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 Home●Montagnard
or minority groups●San
Chay |
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Montagnard or minority groups - San Chay |
Derivative:
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Cao Lan, San Chi, Man Cao Lan,
and Hon Ban |
Population:
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More than 114,000 people. |
Locality:
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Concentrated in Tuyen Quang, Bac Thai, and Ha Bac Provinces.
Communities of San Chay are also found scattered in Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lang
Son, and Vinh Phuc Provinces. |
Customs:
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Ancestral worship is widely practiced but is influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and
Confucianism. Houses are usually built level to the ground. The San Chay house is said to resemble the "Buffalo Genie", the four
pillars of the house symbolize the four legs of the buffalo, the paths around
the house represent the ribs, and the roof represents the backbone. One of the
two corners of the penthouse is usually used as the altar for the ancestors and
is regarded as the holiest section of the house.
The San Chay inhabitants belong to various family lineages, each lineage having
several branches. The father is the head of the family. After a wedding, the
wife lives with her parents and she settles permanently at the husband's house
only after her first childbirth. |
Culture:
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The
language of the San Chay is classified with the Tay-Thai Group. The
San Chay have many old tales, folksongs, proverbs, and sayings. A particularly
popular cultural activity is the "sinh ca", an alternating love song chant.
Their musical instruments include castanets, small copper bells, cymbals, wind
instruments, and drums. |
Dress:
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The
modern attire of the San Chay tends to resemble the Kinh or Tay. |
Economy:
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The
San Chay cultivate wet rice and agriculture, which plays an
important role in their livelihood. |
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