History of Yao Hilltribe

The Mien Culture/Groups   Evidence of Mien (Yao) history as far back as 5th BC. For the past 2000 years, the records show that the Mien lived in the surrounding mountains near Tibet. The Mien moved constantly because they did not like the controlling ruling from the Han. There were as many as 28 sub-names under the Mien. There were 4 major groups of Mien, the Phan (Bienh), the Bunu, the Cha Sun, and Ping Ti. Out of the 4 groups, the Phan (Bienh) group had the most man-power, and that was the group that constantly moving from place to place. The Phan group had concentrated in one large area of the country, where the Mien language was developed. The Bunu and the Luc Jaa developed into separate languages.

Legend of the Creation of the Mien People In heaven, there were Daa Ong (Grandfather) and Daa Gux (Grandmother). One day they decided to create the Yao, or the Mien people. They planned to transform themselves and live on Earth . During that time, there were two kingdoms already exist on earth, one ruled by Baeng Hung (the good side), and the other by Gux Hung (the bad side). They hated each other very much . As they two had planned in heaven, Daa Gux would come down to earth reborn as a third daughter of Baeng Hung (with a birthmark on one leg), while Daa Ong would transform himself into whatever was needed. During the war between Baeng Hung and Gux Hung. Baeng Hung announced to his whole kingdom, "whoever can bring me Gux Hung's head, I'll reward you with marriage to my third daughter and some land ." No one answered the Baeng Hung's demand.

One day Daa Ong transformed himself into a five-colored dragon-dog named Phan Hu . The dog showed himself up at Baeng Hung's palace . The emperor had never seen a dragon-dog such as this one, full of talent, with 120 beautiful spots on the top of its body, and could talk . The emperor ordered his people to take a good care of the dog . The dog had become Baeng Hung's trusted, loving pet .

One day, Baeng Hung and his staff had a meeting, planning the war with Gux Hung. The dragon-dog was there at the meeting as well. At the end of the discussion, the dragon-dog spoke up, he said "Baeng Hung doesn't have to send thousands of armies, military equipments to fight Gux Hung. I will volunteer to fight Gux Hung myself. Since I'm a dog, the least respected animal, Gux Hung and her military probably will not think I can cause any harm to them." Baeng Hung agreed with the dog. He wanted to see what the dog could do. Phan Hu (dragon-dog) prepared for the departure. He asked heaven to send him a magic pill, which helped him endure his 7 days 7 nights swimming accross the sea to Gux Hung.
The dragon-dog arrived Gux Hung's empire. Gux Hung admired the beautiful talking dog. She kept it as her own body guard. The dog became Gux Hung's favorite pet as well. Gux Hung was confident with the dog, therefore, she no longer needed her servants and body guards at all times. One day, Gux Hung sent her servants and body guards out for the daily chores. The dragon-dog took that opportunity, and bit Gux Hung's head off then swam back across the sea with the head as proof to Baeng Hung. In return, the dragon-dog was married to Baeng Hung's third daughter (as promised). As the wedding day neared, Baeng Hung, the emperor realized he didn't really want his third daughter to marry a dragon-dog. So, Baeng Hung called nine women who looked identical to his third daughter and then dressed them up with identical gowns. The dragon-dog had to pick from the ten identical women. Daa Gux (the third daughter) was one of the ten. This ruse, however, did not fool Daa Ong a.k.a. Phan Hu (dragon-dog). The dog looked for the birthmark on the leg. The dragon-dog picked the third daughter of Baeng Hung and was married to her. They moved to an isolated piece of land given to them by Baeng Hung and had 12 children, six sons and six daughters. These six sons and the husbands of the six daughters became patriarchs of the twelve Mien clans.

The Iu Mien 12 Clans When talking about the original twelve clans, it is difficult for almost any Mien to name all of them since a few of the clans got lost or left behind when escaping from mainland China many generations ago. Another complicating factor is that the names that the Thais gave to each clan (which are the basis for today's Mien surnames in Thailand and the United States) not only depended on what each Thai interviewer heard their clan name to be, but also differs from the names that Miens call themselves. For instance, Ann (Saefung) and Laosan (Saefong) spell their official last names differently, yet each will identify themselves as a member of the Bungz (pronounced Bpung) clan. Notice that when Ann introduces herself, she first says her Thai name, then her Mien clan (in this case calling it La Bpung), then finally her Mien given name. Clans descending from the six sons of Baeng Hung Thai Name Mien Name Saephan Bienh Saelaw Lorh Saelee Leiz Saechou Zuaqv Saetern Dangc Saeyang Yangh Clans descending from husbands of the six daughters of Baeng Hung Thai Name Mien Name Saechao Zeuz Saelio Lio Saefong Bungz Saezaanh Zaanh Saechin Chin Saeseao Siaau Other clans not in the original twelve clans, possibly second sons-in-law of Baeng Hung's daughters Thai Name Mien Name Saetong Dorngh Saepao Bew/Bao

Note: The "Sae" prefix was appended by Thai authorities to designate a last name derived from a Chinese clan. Hmongs and ethnic Chinese, especially Hakka and Teochiu, also were originally given names of this form, though most have changed their names since; Hmongs doing so by dropping the Sae, Chinese by requesting an official four-syllable Thai last name from the Thai government. Most Miens have kept the Sae appended to their names.

The letters q, z, h, and c at the end of the clan names are silent and are used to indicate the tone in which a word is said.


Migration from China to Thailand and Beyond
The Mien, who are also related to the lowland-living Lanten peoples of Laos and Vietnam, are believed to have begun migrating from Hunan province in China during the 15th-16th century and spread throughout northern Vietnam, northern Laos and northern Thailand. Immigration into Thailand was sharply accelerated after the Indochina War when victorious Pathet Lao forces began seeking reprisal for the involvement of many Mien as soldiers in a CIA-sponsored secret army. As a token of appreciation to the Mien and Hmong people who served in the CIA secret army, the United States accepted many of the refugees as naturalized citizens. Now there are as many as 50,000 Miens living in the United States, largely concentrated on the West Coast, particularly northern California.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Birth

During Pregnancy Mien believed that when an unborn child is still in the mother’s womb, family members must be very careful around the mother. One should not intrude the mother while she is in her room, that may chase away the baby’s soul. One should not use sharp objects such as knife or scissors to cut things around the mother for risk that the baby may be born deformed or have a cleft-palate or hare lip. During Birth In the village far away from the city where there is no hospital near by, a pregnant woman’s mother (baby’s grandma) would usually act as a midwife and help deliver the baby. Grandma would help pull the baby out if needed, but most of the time she would wait until the baby is completely out from the mother’s vagina, then the grandma would hold the baby in her hands, and quickly cut the baby’s umbilical cord, usally with sharpened bamboo. If the baby’s mother is single during her pregnancy, she must deliver her baby out side the house in a booth built near the house. She needs to respect her family by not giving birth in the house because she is still single, has no husband, and the baby is born out of wedlock. If she’s married, or has a husband, she can give birth in the house, in her own room. Traditionally, both the dried afterbirth and the first excrement of the baby are saved in a box or bamboo cylinder.

After Birth After the baby is washed, wiped dry, and wrapped in towels, or blanket. Within that day, the mother then brings out the baby to the door and face toward the sky; showing the baby to the moon, the sun, and the stars to prove that the family now has a new member. From that point on, no one from outside the family is allowed to come in the house until after a certain ceremony is completed. It could take weeks depending on the lunar calendar. During this time, a cross-sign (symbol), made of bamboo is placed outside the main door(s), which means “the family is not welcoming anyone at this time.” Below are 4 very important steps, which to help protect the mother & baby [must be done by selected shaman(s)]. Jaiv saetv (to protect a baby from getting sick) Orn biangh (to help warm a spirit) Saaz uix (to protect both mother and baby from evil spirits) Tim mienv-kuv (give relationship to the baby, and the biological parents)

Caring for Mother and Baby During the first 10 days after labor, the mother must not eat anything raw, not even fresh vegetables. Everything she eats must be cooked; chicken broth with variety of herbs is very common. During the first month, the mother is not allowed to visit anyone outside her home. She must not work, or lift anything heavy. The mother and baby must bathe in a tub that is filled with warm water only. The mother must drink warm broth, which boiled with variety of herbs. The broth works like medicine, soothes, and heals the inside.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Names

How names are given by Mien family Mien have a unique way of giving names to their children. Every Mien man has 3 names in his lifetime: a child name, an adult name, and a spirit or ghost name (primarily used when calling the dead). Each child’s name is counted like a number and must root to his/her biological father. Take, for example, a father whose adult name is Fu Tong, his family (clan) name is Phan, his child name is Nai Fin and his ghost name is Fa-Zan (all ghost names begin with ‘Fa’). Then, all Fu Tong’s children’s first names will end with ‘Tong’, somewhat like counting 1st Tong, 2nd Tong, 3rd Tong, so on. All of Fu Tong’s children’s first names would be as follows: # Sons Daughters 1 Kao Tong (or Tawn Tong) Meuy Tong (Mei, Mey, Muey, etc.) 2 Lo Tong (or Nai Tong) Nai Tong 3 San Tong Fahm Tong 4 Sou Tong Fei Tong (Fey, Feuy, Fuey, etc.) 5 Ou Tong Mahn Tong

Under the twelve Iu-Mien clans, each clan may have four, five or more subnames (generation names called buic) that form the basis of the adult names. In the case of Fu Tong, he is from the Phan clan which has generational names of Yao, Fu, Wuen, and Saeng (in that exact order). So, we know that Fu Tong is second generation. We now know that Fu Tong’s father is from the first generation, and his adult name must be Yao Fin, because Fu Tong’s child name is Nai Fin. We also know that Fu Tong is a second son of Yao Fin, because ‘Nai’ means second. All Fu Tong’s sons are the 3rd generation, therefore, their adult names must begin with ‘Wuen’, Fu Tong’s grandsons will be the 4th generation and their adult names must begin with ‘Saeng’, and all Fu Tong’s great grandsons will be the 5th generation. Their adult names will repeat, back to the ‘Yao’ generation (a cycle is completed). After each of Fu Tong’s boys reached 12 years old, he is considered a pre-teenager, or pre-adult. Therefore, he may choose his own name, but his name still has to carry the Phan clan’s generation name. Below is a table that follows the adult and child names of one chain of descendents of the Phan (Bienh) clan through one cycle of generational names (buic): Generation Adult Name Child Name 1-Yauh Yauh Fin unknown 2-Fu Fu Tong Nai Fin (second son of Yauh Fin) 3-Wuen Wuen Ziu Ou Tong (fifth son of Fu Tong) 4-Saeng Saeng Waa Kao Ziu (first son of Wuen Ziu) 5-Yauh (repeat) Yauh Meng San Waa (third son of Saeng Waa)

Tricky Names Miens also have some common names that they give for specific purposes, after physical characteristics, or in hopes of creating a change in the child. These names are used for both boy and girl. Name Meaning Reason/Intended Purpose Nyingv bony, skinny a baby born skinny, bony, weak Liuz final, complete a final child, no more after this one Zaih belated a child was born later than expected Zaanc cheap, priceless a child urinates soon after birth Lowc mid-way, road born while traveling, away from home Chengx born tangled with umbilical cord umbilical cord wrapped around neck Koyv or Yienc to alter (boy to girl or vice versa) have too many of same sex, parents want a change, hoping the next baby will be the opposite sex Note: The final consonant (v, z, h, c, x) in Mien names/words is used to represent the tone and is not pronounced. Nyingv is therefore pronounced Nying, Liuz pronounced Liu.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Marriage

Choosing a Mate

Young Miens (both boys and girls) begin looking for a mate at around the age of 15, or older. Boys are usually the ones who initiate the flirtation, often paying a special visit to that certain girl he had in mind. Every girl, however, may refuse, because each girl is given the right to choose which boy is best for her.

In the old days, boys were poor, owning an automobile was almost impossible. Most boys had to walk to their destiny. Sometimes the walking distance (between the boy and the girl) could be as close as a few houses down the road, or as far as villages apart. Some boys would get lucky and be welcomed to the bedroom on their first night. Other boys would have to keep on searching. Boys who were rejected would have to walk home alone in the dark.

Very few external rules govern the selection of Mien couples. In principle, the boy and girl should be of different clans, though exceptions can be made. More strictly observed is the custom that older siblings should marry before younger ones. If a younger sibling should want to marry before his/her elder sibling has married, he/she would need to make financial reparations to the elder sibling.

	When a boy has a crush with a certain girl, or found his “thought to be a lover;” he would then inform his parents about the girl. Soon his parents would go to the girl’s parents asking for a duplicate of her birth certificate to take home for a matching purpose. The matching includes both boy’s and girl’s birth date, month, year. It is somewhat similar to the astrology, horoscope reading, or the 12 Zodiac. If the matching part goes well, the boy’s parents would return to the girl’s home with a silver bracelet, which is to be displayed atop of the discussion table. The girl side prepares a small meal, so the two sides can sit on the table together to introduce themselves, and get to know one another. After the introduction between the two parents, the girl would come over and help clean up the table. If the girl likes the boy, she would accept his bracelet and keep it in a safe place. But if she dislikes the boy, she would not accept his bracelet, she may return it immediately, or within 2 days. การสู่ขอ (โท้นิ่นแซง)           เมื่อหนุ่มตกลงปลงใจจะแต่งงานกับสาวใดแล้วฝ่ายชาย จะต้องหาใครไปสืบถามเพื่อ ขอทราบวัน เดือน ปีเกิดของฝ่ายหญิง ถ้าพ่อแม่ฝ่ายหญิงยินยอมบอกก็แสดงว่า พวกเขายอมยกให้ หลังจากนั้นก็จะนำเอาวัน เดือน ปี เกิด ของหนุ่มสาวคู่นั้น ไปให้ผู้ชำนาญเรื่องการผูกดวงผู้ชำนาญผูกดวง จะดูว่าทั้งคู่มีดวงสมพงศ์กันหรือไม่ ถ้าดวงไม่สมพงศ์กันฝ่ายชายจะไม่มาสู่ขอ พร้อมแจ้งหมายเหตุให้ฝ่ายหญิงทราบ เมื่อดูแล้วถ้าเกิดดวงสมพงศ์กัน พ่อแม่จึงจัดการให้ลูกได้สมปรารถนา เริ่มด้วยการส่งสื่อไปนัดพ่อแม่ฝ่ายสาวว่า ค่ำพรุ่งนี้จะส่งเถ้าแก่มาสู่ขอลูกสาว แล้วพ่อแม่ฝ่ายหญิงจะต้องจัดข้าวปลาอาหารไว้รับรอง ระหว่างที่ดื่มกินกันนั้น เถ้าแก่ก็จะนำกำไลเงินหนึ่งคู่ มาวางไว้บนสำรับ เมื่อเวลาดื่มกินกันเสร็จ สาวเจ้าเข้ามาเก็บถ้วยชาม หากสาวเจ้าตกลงปลงใจกับหนุ่มก็จะเก็บกำไลไว้ หากไม่ชอบก็จะคืนกำไลให้เถ้าแก่ ภายใน 2 วัน เถ้าแก่จะรออยู่ดูให้แน่ใจแล้วว่าสาวเจ้าไม่คืนกำไลแล้ว เถ้าแก่จึงนัดวันเจรจา เมื่อถึงเวลาซึ่งวันเดินทางไปนี้สำคัญมาก เพราะมีข้อห้าม และความเชื่อในการเดินทางหลายอย่าง เช่น ขณะเดินทาง ระหว่างทางหากพบคนกำลังปลดฟืนลงพื้น สัตว์วิ่งตัดหน้า ไม้กำลังล้ม คนล้ม ฯลฯ
สิ่งเหล่านี้ คือ สิ่งที่ส่อไปในทางที่ไม่ดีจะไม่มีโชคตามความเชื่อ แต่ถ้าไม่พบสิ่งเหล่านี้ระหว่างทางก็สามารถเดินทางไปบ้านฝ่ายหญิงได้ และถ้าไปถึงบ้านฝ่ายหญิง แล้วพบสาวเจ้ากำลังกวาดบ้าน หรือพบคนกำลังเจาะรางไม้ หรือเตรียมตัวอาบน้ำอยู่ พ่อแม่ของฝ่ายชายก็จะเลิกความคิดที่จะไปสู่ขอเหมือนกัน เพราะเชื่อว่าเป็นสิ่งไม่ดีจะทำให้คู่บ่าวสาวต้องลำบาก เมื่อพ่อแม่ฝ่ายชายเดินทางไปถึงบ้านฝ่ายหญิงโดยไม่ได้พบอุปสรรคใด ๆ แล้วครอบครัวของฝ่ายชายจะต้องนำไก่ 3 ตัว ไก่ตัวผู้ 2 ตัว และไก่ตัวเมีย 1 ตัว แล้วนำไก่ตัวผู้ 1 ตัวมาปรุงอาหาร เพื่อเป็นการสู่ขอ แล้วร่วมกันรับประทาน พ่อแม่ฝ่ายหญิงจะเชิญญาติอย่างน้อย 2-3 คน มาร่วมเป็นพยาน ระหว่างที่รับประทานอาหารกันอยู่นั้น ก็เริ่มเจรจาค่าสินสอดตามประเพณี ซึ่งส่วนใหญ่ ค่าสินสอดจะกำหนดเป็นเงินแท่งมากกว่า หรือบางครั้งอาจจะใช้เงินก็ได้ตามฐานะ สำหรับไก่อีก 2 ตัว หลังจากฆ่าแล้วจะนำมาเซ่นไหว้บรรพบุรุษของตระกูลทั้งสองฝ่าย         เพื่อเป็นการแจ้งให้บรรพบุรุษทั้งสองฝ่ายให้รับรู้ในการหมั้น พร้อมทั้งฝ่ายชายจะมอบด้ายและผ้าทอหรืออุปกรณ์ในการปักชุดแต่งานไว้ใช้สำหรับงานพิธีแต่งให้กับฝ่ายหญิง เพื่อใช้ปักชุดแต่งงาน เจ้าสาวจะต้องปักชุดแต่งงานให้เสร็จจากอุปกรณ์ที่ฝ่ายชายเตรียมไว้ในตอนหมั้นและเจ้าสาวจะไม่ทำงานไร่ จะอยู่บ้านทำงานบ้านและปักผ้าประมาณ 1 ปี ส่วนเจ้าบ่าวต้องเตรียมอาหารที่จะใช้เลี้ยงแขกและทำพิธีกรรมเช่น หมู ไก่ และจัดเตรียมเครื่องดนตรี จัดบุคคลที่จะเข้าทำพิธีกรรมทางศาสนา และอุปกรณ์การจัดงานทั่วไป หลังจากหมั้นแล้วบ่าวสาวจะอยู่ด้วยกันที่บ้านฝ่ายใดก็ได้แล้วแต่จะตกลงกัน

พิธีแต่งงานใหญ่ (ต่ม ชิ่ง จา)       พิธีนี้เป็นพิธีใหญ่ซึ่งจะต้องใช้ค่าใช้จ่ายสูง คนที่จัดพิธีใหญ่นี้ส่วนมากจะเป็นผู้ที่มีฐานะดี จะใช้เวลาในการทำพิธี 3 คืน 3 วัน ซึ่งจะต้องใช้เวลาเตรียมงานกันเป็นปี คือ ต้องเลี้ยงหมู เลี้ยงไก่ไว้ให้พอกับการเลี้ยงแขก วันแรก       ฝ่ายเจ้าบ่าวจะจัดคนไปรับเจ้าสาวตั้งแต่ก่อนเช้า โดยจะมีคนเตรียมบรรเลงเพลงประกอบไปด้วย ฝ่ายเจ้าบ่าวจะจัดเตรียมสถานที่โดยการจัดม้านั่งเป็นวงกลมไว้ และขบวนของเจ้าสาวนั้นจะมี 1 คน ถือปลายผ้าเช็ดหน้า เพื่อจูงมือเจ้าสาวซึ่งอาจเป็นน้องของเจ้าสาว ส่วนน้องชายของเจ้าสาวอีก คนหนึ่ง จะทำหน้าที่แบกสัมภาระของเจ้าสาวที่จะต้องนำมาใช้ในบ้านเจ้าบ่าว อีกคนจะมีหน้าที่กางร่มให้เจ้าสาว เพื่อนเจ้าสาวแต่ละคนจะแต่งตัวด้วยชุดชนเผ่าเต็มยศเช่นกัน เมื่อขบวนของเจ้าสาวมาถึง จะยังไม่ได้นั่งจะให้ยืนอยู่กลางวงก่อน โดยจะมีเพื่อนเจ้าสาวสองคนคอยยืนล้อมรอบเจ้าสาว วงดุริยางค์ จะเล่นดนตรีวนทั้ง 3 คน แล้วจะแห่สอดแทรกเข้าไปรอบ ๆ เจ้าสาว และทำความเคารพ

       โดยคำนับ 3 ครั้งฝ่ายเจ้าสาวจะโค้งคำนับตอบ 3 ครั้งเช่นเดียวกัน จะคำนับทั้งหมด 4 รอบจึงจะหยุด ระหว่างนั้นฝ่ายต้อนรับจะนำเอาน้ำชา เหล้า บุหรี่มาเพื่อเป็นการต้อนรับ และขอบคุณแขกที่มาร่วมงาน จากนั้นก็นำน้ำร้อนที่ได้เตรียมไว้เพื่อให้แขกล้างหน้า พอแขกล้างหน้าเสร็จ จะเอาผ้าเช็ดหน้าที่ตัวเองล้างเอากลับไปบ้าน พร้อมกับวางเงินไว้ในถาดจะเท่าไหร่ก็ได้เพื่อเป็นธรรมเนียม เสร็จแล้วก็ร่วมรับประทานอาหารที่ได้จัดไว้ ระหว่างนั้นเจ้าบ่าวกับเจ้าสาวจะยกน้ำชาเหล้าไปให้แขกรอบงาน พอมอบให้แขกแล้วเมื่อแขกดื่มเสร็จจะวางเงินไว้ในถาด เท่าไหร่ก็ได้เพื่อเป็นธรรมเนียม จากนั้นจะแยกกันไปผักผ่อนตามที่พักที่ทางฝ่ายเจ้าบ่าวได้จัดไว้ ส่วนเจ้าสาวจะยังไม่ได้เข้าไปในบ้านของเจ้าบ่าว โดยฝ่ายเจ้าบ่าวจะทำเพิงพักให้กับเจ้าสาว ที่พักของเจ้าสาวนั้นจะนิยมสร้างห่างจากบ้านเจ้าบ่าวประมาณ 20 เมตร จนกว่าจะถึงฤกษ์ที่ได้กำหนดเอาไว้ คือ วันพรุ่งนี้


วันที่สอง
        เจ้าสาวจะต้องตื่นนอนแต่เช้ามืดเพื่อเตรียมตัวทำพิธีตามขั้นตอน แล้วเข้าบ้านเจ้าบ่าว การเข้ามาในบ้านนั้นจะต้องเข้าทางประตูใหญ่ พอเสร็จพิธีกรรมอะไรแล้วก็มีการดื่มกินกันทั่วไป

วันที่สาม
        จะเป็นการกินเลี้ยงส่วนใหญ่จะ่ฉลองอย่างเดียวจะไม่ค่อยมีพิธีกรรมอะไรมาก นอกจากการบรรเลงตนตรี เป่าปี่ ตีกลองให้งานสนุกสนานรื่นเริง กลางคืนเจ้าบ่าวเจ้าสาวจะออกมายกน้ำชาให้กับแขกที่มาร่วมงานก็เป็นอันว่าเสร็จพิธี

พิธีแต่งงานเล็ก (ชิ่งจาตอน)
          พิธีต่าง ๆ จะเป็นการกินเลี้ยงฉลองอย่างเดียวไม่มีพิธีกรรมอะไรมาก จะใช้เวลาทำพิธีเพียงวันเดียว เจ้าสาวไม่ต้องสวมที่คุมที่มีน้ำหนักมาก และพิธีเล็กนี้ไม่ต้องสิ้นเปลืองค่าใช้จ่ายมาก จุดสำคัญของการแต่งงานของเมี่ยน คือ ตามที่เจ้าบ่าวตกลงสัญญาจ่ายค่าตัวเจ้าสาวกับพ่อแม่ของเจ้าสาวไว้ เพื่อเป็นการทดแทนที่ได้เลี้ยงดูเจ้าสาวมา และฝ่ายเจ้าบ่าวจะต้องบอกวิญญาณบรรพบุรุษของตนเองยอมรับ และช่วยคุ้มครองเจ้าสาวด้วย ประการสุดท้ายเจ้าบ่าวและเจ้าสาวจะต้องดื่มเหล้าที่ทำพิธี แล้วร่วมแก้วเดียวกัน การแต่งงานของเมี่ยนนั้นจะต้องทำตามประเพณีทุกขั้นตอนอย่างพิถีพิถัน และเป็นไปในลักษณะที่ให้เกียรติิซึ่งกันและกันทั้งสองฝ่าย 
http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/ 

Life style : Be under interdiction

Be under interdiction in wickedness day.  The Mien call this day ging. This day comes from the beliefs of the ancestors and is passed down from generation to generation. Mien people will be under interdiction from the Mien New Year ( that being the same as the chinese calendar). The first day of the new year starts in january or february in the Thai calendar and on this day Mien people stop working the field, do not kill any animals and do not hang clothes out. They believe that if they do not strictly follow the "no work" rules during this time bad things will happen to the village and the person who does not obey. Each village follows the chinese calendar and therefore each follows interdiction on the same day.
The tiger sleep wickedness day ( Ging Da maw Puay). On this day the people must let the tiger sleep. They cannot make much noise or disturb the tiger because they believe that bad things will happen to the village. The people in the village will ask for help from the ancestor spirits to protect the tiger and not to make trouble for the people in the village.

	The tiger walk wickedness day (Ging Da Maw Yang Jaw). This day is after tiger sleep    day. This day the people ask their god to inspire the tiger away from the village. The knife wickedness day (ging Hyu). On this day the people stop to working in the field to protect them from knife and axe. The storm wickedness day (Ging Jyaw).On this day the people in the village are under interdiction so the storm does not damage their lives and properties.  The bird wickedness (Ging Hnor). On this day the people are under interdiction to protect their plants from the birds that come to damage them. The rat wickedness day (Ging Hnaw). On this day the people in the village are under interdiction to protect the plants in the field from th rat. The snake wickedness day (Ging Nang) this day the people in the village are under interdictions to protect the snake come to the house and ban a snake go to the forest when the people go there. The caterpillar wickedness day (Ging Gang PAye) this day the people in the village are under interdiction to protect the caterpillar come to the house or interfere.
8. The Sky wickedness day (ging Ba Ong) this day the people believe that is the god birth day. Mien people do not go to work in the field or pestle rice.      9. Flood water wickedness day (Ging Hlow) this day the people are under the interdiction to protect their life, properties and vegetables from the flood.      10. The Chinese New Year wickedness day (Ging Cheng Meng) this day the people in the village will offering food to ancestors’ spirits.      11. The Chun Pun wickedness day. This day the people in the village greet the new season and the rainy fallow the season that make the agriculture completely.        12. Liew Gha wickedness day. This day is the season change from the Chinese style. Some village the people believe that a man can not sleep in the day time because they believe that their heart terrified to live in the country that have only woman.      13. The Pua Chun wickedness day. This day is the people in the village will give offering food to ancestor’s spirit and other spirit in the village to protect them from the bad things and drive out the animal interfere their agricultures.       14. The Leab Chiaw wickedness day (Ging Lieb Chiaw). This day the people in the village will give offering food to the mountain, forest to ask them to protect their agricultures.      15. The ear of rice (Ging Gu Dong Jyud). This day the people in the village are under interdiction for the rice has an ear.      16. The Jeab Huem wickedness day. This day the people are under interdiction for the spirits to go to travel.      17. The Mien Poi Bua wickedness day. This day the people in the village take a tree star god come to dry in the sun. mien said “this is open one’s eyes  ears”
The Jea Chun Yang wickedness day, this day is the day for season change to winter. Some village call this ceremony is ban the rain to make a problem with the agricultural. In writing, Mien people will light the joss sticks in front of the door’s house and in that day the people in the village wear the Mien traditions clothes or hang in front of the house because they believe that the ancestor spirit will protect their lineages http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Mien entertainment

     Now, the amusement of Mien people in their daily is fading away especially amusement for the older or the teenagers. The amusements for the kids as chase about that they play together boys and girls, a top spin, make a bamboo as a long leg to walk. Mien do not have the amusement in each culture or in the festival, they have amusements in the worship or ceremonies, frequently in wedding ceremony and the New Year that can have absolutely party, amusements.

Mien forms of entertainment. 1.catapults (Tang-Gong)        These are made from axils that look like the capital letter Y. Put a slingshot in the top of capital later Y, then they can use this as put the stone in the middle of the slingshot and shoot. 2.A bamboo gun (Phang-Phang)        This is a favorite plaything of children. They use bamboo to make the gun, whiten other bamboo to serve as arrows and make bullets for shooting from fruit.

3. The pump (House-Dong-Fae)      This is made from bamboo. makes the lift pump and put in the pump. Mien play with this by pumping the water in and squirting their friends. They play this game in the summer time. 4. Bamboo stilts (Ma-Gea-House)      This is made from bamboo that lifts the wearer about two metres off the ground. For the pedal high from the ground around 50 centimeters or higher than depending on the player. This playing very enjoyable for the kids. This game can play in every season or ceremonies. They play this game by stand in the long leg bamboo and run.

5.The string trestle (Mah-Gea-Hang)      it made from the stringThey take 2 bamboos and punch out the bamboos and put the string in the both of it. They play by nip the string by the finger toe. 6.Top spins (Ta-Hlow)      This game is enjoyable but only for a boy. They play this game when have a free time from their work in the farm. Man will go to the forest to cut the wood to make the top. They made it by whittles it to acute or some people put the steel in the acute to make the top long cycle. They play by separate 2 teams and playing. 7. The marbles (Pu-See)      The marbles is the one of the game of Mien’s kid. The kids will change the playing as the season change. 8.They play by flick the marble to the hole by hand. Banana leafstalk (Nom-Jew-Fad)       They cut the banana leaf from the stalk and cut the stalk and cock up, and then flick the hand on it that will has the voice from it. This game very safety and it favorite for the kids.

Information: From the book “The Local knowledge of Mien” 

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Occupation

           The main occupation of the Mien people is working in a drift plantation. Now there are more silver makers because the Mien people favor accessories made from silver. In the Mien village, there is a traditional accessories maker and is favored by the Mien people also. Despite the social changes, the Mien people can adapt themselves and have more occupations such as agriculture. Mien people plant the vegetables for their own consumption and not for sale. The Mien people will store the excess food for the dry season. They do not sell the crops that are grown in the first year of their plantation.

Plantation. The plantation is the main occupation for the Mien people. In one year the Mien people will plant much more than they can for storage for the future. Every year the Mien people will change the kind of vegetables they plant. For example this year they plant pumpkins, the next year they will plant other kind of plants because they believe that if they plant the same thing every year the soil not be rich in the nutrients. In a couple of years, the Mien people will change the area for planting and move to a new area. When they plant rice, they will plant onion and parsley also in the same area. They often choose a place for planting in valleys between the mountains because it is closer to the river and is a low-lying land.

Agriculture process. When the Mien people found a place for planting, the first step that they will do is mow the grasses until all of the grasses dry up, and the villagers will then burn them. In the rainy season, Mien people start planting vegetables. When the vegetables have grown for a while, the villager will start to mow the grasses again, until the time of harvest

The obstacles of Farming.             In the past, transportation is not convenient, and posed a big problem for the Mien people when they need to travel. The Mien people solved the problem by using animals as a mode of transportation, but the problem is not fully solved as the animals cannot carry a lot of things on them. Usually, the Mien people have their farms situated far away from their village. However, their farms are often destroyed by wild animals as they cannot take good care of their paddy fields from their village. Thus, Mien people solved this problem by building a hut in the farm.

Rearing of animals. The Mien people rear animals in their farms, and the type of animals they keep vary, depending on the preference of the family. Usually they rear pigs, chickens, horses and dogs. The most commonly reared animals are pigs and chickens because they are a food source for the people and are often used as offerings in rituals. The people keep horses because in the past, Mien preferred to use horses for transportation. As for the dogs, they can watch over the house and accompany their owner when they go for hunting in the forest. In the past, they just left the animals to roam around the village and would feed them twice a day, in the morning and evening. Now, the Mien people build fences for the pigs and chickens to protect them from wild animals.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Food and Diets of Mien

Food and Diets
      The food source: Miens get their food from various sources such as from their own agriculture and from nature such as the mountains and forests. The food sources of the Mien people are as shown below:

1.Food from them has grown.       Usually the Miens obtain their food from their agriculture, which forms the main source of their food, including rice and vegetables. They plant many varieties of crops in their farm. Some examples are rice, corn, cassava, sunflower, sesames, chilies, eggplant, tomato, gourd, pumpkins, beans, cabbage, garlic, taro, sweet potato, ginger, galangal, onion, cucumber etc.

2. Food obtained from nature.       Food can also be obtained from the forest. There are different kinds of food available from different seasons. The main kinds of food are mushrooms, bamboo shoots, rattan, banana flower, spinach etc. Nature also provides a source of proteins for the Miens in the form of meats from the boar, wild chicken, barking deer, birds, rabbit etc. The fishes, crab, shells, shrimp, turtle, vegetables, frog etc in the rivers and lakes are another source of food for the Miens. 3.Food obtained from their community.       Nowadays, every village has roads leading to them and has access to transportations, thus making it easier for the Miens to obtain foods for themselves. The villagers have business dealings with each other to buy or sell food. These food obtained from outside are easily accessible to their village, which consist of many kinds of seasonings such as sugar, fish sauce, shrimp paste, monosodium glutamate, salt, and other food like instant foods, vegetables and meats.

Preparation of food 1.Cook       Miens cook rice by pour the water from the boiled rice. The processes to cook rice, the rice grains are first placed into the pot and rinsed with water1-2 times and put on the stove for cooking. The rice is brought to boil and tested to see if it is cooked. When the rice is cooked, the water is then poured away and the pot is put back on the stove for the rice in the pot to dry.

2. To flavor the food.       Miens flavor their food by using the oil from lard to fry the vegetables, together with water and salt. Usually, Miens do not use knife to cut the vegetables, instead they use their hands to tear the vegetables into pieces. However there are exceptions such as eggplants, cucumber, and pumpkin, which are cut into filaments and then fry with lard. Mien principle to eat cooked food exception spicy minced meat salad. Miens’ food is generally salty. They do not use the chili paste like the locals but buy seasonings from the locals like salt, fish sauce, sugar and monosodium glutamate. Usually, Miens do not use fish sauce; they commonly use salt to give their food a salty taste.

Stove       Usually, Miens have 2 kinds of stoves - the Chinese earthen stove with a triangular stand ( it has three stones to support the pot) and a big stove to boil food for pigs or boil water for scalding the pig skin, for sick person to shower and for steaming sweetmeat. Moreover, they use this stove to boil alcohol. They have another stove to boil hot tea for the guests. Miens like to sit around the bonfire to exchange knowledge or experience with each other. Miens believe that there is a spirit living in the bonfire and will not pour water onto the bonfire nor turn their back to face the bonfire.

The pregnant women do not go close to the bonfire. Miens believe that the spirit from the bonfire will come to harm those who violate these rules by inflicting wounds, or by exploding etc.

The equipment used to prepare food.       1. Cooker (Change in Mien language) Now they use a crock bought from the market in the city. In the past they used the cooker that resembles a monk's alms bowl. Some households still use the cooker that does not have handles like that used in the past.       2. Pan (Chang Bean) for frying. Miens have a lot of pans.       3. Scoop. Miens do not like to use this tool. They often use a small paddle.       4. A ladle (Hang-Juey) they like to use  softwood to make a ladle like a paddle to mix rice when they cook because Miens cook rice by pouring water off from the boiled rice.       5. Chopsticks (Jeaw) Miens like to use chopsticks to eat. They are usually made from bamboo. They dye the chopsticks red because this color is considered auspicious and is often used in wedding ceremony. The other reason is to protect the chopsticks from fungus so that the chopsticks can last longer.

Food preservation.       Miens like to preserve meat so as to keep them longer, especially pork. They have many ways to preserve their food such as those below: Hang the meat under the kitchen roof above the stove. This allows the meat to be smoked from the cookings. This way the pork is kept longer. When they want to eat, they will just cut away the blackened layer from the smoked meat and cook. Ox-Sui, which is pickled pork. They chop the pork and cook it together with rice to make the meat tasty, and the cooked meat is preserved with salt and put into a jar to be sealed until when the meat is needed.   Or-Buan-Sui or pickled meat. They soak rice for around 2-3 hours and pound the rice, followed by mixing it together with pork and water. They keep this pickled meat in the jar and can be kept for a year. Ip-Or-Sui or meat fried to dry the lard and kept in a jar. Pickled bamboo (Bae-Sui) they pickle bamboo with salt. Pickled Chinese cabbage (Rai-Sui) they cut the Chinese cabbage into small pieces and soak them in some boiling milk-like water for around 4-5 days or until the vegetable turns sour. Pork skin or cracking (Or-Faw) Miens will fry the pork to get the lard, thence they get the cracking with out lard. They keep this together with lard or put some meat. They warm the cracking and meat when they want to eat or cook them with other food. Coarse rice       Miens eat coarse rice. They use a mortar to pound the rice and the mortar is important for the child spirit because they believe that the fetus between 3 to 9 months old will live in the mortar that they do not break the mortar.        Usually, Mien women will pound rice and prepare food for the family after they finished their housework. In some homes, they will pound the rice in the morning and this sound will wake everyone in their family up. The coarse rice is preferred because it is nutritious and tasty. The Mortar       There are 2 types of mortar. The first one requires manual pounding and is called Ta-Toi and other uses the energy generated by water and is called Oam-Toi. Miens do not pound rice at noon because the chickens will interfere. They will get rice bran from them pound for their pet. Nowadays, Miens usually take their rice to the rice mill because it is more convenient and less tiring since they do not have to pound the rice manually.

Food for people in different age groups. 1.Food for the women who are pregnant and women after giving birth.       They eat simple food like those that they eat every day including chicken, meat, egg, chilies and green vegetables but not wild animals and twin fruits. Miens give priority to the pregnant. The main course consists of rice and chicken with the herbs, and they do not eat eggplants, pumpkin, cucumber, gourd, banana flower, ripened banana, ripened papaya, cabbage, guava and fish.

2. Food for babies and children.       Food for the babies and children consist mainly of milk from their mothers. They will consume supplementary food when they are about 3-5 months old. The supplementary food for the baby are ground banana, boiled egg, soup, rice porridge with pork or chicken, rice with oil, water or sugar or salt, ground rice mixed with banana. Babies and children cannot eat tiger meat, wild cat, eagle and bees because they believe that babies and children will convulse when they consume these meats.      (is it better to take out children? Just mention babies because children can be from a few years old to 12 years old) 3. Food for the old and the elderly.       There is no special diet for the elderly. They eat the same food as the other people in the village, such as vegetable soup and spicy meat soup. However, the elderly do avoid spicy food and food that are not easily digestible. In the Miens’ tradition, they will prepare food and offer them to the elderly before eating.    4. Food for the people who are sick.       Food for the sick people are usually easy to digest and bland, such as boiled vegetables, grilled meats, soft-boiled egg, soft-boiled rice with salt, meat curry. There are some restrictions in diets for the various sicknesses. For people suffering from beriberi, they cannot eat pickled food; for people with skin diseases, they cannot eat meats; for people running a fever, to avoid eating sweet food, and people with injuries to abstain from chicken, fish, frog and crab meat. The reason behind this is that these foods will slow down or prevent recovery.

5. Food for ceremonies or cerebrations.       Foods for cerebrations or ceremonies are special. They usually use pork or chicken meat as the main dishes. The food used in the ceremony or celebration will  be shared with people who attended the ceremony after the ceremony or cerebration. The food used can consist of a large variety, including food that they can buy from outside.

Life style : Medicine

Miens have a number of techniques for treating people with both physical and mental afflictions. They have a method to treat as drag or knead in the painful, treat with herbs, worship the spirits or go to the hospital in the event of an injury. Worship is conducted concurrently with this treatment.

The naturopathy by massage or knead and scrape on the body.      This technique is having pains and aches or exhaustion.      1. Nib-Sa involves using the back side of the index finger and the middle finger. After being dipped into water, they pull the flesh around the breast and the shoulder inside, left and right. Around the breast they have three to seven points to pull. When they finish the Nib-Sa procedure, the flesh will be red from bruising. The patient treated by this method will fresh because it causes bleeding. People who are fat cannot use Nib-Sa; they will use Gwau-Sa instead.      2. Gwau-Sa involves using a coin or razor blade to slit the patient’s skin and burn the paper and put it in the bottle, covers the skin that has slit by the bottle until the smoke in the bottle gone. The blood that area changes the color.      3. Gwai-Ti-Tan is for treating a person who has a fever and a backache. They pound ginger and mix it the lard and brush it on the area that has pain, then cover it with a bowl and scrape it down. If the back has toxicity as the skin has become tanned.                          4.ung-Sa is bloods test in fingertip. First, they drive the blood from the body to the arm and tie up the arm to restrict circulation; they then drive the blood from the arm to the wrist and tie again. They tie each finger up one by one. When the blood is dark in the fingertips, they jab the pin into the fingers. They do this to all the fingers and toes. Mien believes that they get better when they drive the waste bloods from themselves.

Treat with herbs.      Mien ancients passed down the wisdom that any plant in the forest is a potential herbal medicine. When Mien root a plant out, they will hold their breath because they believe that the herb has rich and be full-flavored.  If the Mien doctor himself has an illness, he cannot go to the forest and pick the herbs himself. Fortunately, even today, Mien has adequate knowledge of traditional herbal medicines to get their own herbs from the forest.

Treat by worshipping spirits.      When a person is treated with herbs but still does not recover, Mien believes that a ghost made them ill. Therefore, they will cast lots or Bowb-Gwa-Ton (casting lots by flipping a stone). The leader of the worship knows how to cast these lots. When the lots have been cast and the case is the same as the ghost tell is the stone will oscillate. They will have to make an offering of food to the spirit to satisfy the spirit and help the patient get better.  http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Death

For Miens, the death of a family member requires carrying out a very specific set of ceremonies. If a parent has died, for example, then the first son would have to help shut the eyelids, and insert a silver coin in the corpse’s mouth. Miens believe that when a person dies with his/her eyes open, it means he/she died unhappily (may still have regrets). Therefore, by closing the eyelids of a corpse means “please go happy, leave any regrets behind.” The Mien have a saying, “A rich, valuable individual died with a silver coin in his mouth," something similar (but opposite) to the American saying, “A rich individual was born with a silver spoon in his mouth.” When a father dies, the corpse is laid flat on a wooden board, facing up. The sons must then take turns to hold their father’s head with both hands, gently raising it up, and lowering back down. It means, “Go in peace father.” The corpse is then washed, dressed in traditional clothes, and put in front of the altar with the feet facing out toward the main door.

Upon a Mien person's last gasp of breath, the first thing that must be done is to fire a gun into the air three times, in order to call heaven to help watch for the spirit and soul. The noise from the gunfire also helps warn the neighbors that a family member has just passed away. The surrounding residents often show courtesy and respect by taking a few days off from farming to help the family cope with their loss. Usually, one person or two from every family in the village would come and help prepare for the ceremony. The chief of the village selects six special helpers to help cut down a tree to carve a casket. When the casket is completed, the helpers bring it from the forest. A sorcerer performs a ritual around the casket, knocking the casket inside and out, chasing away the evil spirits, which may be hiding inside the casket. Once the corpse is put inside, the casket is sealed, nailed tight, and decorated with variety of paper-designs. The sorcerer keeps the dead person informed on every step of the way.

During the ceremony (which takes three days and three nights), all of the children, and relatives who are younger than the dead must wear a white cloth over their head. It is a sign of honor and respect. On the first day, friends and family prepare paper money, make dolls out of dough, make a paper boat, dress up the dead, and make the casket. On the second day, they build a miniature wooden bridge with towers, calling all known spirit ghosts to come down from the heaven to help guide the way. The third day encompasses finalizing the ceremony and taking the corpse to nearby cemetery for cremation and/or burial.

Choosing a Burial Spot A burial site is usually a mid-size forest near the village. Before the casket is carried out of the main door, there are more rounds of gunfire. A group of men help carry the casket on their shoulders walking from the house to the nearby cemetery, accompanied with family, and relatives, playing drums, gongs, and other music instruments. At the cemetery, the casket is laid on the ground. A lady holding a rooster walks around the casket three times to ensure that the soul is separated from the body. Immediately after that a sorcerer steps atop of the casket does his chanting, steps down, and the casket is lit on the four corners. Minutes later, everyone turns his/her back and walk away from the site, never to look back at the fire. There’s a saying “if you look back, your spirit may go back with the death.”

The next morning, a sorcerer and few of his helpers return to the burning site to collect the bones for a permanent burial. A burial site can be a pre-selected spot, chosen by the dead person (when he was alive); it can be a peaceful place away from the cemetery, atop of the mountains, etc. The group brings with them an egg and a chicken to the selected burial area. The sorcerer does his chanting, informing the dead what he is about to do and tosses the egg on the ground. If the egg breaks, it means that particular spot is desired by the dead for the burial of his bones. But if the egg does not break, they will have to keep on tossing it around in different spots until it breaks. After the burial is done, those in attendance prepare the chicken and have a picnic as a compliment for a job well done. The above ceremony is for adults only. If a child dies before the age of twelve, before his cuotv biangh liemh ("flower blossoming") ceremony, he is usually buried in the village cemetery, no need for selecting sites, nor preparing a big ceremony. http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : Government

The Household Rules In the Mien family, men are honored with respect and admiration. For example, when there is a big dinner or during a special ceremony, men are the first to be seated around the table. When men are done eating, women help clean up, reset the table, and refill all the dishes with fresh cooking. Then the women and children can eat. Generally, husband and wife share equal value, make decisions together for their family and children. The wife respects her man and the husband shares his concerns with his wife and at times asks for her decision. Mien people believe in family value and hard work. It is very important that a family stays united and not be divided without a good reason. The head of the household makes most of the decision. The father teaches his child(ren) the survival skills (hunting, farming, education). Mien have special respect for their elder men and women. The youths must listen and learn from their elders. Mien Community Fundamental Positions Chief of the village/district Elder/Mediator Planner (Celestial) Blacksmith Silversmith Physician (herbal doctor or dia-sai)

Authority and Governance
Chief of the district/village, his duties include (but are not limited to) taking responsibility for the welfare of the villagers; public relations; ensuring peace in the village, town, or district; making executive or administrative decisions; and arbitration of feuds or conflicts.
In the case of domestic conflicts which include spousal disputes, boy/girl love affairs, theft, etc., both sides (the accuser and the suspect) must prepare and supply foods for the judgment day at the chief’s residence. Usually some prominent elders are to be selected from each side of the families for the hearing, or as witnesses. Both families must bring in some whiskey, a whole chicken, some rice, and some currency. When the table is furnished with food (vegetables, chicken, bowls of rice, and at least two bottles of whisky), a shaman will call for certain spirits from the heaven to come down as witnesses to this matter. A judgment can either be accepted or rejected by either side of the family. If a judgment is rejected, no one can enjoy the food on the table. Therefore, all dishes must be dumped or trashed, and the process will begin anew the following day. This process may be repeated until an agreement is accepted by both parties.

Life style : The immigrant of Mien

The reasons for migration of the Mien people.
There are 2 reasons that resulted in the Mien people migrating to live in other places.

1.The land for agriculture.
The first time that the Mien people migrated to Thailand, they live on hillsides and plant the vegetation on the hillside too. They will make the soil in their place slide down and make the soil more fertile. Normally for 2-3 years, the paddy field will have good harvests, but after that harvests will start to decrease. The Mien people will then move to another paddy field somewhere else and will build a hut in the area but they do not stay in that place.

	When the soil in the village is no longer rich in nutrients, the Mien people will move to other places. The family who do not have a fertile land for growing crops will move. The Mien people migrate because of the land for growing vegetables which is very important to the Mien people.
2. The civil war Around 1967, the Mien people moved to Thailand because of the civil war in the area between the Thai- Laos borders and the Mien people fled to Thailand from the communist terrorists. This is the one of the main reasons for the Mien people migrating to Thailand. In the recent time, they do not have such a problem because the Mien people now have developed and have their own technology too.

Life style : The manners

      If we talk about Mien people, we will think of “who have kindness, friendship and peacefully” Usually Mien people are diligent and skillful in business, like cleanliness and have a good interpersonal relationship. When guest visits their house, the Miens welcome the guest with hot tea or water and prepare a table of food for the guest. During meal time, the head of the family or the son will sit together with the guest and take care of his needs. Usually, they will serve alcohol to the guest as a form of kind gesture.
Believe and the manners.
     Mien believes that the universe has its own regulations and customs. Humans maintain good relationship with nature both physically and spiritually. The traditions are reflective of the considerate and peace-loving nature of the Miens, as they avoid offensive behaviour to others and enjoy harmony within the village as well as in the family. Miens try to adapt themselves to the social rules and customs and behave accordingly to traditions and cultures. The traditional practices are passed down to from generations to generations. They also have great respect for the spirit and god, and maintain connections with them by offering of food. Mien make a lot of promises in their life and these include promises of marriage between the man and woman, promise to adopt a child with the god and also pray to asked help from the spirit to be better after sickness, Pray to the god to support them to be rich in the future. The villagers will keep their promise and do not break them.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Life style : The way of Mien living

Month	The way of living	Culture, Traditional, Ceremony.
January	Take a relax from they work and welcome Chinese New Year of Mien people by collect the firewood, vegetable from the forest for Chinese New Years cerebration.	Offering food to the ghost who take care they family troughs the fields like offering food to ancestor, offering food to the ghost who take care the forest, mountains, etc.
February	This Month is a New Year for the Mien people. This day Miens people rest from their work and start New Years cerebrate.	Peatfast cerebration. This cerebrate usually have in the importance day such as Chinese New Year or in a big ceremony.
March	This month is the season of the people who make a broom from the some kind of grasses and prepare the equipment like knife, axe for mow the area for farming.	Ceremonial to asked the permission from the spiritual who take care the area for mow the grasses to make a farming.
April	This time, the villager prepares the area and mows the grasses for planting and makes a line to protect the wildfire.	This ceremonial is give offering food to the spirituals that protect the village.
May	Planting, Usually they have a paddy field, corn and vegetables. This time the people will grow the plants by scatter the seeds because this month is a rainy season (for paddy usually after 7 day it will grow)	When paddy in the field breakdown. The people in the village will have a vow the spiritual to protect the rice in the field, when they harvest finish, the people in the village will give offering food by kill pig or anything to offering the spiritual.
June	Paddy grows and the people withdraw and mow the grasses in the paddy field also.
July	Find the vegetables from the forest like bamboo shoot, mushroom etc.	This is the New Years of the spiritual. The entire spiritual will have a cerebration.
August	This time is a rainy season; The paddy and the entire thing that they plant are growing. The villager takes care all carefully and will take in this time also.	Usually in the village will have 4 time in the year to give offering food for an ancestor.
September	Collect bamboo worms and pupa to make a food and the paddy ready to harvest.	-
October	Harvest the plant from the field like corn, paddy and other thing.	Eat New rice from the farm that they harvest.
November	This month the people harvest gramineous to make a roof when they building the houses.
December	Building the house and fixing. For the women will saw clothes for the New Years cerebration.	This time is a favor to have a wedding ceremony.

http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

House of Yao (Mien)

      House of Mien people when they build is depending on the comfortable for their occupation and the government administration. The house of Mien people turn one’s back forward the mountain. If locate on the plain usually turn one’s head to the road. They have separate the room for  their daughter, the kitchen room and the rest room for the people who come to visit and do not have a window in their house but have many doors to enter the house. The most importance door for the Mien house is a big door. This door can contact with the sprit or tell the family’s number. When the house has a funeral or wedding ceremonies, they will use this door to be the enter way.

Usually the people can use this door. The door is opposite the ghost shrine or MienTea in Mien language. The head family will give their birthday for the fortune teller to guest the direction to build the door and build the house. A man will take his wife to stay with him at the parent’s house. The house leader is usually a man except the housework and other thing that happen in the house the senior will make a decision but before make a decision they have a discusses with the member in their family.  For minister to the kids or the member in their family is usually a Mien women take respond on this because they have a knowledge about the herb than man. Mien woman work hard if they have a free time they will sewing the clothes for the family member or to sell that why we do not see the Mien woman have a free time. A mien person takes respect and descends from the father family. Usually the Mien people marry with the same lineage not the relative.

The Social structure.                         The Mien communities in the past depend on them self such as the way of living and the communities manage. In the village they have a positions and support to manage in the village. The Mien families are increasing the member in the families. The head family is the oldest might be grandfather or father and the firstborn will be descended from.               A man will give bride-price to the woman. The Mien women who have to married must use the husband’s family name and take respect the ancestor spirit of the husband and live in the husband’s family. If the groom does not have the bride-price must go to stay with the bride around 15-20 years, then the wife can go to stay at the husband house. Other reason if the women would like to take care her parents must pay the money to the groom and the groom can come to stay at the bride house because a man is a good worker and use the women family’s name. When they have a sun, a sun use the mother family’s name and after that other child can use the father family’s name.

A 360° panorama of the inside of a Mien house. This house is located in Muang Sing, Laos, very near the border with China.

Click and drag mouse to move picture.
http://mien.hilltribe.org/english/

Tradition : New year

New Year (Jiex Siang-Hnyangx or Jiex Hnyangx)

Like other cultures, the Miens celebrate their new year once a year. Mien observe New Year’s Day to wish for peace, good health, prosperity, and happiness. Miens use a lunar calendar derived from that of the Chinese. and one can find a Chinese calendar hanging on the walls of almost every Mien home. New Year's Day for Mien people falls on the same day as that of the Chinese.

Miens prepare for their New Year celebration at least a month ahead of time. To prepare for the celebration, Mien families busy themselves gathering firewood for cooking foods, roasting meats, and for keeping the house warm. They store away foods for animals, and they bring home rice, fruits, and vegetables from their farms; they fatten their animals (cows, pigs, chickens) for the New Year feast. Parents usually buy or sew new outfits for their children to wear on the New Year’s Day.

Things to be prepared for prior to the New Year’s Days:

1. Foods for Animals ~ Corn, banana stalks, hay/grass, seeds, etc. are collected and stored in a safe place for animals (cattle, horses, pigs, chickens).
2. Firewood or dried logs ~ No one is allowed to roam the forest looking for firewood during the New Year's celebration.
3. Sweet rice cakes (with meat in the middle), “njuov zong, njuov ziux” ~ Usually wrapped and steamed cooked, eat for snacks or desserts.
4. Meats ~ Animals that are killed for food must be done before the new year’s eve.
5. Eggs ~ Used as good luck charms for the kids or visiting guests, usually red and individually netted with long strings (loops).
6. Clothes or outfits ~ Spending money or buying clothes on the New Year’s Day is not allow. Mien believe that if one spends money on the New Year’s Day, he/she may not be able to control his/her spending habits, and cannot spend money wisely for the rest of the year. He/she may always be poor.
7. Fire Crackers ~ Used to celebrate and welcome the New Year, part of the entertainment items for both adults and kids.

On New Year’s Eve : New Year's Eve is a day for family unification, for the immediate families, relatives, and cousins to come home to visit their moms and dads. There is a ritual called “siangx mienv” – it is usually done on the New Year’s Eve. Its purpose is welcoming the New Year, and thanking the spirit ghosts for keeping everyone safe till this day.

New Year’s Day: “Saengh-Ietv Dorm” is the first morning of the New Year. On the New Year’s Day, every adult in the family gets up very early in the morning to walk outside the house to collect a few small rocks and bring them to the house. These stones represent wealth and prosperity for the family. The adults then boil the eggs and dye them red. When the children get out of bed, their New Year charms are waiting for them. To welcome the New Year, Mien kids light firecrackers; adults fire a gun in the air (not acceptable in the USA). Mien New Year proceeds with “baaix hnyangx” – A New Year bowing in front of the altar, in a selected residence, place, or temple (still practice in the USA). Mien bowing on the New Year’s Day for good blessing from gods - “welcoming the New Year and hoping for the better for all, in terms of health, prosperity, and happiness. May all the bad things be gone with the Old Year”. The Mien New Year runs three days.

Things to be forbidden during the Mien New Year: Do not spend money Do not kill animals Do not do farm work Do not get firewood from the forest or hunt wild animal On New Year’s Day, parents preach their children in traditional manners. They expect girls to be a little different than boys, for example, parents would preach their daughters to be more vigilant, to love and respect their family, practice home cooking skills, and be creative on the sewing, or embroidery. On the other hand, parents would preach their sons to be gentle and kind to others, study hard, be educated, and be knowledgeable when grow up.