Zotung

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Zotung Chin is one of the ethnic groups in Chin State in Myanmar also known as Burma. It is located in the southern Chin State. Zotung Mingphuin is a very distinct ethnic people in Burma. It is very difficult to get historical records of this ethnic people as they didn't have written languages for many years. However, it still can be traced back as far as the year 900 AD as there are the names of the places and traditional songs, which reveal the time periods they were composed and the stories of ancient people. These people are from a Tibeto-Burman group and are familiar with all other Chin groups even though they have their own written language which is unintelligible with other neighboring tribes unless they learn it. These people called themselves "Zo Mingphuin" from the early times of their ancestors which can be traced back to 700 years ago. Neighboring tribes from the north called them "Zochia" before, but they were renamed "Zotung" from during and after British rule. From 1933, their language was recorded using the Roman alphabet. It was called "Zo Ccaw" (Zo Literature). Most of these people are farmers and prefer hunting animals for their meals like other Chin groups. In early history, the Zo Mingphuin believed in Khozi as god and they used to pray to Khozi for their health, wealth and sins through Khuarum services. But when the western missionaries entered Chinland, these people converted into Christianity between the 1930s and the present.

Zo literature or Zoccaw

Although some people say that there is a Legendary saying about the first Chin language being written on leather or animal skin which was eaten away by a dog, there is no such kind of stories told by forefathers. Zoccaw (Zo Literature/Zo alphabet) was the only literature first introduced among these people using "Roman Alphabets" in 1933 by Dr Siabawi Paw Khua Ming who was one of the first persons to attend the mission school in Razua (Rezua) which was opened in 1926. He himself termed this newly introduced letters as Zo Ccaw. This was the first Mission School established in Zo land area. Zo ccaw ( Zo literature ) has been banned not to be learned officially in public school by Myanmar government like many other ethnic languages. For Zo minphuin, Christian hymnal is the only resource available for self studied, however, most Zo people can write and read in Zo ccaw( Zo literature) today.

Historical records are needed to confirm the identity of these people groups.

Alphabet

A AW B C CC (cc sounds like 'th' in English) D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V Y Z

a aw b c cc d e f g h I j k l m n o p r s t u v y z

Vowels in Zo Ccaw

A AW E I O U Y

Natural disaster 2015

Zotung (Chin) people are heavily affected by natural disaster that hits the country in July 19 and August 3, 2015. 364 houses were destroyed and all paddy fields and crops were destroyed. All roads and bridges are stopped by landslides. Zotung Relief Committee is responding the urgent needs of the people.^[2]

References