LISU

Lisu Children, Lisu Village in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand.

Villages of this colourful ethnic group are to be found in the mountains of China, Myanmar (Burma) and northern Thailand. There are approximately 21000 Lisus living in Thailands northern provinces of Chaing Mai, Mae Hong Sorn and Chiang Rai. They originate in eastern Tibet. Their house are built on the ground, with dirt floors and bamboo walls around a central ridge. For many generations the main means of livelyhood for many of the Lisu people has been the cultivation of the opium poppy. Some of these people have given up poppy growing, and are now seeking to supplement their income through the sale of skillfully produced crafts.

Lisu Girls at Lisu New Year, Lisu Village in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand.

The Lisu make their clothing from gaily-coloured cloth stitched into outfits trimmed with row upon row of vari-coloured strips of cloth. The women wear brightly coloured costumes, consisting of aa blue or green parti- coloured knee length tunic with a wide black belt and blue or green pants. Sleeves shoulders and cuffs are heavily embroidered with narrow, horizontal bands of blue, red and yellow. The more affluent wear massive amounts of hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive occasions.

Lisu men produce crossbows, musical instruments, bird and animal trapss, and other items made of wood, bamboo and rattan. A few Lisu people have been converted to christianity by western missionaries.

The Lisu believe strongly in the spirit world, and their shamans are used to divine the causes and cures of all problems and sickness. These hilltribe people are perhaps the best looking of all the tribes, and they like to think of themselves a little bit above their other hilltribe neighbors. They are among the least bashful of these ethnic groups and in general adjusting well to the changes taking place in their society.

Lisu Woman with Children, Lisu Village in Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand.

Other Hilltribes in Northern Thailand:

• HMONG

• YAO

• KAREN

• LISU

• LAHU

• LAWA

• AKHA

• KHAMU

• THINS

• MLABRI

• PALONG