The Dai - Les Dai

The Dai ethnic group, with a population of about 1.2 million, mainly lives in the Dai Autonomous Region and in Xishuangbanna. Dai is the name of the nationality, which means 'freedom' or 'human beings'. Descendants of the same ancestors as the ancient "Baiyue" people, the Dai ethnic group has strong connections with nationalities such as Zhuang, Dong, Shui, Bouyei, and Li. The earliest records about the Dai ethnic group can be traced back to 1 B.C., when it was named "Dianyue" or "Shan". he Dai ethnic group has its own language that belongs to the Zhuang-Dai branch of Zhuang-Dong Austronesian of Chinese-Tibetan Phylum, and it is written in unique characters.

The Dai ethnic group was the first in history to plant rice and to use a furrow to plough. Living in a subtropical climatic zone with abundant rainfall and fertile land, Dai's main products are rice, sugar cane, coffee, hemp, rubber, camphor, and various fruits. Besides rare plants and herbs, animals such as elephants, tigers and peacocks can also be found in the residential areas of the Dai people. ating rice as their staple food, Dai people enjoy beef, chicken, and duck as well as fish and shrimp. Their favorite vegetables include cabbages, carrots, bamboo shoots and beans. All Dai people like sour and hot flavors.

Dai women's clothes have a variety of styles. In the Xishuangbanna area, women often wear white, sky-blue or pink tight under garments with a jewel-collared short shirt over them that buttons either down the front or on the right. The shirt has long, slim sleeves that wrap tightly around the arms. It is narrow-waisted, exposing the lower back. Below the shirt is usually a long, tight skirt that can even reach the feet. Many Dai women wear a silk girdle around their waists and wind their long hair into a bun on top of their heads, fixing it with a single beautiful crescent-moon-shaped comb. ai men wear collarless tight-sleeved short jackets, with the opening at the front or along the right side, and long baggy trousers. They wind black or white turbans around their heads. Tattooing is common amongst them; when a boy reaches the age of 11 or 12, a tattoo artist is invited to tattoo his torso and limbs with designs of animals, flowers, geometric patterns or Dai script.

The marriage of the Dais was characterized by intermarriage on strictly equal social and economic status. Polygamy was common among chieftains, who also humiliated the wives and daughters of peasants at will. The patriarchal monogamous nuclear family was the common form among peasants. Pre-marital social contact between young men and women was quite free, especially during festivals. It was common for the groom to move into the bride's home after the wedding. 

The graveyards of aristocrats and poor people were strictly separated. When a monk or a Buddhist leader died, he was cremated and his ashes placed in a pottery urn to be buried behind a temple. 

Most Dai people believe in Hinayana, a sect of Buddhism. There are many Buddhist temples in the countryside, and it is common practice, especially in Xishuangbanna, to send young boys to the temples to learn the Buddhism scriptures. Some of them later become monks, but the majority returns to secular life.

Dai festivals, closely related to religious activities, include the "Door-Closing Festival" in mid-June, the "Door-Opening Festival" in mid-September, and the "Water-Splashing Festival" in spring.

L'ethnie Dai compte une population de plus d’1,2 million d’habitants, ils vivent au Xishuangbanna et dans la Préfecture de Dehong principalement, et pratiquent le Bouddhisme Hinayanan. Malgré les frontières, les rites et traditions du peuple Dai sont restés vivaces dans toute la région qu'il occupe (sud du Yunnan, Thaïlande, Laos, Birmanie...). Tous les Dai ont un écosystème de cuvettes  irriguées dans lesquelles ils ont aménagées leurs rizières. Ils produisent outre le riz toutes sortes de culture d’appoint. Vivant au sein d’un réseau aquatique, ce sont de grands consommateurs de poissons sous toute forme de préparation. Les Dai aiment manger épicé, et préparent diverses sortes de saumures pour accommoder le poisson ou le porc. Ils cultivent eux-mêmes leur coton, les femmes sont des tisseuses émérites. Les bijoux et la vaisselle en argent, l’orfèvrerie, la vannerie témoignent d’un artisanat haut en couleur.

La maison des Dai est sur pilotis, le rez de chaussée, ouvert  à tous les vents, servant d’abri à la basse-cour. C’est là aussi que les femmes ont leur métier à tisser, protégées du soleil. Le toit de la maison, construite en bambou le plus souvent, s’abaisse près du sol.

Le Festival de l'Eau est le plus important festival des Dai. Il a lieu pendant le sixième mois du calendrier Dai (environ mi-avril). Cette fête est aussi appellée "Le festival du Bain de Bouddha", d'après la légende qui raconte que Bouddha reçut à sa naissance une douche parfumée d'un dragon. Depuis la conversion du peuple Dai au Bouddhisme, la légende a peu à peu intégré leurs coutumes. Le festival s'est, depuis, enrichi d'autres rites, tels le Festival de la Cueillette des Fleurs, ainsi que la Danse des Sept Beautés pour Exorciser le Démon du Feu.

Lors du festival, les Dai du Xishuangbanna et d'ailleurs célèbrent leur nouvelle année dans une ambiance de fête générale. A la cérémonie du Bain de Bouddha  s’ajoutent des courses de bateau dragon, des feux d'artifice et l'on promène la "Lanternede Kongming". Les jeunes filles exécutent la "Danse du Paon" au rythme des tambours "Patte d'Eléphant". Tout le long du festival, les gens s'aspergent d'eau les uns les autre pour se souhaiter bonne fortune pour la nouvelle année. C'est aussi l'occasion pour les jeunes gens de choisir leur futur partenaire en lui jettant une bourse finement brodée. Pendant les quelques jours que dure le festival, une chaleureuse atmosphère de fête prévaut dans tous les villages Dai.