Bulang people explained

Group:	Blang
Population:	92,000
Popplace:	China Yunnan; smaller populations in Burma and Thailand
Langs:	Blang, U
Rels:	Theravada Buddhism, Animist
Related:	Va

The Bulang people (; also spelled Blang) are an ethnic group. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China.

Names

Yan & Zhou (2012:147)^[1] list the following autonyms of ethnic Bulang in various counties.

• pronounced as /plaŋ31/ (布朗): in Xishuangbanna
• pronounced as /a55 vaʔ55/ (阿佤): in Shuangjiang and Lancang counties
• pronounced as /ʔu33 tɤr11/ (乌德尔): some Bulang of Shuangjiang; means 'mountain people'
• pronounced as /ʔu55/ (乌): in Yongde (pronounced as /ʔu˥˩/ in Gantang 甘塘), Zhenkang, Shidian (pronounced as /ʔu55/ in Hazhai 哈寨), Changning counties
• pronounced as /vaʔ55/ (佤): in Mojiang County

Exonyms for Bulang include (Yan & Zhou 2012:147):^[1]

• pronounced as /mɔn33/ (谟): Dai exonym for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna
• pronounced as /a bø55/ (阿别): Hani exonym for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna
• pronounced as /la31/ (拉): Dai exonym for the Bulang of Shuangjiang
• pronounced as /kha33 phv53/ (卡朴): Lahu exonym for the Bulang
• pronounced as /pa̠ ʔa̠ɯ̠ʔ/ (巴尔克): Wa exonym for the Bulang of Cangyuan
• Puman (濮曼, 蒲满): Han Chinese exonym for the Bulang

Languages

People classified as Bulang in China speak various Palaungic languages, including Blang and U.

The Blang language belongs to the Palaungic branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Within the Palaungic branch, Blang belongs to the Waic subgroup, which also contains the languages of the Wa and Lawa peoples in addition to Blang. Some Blang also speak the Chinese language and Southwestern Tai languages in addition to Blang. Two systems of writing, based on the Latin alphabet, have been developed: 'Totham' in the Xishuangbanna and 'Tolek' from Dehong and Lincang.

History

Chinese ethnographers identify the Blang as descendants of an ancient tribe known as the "Pu" (濮), who lived in the Lancang river valley during ancient times. It is believed that these people were one branch of a number of peoples that were collectively known to the ancient Chinese as the Bǎipú (百濮, literally Hundred Pu).

Culture

Traditionally, the Blang considered teeth blackened by chewing betel nuts a beauty characteristic.

The women usually dress in jackets with black skirts. The men had tattoos in the torso and the stomach. They dressed in wide black trousers and jackets buttoned to the front. Often, they would wear turbans of either white or black fabric.

The houses of the Blang are made out of bamboo and usually consist of two floors. The first floor is designed as a warehouse for food and a stable for livestock animals, such as chickens, whereas the second is designed to house the family. The chimney is located in the center of the house.

The Blang are traditionally divided into small clans, with each clan owning its own land. Every Blang town has its own cemeteries, which are divided by clans. The deceased are buried, with the exception of those who perished due to unnatural causes. In this case, they are cremated.

Bulang are among the earliest known cultivators of tea, with natural tea forest canopy home to unique species & ecosystems as opposed to monoculture fertilizer & pesticide-consuming tea plantations.

Religion

The Blang are traditionally associated with animism, ancestor worship, and Theravada Buddhism. Writing in 2011, James Miller described these overlapping traditions as follows:

A Christian missionary source describes them as "ardent followers of Theravada Buddhism", and offers as an estimate that 80% of the Bulang are "professing Buddhists", with a lower estimate of 35% being "practicing Buddhists".^[2]

Distribution

The Bulang are distributed in the following villages of Yunnan province (Tao 2012:16-18).^[3] Except for the Bulang of Xishuangbanna, the Bulang of most of these counties speak the U language (Svantesson 1991).^[4] Locations from Wang & Zhao (2013:173-179) are also included.^[5]

• Menghai County (pop. 30,678; 33% of all ethnic Bulang in China)
  • Bulangshan (Bulang Mountain) Township 布朗山乡
  • Bada Township 巴达乡
  • Xiding Township 西定乡
• Shuangjiang County (pop. 12,527; 7.9% of all ethnic Bulang in China)
  • Bangbing Township 邦丙乡 (17 villages)
  • Dawen Township 大文乡 (12 villages)
  • Mengku Township 勐库镇 (3 villages, including Gongnong 公弄村^[5] and Mangna 忙那村^[5])
  • Shahe Township 沙河乡 (3 villages)
• Yongde County (pop. 6,630)
  • Yongkang Township 永康镇: Songgui 送归,^[6] Luo'ade 罗阿德, Xiaobaishui 小白水,^[7] Luoshuiba 落水坝,^[8] Xiamangping 下忙坪,^[9] Nanmusuan 南木算,^[10] Manghai 忙海,^[11] Yatang 鸭塘,^[12] Duande 端德村,^[5] Mangkuang 忙况村,^[5] Reshuitang 热水塘村^[5]
  • Xiaomengtong Township 小孟统乡: Dazhai 大寨,^[13] Hudong 户董,^[14] Hewei 河尾,^[15] Landizhai 烂地寨,^[16] Banpo 半坡^[17]
  • Mengban Township 勐板乡: Ganzhe 甘蔗, Xiazhai 下寨, Dazhai 大寨, Huangguozhai 黄果寨,^[18] Datian 大田,^[19] Nandongshan 南董山,^[20] Xiahuya 下户丫^[21]
  • Dashan Township 大山乡: Huwei 户威, Hongshan 红山,^[22] Malizhai 麻栗寨, Pahong 怕红^[23]
  • Dedang Township 德党乡: Qianshandong 钻山洞村,^[5] Mangjiantian 忙见田村^[5]
  • Menggong 勐汞乡, Zhaigang 寨岗乡, Daxueshan 大雪山乡 Townships
• Yun County (pop. 5,741)
  • Manghuai Township 忙怀乡: Bangliu 邦六,^[24] Gaojingcao 高井槽^[25]
  • Manwan Township 漫湾镇: Dapingzhang 大平掌,^[26] Manjiu 慢旧,^[27] Hetaolin 核桃林村^[5]
  • Maolan Township 茂兰乡: Mao'an 茂岸, Zhanglong 掌龙
  • Dazhai Township 大寨乡: Xinhe 新合, Pingzhang 平掌, Dacun 大村, Reshuitang 热水塘
  • Yongbao Township 涌宝乡: Shilong 石龙,^[28] Langbashan 浪坝山,^{[29] [30]} Laolu 老鲁^[31]
  • Lishu Township 栗树乡: Mangbang 忙蚌,^[32] Manlang 慢郎,^[33] Xiaobanggan 小邦赶^[34]
• Gengma County (pop. 2,957)
  • Manghong Township 芒洪乡: Keqie 科且村,^[35] Anya 安雅村^[5]
  • Mengyong Township 勐永镇: Mangnuozhai 忙糯寨^[36]
  • Gengxuan Township 耿宣镇: Mangfu 芒福, Bakazhai 坝卡寨^{[37] [38]}
  • Xipaishan Township 西排山乡: Dongpo 东坡村, Bankang 班康村^[5]
• Lincang County (pop. 450)
  • Pingcun Township 平村乡: Nayu 那玉村^[5]
  • Zhangtuo Township 章驮乡^[5]
  • Mayidui Township 蚂蚁堆乡 (small population)^[5]
  • Quannei Township 圈内乡 (small population)^[5]
• Zhenkang County (pop. 452)
  • Muchang Township 木场乡: Dalong 大拢村 (majority of Bulang)^[5]
  • Nansan Town 南伞镇: Daoshui 道水村 (small population)^[5]
• Fengqing County (pop. 1,276)
  • Dazhai Township 大寨乡: Dalise 大立色村, Qiongyin 琼英村, Pingzhang 平掌村^[5]
  • Sanchahe Township 三岔河乡: Shantoutian 山头田村
  • Dasi 大寺乡, Yingpan 营盘乡, Fengshan 凤山乡, Luodang 洛党乡 Townships
• Shidian County (pop. 6,712)
  • Bailang Township 摆榔乡: Hazhai 哈寨, Upper and lower Mulaoyuanzhai 上下木老元寨, Dazhong Jianshan 大中尖山, Yaoguang 姚光
• Changning County (pop. 1,000+)
  • Kasi Township 卡斯乡: Xingu 新谷, Shuanglong 双龙, Yingbaizhai 应百寨, Ergoudi 二沟地
  • Gengga Township 更嘎乡: Baicaolin 百草林, Dachushui 大出水
• Lancang County (pop. 6,500)
  • Huimin Township 惠民乡: Manjing 蛮景,^[39] Manhong 蛮洪,^[40] Wengji 翁机,^[41] Wengwa 翁洼^[42]
  • Qianliu Township 谦六乡: Dagang 打岗,^[43] Dagun 打滚,^[44] Machang 马厂,^[45] Danao 大脑
  • Dongwen Township 文东乡: Shuitang 水塘,^[46] Jiuku 旧苦,^[47] Pasai 帕赛^[48] (in Nagongzhai 那巩寨), Nasai 那赛
• Mojiang County (pop. 1,000+)
  • Jingxing Township 景星乡: Taihe 太和村
• Jinggu County (pop. 1000+)
  • Bi'an Township 碧安乡: Guangmin 光明村
  • Mengban Township 勐班乡: Manhai 蛮海村 ("Lawa" 拉瓦话 speakers^{[49] [50]})
  • Banpo Township 半坡乡: Bandu 班督村
• Jingdong County
  • Baodian Township 保甸乡
• Simao County
  • Zhulin Township 竹林乡: Cizhulin 茨竹林村,^[51] Dacheshu 大车树村^{[52] [53]}

Ethnic Bulang villages are also located in Jinghong City, including in Kunhan Dazhai 昆罕大寨村in Dahuangba Village 大荒坝村, Dadugang Township 大渡岗乡.^[54]

External links

• RWAAI (Repository and Workspace for Austroasiatic Intangible Heritage
• Samtao in RWAAI Digital Archive
• U in RWAAI Digital Archive

Notes and References

1. Yan Qixiang [颜其香] & Zhou Zhizhi [周植志] (2012). Mon-Khmer languages of China and the Austroasiatic family [中国孟高棉语族语言与南亚语系]. Beijing: Social Sciences Academy Press [社会科学文献出版社].
2. Web site: Archived copy . 2011-12-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120426062334/http://www.asiaharvest.org/pages/profiles/china/chinaPeoples/B/Bulang%20(B).pdf . 2012-04-26 . dead .
3. Tao Yuming [陶玉明]. 2012. The Bulang people of China [中国布朗族]. Yinchuan: Ningxia People's Press [宁夏人民出版社].
4. Svantesson, Jan-Olof. 1988. "U." In Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 11, no. 1: 64-133.
5. Wang Xingzhong [王兴中] & Zhao Weihua [赵卫华]. 2013. Geography and multilingualism in Lincang [临沧地理与双语使用]. Kunming: Yunnan People's Press [云南人民出版社].
6. Web site: 永德县永康镇送归村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
7. Web site: 永德县永康镇送归村委会小白水自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
8. Web site: 永德县永康镇热水塘村委会落水坝自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
9. Web site: 永德县永康镇忙况村委会下忙平自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
10. Web site: 永德县永康镇端德村委会南木算自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
11. Web site: 永德县永康镇端德村委会忙海自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
12. Web site: 永德县永康镇鸭塘村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
13. Web site: 永德县小勐统镇小勐统村委会大寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
14. Web site: 永德县小勐统镇麻栎树村委会户懂自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
15. Web site: 永德县小勐统镇小勐统村委会河尾自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
16. Web site: 永德县小勐统镇河边村委会烂地寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
17. Web site: 永德县小勐统镇半坡村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
18. Web site: 永德县勐板乡梨树村委会黄果寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
19. Web site: 永德县勐板乡户丫村委会大田寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
20. Web site: 永德县勐板乡勐板村委会南懂山自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
21. Web site: 永德县勐板乡户丫村委会下户丫自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
22. Web site: 永德县大山乡玉华村民委员会红山自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
23. Web site: 永德县大山乡麻栎寨村民委员会怕红自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
24. Web site: 云县忙怀彝族布朗族乡邦六村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
25. Web site: 云县忙怀彝族布朗族乡高井槽村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
26. Web site: 云县漫湾镇新村村委会新村村委会大平掌自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
27. Web site: 云县漫湾镇慢旧村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
28. Web site: 云县涌宝镇石龙村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
29. Web site: 云县涌宝镇浪坝山村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
30. Web site: 云县涌宝镇浪坝山村委会浪坝山自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
31. Web site: 云县涌宝镇老鲁村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
32. Web site: 云县栗树彝族傣族乡忙蚌村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
33. Web site: 云县栗树彝族傣族乡慢郎村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
34. Web site: 云县栗树彝族傣族乡小帮赶村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
35. Web site: 耿马傣族佤族自治县芒洪拉祜族布朗族乡科且村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
36. Web site: 临翔区蚂蚁堆乡忙糯村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
37. Web site: 耿马傣族佤族自治县耿马镇允捧村委会坝卡老寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
38. Web site: 耿马傣族佤族自治县耿马镇允捧村委会坝卡新寨自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
39. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县惠民镇芒景村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
40. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县惠民镇芒景村芒洪. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
41. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县惠民镇芒景村翁基. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
42. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县惠民镇芒景村翁哇. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
43. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县谦六彝族乡打岗打岗. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
44. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县谦六彝族乡打岗打滚. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
45. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县谦六彝族乡打岗马厂. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
46. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县文东佤族乡水塘村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
47. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县文东佤族乡水塘村旧苦组. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
48. Web site: 澜沧拉祜族自治县文东佤族乡帕赛村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
49. Tao, Chengmei 陶成美. 2016. Bulangyu Lawahua de zhicheng daici i55 布朗语拉瓦话的指称代词 i55. In Minzu Fanyi 民族翻译 2016(1):68-74.
50. Tao, Chengmei 陶成美. 2016. Bulangyu duoxiang dingyu ji qi yuxu yanjiu 布朗语多项定语及其语序研究. M.A. dissertation. Beijing: Minzu University 中央民族大学.
51. Web site: 思茅区思茅港镇茨竹林村委会茨竹林自然村. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
52. 布朗族研究 (1991)
53. Web site: 思茅区思茅港镇大车树村委会. Ynszxc.net. 17 August 2018.
54. 陈娥; 郭云春 2016. 昆罕大寨布朗族经济发展与母语保护. 曲靖师范学院学报.