Lisu Houses

Lisu Homes

"Straddling the earth"--Lisu-style housing: Houses of this style are said to "straddle the earth," that is, they are built right on the ground. Thus, it is important to find ground that is totally flat and even, for construction to be successful. The house is built entirely of bamboo, with the exception of the pillars, which must be made from hardwood for stability. As for the walls, they are made from strips of bamboo woven tightly together. The roof is made from straw thatching. Windows are noticeably absent and there is only one door; although this makes the inside of the house rather dark, it does help keep it quite insulated from cold winds at night and during the winter. Outside, in the front yard, is a rice pounder used to mill the family's rice. In back is a small pen for raising chickens. The floor of the pen is raised off the ground and a hen house is constructed, complete with nesting places for the chickens inside. The style and design of Lisu houses is very similar to that of the Akha. Both tribes have developed their housing designs over many generations, with careful thought and consideration being made as to what is most practical. The result is a sturdy house design that does quite a good job of protecting its inhabitants from the elements--namely wind and rain.

Raised Houses:    In general, Lisu prefer to use the "straddled earth" style of housing wherever possible, but as the Lisu often occupy mountainous areas, where finding flat, level ground is almost impossible, concessions must be made. In these instances, the Lisu have developed a second style of house which relies on raising the house up on stilts. One advantage of this kind of house is that an open area beneath the house is created, which can be used as a storage shelter. The rice pounder and chicken pen will be moved here, where they can be protected from the elements. It is also an ideal place for storing firewood. The area in front of the house is used for rest, recreation, and the occasional sunbather. As with the "straddled earth" style of house, the raised house is also without windows and has only one door, which can be reached by climbing a set of stairs. In general, Lisu houses don't have any fences separating them from one another. Instead, houses are built one after another, running in long rows through the village. Enough space is set between them so people don't feel like they are living on top of one another.

In terms of construction, the methods employed by the Lisu are just like those of the Akha. Whether constructing a small house or a large house, the construction will be completed within the course of a single day. The starts in the morning and will go until evening. in the event work is not done, work will carry on until the job is done. The reason the Lisu are able to build their houses so quickly is because, when a house is going to be constructed, everyone comes together to help. It is just like harvesting rice, where villagers come together and help each other harvest their crops. It is the owner of the house's responsibility to prepare all equipment and materials needed for construction in advance so that work can be started immediately, once help arrives. This includes selecting and cutting the pillars for the house, the straw to be used for making the roof, the bamboo for the walls, etc. The women of the house are responsible for providing all the food for the workers, Before construction can take place, a ceremony must be performed to pay homage to the spirits and ask for their blessing. A piece of wood will be used to mark the four corners that are to be the perimeter of the house. A prayer will be made to the spirits, then a serving of rice will be placed in a bowl and offered up to the spirits of the forest, the mountains, and the pathways, asking permission to build the house in this location. The rice will then be sprinkled into a small hole dug in the ground. Examining the grains of rice, if they have fallen in an orderly fashion then it can be assumed the spirits approve. If the rice grains appear scattered and disorderly, then it can be assumed the spirits do not approve of the construction.

This is a 360° panorama inside one of the few remaining traditional houses in Ban Doi Lan, Asa's home village. In fact, when we photographed the house, the owner was already in the process of constructing a modern house to replace it. Click and drag mouse to move picture. 
http://lisu.hilltribe.org