Tai Dón people

White Tai
Total population
490,000[1]
Regions with significant populations
Laos
Languages
Tai Kao, Lao, others
Religion
Animist, Theravada Buddhism, Christianity

White Tai or Tai Kao, Tai Dón, Dai Duan is an ethnic group of Laos and Vietnam.

Geographic Distribution

There are approximately 280,000 White Tai in Vietnam (2002), 200,000 in Laos (1995) and 10,000 in Yunan province, China (1995).[1]

History

The White Tai migrated from China to Laos several centuries ago, settling along the Red and Black Rivers.[2][3]

Language

The White Tai speak a language called Tai Kao, also called Tai Dón. It is a Tai–Kadai language.[2]

Family

Men are the heads of White Tai households, although division of labor is nearly equal.[2]

Religions

The White Tai believe in multiple personal souls and hold ceremonies to recall those souls to strengthen their character.[2]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tai Dón. Ethnologue.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 The White Tai of Laos
  3. ↑ Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David: Vietnam Past and Present: The North (History and culture of Hanoi and Tonkin). Chiang Mai. Cognoscenti Books, 2012. ASIN: B006DCCM9Q.