Kachin people

Kachin traditional dress

The peoples of Kachin (Jingpo: Ga Hkyeng red soil; Burmese: ကချင်လူမျိုး; MLCTS: ka. hkyang lu. myui:, pronounced: [kətɕɪ̀ɴ lù mjó]), more properly known as Jingpho Wunpong (Jingpo: Jinghpaw Wunpawng the Confederation of Jingpo) or simply Wunpong (the Confederation), are a group of ethnic groups who largely inhabit the Kachin Hills in northern Burma's Kachin State and neighbouring areas of China and India. More than ninety nine percent of the Kachin people identify themselves as Christians, while less than one percent follows Buddhism and some also adhere to animism. Kachin people name themselves as "Jinghpaw Wunpawng". Jinghpaw people are living in India, China and Burma. the language Singhpo (Jinghpaw) is spoken in Northeast India and Jingpo in Southwest China. Kachin state is also known as the land of jades and gold.

The term Kachin includes a variety of different linguistic groups with overlapping territories and integrated social structures. These are notably the Rawang, the Lisu, the Zaiwa, the Lashi/Lachik and the Lawngwaw and Jinghpaw.^[1] Such definitions carefully distinguish Kachin and Shan (Tai) peoples though some Kachin people have defied the Western expectation of lineage-based ethnicity by culturally "becoming Shans".^[2]

Common Language - Jinghpaw language standardised and recorded by Dr. Ola Hanson.

Categorisation

In Yunnan, a different categorization is applied and peoples grouped as Wunpong are grouped into 4 nations. The Chinese definition of Jingpo, which include all speakers of Zaiwa cluster of Northern Burmish languages is broader than that in Kachin Hills and is somewhat comparable to Wunpong in Kachin Hills.^[3] Lisu, Anung (Rawang) and Derung (Taron) peoples in Yunnan are not subordinated to ethnic Jingpo thus are classified outside the Jingpo nation:

• Jingpo nation^[3] (Jingpo: Jinghpaw Pawngyawng)
  • Ethnic Zaiwa
  • Ethnic Jingpo proper
    • Subethnic Gauri^[4][5]
    • Other subethnicities
  • Ethnic Langsu
  • Ethnic Lachik
  • Bola-speakers
• Lisu nation
• Nu nation^[6]
  • Ethnic Nusu
  • Ethnic Zauzou
  • Ethnic Anung of Anung-speaking
  • Ethnic Anung of Derung-speaking
• Derung nation

Behaviour and traditions

The Kachin people are traditionally known for their disciplined fighting skills, complex clan inter-relations, craftsmanship, herbal healing and jungle survival skills. In recent decades, their animist beliefs have been largely supplanted by their accelerated embrace of Christianity.^[7] As such, many of their formerly animist events and symbols, such as the annual Manao festival in Myitkyina, have been largely re-interpreted as "folkloric" celebrations and items.^[8]

Further reading

• Sadan, Mandy (2013). Being and Becoming Kachin: Histories Beyond the State in the Borderworlds of Burma. Oxford University Press and the British Academy.

References

1. Kachin National Museum, Myitkyina
2. Leach, E. R. (1965) Political Systems of Highland Burma: a study of Kachin social structure. Boston: Beacon Press.
3. The Jingpo people is divided into 5 subgroups: Jingpo, Zaiwa, Leqi, Lang'e (Langsu) and Bola.
4. 景颇族高日支系考释
5. Jingpo - Orientation
6. The Rouruo people form a sub-division of the Nu ethnic minority, which also has the sub-division of Anong people.
7. Joshua Project analysis
8. Manao Festival description

Kachin ( six major Group) Jing Hpaw, Zai wa, Rawang, Lisu, Lauvo, Laqid