Deang Ethnic Minority

Deang, also known as the “Benglong nationality”, is a mountain minority in the border area between China and Myanmar. Although this minority has a small population, it is widely distributed in Yunnan province. Deang people do not have their own wrirtten language, but because getting along with Dai, Han, Jingpo and other ethnic groups for a long time, some Deang people know Dai, Chinese and Jingpo language well. After the middle of the 20th century, more and more Han people began to learn Chinese. Deang is a minority believing in Buddhism.

History of Deang Ethnic Minority

Deang originated from the ancient Pu people and had a close relationship with Ailao. Before the Qing dynasty, according to the related records, Deang, Bulang, Wa and other ethnic groups in Yunnan were collectively called “Pu People”, “Pu” and “Puman”. As early as the 2nd century BC, Pu people lived on both sides of the Nujiang river and entered this area before Achang, Jingpo and other ethnic groups. 

Distribution of Deang Ethnic Minority

Deang ethnic minority mainly lives in the border area between the People’s Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Myanmar, which is a typical ethnic group with small population and a wide distribution area. Most of them live in Mangshi city of Dehong and Zhenkang county of Lincang city. The rest are scattered in Yingjiang, Ruili, Longchuan, Baoshan, Lianghe, Gengma and other counties.

Deang Ethnic Towns

Climatic Environment and Crops of Deang Areas

In the Gaoligong mountain and Nushan mountain of western Yunnan province, the Deangs have been living there for generations. This area enjoys a subtropical climate with fertile soil, abundant rainfall, rich mineral resources and dense forests. The dragon bamboo here grows very long, the stem is 10 cm to 13 cm in diameter. The Zhenkang area has been famous for this kind of bamboo for the past 2000 years. It was used to build houses, make household utensils and farm tools. Bamboo shoots are a famous delicacy. The Deangs have been farming since ancient times. They grow both rice and upland rice, corn, buckwheat and tubers, as well as walnuts and jute. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, they learned to grow tea, cotton, coffee and rubber. Since very early times, the Deang people have been very fond of drinking tea. Now every family has tea trees. In the garden around the house, tea trees grow among vegetables, banana, mango, jacket friut, papaya, pear and pomegranate trees.

Cultural Heritages of Deang Ethnic Minority

Inheritors

Festivals of Deang Ethnic Minority