The History of Descent via the Pui Mountain Range

The Letu (Chin) tribes reside in the mountainous regions of Sjm Stream (Than chaung), Kya Stream, Vap Stream, Phunlong (Lemyo Stream), Panmyaunggyi Stream region, Zing Stream, and Telong (and Phuntha) Stream regions (Sjmlongko, Kyalongko, Vaplongko, Phunglungko, Pongleko, Cxngko & Telongko).

About 900 years ago, all the Letu (Chin) tribes migrated from the Mong Stream region (Mong Stream)—located between the upper reaches of Sjm Stream, Kyindwe town, and Sidoktaya town. They crossed over the Puirei Mountain located at the upper reaches of Saimi Stream (Sjmlong) and descended into the upper Saimi Stream area.

This historical journey is known as "The History of Descent via the Pui Mountain Range."

"Pam" refers to a beautiful, flat mountain ridge with freshwater springs located on the Puirei Mountain range. Because of this, there is a traditional proverb in the songs of the Letu (Chin) ancestors:

“pui yjng han kom, pam mjng han kraw”

Which means: "Descending from Puirei and Pam."

Clan Structures and Local Settlements

These Chin tribes searched for and settled in new territories alongside their respective clan-designated mountaintops, streams, orchards (gardens), hunting dogs, and prophets & priests (Prophets & Priests). They descended in organized groups of six clans each. Among them, strict customary lineages designated which maternal uncle’s clan one should (or must) take a wife from, and which clan one should (or must) give a daughter to in marriage.

In the Sjm Stream region, six original clans recognize Senu Mountain peak as their ancestral or owned mountaintop. However, many different clans now reside in the Saimi Stream region today. Additionally, in the Kya Stream region (Kyalongko), there are the Buzo clan and other tribal clans who claim Pjknu Cung as their own territory. Among them are clans such as Lyäcaw, Heu, Kuli, and Poklhinlheq.

• The "Samya" (Sjmya): Those who live on the side of Senu Mountain (Senu cung).

• The "Tuiya" (Tuiya): Those who live in and around the Kya Stream region.

• There are dialectal differences between these two groups.

Regional Subgroups and Livelihoods

The group residing in the Sjm Stream region (Sjmlong) is also called "Doitu." This name is given because they live in areas where "Karin" bamboo(Bambusoideae) trees grow abundantly.

Livelihood

• Main Occupation: Their primary livelihood is shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn rice farming), locally referred to as "hillside farming work."

• Traditional Role: In ancient times, the men practiced hunting as hunters (hunting), which was referred to as "forest-work."

Migration to Telong, Phunlaung, and Panmyaunggyi

1. The Telong and Vap Stream Groups

The tribes currently living in the Telong (and Phuntha Stream) region and the Wat Stream region (Vaplong) originally migrated from the upper Sjm Stream and Kya Stream. They crossed the upper water streams (Yesxp) and the Naiye Mountain range to settle in Mangtun (Mangtun), the Pa Stream region (Pacum), and the upper Wat Stream region. After living there for a considerable period, they relocated and permanently settled in the Telong and Phuntha regions (Telong & Phungtha). The Letu (Chin) tribes living in the Telong region are called "Daitu." This is simply a different dialectal pronunciation; it has the exact same meaning as "Doitu."

2. The Phunlong (Lemyo Stream) Group

The Letu (Chin) tribes who settled in the Phunlong (Lemyo Stream) region traveled out along the Muaw Stream near present-day Buddhakamaq. From there, they used bamboo rafts to float down from Saimi Stream all the way to the Phunlung region. Their group further split into two main sub-clans: the Mangun and the Lai. It is believed that there were six clans of Mangun and six clans of Lai. The majority of the Mangun tribe now resides in Paletwa Township (Chin State), while the Lai clan groups reside in Mrauk-U Township (Rakhine State).

3. The Panmyaunggyi Stream Group (Ponleko)

The Letu (Chin) tribes living in the Panmyaunggyi Stream region migrated from the Wat Stream side, crossing the mountain range at the head of the stream that flows past Zing Stream-Pauktaw village. Their designated mountaintop is Piknu Cung and their stream is Khalong. During the era when the Rakhine Kings ruled from the palace in Mrauk-U, they settled as far as Panmyaung and Sin Oh—which are now large Rakhine villages beside the Phunlong (Lemyo Stream) River. It is said that Nga/Ta village (Lainam) was the earliest village established in the Panmyaunggyi Stream region.

This concludes this brief summary of the history of descent via the Pui Mountain range. May all Letu (Chin) people know and cherish the history of their own origins.