Unreached Peoples: The Tribes of Myanmar Burma Shan State — Paul Hattaway

The Ethnic Diversity of Shan State

Shan State constitutes many different ethnic minorities, such as Balao, Ba 'o, Tanyo, Enla, Tanu, Shan, etc. The name Shan State is given so in attribution to Shan, a tribe with largest population among them.

Balaon Life in the Western Shan Mountains

We first stopped at a station which has road access to the place where Balaon tribe lives. Balaon live peacefully on high western Shan mountains, growing tea leaves, houses more closely packed comparing to other tribal villages we have previously seen.

Balaon Clothing and Village Hospitality

They love to live closer to one another, I presume. Ladies wear ornamental orange hairpieces, red-blue jackets, red sarongs and rattan belts. When we went inside their village, we feel a sense of welcome by their smiling faces.

The Balaon Bonfire Ceremony

Our guide explains that they want visitors to see their bonfire ceremony to be held tonight. At a square near Buddhist monastery of the village, men and women are gathering and waiting patiently for the sundown.

A young monk who is in charge of the bonfire ceremony is leading a recital of Buddhist chanting with his choir until the sun slowly disappears and fades away behind western Shan mountain ranges. Then someone lit fire on top of the bamboo scaffolding intricately built for the purpose.

Shan State Marketplaces and Tribal Trade

The bonfire is intended to mark the end of dry season and a warning to all Balaons to be ready for another cultivation season. This is one of the typical marketplaces of Shan State. Very many different ethnic minorities can be seen at this kind of marketplace held every five days.

One Ba 'o brings his cattle and farming equipment to sell when another town Yor and Danu women come with their produce of crops and vegetables. Wearing dark blue dresses and turbans are from the Ba 'o tribe, and women in dark brown one-piece skirts and with their legs and hands in brass rings are from Danu tribe.

The Shared Shan Identity

Well, frankly, it is not so easy to say who is who for the first time visitor. However, they are all collectively called Shans, inclusive of this Inna tribe who live and work on the world noted Inle Lake.

Life and Commerce on Inle Lake

The cash fish in the lake grow vegetables on floating islands and gather every five days at the market and trade for necessary items one another. This is a famous dance number called Inle Taite performed by young Inla tribes.