Vaiphei
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The Vaiphei, which falls under Mongoloid stock, is one of the many Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi-Hmar tribes. The belief that their ancestors emerged out of Khul (cave) exists among the Vaipheis. Most of the clan names and name of individuals among the Zo sub-tribes are derived from the eldest in the family, but the Vaipheis opted for deriving their name from a village name Khovaiphei. The Vaipheis should in fact be called Suantaks, had they been derived their names in the same way as their other brethrens had done.
While the Suantaks were ruling in Khovaiphei, the Suantakpa (chief of Suantak) collected all the taxes and revenues like se-le-kai, samal-leh-changseo. The Suantakpa had a very different way of collecting his samal (hind leg of animal killed). The person to give the samal was to dress the samal, and also cook it as directed by the Suantakpa. Likewise, one day, when the Gangte went to give the samal, the Suantakpa asked him to cut it and dry it over the fire. As this was not customary among the many other clans of cognate tribes, Gangte got annoyed by the command and flung the samal which hit the Suantakpa. The Suantakpa being very old died on the spot. It is said that Gangte was filled with remorse for having caused the death of the Chief or his elder brother, the Suantakpa, and went away to Ganggam along with his family.
With the demise of the Suantakpa, his sons and daughters became more hesitant to call themselves after their demised father i.e. Suantakte, and they were more inclined to refer to themselves as Vaiphei and as it were they were the dominant clan in Khovaiphei. Thus, till today they take immense pride in their Vaiphei identity. As time went by and the Vaipheis were ruling over Khovaiphei, the Suktes and the Pois declared war upon them. After fighting for a long time, the Vaipheis were defeated and later left Khovaiphei.
Another legend also said that when the Thibom dynasty of Mandalay became powerful and began to subjugate smaller communities, the Vaipheis left their settlement site in fear. They moved to a place near the Ningthi river called Kalemyo and then to Saijang. From Saijang they moved to Cimnnuai and Khosak respectively. From Khosak they moved to Ngatam lui and there they were divided into Sijang and Vaiphei. Vaiphei group from there went towards the Chin Hills and settled at Phaiza. This group further moved themselves to Kamhau and from there they began to enter the south eastern hilly regions of Manipur around 1891 A.D.
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[edit] Society
Their society is patriarchal and patronymic. The kinship structure is of classification type and one kinship term is used for different categories of relatives. The tribe is divided into a number of clans and sub clans. The clans are endogamous though inter clan marriage is not uncommon. Many Vaipheis are confused about the exact number of their clan. Each clan has its head called ‘Upa’. Eldest son inherits his father.
For an individual born in the Vaiphei soceity, he/she is welcome through a function called Naoyuneck when the pregnant mother is about seven or eight months due. The birth ceremony of a child is held on the seventh day of the child by entertaining the villagers. Children whether male or female, get their earlobes pierced with a tough hair of Saku (an animal) and black & red thread. Marriage is by engagement or negotiation. The prescribed mate for a boy is the daughter of his maternal uncle. Pre marital sex is considered a disgraceful act and if the boy refuses to marry the girl, he is imposed to fine with one mithun and one pig. Death ceremony of a child under six months is not necessary. Otherwise dead is buried with the head turning towards the east. Cooked spleen of cattle considered to be the food of the deceased is also buried along with the corpse.
[edit] Occupation
Their main occupation, agriculture, is practiced through both types of cultivation - shifting and wet cultivation. Among them, there exists a system of community and social obligations under the term and conditions of Tawmngaihna and Kihutuana which means the services rendered to others in times of need or in other words, solidarity of the village in every moments of joy, sorrow or calamity.
[edit] Administration
Every Vaiphei village has a legitimate chief called Khawpa or Haosa, which is a hereditary post. He is assisted by Siamang Pachaeng / Semang Pachong (Ministers, nobles or elders). Taangsampu is the village crier, informing the entire village in any matter. Thiik-Seekpu (Blacksmith), Tunpu (hunting commander) also command respect from the villagers. Every dispute is tried in the Innpi-Vaihawn (village court) by the Chief and the nobles.
[edit] Religion
Before their conversion to Christianity, the traditional religion of Vaipheis is animism. Amorphous deities and spirits are responsible for benevolent and malevolent effects. The supreme deity is Pathian. They also believed in manna-like powers, which in their dialect is known as Bulung and possessor of it enables him to have a good harvest. Theirs have a family deity known as Dawibawm. From around 1907 A.D. under the Welsh Mission, the conversion of Vaipheis to Christianity took place. It made them to ignore its traditional festivals.
[edit] Festivals
The important traditional festivals include Thazinglam (a dead festival), Sa-ai (hunting), Oa ai (fishing), Bu-ai (harvest), Somzu (for dormitory) and lom zu (group organization). Sometimes a rich person can celebrate some sort of ‘feast of merit’ involving combined celebration of Sa-ai and Bu-ai lasting for at least a week.
[edit] The root of the people called Vaiphei
The descendants of Pu Vaiphei are to be found almost every where in the northern Chin State in Burma and in Lamka District of Manipur State and Mizoram in India.
In Mizoram we find many of Pu Zahmuaka's descendants such as the Sailo, Zadeng, Palian, Thangluah, Thangur, Rivung, and Rokhum. Pu Zahmuaka is descended from Pu Boklua Suantak who is also known as Sisinga or Sizanga. Boklua's father, Ngengu (Nenu) was the founder of Lophei village in Sizang valley of Chin State. Ngengu is the eldest son of Pu Suantak, who himself is descended from Pu Vaiphei or Pu Zahong. The Sizang regarded Pu Suantak as the direct progenitor of the Sizang and Vaiphei.
The Sizang held that Pu Zahong had three sons viz. Sektak or Sehtha , Tohin and Suantak. Sektak and Tohin are the progenitor of the Thalun [Dongel, Guite ( Mangzo, Sianthuam, Vangteh, Phualzang, Hauzel, Dousel, Munsong, Kullai, Tonsing etc), Thomlhun, Lotzem etc], Thado[ Sitlou, Singson , Kipgen & Haukip], Hangsing, Tongluai(Chongloi), Touthang(Lamhau), Tohin etc. and from Pu Suantak, the Sizang and the Vaiphei are being descended.
According to Sizang elders, Pu Suantak have four sons viz. Ngengu, Neihlut , Daitawng and Vanglok from whom are descended the clans of the Sizang and Vaiphei.
(1) Ngengu -
(i)Lamhtam- Batkai(Kiimlel and Seam Muang), Neizalh (Thatmun & Thatlang), Liimtuang (Khansiing, Mangson & Tuangthang) etc.
(ii)Khuakuan - Baite [Paute, Meihlai, Thangthem, Phungkhol,Kholsong(Chongzang), Kholngul, Kholphut(Thangkon),Thenchuang, Thangsei, Singngul, Ngulmun, Senlhung ,Langtho etc].
(iii)Boklua - Zadeng,Palian, Thangluah,Rivung,Rokhum,Sailo (Chengkual),
(iv)Phulum- Khaute [ Khuanghau (Tualtung, Tungnung etc),Vanglua etc. ], Khauphaw and Khauza.
(v) Phucil-
(vi)Nantal-
(vii)Nge Ngawn- Ngawn, Zil om , Lenthuan etc.
(2) Neilut -
(i)Hennek -
(ii)Genzo - Khupmu and Suante[ Suanman, Suanzong, Luahlang, Manghil, Doson etc.]
(iii)Muamul -
(3) Daitawng -
(i) Nunzong- Tuakon etc.
(ii)Hinnung- Hinzong, Haunam etc.
(iii)Namzo- Hinnam etc.
(iv)Sukzo ,
(vi)Zasuan etc.
(4)Vanglok -
(i)Hangsawk - Tonsung etc.
(ii)Thuklai - Lunmun, Suumniang, Tuanuam, Zangkaai etc.
(iii)Limkhai - Sitzom, Tunawi, Tunmang, Ngo Thua, TunSeal etc.
However, contrary to the Sizang sources, the Doungel, the Guites, the Thadous etc. didn't regard themselves as descended from Pu Zahong. Moreover, the Baites(Paute, Meihlai etc.), the Khautes(Tualtung, Tungnung, Neitham ,Neihsial etc.) etc. though they didnt deny their descend from Pu Vaiphei or Pu Zahong, regarded themselves as a senior or elder brother to Pu Suantak and not descended from him. According to some Vaiphei historians, the clans descended from Pu Neilut(Suante, Khupmu, Leisel etc.), Pu Daitawng(Nunzong, Hinnung etc.) and Pu Vanglok(Hangsawk, Thuklai etc.)are called Suantaks whereas the Khuakuans(Baite), the Phulums [Khaute(Tualtung, Tungnung etc.)], the Phucils, the Bokluas(Sailo, Zadeng, Thanglua etc.)are not called so because they are descended from Pu Ngengu, the illegitimate son of Pu Suantak.
According to some of the Vaiphei elders , from Pu Zahong, Pu Vaiphei and Pu Thado are being descended. And Pu Vaiphei had one son Honglian, and from whom are descended the three brothers- Phullum, Lianlum and Lunglum.
1.Phulum Zahong or Vanglua Zahong family-
Pu Phullum have three sons Khaute, Khauphaw and Khauza which are further subdivided:-
(I)KHAUTE -
(1)Vangsa -
i).Khaua - Khuanghau ( Tualtung,Tungnung,Tungdim& Tunglut), Khuangdal and Manga [ Mangvuk ( Ngulvung & Thavuk), Mangtong & Zaktong].
ii).Sentong/Senchong - Chontung, Chonlut & Chonmang or Tonmang(Nakal & Keusel)],
iii).Tonlu or Chonlu(Phaltual) and
iv).Buanchil or Chilzang (Chulzang or Tulzang),
(2)Musia -
i).Chinmang or Ralte -
Colney or Kawlni(Talbok),
Siakeng-Kaizong & Tongtual,
Khelte-Hmaimawk, Lutmang, Singlu, Sierchuang, Thatsing, Vankeu, Vohang, Vohlu, Zahlei & Zaucha and
Lelhchhun.
ii).Paulut
iii).Khala - Dulian or Duhlian , Nunga & Keivom
(3)Pael -
i).Ellu - Selut, Kemtong, Zamang & Pabawm and
ii).Elphuak - Hatlei, Khantun,
Hatlang - [ 1.Thimman and 2.Langel ( Hawsing & Lusing)],
Hatzaw(Lunmang) & Hatziam.
(4)Neitham -
i).Chonniang, ii).Khawthang, iii).Maubuk, iv).Nunngam or Singphun,v).Thangleh, vi).Thangnawk, vii).Vaithang, & viii).Hangmi - Luphaw,Lupheng, Ngoilu or Ngailut & Misau,
(5)Vangngem or Neihsial -
i)Haulai, ii)Lengen, iii)Thaning, iv)Thagen, v)Nunthuk or Nungthut, vi)Thutlai, vii)Thutnel, viii)Aikho, ix)Engthang, x)Tualkhen, xi)Singto, xii)Dawlbak, xiii)Banlawng, xiv)Tunling, xv)Thaling, xvi)Singlut or Singhil & xvii)Zawngbe,
(vi)Vanglok ( Thuklai, Hangsawk & Limkhai), Invang, Vangkal, Vangsak and Vanghoi family
(II)KHAUPHAW -
(i) Hoinge - Notlut, Chungsel, Lutthang & Songhil
(III)KHAUZA -
(i)Zomsing - Buite ( Thuksuang etc.)
(ii)Khawlhring - Chunthang, Khintung, Leidir, Lozum, Lungen/Lunsen, Midang, Milai, Pialtel, Rawlsim,Suakling, Thlaute or Thaute,
(iii)Phairiam or Faihriem - Bapui, Khawkhiang, Khawlum, Khawral/Khawlal, Saihmar, Saivak or Saivate, Seiling, Seikong, Thangnung, ,Tualai/Tuolai,Tuadal, Tuimual & Tusing.
2.Lianlum Zahong family-
Pu Lianlum have two sons viz. Sattong and Thanglun from whom are descended the following clans.
(I)SATTONG -
(i) Baite-
(ii)Suantak - Sailo, Thangluah , Zadeng, Palian, Rivung, Ringur, Chengkual, Ngawn , Neilut (Suante, Suanzong, Suanman,Khupmu, Leisel, Hansing, Dopmul etc)},
(ii)Daitong - Hinnung, Nunzong etc.
(iii)Thangniang,
(iv)Phiamphu etc. and
(II) THANGLUN family.
3. Lunglum Zahong family-
The Vaipheis regarded that from Pu Lunglum are descended the Poi or Lai tribes and some of the old Kuki tribes.
However, there is no mentions of Lianlum or Lunglum in the Sizang and Poi sources.
Some of the sub-clans of the Vaiphei or descendants of Pu Zahong such as the Ngengu( Sailo, Thangluah, Baite/ Beite etc.), Khaute [Ralte, Duhlian, Nungate, Keivom, Tungnung, Tunglut, Tungdim/Lhungdim, Hangmi(Luphaw, Lupheng, Ngoilu or Ngailut and Misau), Hatzaw, Hatlang etc.], Khauza ( Buite, Faihriam, Khawlhring, Thuksuang, Khiangte etc.) are found to be within the fold of other Zo tribes.
From their original homeland, Sizang valley, the Vaiphei wandered across the Tedim - Tonzang area and finally settled in Saikal area of present day Mizoram and Lamka district and other districts of Manipur. At present the Vaiphei are over thirty thousand in population, outnumbering their brothers who remained in Sizang Valley. The Vaiphei and the Sizang are actually one people separated by international boundaries. They are descended from Pu Zahong(NuaiMangpa), regarded by many historians as the Chief of the legendary Chiimnuai, the Eden of the Zomi people.
Ethnics groups in India and Myanmar
