Sizang

The Sizang people are mainly the descendants of Pu Suantak and related clans, and their adopted sons and daughters. The Sizang valley is situated in the present day Chin State, Burma, founded by the descendants of the Pu Suantak, when they moved away from their original home of Ciimnuai with other Zo (Chin) people such as the Sukte, Thado, Zou, and other related clans.

Zomi lived collectively in the place known as Ciimnuai, for a long period of time until they experienced population explosion. Thus, finding new settlements were essential for their continued survival in terms of cultivation, in the hope of getting sufficient foods from fertile soils for each community. Consequently they scattered throughout the mountains, dales and valleys within and surrounding the present Chin State. Due to communication difficulties and their isolations, each departed group from Ciimnuai developed a unique dialect at the later periods. Sizang dialect also emerged the same way as Vaiphei, Teizang, Saizang, Val, Zou, Dim, Khuangsai etc., although they are closely related to one another.

Meaning and definition

Si means salt water; Zang means the northern side, which indicates People, who live at the northern part of the spring of salt water. Surprisingly, Sizang was the name of a place in the beginning, where a certain group of people decided to relocate their society after their emigration from Ciimnuai. The later generations and offspring who continued to live on, in the same location, spontaneously adopted “Sizang” as their ethnic identity

Culture and Tradition

Their culture and tradition are much alike with other sub-ethnic groups of Zo People only with a slight variation.

Religion

Before their conversion to Christianity, the Sizang were animists, worshipping nature, Doai (Devil/spirit), and Pathian (God). They worshiped the unknown spirits, in order to avoid from getting harm. Pleasing the Devil was an essential part in their ritual performance and worship.

Important places

*British Fort White: General White built a fort at Thangmual mountain, called Fort White, during the Second World War, for defending the Japanese invasion in Burma. The nearest places from Fort white are Khuasak and Taingen. Fort White was later moved to Thuklai. [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BM/2/Fort_White.html Fort White on map] .

* Sial Lum Forth: The native Sizang fought the British viciously, at Sial Lum Fort, near Voklak. Many British soldiers lost their lives. The state government continues to preserve Sial Lum Forth today for commemoration of the heroic acts of the Sizang, in their rebellion against imperialism.

*Mount Kennedy: Locally known as Thuammual was one of the British' army headquarters during the second world war. Many battles were fought on the mount of Kennedy between the Japanese army and the British army.

Occupation

The main occupation is shifting (slash and burn) cultivation, with the exceptional keeping of livestock such as rearing cows, gayals, goats, chickens and pigs in the countryside. There are a number of people who also work in the public sector, as civil servants, for example.

Language and Dialect

The Sizang have a unique dialect but it is very close to the present Tedim dialect.

* A few examples of Sizang dialect, compared to Tedim dialect

;Indication:Sizang 1.:Tedim 2.

* [How are you?]
** Na dam le? / Dam maw?
** Nang dam maw?

* [Where are you going?]
**Kawng pai tu ni?
**Kaw pai ding na?

* [What are you making?]
** Bang vawt ni?
** Bang bawl na?

* [Have you eaten?]
** An ne zo ni?
** An ne khin maw?

The root of the people called Sizang and Vaiphei

The descendants of Pu Zahong are to be found almost every where in the northern Chin State in Burma and in Lamka District of Manipur State and Mizoram in India.

In Mizoram we find many of Pu Zahmuaka's descendants such as the Sailo, Zadeng, Palian, Thangluah, Thangur, Rivung, and Rokhum. Pu Zahmuaka is descended from Pu Boklua Suantak who is also known as Sisinga or Sizanga. Boklua's father, Ngengu (Nenu) was the founder of Lophei village in Sizang valley of Chin State. Ngengu is the eldest son of Pu Suantak, who himself is descended from Pu Vaiphei or Pu Zahong. The Sizang regarded Pu Suantak as the direct progenitor of the Sizang and Vaiphei.

The Sizang held that Pu Zahong had three sons viz. Sektak or Sehtha , Tohin and Suantak. Sektak and Tohin are the progenitor of the Thalun [Dongel, Guite ( Mangzo, Sianthuam, Vangteh, Phualzang, Hauzel, Dousel, Munsong, Kullai, Tonsing etc), Thomlhun, Lotzem etc] , Thado [ Sitlou, Singson , Kipgen & Haukip] , Hangsing, Tongluai(Chongloi), Touthang(Lamhau), Tohin etc. and from Pu Suantak, the Sizang and the Vaiphei are being descended.

According to Sizang elders, Pu Suantak have four sons viz. Ngengu, Neihlut , Daitawng and Vanglok from whom are descended the clans of the Sizang and Vaiphei.

(1) Ngengu -

(i)Lamhtam- Batkai(Kiimlel and Seam Muang), Neizalh (Thatmun & Thatlang), Liimtuang (Khansiing, Mangson & Tuangthang) etc.

(ii)Khuakuan - Baite [Paute, Meihlai, Thangthem, Phungkhol,Kholsong(Chongzang), Kholngul, Kholphut(Thangkon),Thenchuang, Thangsei, Singngul, Ngulmun, Senlhung ,Langtho etc] .

(iii)Boklua - Zadeng,Palian, Thangluah,Rivung,Rokhum,Sailo (Chengkual),

(iv)Phulum- Khaute [ Khuanghau (Tualtung, Tungnung etc),Vanglua etc. ] , Khauphaw and Khauza.

(v) Phucil-

(vi)Nantal-

(vii)Nge Ngawn- Ngawn, Zil om , Lenthuan etc.

(2) Neihlut -

(i)Hennek -

(ii)Genzo - Khupmu and Suante [ Suanman, Suanzong, Luahlang, Manghil, Doson etc.]

(iii)Muamul -

(3) Daitawng -

(i) Nunzong- Tuakon etc.

(ii)Hinnung- Hinzong, Haunam etc.

(iii)Namzo- Hinnam etc.

(iv)Sukzo ,

(vi)Zasuan etc.

(4)Vanglok -

(i)Hangsawk - Tonsung etc.

(ii)Thuklai - Lunmun, Suumniang, Tuanuam, Zangkaai etc.

(iii)Limkhai - Sitzom, Tunawi, Tunmang, Ngo Thua, TunSeal etc.

However, contrary to the Sizang sources, the Doungel, the Guites, the Thadous etc. didn't regard themselves as descended from Pu Zahong. Moreover, the Baites(Paute, Meihlai etc.), the Khautes(Tualtung, Tungnung, Neitham ,Neihsial etc.) etc. though they didn't deny their descend from Pu Vaiphei, regarded themselves as a senior or elder brother to Pu Suantak and not descended from him.

According to some of the Vaiphei elders , from Pu Zahong, Pu Vaiphei and Pu Thado are being descended. And Pu Vaiphei had one son Honglian, and from whom are descended the three brothers- Phullum, Lianlum and Lunglum.

1.Phulum Zahong or Vanglua Zahong family- Pu Phullum have three sons Khaute, Khauphaw and Khauza which are further subdivided:-

(I)KHAUTE -

(1)Vangsa -

i).Tinvuk - Khuanghau ( Tualtung,Tungnung,Tungdim& Tunglut), Khuangdal and Vukmang [ Mangvuk ( Ngulvung & Thavuk), Mangtong & Zaktong] .

ii).Sentong/Senchong - Chontung, Chonlut & Chonmang or Tonmang(Nakal & Keusel)] ,

iii).Tonlu or Chonlu(Phaltual) and

iv).Buanchil or Chilzang (Chulzang or Tulzang),

(2)Musia -

i).Chinmang or Ralte -

Colney or Kawlni(Talbok),

Siakeng-Kaizong & Tongtual,

Khelte-Hmaimawk, Lutmang, Singlu, Sierchuang, Thatsing, Vankeu, Vohang, Vohlu, Zahlei & Zaucha and

Lelhchhun.

ii).Paulut iii).Khala - Dulian or Duhlian , Nunga & Keivom

(3)Pael -

i).Ellu - Selut, Kemtong, Zamang & Pabawm and

ii).Elphuak - Hatlei, Khantun,

Hatlang - [ 1.Thimman and 2.Langel ( Hawsing & Lusing)] ,

Hatzaw(Lunmang) & Hatziam.

(4)Neitham -

i).Chonniang, ii).Khawthang, iii).Maubuk, iv).Nunngam or Singphun,v).Thangleh, vi).Thangnawk, vii).Vaithang, & viii).Hangmi - Luphaw,Lupheng, Ngoilu or Ngailut & Misau,

(5)Vangngem or Neihsial -

i)Haulai, ii)Lengen, iii)Thaning, iv)Thagen, v)Nunthuk or Nungthut, vi)Thutlai, vii)Thutnel, viii)Aikho, ix)Engthang, x)Tualkhen, xi)Singto, xii)Dawlbak, xiii)Banlawng, xiv)Tunling, xv)Thaling, xvi)Singlut or Singhil & xvii)Zawngbe,

(vi)Vanglok ( Thuklai, Hangsawk & Limkhai), Invang, Vangkal, Vangsak and Vanghoi family

(II)KHAUPHAW -

(i) Hoinge - Notlut, Chungsel, Lutthang & Songhil

(III)KHAUZA or BUITE or BERHVATE -

(i)Zomsing - ( Thuksuang etc.)

(ii)Khawlhring - Chunthang, Khintung, Leidir, Lozum, Lungen/Lunsen, Midang, Milai, Pialtel, Rawlsim,Suakling, Thlaute or Thaute,

(iii)Phairiam or Faihriem - Bapui, Khawkhiang, Khawlum, Khawral/Khawlal, Saihmar, Saivak or Saivate, Seiling, Seikong, Thangnung, ,Tualai/Tuolai,Tuadal, Tuimual & Tusing.

2.Lianlum Zahong family-

Pu Lianlum have two sons viz. Sattong and Thanglun from whom are descended the following clans.

(I)SATTONG -

(i) Baite-

(ii)Suantak - Sailo, Thangluah , Zadeng, Palian, Rivung, Ringur, Chengkual, Ngawn , Neilut (Suante, Suanzong, Suanman,Khupmu, Leisel, Hansing, Dopmul etc)},

(ii)Daitong - Hinnung, Nunzong etc.

(iii)Thangniang,

(iv)Phiamphu etc. and

(II) THANGLUN family.

3. Lunglum Zahong family-

The Vaipheis regarded that from Pu Lunglum are descended the Poi or Lai tribes and some of the old Kuki tribes.

However, there is no mentions of Lianlum or Lunglum in the Sizang and Poi sources.

Some of the sub-clans of the Vaiphei or descendants of Pu Zahong such as the Ngengu( Sailo, Thangluah, Baite/ Beite etc.), Khaute [Ralte, Duhlian, Nungate, Keivom, Tungnung, Tunglut, Tungdim/Lhungdim, Hangmi(Luphaw, Lupheng, Ngoilu or Ngailut and Misau), Hatzaw, Hatlang etc.] , Khauza ( Buite, Faihriam, Khawlhring, Thuksuang, Khiangte etc.) are found to be within the fold of other Zo tribes.

From their original homeland, Sizang valley, the Vaiphei wandered across the Tedim - Tonzang area and finally settled in Saikal area of present day Mizoram and Lamka district and other districts of Manipur. At present the Vaiphei are over thirty thousand in population, outnumbering their brothers who remained in Sizang Valley. The Vaiphei and the Sizang are actually one people separated by international boundaries. They are descended from Pu Zahong(NuaiMangpa), regarded by many historians as the Chief of the legendary Chiimnuai, the Garden of Eden of the Zomi people.

iyin

In literature one comes across the name Siyin because the British colonial officers employed Burmese people, who have social intercourse with the Sizang in the olden days, as interpreters and the word Sizang was corrupted by these interpreters into Siyin. Hence, the British adopted the name Siyin for the Sizang.

External links

* [http://www.zaangsiseino.org SIYIN YOUTH ASSOCIATION]
* [http://mysticalseven.info/files/AN-INTRODUCTION-TO-THE-ZO-PEOPLE-OF-BANGLADESH,BURMA-AND-INDIA.pdf An Introduction to the ZO People of Bangladesh, Burma and India.]