Lisu Tribe Of Thailand

Lisu are one of the tribal groups living in Thailandshrines. Despite the modern appearance of some
and there are approximately 27,900 Lisu living invillages with their electricity, televisions and
135 villages of North Thailand. The Lisu tribeconcrete slab houses, the Lisu lead a very
originated in China and moved to Thailandtraditional live.
sometime in the 20th century. They grow riceTheir traditional dress is the most colorful when
and vegetables.compared to other tribes. The Lisu women make
Earlier they used to grow opium poppy but afterclothes for their family. Clothes are mostly
a government initiative, the Lisu have startedhandmade and hand woven. Not only the life they
selling handcrafted items to the villages in thelead is traditional, they also wear traditional
vicinity. The villages they live in are located closecostumes. The women wear brightly colored
the village market and so they always makecostumes, consisting of blue or green parti-colored
money by selling their wares.knee length tunics with a wide black belt and blue
Lisu live in bamboo houses. Each house has anor green pants. Sleeves, shoulders and cuffs are
ancestral altar. They are animists and stronglyheavily embroidered with narrow, horizontal bands
believe in spirits. They perform rituals andof blue, red and yellow. They wear large amounts
ceremonies to their ancestors, spirits of theof hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive
forest, trees, sun, moon and everyday objects.occasions. The Lisu men produce crossbows,
They also believe in the village guardian spirits.musical instruments, bird and animal traps to
Women are not allowed into the guardian spiritsupplement their income.