerged from a gourd in the village of Chin-Nwe.

History

During the late 19th century, when the British Imperial Army tried to colonise the Chin Hills, the Sizang resisted.

Economy

The main occupation is slash-and-burn agriculture. Livestock such as cattle, gayals, goats, chickens and pigs are also raised. Some Sizang work in the public sector as civil servants.

Language

The

resembles the Tedim language and India's Meitei and Thadou languages. Sizang, which did not have a written script until British colonisation, is written in Latin script.

References

External links

Zaangsiseino - Siyin Youth Association

Ni Kong Hong - Siyin Online Magazine

US Siyin Baptist Church

Siyin Bible

Siyin Hymns and Praise Songs

Sial-Lum Fort Photo Gallery
{{Ethnic groups in Burma Ethnic groups in Myanmar