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The Dai ethnic minority
 The Dai ethnic group lives in the southern part of
Yunnan Province, mainly in the Xishuangbanna region. The area is
subtropical, with plentiful rainfall and fertile land.
Local products include rice, sugar cane, coffee, hemp, rubber, camphor
and a wide variety of fruits. Xishuangbanna is the home of China's
famous Pu'er tea. The dense forests produce large amounts of teak,
sandalwood and medicinal plants, and are home to wild animals
including elephants, tigers and peacocks.
The Dai language belongs to the Chinese-Tibetan language family and
has three major dialects. It is written in an alphabetic script.
Customs and Habits The marriage of the Dais was
characterized by intermarriage on strictly equal social and economic
status. Polygamy was common among chieftains, who also humiliated the
wives and daughters of peasants at will. The patriarchal monogamous
nuclear family was the common form among peasants. Pre-marital social
contact between young men and women was quite free, especially during
festivals. It was common for the groom to move into the bride's home
after the wedding.
The graveyards of aristocrats and poor people were strictly separated.
When a monk or a  Buddhist leader died, he was cremated and his ashes
placed in a pottery urn to be buried behind a temple.Men wear
collarless tight-sleeved short jackets, with the opening at the front
or along the right side, and long baggy trousers. In winter they drape
a blanket over their shoulders. They wore black or white turbans.
Tattooing was common. When a boy reached the age of 11 or 12, a tattoo
artist was invited to tattoo his body and limbs with designs of
animals, flowers, geometric patterns or the Dai written script.
Traditionally, women wore tight-sleeved short dresses and sarongs.
Rice is the staple food. The Dais in Dehong prefer dry rice, while
those in Xishuangbanna like sticky rice. All love sour and hot
flavors. In addition to beef, chicken and duck, they enjoy fish and
shrimp. Cabbages, carrots, bamboo shoots and beans are among the
popular vegetables. The Dais also love wine, liquor, and betel nuts.
The villages of the Dais in Dehong and Xishuangbanna are found on the
plains, near rivers or streams, and among clusters of bamboo. The
buildings generally are built on stilts. Some of the houses are
square, with two stories. The upper story serves as the living place,
while the lower space, without walls, is used as a storehouse and for
keeping livestock.
Dai festivals, closely related to religious activities, included the
"Door-Closing" festival in mid-June by the lunar calendar, the
"Door-Opening" festival in mid-September, and the "Water-Splashing"
festival in spring. "Door-Closing" started three months of intensive
religious activities. "Door-Opening" marked the beginning of normal
life. "Water-Splashing," still held every
 year, is the most important
festival, during which the Dais splash water on one another, and hold
dragon boat races in the hope of chasing away all the illnesses and
bad fortune of the past year and bringing about good weather and
bumper harvests.
The Dais have a rich, colorful culture. They have their own calendar,
which started in 638 A.D. There are books in Dai script for
calculating solar and lunar eclipses. Dai historical documents carry a
rich variety of literary works covering poetry, legends, stories,
fables and children's tales. They love to sing and dance, accompanied
by their native musical instruments. |
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