Dai Ethnic Minority

Dai is one of 55 ethnic minorities officially listed in China. They live mainly in southwest China and have their own unique customs and language. Dai minority regards peacock and elephant as mascot, folk story of Dai is rich and colorful. Dai people like to live by water, love cleanly, bathe frequently, women love to wash hair, so Dai is known as “ethnic minority of water”. In the past, Dai people generally believed in southern Buddhism and primitive religions.

Distribution of Dai Ethnic Minority

Dai ethnic minority is distributed in China, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and other countries. They live mainly in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, as well as Gengma County and Menglian County in Yunnan province. The rest are scattered in more than 30 counties like Jingdong, Jinggu, Lancang, Xinping, Yuanjiang and Jinping.

Dai Ethnic Towns

Yongxing Dai Ethnic Town Gaoda Dai and Yi Ethnic Town Wandian Dai Ethnic Town Mangkuan Yi and Dai Ethnic Town Longtan Yi and Dai Ethnic Town Mengjiao Dai, Yi and Lahu Ethnic Town Lishu Yi and Dai Ethnic Town Pingcun Yi and Dai Ethnic Town Dongpo Dai Ethnic Town Wanbi Lisu and Dai Ethnic Town Chuanfang Lisu and Dai Ethnic Town

Cultural Heritages of Dai Ethnic Minority

Dai Medicine Zhaoshutun and Nanmunuona- Narrative Poem Elephant-foot Drum Making Craft Pattra-leaf Scriptures Making Craft Brocade of Dai Ethnic Minority Rituals of Life Cycle Traditional Pottery-making Craft White Elephant Dance and Deer Dance Elephant-foot Drum Dance Pineapple Rice

Inheritors

Bo Hanbing Gen Dequan Yu Xiangla Yu La Yu Meng Ma Hazhuang Ye Juan Kang Langnuo Wang Yuanzhou Yang Yongfu Dao Ganxiang Han Gan Yang Guizhen Luo Meiying Yin Nong Yu Nannan Yu Nan’en Yanwen Hanzai Yu Ershuai Mi Me Ruan Shilin Bo Konglun Bo Yinghan Yi Xiang Yu Latao Jin Bao Sai Bing Zhan Mie Nan Guangcai Bo Wangdi Qian Wenming Dao Dewen Yu Guang Song Zirong Mie Yezhang Mi Zaijun Feng Qinyin Nan Zineng Feng Zhonggui Feng Jijin Jing Jigui Xiang Hen Gong Si Beng Deliang Xianbo Hanliang Jin Jiwen Yin Mingzhen Dao Yongguang Dao La’ai Bi Ya Shao Meihan Yan Handian Bo Nanduan Dao Shuming Wan Xiaosan Yan Wenyan Feng Chuanshi Kang Langtun Yejuan Yu Mengga Jin Xingming Dao Baoshun Wang La Yue Xiang Si Huazhang

Festivals and Activities of Dai Ethnic Minority

Bag-throwing Festival For Three Countries Sand Pile Activity of Mengwo Temple Water Splashing Festival in Menglian Siyueba (April 8th) Festival/Water Splashing Festival Woba Festival Shengmian Festival Water Splashing Festival in Yuanyang Loy Krathong Festival Water Splashing Festival in Jinghong Water Splashing Festival in Menghai Ganbai Festival Water Splashing Festival in Mengla Caihua Festival or Flowers Picking Festival Xuntianba Festival Songlong (Dragon Worship) Festival Huajie (Flower Street) Festival Guanmen (Closing Door) Festival Chuwa Festival and Ganduo Festival Water Splashing Festival in Dehong Water Splashing Festival in Xishuangbanna Water Splashing Festival in Jinping Men’s Day of Dai Ethnic Minorities Flower-collecting and Water Splashing Festival Holy Fish Festival Water Splashing Festival of Dai Ethnic Minority Kaimen (Opening Door) Festival

Keep Reading

Ruili City- Hometown of Peacock Dance Dabinglangyuan Village Dai (Huayao Dai) Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Gasa Town of Xinping County, Yuxi Manting Dai Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Menghan Town, Jinghong City Dadenghan Village Dai Ethnic Culture Protection Area in Ruili City, Dehong Stupa, Temple and Young Buddhist Monks of Dai Ethnic Minority Carpet-Wrapping Courting and Threading-Tying Marriage of Dai Ethnic Minority Fragrant Couch-Grass Barbecue and Fragrant Bamboo Rice by Dai Ethnic Minority Bamboo Houses in Green Trees of Dai Ethnic Minority The Clean and Nice-looking Wells of Dai Ethnic Minority Interesting Placenames of Dai Ethnic Minority Dai Ethnic Minority: A water-loving Minority