The De'Ang People

The De'Ang are widely distributed throughout Yunnan Province. Most dwell in Santai Township in Luxi County of the Dehong Dai-Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and in Junnong Township in Zhenkang County of the Lincang Prefecture. Others live in Yingjiang, Ruili, Longchuan, Baoshan, Lianghe, and Gengma counties, and in mountainous areas with the Jingpo, Han, Lisu and Va nationalities. A small number live in Dai villages. The climate in the De'Ang area is subtropical with fertile soil, abundant rainfall, rich mineral resources and dense forests.

The De'Ang were first known by this name during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Before that, they were known as the "Pu" people. They settled on the banks of the Nujiang River in Yunnan Province.

The De'Ang farm and log. They grow tea and fruit, and many communities make money by growing opium in their villages. They also raise goats, cows and hogs. Men wear turbans, shirts slit at the sides and shorts. Boys have silver necklaces and long swords. Women wear black jackets with buttons down the front and skirts with red and black flower patterns. For charm, they add on rattan waistbands and silver earrings. A De'ang folk tale tells the significance of the rattan waistbands by explaining that all babies were born in gourds. Boys looked exactly alike; girls flew about the moment they left the gourd. A fairy goddess cast a spell to make the boys look different. The boys then trapped the girls by casting rattan hoops around them.

Children attend primary schools. Large numbers of illiterate adults have learned to read and write, and now many De'Ang attend college, teach or practice medicine.

Young men and women share their love for one another through song. A moonlit night may find a young man under a woman's window singing a song of love. She invites him in by tossing a blanket down to him and opening her door to let him in. They chat until dawn. A few dates later, the man presents her with a waistband as a token of his love. The more he gives to her, the more he honors her. For her part, she gives him earrings, the number of which highlight her devotion. When marriage is decided upon, the young man will send the family cigarettes and tea. Following this, he sends along some chosen people to propose marriage.

Tea serves an important function in De'ang society. Elderly women, called Mie Ning, meaning "tea mothers," sell tea on the market. A visit from friends or relatives, or entertaining guests, requires tea. A matchmaker "go-between" brings tea as a gift to the family of a potential bride. One who has injured another and wishes to apologize brings tea to the injured person as a gift. Before resolving arguments before the headman, both parties must give him a small paper tube of tea and a small roll of tobacco placed crosswise. Invitations to weddings and funerals are accompanied by tea. The people drink both strong and sour tea; most adults are addicted to it.

The De'Ang practice Hinayana Buddhism having converted to this a long time ago. Their beliefs are animistic. Most villages have a temple whose monks depend upon offerings for their daily bread. Shamans, powerful figures in De'Ang society, link the community with the spirit world and are consulted for every event. Fate becomes the determining factor in the events of the lives of the De'Ang people. According to government sources, life is better for the De'Ang now under Chinese communist rule than it was before.