Lao Sung

ethnic group
group=Lao Sung


poptime=200,000 (est.)
popplace=Laos
rels=animism, Theravada Buddhism, Chinese folk religions
langs=Lao, Hmong
related=

Lao Sung or more commonly Lao Soung are an ethnic group in East and Southeast Asia. Most Lao Soung live in China, Laos, and Vietnam. Small minorities live in Thailand and Burma. The ones in Laos, the actual Lao Soung, make up 9% of the Laotian population. The true Lao Soung aren't actually one single ethnic group but are made up of Hmong (the main group), Yao, Akha, Phu Noi and other people who live in the Laotian mountaintops. [cite book | last = Baumann | first = Gerd | authorlink = | coauthors = Andre Gingrich | title = Grammars of Identity/Alterity: A Structural Approach | publisher = Berghahn Books | date = 2004 | pages = 104-105 | url = http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DqEGulGWVdgC&pg=PA104&dq=Lao+Soung&client=firefox-a&sig=wzfhrH8QsBiUPGt9TPVCd3mF7kE | isbn = 1845451082] All these groups are related. Their main religions are animism, Buddhism, and Chinese folk religions. Some Lao Soung fought against the communist Pathet Lao government in 1975 to keep the Laotian monarchy in power. Many were moved from southern China and Laos to the U.S. and Australia in the 1960's, 70's, and 80's to escape the communist governments there.

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