TRIBAL DEVELOPMENTS, 1000-1826
~ Vum Son
To better understand the relationship between various groups of Zo, the Zo people can be separated into six major groups
(1) Asho
(2) Laimi
(3) Masho
(4) Mizo
(5) Sho, and
(6) Zomi.
As stated earlier any one of these terms will typically be used by individual clans to describe all Zo people, and there are some who would debate the specific categories and sub clans within them. In order to create a general picture that retains basic accuracy however, and to allow for a reasonable discussion of clan and group interrelationships; this type of grouping is necessary.
In order not to totally bury distinctions however, the following should be noted by the reader. According to other tribes, but not by the clans people themselves, the Zomi group are called Paite, the Laimi group Pawi and the Mizo group Lusei. These terms are also used in this document.
Asho covers all Zo living in Arakan and on the Burmese plains, but not those in the Kale-Kabaw-Myittha Valleys. Asho also covers those people recog nized as Khyangs in the Chittagong Hills Tract. Masho includes Mru, Khami and Khumi. The Masho dwell in the Paletwa area, the eastern hilly regions of Chittagong and in northern Arakan. The Sho are situated in Mindat-Kanpetlet and South Matupi. Pawi reside in northern Matupi, the Falam and Haka areas and the Lakher Pawi area of Mizoram. The Pankhu and Bawmzo clans of the Chittagong Hill Tract also belong to the Pawi.
The Lusei are found in Mizoram and the south western part of Manipur. The Hualngo of the northwest Chin Hills also belong to the Lusei group. Paite are found in the Tedim area, and from there to the Churachandpur or Lamka district of Manipur, where they are recognized as Kuki. Their settlements are also found in hilly regions of Hkamti and Homalin districts. Zo or Yaw people of Gangaw area are excluded from the main Zo tribes because the degree of their Burmanization is so advanced that they are perhaps more Burman than Zo. (See Table 2 for main clans of Zo people).
Source :
Zo History
