Clan Based Organizational and Institutional Functioning in Hmong Society in Indochina
Clan Based Organizational &
Institutional Functioning of Hmong Tribe
Indochina 1854-1954
(Tran thi Lanh – Research Associate
– Anthropology Department July 2012 – December 2013)
Clan Based Organizational & Institutional Functioning in
preserving the ethnic identity and the territorial sovereignty of Hmong Tribe
in relation with the Nguyen[1]
Dynasty, the French[2]
Colonial Imperialist, the Nationalist[3]
Party and the Communist[4]
Leaders in Indochina region during 1854-1954 has shown as a very unique political
complexity. This paper will describe briefly the autonomous political
characteristic of Hmong tribe in Dong van[5]
territory over the period of 1854 to 1954 in order to re-conceptualize the
statement “that although nation-states today are universally recognized as the ‘highest’
form of government and sovereignty, in practice many nation-state system
co-exist with elements of earlier tribal and imperial polities” (Ryan, 2013), to
show that, elements of state can also be found within the tribe!
Indochina 1854-1954 overviews generally (see map in annex 1)
Indochina stands for Southwest China and East India, a
bio-geographical region within the Indomalaya ecozone which today is named Southeast Asia. That area was a homeland of
approximately 22 million people (1935) with about 200 different ethnic
identities who located in with diverse religion. Animism religion such as
H’mongz, Khomu, Tay, Nung, Karen. Buddhism which influenced by Indian and
Tibetan to Han (Chinese), Kinh (Vietnamese), Tai (Lao lum). Ancient Dynasties[6]
were Thanh (China side); Nguyen (Vietnam side); (King? Laos side) who ruled for over
400 years since 16th century in parallel with British, Dutch,
German, Japanese, Russian and French Colonial Imperialists competing between
1854 and1954. Beside, there also
appeared nationalist leaders who were 1) Ton Trung Son (Quang Dong – in China
between 1866 and 1925); 2) Chiang Kai Shek, after 1887; and 3) Nguyen Thai Hoc,
between 1902 and 1930. These three nationalist leaders wanted to liberate
Indochina from both monarchy and colonial system to become a social democratic
republic under the ideology of “independent – freedom – happiness”. This
philosophy was inspired by and strongly attracted many intellectuals,
musicians, poets and highly educated people in the Indochina region in late
1800s and earlier 1900s. Meanwhile, there were other political leaders 1) Tran
Phu, 2) Ho Chi Minh, Mao Trach Dong, and Sophanovong who followed the Marxist-Leninist
under Communist Party which allied with rural farmers and workers to fight
against the Nationalist and took over Vietnam in 1930, China in 1949 and Lao in
1950 and have ruled over Vietnam, China and Lao up to today.
About Hmong tribes in Tonkin region
Hmong tribe arrived[7] Indochina
region in earlier 1700s from Mongolia (struggled with Mongolian) to Yellow River in short time, then to Yang River
of China (struggled with Han people), then to Mekong river (Indochina) and then settled down at Dong van territory (Tonkin
region, Northern Vietnam) up to today. The
population (French Emperor, 1935) approximately 70.000 Hmong people of four
clans: Vang, Yzang, Vu and Ly located in
Ha giang (Vietnam side); 50.000 Hmong people of three clans: Vang, Ly and Thao
in (Yunnan China side); and 40.000 Hmong people of two clans: Vang and
Lobliazao in Xieng Khoang (Lao side).
A unique cross cutting cultural characteristic of all Hmong is the
‘Clan based organizational and institutional functioning’ of their
political-economic and social-cultural system. A clan of Hmong society has two
leaders: one leader who is on behalf of
Hmong Spiritual beliefs is a knowledgeable person in understanding the three
Hmong spirits: 1) Thu ti (universal); 2) Tong Xenh (Geographical region where
Hmong located); and 3) Suka (Ancestral
in Mongolia). The other leader is responsible for the Hmong political system.
These two different leaders are selected from inside the clan to help the clan
maintain their dignity and identity, independence and confidence. Hmong clan
are patrilineal and are strictly exogamous. A girl and boy having common
ancestry dating back a hundred generations ago cannot marry and must treat each
other as brother and sister.
About Hmong tribe in Ha giang landscape
There are about 70,000 Hmong (1935) in Ha giang province. They are organized
into many patrilineal clans. The Vang Clan has been the leading clan of Hmong
society in the Ha giang territory from the
early 1800s in struggling over the multi-ethnic empires[8] and
nation state up to today. I will discuss the relationship between an important
clan leader, Mr Vang Dung Lung (1865 – 1947) and three other political
entities: 1) The Nguyen Dynasty of Vietnam and the French imperialists; 2) The
Nationalist[9]
leaders of China and Vietnam (1854-1954); and 3) The Communist[10]
Parties of Vietnam, Lao and Yunnan, China
About Vang Dung Lung 1865-1949
Vang Dung Lung was a different type of leader. He encapsulated both
spiritual and political leadership in Ha giang and led Hmong in Ha giang in
fighting against the Nguyen Dynasty
and the French imperialist from 1887 up to 1946. Before he died in
1947, he handed over his responsibility for protecting the Ha giang territory
to Ma Trung Lam[11]
of the Tay tribe in Cao bang province instead of to his son[12]
Vang Seo Lu.
During his teenage years, Vang Dung Lung travelled, played the
flute, ate and slept anywhere needed, learning through travel and penetrating
into many livelihood conditions, he gained a deep understanding of social,
economic and cultural behavour as well as people’s habits in the region. He
became famous at the age of 22 when in October 1887 the French entered Ha giang
to grab Dong van landscape, the cradle of opium production.
Bellow 5 questions will be studies: 1) why did both the Nguyen
Dynasty and the French imperialists want to grab Ha giang and Xieng
khoang? 2) How did they approach Vaj
Clan in Ha giang and Xieng khoanga nd what was the compromise/conflict between
them? 3) Why and how did Vang Dung Lung organize Hmong society to fight against
both the Nguyen Dynasty and the French imperialist? 4) Why and how did Vang Dung Lung to become a
“Vua Meo” in Indochina region at that moment? 5) Why and how did Vang Dung Lung
decided to cooperate with Ho Chi Minh instead of Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ton Trung Son
and Chiang Kai Shek? 6) Why and how Ho
Chi Minh was inspired Vang Dung Lung instead of other national leaders at this
period.
Summary:
It has been said that “although nation-states today are universally
recognized as the ‘highest form of government and sovereignty, in practice many
nation-state systems co-exist with elements of earlier tribal and imperial
polities” (Ryan 2013). The objective of
this research is to demonstrate, with respect to H’mong society, that in
practice, elements of state can also be found within the tribe!
[1] Khai Dinh and Bao Dai King
[2] Alexandra and
[3] Ton Trung Son, Chiang Kai-Shek and Nguyen Thai Hoc
[4] Nguyen Ai Quoc (Ho Chi
Minh today)
[6] Thanh and Nguyen ruled for over 400 years both in
China and Vietnam
[7] Orally stories told by Hmong Elders
[8] Nguyen Dynasty and French ruling over via Tay Ethnic
Group
[9] Ton Dat Tien/Ton Trung Son/Sun Yat Sen (1886-1925)
leading 1912 cach mang Tan Hoi, Chiang Kai – Shek 1928-1949, Nguyen Thai Hoc
1927- 1929
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