The Lisu people are an ethnic group who inhabit in Myanmar, China, Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The Lisu are believed to originate from eastern Tibet. A wide and deep research done by Lisu scholars indicates that they moved to north western Yunnan in the primitive time. They inhabited across Paoshan and Teing Chung plain for thousands of years. More than 2000 years ago, the Myanmar people inhabited in this land. Lisu, Lahu, Ahkha and Kachin groups were the remnants of ancient Burmese. After Han dynasty of Ming, around 1140-1644 A.D. the eastern and Southern Lisu language and culture were greatly influenced by Han cultures. In the early 18th century, Lisu peoples began moving southwards down the Salween River Valley into northern Myanmar and northern Thailand. The Lisu form one of the 135 ethnic groups officially recognized by Myanmar.

Lisu history is passed from one generation to the next in the form of songs. Today, this song is so long that it can take more than a week to sing.

Villages of this colourful ethnic group are to be found in the mountains of China, Myanmar and northern Thailand. The Lisu make their clothing from coloured cloth stitched into outfits trimmed with row upon row of various coloured strips of cloth. The women wear brightly coloured costumes, consisting of a blue or green coloured knee length tunic with a wide black belt and blue or green pants. Sleeves shoulders and cuffs are heavily embroidered with narrow, horizontal bands of blue, red and yellow. The more affluent wear massive amounts of hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive occasions.

Lisu men produce crossbows, musical instruments, bird and animal traps, and other items made of wood, bamboo and rattan.

The Lisu believe strongly in the spirit world, and their shamans are used to divine the causes and cures of all problems and sickness. Their religion is part animist and ancestor worship, curing took place through shamanism. Traditionally living in villages high in the mountains or in mountain valleys, Western missionaries have attempted to convert them to Christianity. In the beginning of the 20th century, many Lisu people in China converted to Christianity, at first largely through the work of the Scottish missionary James O. Fraser, the founder of the Lisu Baptist Church.  Today, slightly over 40% of the Lisu are Christians; the other 60% are today mostly atheists.

Lisu villages are usually built close to water to provide easy access for washing and drinking. Their homes are usually built on the ground and have dirt floors and bamboo walls, although an increasing number of the more affluent Lisu are now building houses from wood or even concrete. Lisu subsistence was based on mountain rice, fruit and vegetables. However, they have typically lived in ecologically fragile regions that do not easily support subsistence. They also faced constant upheaval from both physical and natural disasters.

Their language is Tibeto-Burman of the Loloish family, so closely related to Lahu, Akha, and Yi. However, they often incorporate vocabulary from the language of their dominant neighbours.

James O Fraser