Mishmi people: Difference between revisions

What links here Related changes Page information Get shortened URL
Created by Homogenie
Last edited March 3, 2026
Newer edit →
VisualWikitext
imported>Homogenie
No edit summary
 
UpdateBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
22,126 edits
robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Ethnic group}}
{{short description|Ethnic group living in Tibet and Northeast India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
Line 16: Line 16:


The '''Idu-Mishmi''' believes that Rukmini-Chief Consort of [[Lord Krishna]] belonged to their tribe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2018/03/28/a-twist-in-the-myth-rukminis-vague-arunachal-connection/|title = A twist in the myth: Rukmini's vague Arunachal connection &#124; the Arunachal Times}}</ref> The plays and dances on ‘Rukmini haran’ are  common.There is a legend that  
The '''Idu-Mishmi''' believes that Rukmini-Chief Consort of [[Lord Krishna]] belonged to their tribe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arunachaltimes.in/index.php/2018/03/28/a-twist-in-the-myth-rukminis-vague-arunachal-connection/|title = A twist in the myth: Rukmini's vague Arunachal connection &#124; the Arunachal Times}}</ref> The plays and dances on ‘Rukmini haran’ are  common.There is a legend that  
[[Lord Krishna]] asked the Mishmi people to cut their hair as a form of punishment for not allowing him to marry [[Rukmini]]. Due to this Idu-Mishmi people are also called "chulikata" (chuli-hair, kata- cut).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/fact-check-did-rukmini-come-from-arunachal-pradesh-madhavpur-mela-guajat-vijay-rupani-mahesh-sharma-5116300/ | title=Fact Check: Did Rukmini come from Arunachal Pradesh? Here is what we know | date=29 March 2018 | newspaper=The Indian Express | first=Adrija | last=Roychowdhury | access-date=26 November 2020 }}</ref> Most of these are  considered to be a fabrication. Historians point to the creation of these legends to the Neo-Vaishnava movement of the 15th and 16th centuries around [[Sadiya]] which influenced the regional identity of the place.<ref> "Among many works of Śaṅkaradeva, the Rukmiṇīharaṇa, the poem of Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa, gained considerable popularity in the Sadiya area and influenced its regional identity connstruction. Rukmiṇī, in this poem, was a daughter of king Bhīṣmaka"{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=55}}</ref> The Mishmis began to identity with the legendary Vaishnava characters created during this period which led to the formation of a alternate identity .<ref>"Considering the wide popularity of the Rukmiṇīharaṇa among the people, especially as the staged performance, it is not surprising that many toponyms of the area were derived from this Vaiṣṇava legend and the legendary places associated with
[[Lord Krishna]] asked the Mishmi people to cut their hair as a form of punishment for not allowing him to marry [[Rukmini]]. Due to this Idu-Mishmi people are also called "chulikata" (chuli-hair, kata- cut).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/research/fact-check-did-rukmini-come-from-arunachal-pradesh-madhavpur-mela-guajat-vijay-rupani-mahesh-sharma-5116300/ | title=Fact Check: Did Rukmini come from Arunachal Pradesh? Here is what we know | date=29 March 2018 | newspaper=The Indian Express | first=Adrija | last=Roychowdhury | access-date=26 November 2020 }}</ref> Most of these are  considered to be a fabrication. Historians point to the creation of these myths during the propagation of the 16th century [[Ekasarana Dharma|eksarana-namadharma]] around [[Sadiya]], which influenced the regional identity of the place.<ref> "Among many works of Śankaradeva, the Rukmiṇīharaṇa, the poem of Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa, gained considerable popularity in the Sadiya area and influenced its regional identity connstruction. Rukmiṇī, in this poem, was a daughter of king Bhīṣmaka"{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=55}}</ref>The Mishmis began to identity with the legendary [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] characters created during this period which led to the formation of a alternate identity.<ref>"Considering the wide popularity of the Rukmiṇīharaṇa among the people, especially as the staged performance, it is not surprising that many toponyms of the area were derived from this Vaiṣṇava legend and the legendary places associated with
Bhīṣmaka were reproduced in the local landscape.....Some tribal groups like the Idu Mishmis of the Dibang valley began to link themselves more explicitly with the legendary Vaiṣṇava figure, and this practice led to conscious identity construction."{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=57}}</ref>
Bhīṣmaka were reproduced in the local landscape.....Some tribal groups like the Idu Mishmis of the Dibang valley began to link themselves more explicitly with the legendary Vaiṣṇava figure, and this practice led to conscious identity construction."{{harvcol|Shin|2020|p=57}}</ref>


Line 25: Line 25:
The '''Deng people''' (or ''Dengba'', [[Chinese script|Chinese]] transcription of Taraon-Kaman languages: 代巴玫; [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 僜人; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Dèng Rén) are not officially recognised by the government of [[People's Republic of China]]. They live in nine villages in [[Tibet]]'s [[Zayu County]] and virgin forest areas between the [[Himalaya]]s and the Hengduan Mountains at an elevation of 1000 meters. Bradley (2007) reports 800 ''{{IPA|ta˧˩ ʒuaŋ˥}}'' (Chinese: Darang Deng) and 200 ''{{IPA|kɯ˧˩ mɑn˧˥}}'' (Chinese: Geman Deng; known as the Kaman or Miju Mishmi in India) in China, one village in Burma where they are known as ''Taraung'', and the Taraon, Tayin, or Tain (formerly Digaru Mishmi) in northeastern India.<ref>Bradley, David (2007). "Language Endangerment in China and Mainland Southeast Asia". In Matthias Brenzinger, ed. ''Language diversity endangered''. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.</ref> Many of them have migrated from China to India.
The '''Deng people''' (or ''Dengba'', [[Chinese script|Chinese]] transcription of Taraon-Kaman languages: 代巴玫; [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 僜人; [[Hanyu pinyin]]: Dèng Rén) are not officially recognised by the government of [[People's Republic of China]]. They live in nine villages in [[Tibet]]'s [[Zayu County]] and virgin forest areas between the [[Himalaya]]s and the Hengduan Mountains at an elevation of 1000 meters. Bradley (2007) reports 800 ''{{IPA|ta˧˩ ʒuaŋ˥}}'' (Chinese: Darang Deng) and 200 ''{{IPA|kɯ˧˩ mɑn˧˥}}'' (Chinese: Geman Deng; known as the Kaman or Miju Mishmi in India) in China, one village in Burma where they are known as ''Taraung'', and the Taraon, Tayin, or Tain (formerly Digaru Mishmi) in northeastern India.<ref>Bradley, David (2007). "Language Endangerment in China and Mainland Southeast Asia". In Matthias Brenzinger, ed. ''Language diversity endangered''. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.</ref> Many of them have migrated from China to India.


In 1985, the Chinese government tried to have an expert study the Deng, but the [[10th Panchen Lama]] said "All the people in Tibet should be Tibetans" and "To recognize any new ethnic groups is to split our Tibetans." As a result, the project has been abolished.<ref>[http://ngmchina.com.cn/web/?action-viewnews-itemid-36257 "Deng people about to disappear,"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.is/20120712232535/http://ngmchina.com.cn/web/?action-viewnews-itemid-36257 |date=2012-07-12 }} ''National Geographic China'' magazine.</ref>{{Clarify|reason=however, that the Chinese government would act based solely on the wishes of the [[10th Panchen Lama]], who is a political rival of the Chinese government and has various times been denounced as subversive and separatist, is highly doubtful|time=20100810|date=August 2010}}
In 1985, the Chinese government tried to have an expert study the Deng, but the [[10th Panchen Lama]] said "All the people in Tibet should be Tibetans" and "To recognize any new ethnic groups is to split our Tibetans." As a result, the project has been abolished.<ref>[http://ngmchina.com.cn/web/?action-viewnews-itemid-36257 "Deng people about to disappear,"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120712232535/http://ngmchina.com.cn/web/?action-viewnews-itemid-36257 |date=2012-07-12 }} ''National Geographic China'' magazine.</ref>{{Clarify|reason=however, that the Chinese government would act based solely on the wishes of the [[10th Panchen Lama]], who is a political rival of the Chinese government and has various times been denounced as subversive and separatist, is highly doubtful|time=20100810|date=August 2010}}


==Creation myth==
==Creation myth==
Line 39: Line 39:
* {{cite journal|last1=Shin|first1=Jae-Eun|year=2020|title=Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas|journal=The Indian Economic and Social History Review|volume=57|issue=1|pages=49–75|doi=10.1177/0019464619894134|s2cid=213213265}}
* {{cite journal|last1=Shin|first1=Jae-Eun|year=2020|title=Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas|journal=The Indian Economic and Social History Review|volume=57|issue=1|pages=49–75|doi=10.1177/0019464619894134|s2cid=213213265}}
* {{cite book|last1=Mayilvaganan|first1=M.|last2=Bej|first2=Sourina |last3=Khatoon|first3=Nasima|title=Tawang, Monpas and Tibetan Buddhism in Transition-Life and Society Along the India-China Borderland|year=2020|publisher=Springer Singapore}}
* {{cite book|last1=Mayilvaganan|first1=M.|last2=Bej|first2=Sourina |last3=Khatoon|first3=Nasima|title=Tawang, Monpas and Tibetan Buddhism in Transition-Life and Society Along the India-China Borderland|year=2020|publisher=Springer Singapore}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 53: Line 52:
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070518105343/http://zt.tibet.cn/tibetzt/ssmz_en/deng/001.htm zt.tibet.cn]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070518105343/http://zt.tibet.cn/tibetzt/ssmz_en/deng/001.htm zt.tibet.cn]


{{Ethnic groups in China}}
{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}
{{Hill tribes of Northeast India}}

Revision as of 14:40, 20 May 2022


Mishmi
Mishmi celebrating a festival
Total population
35,000 approx[1]
Regions with significant populations
Arunachal Pradesh, Tibet
Languages
Northern Mishmi languages, Southern Mishmi languages
Religion
Animism[2]
Related ethnic groups
Tibetans, Other Sino-Tibetan people

The Mishmi or Deng people of Tibet and Arunachal Pradesh are an ethnic group comprising mainly three tribes: Idu Mishmi (Idu Lhoba); Digaro tribe (Taraon, Darang Deng), and Miju Mishmi (Kaman Deng). The Mishmis occupy the northeastern tip of the central Arunachal Pradesh in Upper and Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit and Anjaw Districts. The three sub-divisions of the tribe emerged due to the geographical distribution, but racially all the three groups are of the same stock. The Idu are also known as Yidu Lhoba in Tibet and often referred as Chulikatas in Assam. The Idus are primarily concentrated in the Upper Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley district and parts of the northern part of Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. Taraon, also called Digaru Mishmis, are distributed in the hill and the foothills between the Dibang, Digaru and the Lohit rivers. Kamans are also known as the Miju Mishmis; they live between the Lohit and the Kambang rivers in the foothills and in the Mishmi Hills on both sides of the Lohit river right up to the frontiers to Rima. There are around 30,000 of them in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Idu-Mishmi believes that Rukmini-Chief Consort of Lord Krishna belonged to their tribe.[3] The plays and dances on ‘Rukmini haran’ are common.There is a legend that Lord Krishna asked the Mishmi people to cut their hair as a form of punishment for not allowing him to marry Rukmini. Due to this Idu-Mishmi people are also called "chulikata" (chuli-hair, kata- cut).[4] Most of these are considered to be a fabrication. Historians point to the creation of these myths during the propagation of the 16th century eksarana-namadharma around Sadiya, which influenced the regional identity of the place.[5]The Mishmis began to identity with the legendary Vaishnava characters created during this period which led to the formation of a alternate identity.[6]

In China

Main articles: Lhoba people and Derung people

In China, the Mishmi-Idu are classified as Lhoba people.

The Deng people (or Dengba, Chinese transcription of Taraon-Kaman languages: 代巴玫; Chinese: 僜人; Hanyu pinyin: Dèng Rén) are not officially recognised by the government of People's Republic of China. They live in nine villages in Tibet's Zayu County and virgin forest areas between the Himalayas and the Hengduan Mountains at an elevation of 1000 meters. Bradley (2007) reports 800 ta˧˩ ʒuaŋ˥ (Chinese: Darang Deng) and 200 kɯ˧˩ mɑn˧˥ (Chinese: Geman Deng; known as the Kaman or Miju Mishmi in India) in China, one village in Burma where they are known as Taraung, and the Taraon, Tayin, or Tain (formerly Digaru Mishmi) in northeastern India.[7] Many of them have migrated from China to India.

In 1985, the Chinese government tried to have an expert study the Deng, but the 10th Panchen Lama said "All the people in Tibet should be Tibetans" and "To recognize any new ethnic groups is to split our Tibetans." As a result, the project has been abolished.[8][clarification needed]

Creation myth

Members of the Mishmi ethnic group in northern Assam (1922)

很久以前，世界上一片茫茫大水，德饶高创造了大地，金人阿加尼与老鹰通婚，繁衍成了僜人。

Long ago, the world is a vast-flood. Deraogao created the earth, and the gold-people Ajiani married the eagle. Deng people are their offspring.

It is part of the folklore of the Deng people that their ancestor is Ajiani. [citation needed]

Notes

  1. ↑ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Mishmi". Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Aug. 2015, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mishmi. Accessed 4 April 2021.
  2. ↑ "the Mishmi as it is connected to their animist religion and tradition"(Mayilvaganan, Bej & Khatoon 2020:108)
  3. ↑ "A twist in the myth: Rukmini's vague Arunachal connection | the Arunachal Times".
  4. ↑ Roychowdhury, Adrija (29 March 2018). "Fact Check: Did Rukmini come from Arunachal Pradesh? Here is what we know". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Among many works of Śankaradeva, the Rukmiṇīharaṇa, the poem of Rukmiṇī and Kṛṣṇa, gained considerable popularity in the Sadiya area and influenced its regional identity connstruction. Rukmiṇī, in this poem, was a daughter of king Bhīṣmaka"(Shin 2020:55)
  6. ↑ "Considering the wide popularity of the Rukmiṇīharaṇa among the people, especially as the staged performance, it is not surprising that many toponyms of the area were derived from this Vaiṣṇava legend and the legendary places associated with Bhīṣmaka were reproduced in the local landscape.....Some tribal groups like the Idu Mishmis of the Dibang valley began to link themselves more explicitly with the legendary Vaiṣṇava figure, and this practice led to conscious identity construction."(Shin 2020:57)
  7. ↑ Bradley, David (2007). "Language Endangerment in China and Mainland Southeast Asia". In Matthias Brenzinger, ed. Language diversity endangered. New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
  8. ↑ "Deng people about to disappear," Archived 2012-07-12 at Archive.today National Geographic China magazine.

References

  • Shin, Jae-Eun (2020). "Descending from demons, ascending to kshatriyas: Genealogical claims and political process in pre-modern Northeast India, The Chutiyas and the Dimasas". The Indian Economic and Social History Review. 57 (1): 49–75. doi:10.1177/0019464619894134. S2CID 213213265.
  • Mayilvaganan, M.; Bej, Sourina; Khatoon, Nasima (2020). Tawang, Monpas and Tibetan Buddhism in Transition-Life and Society Along the India-China Borderland. Springer Singapore.

External links

Template:Ethnic groups in China

Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mishmi_people&oldid=330123"
Discover more