Lawa (people)
The Lawa (or Lua , Thai : ลั๊ วะ or ละว้า , Lao : ລະ ວ້າ ; self-description: Lavu'a ) are one of the smaller hill tribes in northern Thailand , where they were living before the Thai immigrated and founded their first kingdoms. Today they still often live apart from the rest of the Thai population due to their traditional way of life and their animistic beliefs . Like the other hill tribes in Thailand, they are considered to be particularly talented in their craft. The unmarried women wear a white shirt with red claw chains, and after marriage they wear brightly colored clothes.
Major settlement areas of the Lawa are located in the Hot District of Chiang Mai Province and in the Mae Sariang District of Mae Hong Son Province . The Lawa language belongs to the Palaung branch of the Austro-Asian language family .
In the People's Republic of China , the Lawa are considered a sub-group of the Va nationality .
The Lua (also called T'in, Chao Dol, H'tin, Katin, Kha Che, Kha Pai, Kha Phai, Kha T'in, Lwa, Mai, Mal, P'ai, Phai, Praj, Pral, P'u Pai, Thin, Tie or Tin ), who settle in northern Laos and in the Thai province of Nan and speak languages from the Khmu branch of the Austro-Asian languages. Thai authorities have also referred to this as Lawa in the past . It is doubtful whether the two peoples have a common ancestry.
Individual evidence
- ^ Barbara A. West: The Peoples of Asia and Oceania . Facts on File, New York 2009, ISBN 978-0-8160-7109-8 , p. 810
- ^ Joachim Schliesinger: Ethnic Groups of Laos. Volume 2 - Profile of Austro-Asiatic-Speaking Peoples. White Lotus, Bangkok 2003, p. 161.