Phuan people

The Phuan (also Tai Puan, Thai or Lao Phuan Phuan, Phouan, Phu Un, Thai: ชาว ไท พ วน, ชาว ลาว พ วน, pronunciation: [ p ʰ u ː to ] ) are an ethnic group in Thailand and Laos. They belong to the group of the Tai peoples.

The population size of the Phuan is difficult to say, since the Lao population statistics it does not identify as a separate ethnic group, but combines with Lao and other Tai groups to the category of Lao Loum.

Settlement area

One half of the total of about 200,000 people counted Phuan located in smaller areas in the northeast of Thailand, Isaan, the other half in Xieng Khouang province in Laos. The majority of the Thai Phuan is located in the province of Udon Thani. In Laos they are found near the Plain of Jars.

History

The Phuan settled in the Plain of Jars, after they had won control of this of the original inhabitants (presumably Khmu ). There they formed the chiefdom or Xieng Khouang Müang Phuan. According to legend, it was founded by Chet Cheuang, the youngest son of the mythical ancestor of the Tai peoples, Khun Borom. This was fighting for its independence for a long time, but was temporarily committed by various overlords to toll. From the conquest by Fa Ngum in 1350 it was most of the time to the Mandala ( sphere of influence ) of Lan Xang. To 1651/52 a revolt against the supremacy is documented by the then Phuan - Prince refused to give King Sulingvongse of Lan Xang his daughter to wife. Meanwhile army devastated the country then the Phuan and displaced about 500 families in his direct dominion.

After the division of Lan Xangs 1707 Müang Phuan was the subject of struggles between Siam, Vietnam and the Lao States for supremacy in the 19th century. Here, thousands were deported from Phuan families as workers from each victorious armies, including the Mekong mittellaotische in the present province of Bolikhamsai and to northeast Thailand. As a result of the Lao civil war in which the Xieng Khouang Proxinz were devastated by the fighting and American aerial bombardments, attracted many Phuan to Vientiane.

Religion

The Phuan are predominantly Buddhists of the Theravada direction. A group of Phuan that in the area of Pakxan lives in the province Bolikhamsai since the 19th century was, however, converted to Christianity.

Culture

The language of Phuan is adjacent to the Thai, which is taught as official language of Thailand in all schools. Unlike the other languages ​​of northeastern minorities Phuan is still used in everyday life.

Handwoven textiles are characteristic products of Phuan communities; especially the striped or patterned pakama (also: pakaoma; ผ้าขาวม้า ), a versatile cloth used for men, for example, as a short sarong, as a belt, neck or head scarf, and the pasin tinjok ( ผ้า ซิ่น ตีนจก ), a long skirt for women. The manners and customs of the Phuan similar to those of the other Tai groups in Isan and in Laos. A special feature is the support of novices in the temples is usually before Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year: elephants accompany the newcomers until the temple grounds.

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