Lahu

Lahu

The Lahu people form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China, where about 450,000 live in Yunnan province. An estimated 150,000 live in Burma.

The Lahu divide themselves into a number of subgroups, such as the Lahu Na (Black Lahu), Lahu Nyi (Red Lahu), Lahu Hpu (White Lahu), Lahu Shi (Yellow Lahu) and the Lahu Shehleh. Where a subgroup name refers to a colour, it is the traditional colour of their dress. These groups do not function as tribes or clans - there are no kin groups above that of the family.

Their language is in the Loloish branch of the Lolo-Burmese subgroup of the Tibeto-Burman family.

The traditional Lahu religion is polytheistic (belief in or worship of multiple gods). Buddhism was introduced in the late 1600s and became widespread. Christianity became established in Burma in the 1800s and has been spreading since.