Tangsa
Encyclopedia
Changlang
Changlang is a census town and headquarters of the Changlang district in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Its native people includes Tangsa Naga, Lisu, Nocte, Singpho and many more....
and Tirap
Tirap district
The Tirap district is located in the southeastern part of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. It shares a state border with Nagaland and Assam, an international border with Myanmar and a district border with Changlang.- History :...
Districts of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
,and parts of Tinsukia District of Assam, in north-eastern India, and across the border in Sagaing Region, Myanmar (Burma). The Tangshang in Myanmar were formerly known as Rangpang, Pangmi, and Heimi/Haimi. Their language is called Naga-Tase in The Ethnologue and the ISO code is ISO639-3:nst. They are a scheduled tribe under the Indian Constitution (where they are listed under ‘other Naga tribes’) and there are many sub-tribes within Tangsa on both sides of the border. The Tangshang in Myanmar as well as the Tangsa in India regard themselves as a Naga tribe. They are well-built and of medium-stature.
Today Tangsa people live in the Patkai mountains, on the border of India and Burma, and some live in the plains areas on the Indian side of the border. Many Tangsa tell of migrations from what is now Mongolia, through the South-West China Province of Yunan into Burma. Tangsa traditions suggest that they settled in the existing region from the beginning of 13th century. It is believed that in their native place in China and Burma they were known as ‘Muwa’ and ‘Hawa’ respectively. The term ‘Hawa’ (also pronounced ‘Hewe’ or ‘Hiwi’) is used by many Tangsa to refer to the whole group of Tangsa. The term Tangsa is derived from ‘Tang’ (high land) and ‘Sa’ (son) and means 'people of the high land'.
Sub-tribes
There are many sub-tribes or sub-groups of Tangsa, all of which speak distinctive linguistic varieties. Some of these varieties are very similar, and some are very different from each other.Each of these subtribes is known by a number of different names. There is the name the group gives to itself, for example Chamchang, and then a ‘general name’, used in communication with non-Tangsas. The general name for the Chamchang is Kimsing.
About 70 different subtribes have been identified;;. Within India, the most recently arrived Tangsa are known as Pangwa.
These are listed with the name used by the group itself first, followed by alternative spellings in brackets. M indicates the group is found only in Myanmar, I only in India and B in both India and Myanmar. This list is not complete:
- Butay (Raha, Bongtai) B
- Chamchang (Kimsing, Khemsing) B
- Champhang (Thamphang) B
- Cholim (Tonglum) B
- Chuyo (Wanggu) M
- Donghi (Dongi) B
- Gaha M
- Gaja I
- Gakat (Wakka) B
- Gaqchan (Gashan) M
- Gaqlun (Galun) B
- Gawkchung M
- Gawqlum (Kawlum) M
- Gayi M
- Hachum M
- Hakhi (Hachi) M
- Hakhun B
- HalangHalangHalang may refer to:*Halang, a language spoken in Vietnam and Laos*Halang, a barangay in the municipality of Taal, Batangas, Philippines*Halang, a subtribe and linguistic variety of the Tangsa language spoken in North East India...
I - Hakyain (Hatse, Hakyain, Gaqchain) M
- HamanHamanHaman can be a surname which is a corruption of the German Hamann. It is also a biblical surname as described below. It also refers to:*Haman , appears in the Book of Esther and is the main antagonist in the Jewish holiday of Purim....
M - Hapaw (Hatphaung, Apo) M
- Hasik (Awlay, Awlaw, Laju) M
- Hawkho M
- Hawoi (Havi) I
- Henchein (Shangcheing, Shangchaing) M
- Joglei (Yogli, Yawklai) I
- Kaisan M
- Khalak B
- Kumkaq M
- Lakkai (Lati) B
- Lama M
- Lochhang (Lanching, Lanchien ) B
- Longchang I
- Longkhai (Lungkhi, Lungkhai) B
- Longri (Lungri ) B
- Lulum (live close to Gaqlun) M
- Lumnu M
- Longphi (Lungphi) I
- Maitai (Mitay ) B
- Miku M
- MuklomMuklomMuklom is a tribe of the Tangsa people residing in the Khimyang circle, in and around Changlang-township and Miao subdivision of the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. They originally migrated from Burma like all other Tangsa tribes...
(Moklum) I - Mossang (Mawshang) B
- Mungre (Mawrang, Morang) B
- Nahein M
- Ngaimong B
- Nyinshaw (Nyinshao) M
- Pingku M
- Ponthai I
- Rangchein (Rangti, Ran-kyi, Rangsi, Rasi) M
- Ranu (Lanu) M
- Rasa (Rasit) M
- Rera (Ronrang ) I
- Ringkhu M
- Sansik (Siknyo, Sheiknyo, Sikpo) M
- Shangti (Shangri) B
- Shangwan (Shawvel, Shangwal) B
- Shanke (Shaekyeu, Shaekjeng) B
- Shaukra (Shograng) M
- Tawkay (Tokay) M
- Thamkok (Chamkok) M
- Tikhak I
- Yangnaw M
- Yasa M
- Yawngkon M
- Yongkuk I
Notes: Gakat people also live in India, in the Wakka village circle of Tirap district, but are grouped with the Wancho rather than with Tangsa.
Culture
The Tangsa's habitation along the MyanmarMyanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
border resulted in cultural influence from neighbouring tribes across the border and the adoption of Burmese dress among many tribal members.
Traditionally, the Tangsa kept long hair in both sexes, which is tied into a bun and covered with a piece of cloth, known in some Tangsa varieties as the Khu-pak / Khu-phop. The menfolk traditionally used to wear a long and narrow piece of cloth called lamsam / lengti that barely covers the hip and pelvis region. However, nowadays they wear a broad cylindrical piece of cloth called or lungi that is green in colour and is lined with yellow, red and white yarns, and accompanied with a sleeveless shirt. On the other hand, the costume of the womenfolk traditionally used to be a piece of cloth wrapped around the chest and a similar piece of cloth wrapped around the waist extending just below the knees. Nowadays, with the availability of yarn, their costume include an artistically woven petticoat, which acts as the lower garment, and a linen blouse.
Lifestyle
Traditionally Tangsa people practiced shifting cultivationShifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming, until the soil loses fertility...
(known as Jhum in Hindi and Assamese). Nowadays those Tangsa in the plains area of India practice wet rice cultivation. In the traditional agriculture, using simple manual tools, the Tangsa raise crops that include paddy, millet, maize and arum, and vegetables. Tangsa people make scanty use of milk and milk products, although milk tea is now served in many Tangsa houses. Traditional meals comprise of vide variety of recipes. But, staple food comprices of boiled or steamed rice, vegetables boiled with herbs and spices(stew) and boiled or roasted fish or meat. Snacks include boiled or roasted arum or topiaca. Traditional drinks include smoked tea(phalap) and rice beer (called ju, kham or che).
Owing to the climate and terrain, the Tangsa live in stilt houses, which are divided into many rooms. Like the Nocte
Nocte
The Nocte are a Naga people of a population of 33,000 found in the Patkai hills of Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. Ethnically related to the Konyak Naga, their origins can be traced back to the Hukong Valley in Myanmar, where they migrated from between the 1670 and 1700...
, the Tangsa traditionally had separate dormitories for men, known in Longchang Tangsa as Looppong for the males and Likpya for the female.
Traditionally, the Tangsa believed in a joint family system, and property is equally divided between all family members. A tribal council, known as Khaphua(Longchang), Khaphong (Muklom) was administered by a Lungwang (chief), who sees to the daily affairs of the Tangsa tribe.
Religion
Nowadays Tangsa follow a variety of religions. Traditionally their beliefs were animistic. One example of the animistic beliefs still practised is the Wihu Kuh festival held in some parts of Assam on January 5 each year. This involves sacrifice of chickens, pigs or buffaloes and prayers and songs to the female earth spirit, Wihu.This group believe in a supreme being that created all existence, locally known as Rangkhothak / Rangwa / Rangfrah
Rangfrah
Rangfarah is the only indigenous religion of Tangsa community of Arunachal Pradesh.The concept of God was dormant in Tangsa community for centuries. Christianity was the only religion people adopted by this community...
, although belief in other deities and spirits is maintained as well. Many followers of Rangfrah celebrate an annual festival called Mol or Kuh-a-Mol (around April/May), which asks for a bumper crop. Animal sacrifice, in particular the sacrifice of pigs, is practised. At funerals a similar ceremony is undertaken and a feast between villagers is held by the bereaved family. After dusk, man and women start dancing together rhythmically with the accompanying drums and gongs.
Some Tangsas, particularly the Tikhak and Yongkuk in India and many Donghi in Myanmar, have come under the influence of Theravada Buddhism, and many people have converted Of late, a small minority of converted Baptist Christians do exist as well. There are Buddhist temples in many Tikhak and Yongkuk villages.
Some Tangsa, including most of the Pangwa Tangsas, and nearly all of the Tangshang in Myanmar, have converted to Christianity. Probably the most widespread Christian denomination in both Myanmar and India is Baptist [5], but there are also large numbers of Presbyterians in India, and perhaps smaller numbers of Catholics, Church of Christ and Congregationalists.
Language
At present the ISO code for these speech varieties is ISO639-3:nst. The nearest relative to Tangsa is Nocte, and both of these, together with several other languages, make up the Konyak subgroup within a larger group sometimes called Bodo-Konyak-Jinghpaw.Tangsa is not a single language, but a network of varieties some of which are mutually intelligible and some of which are not. For example, within the Pangwa group, Longri and Cholim (Tonglum) speakers understand each other easily, but speakers of these two groups may have more difficulty understanding and speaking Lochhang (Langching).
The following table shows some of the linguistic differences between Tangsa groups:
| Gloss | Cholim | Locchang | Rera | Joglei | Tikhak | Yonguk | Moklum | Hakhun | Halang |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| drinking water | kʰam² | kʰɛ² | kʰam² | kham | kʰam² | kʰam² | jung | ʤu² | ʒɯ² |
| river (water) | ʒo² | ʤjaŋ² | ʒo² | jong | kʰam² | kʰam² | jung | ʤu² | ʒɯ² |
| alcohol | cʰai¹ | cʰaɯ¹ | cʰe¹ | chol | ʒu² | ʒo² | kham | kʰam² | kʰam² |
| heart | ədiŋ¹ | dan¹ | rin¹ | rɤn¹ | rɤn¹ | tin | ran³ | ran¹ | |
| egg | βɯ¹cʰi¹ | ɣau¹cʰai¹ | wu²tai¹ | wutai | wu¹ti¹ | wu¹ti¹ | wochih | u¹ti¹ | wɯ¹cʰi¹ |
| sun | raŋ²xai² | ra³si³ | raŋ²sai¹ | rangshal | raŋ²sa¹ | raŋ²sa³ | rangshal | se¹ | se¹pʰo² |
| blood | təgi¹ | təɣai¹ | gi¹ | hi | təɣi¹ | təhɤi¹ | tahih | hi¹ | sʰe¹ |
There seem to be three subgroups in India. The lexemes (words) for ‘drinking water’, other types of ‘water’ and ‘alcohol’ can be used as a diagnostic for three putative groups. The group shown in the middle of the table, the Tikhak subgroup (Tikhak and Yongkuk), is reasonably well established. They are people who came from Myanmar to India some hundreds of years ago and there are no Tikhak or Yongkuk speakers in Indi these days. They use kham for 'drinking water' and 'river water.
To the left is a rather more linguistically diverse set of varieties termed Pangwa ., consisting mostly of groups that have arrived in India more recently and usually have related villages in Myanmar; although some like Joglei and Rera are now found only in India. They use kham for drinking water but ju for river water.
To the right are several diverse varieties, which use kham for alcohol and ju for drinking water. Moklum and Hakhun are not mutually intelligible but do share hierarchical agreement marking (marking of object as well as subject), though realised in systematically different ways. Hakhun is very similar to Nocte, which is listed by the ISO as a different language (ISO639-3:njb)