Life style : Lisu entertainment

Pretending to work in the fields.      Lisu children copy the character of their parents. The kids pretend to be a family or community with a father, mother and child. They act like parents to teach the lineage about earning a livelihood. It’s like the real community, and also has a seller family which works in their own field. The kids act the same as their parents’ work in the field, such as mowing the grass using wood instead of a blade. At noon, lunch is eaten in the field, and also songs are sung responding to the next field over. In the evening, vegetables are picked from the, which the woman cooks while the man chops firewood and pounds the rice. After dinner, they all go to sleep until the following morning when a cockerel crow is made to tell people to start work again. Also, Lisu have a celebration to comfort the child, and to assume a name for the child. This game tells about the way of Lisu living and daily life.

Link the word. This is an enjoyable game. Divide players into two groups (there is no specific number necessary). The first group will start the questions and the second respond.

The first group example. Go bow tong tong Ar ma nga. Ar bow. Arseayear. Luto rseayear. Buesue. Arseayea Hweapa. Arseayea. Chuemaarseayea. Hyachue. Arseayar. Lumepu. Arseayea. Artha. Arseayea.

The second group example. Arbow. Lu bow. Boesuegowker. Hwearphasa. Chumakua. Hyachuehugear. Lumepugea. Artaseur. Gumesea. Arhnachuear. Uchuegajea. uchuetemaarga. Ngea. Argatema unabe. Desea. Unabedengeangua

Life style : The black magician

     The black magician in Lisu is called the Neepha, and is the ceremonial leader of the village. To become a black magician, the villager will be in communion with the ancestral spirit. Some dream about their ancestor, are sick with fever, and maybe say strange things in their delirium.
          The Lisu people believe that the person destined to be the black magician must take responsibility for the role; otherwise they face continuous unknown sickness. The Neepha will understand, and can recite, the ceremonies of the village because they can connect to the ancestral spirit.   

The Neepha can be young or old, but the person that the ancestor chooses is usually a man. Each village will have 1-2 Neepha, although if it doesn’t, then the villagers will invite one when the village has a ceremony. Before a ceremony, the house owner changes the water in the altar cup and prepares the leaf that is used in all Lisu ceremonies. After everything is prepared, the Neepha will give worship by igniting the joss sticks and candle in front of the altar. Then in a trance-like state, the internal spirit of the Neepha is in communion with the ancestral spirit, although he is unaware of it. Once the recital is complete, the Neepha will return to his body without remembering anything.

Life style : The Tools of the Lisu People

The Lisu is a tribe that lives in hilltop-dwelling that thrives on the natural resources that the rainforest offers. With the help of homemade tools, the Lisu people spend a large part of their time tending to paddy fields as well as planting fruits.

	A knife or”Ata” is usually used in the farm or when cooking.
	A bamboo basket or “Katoo” is used to carry objects such as firewood, vegetables and utensils.

	A spade or “Agulague” is used to cut low-lying grass in paddy fields and coffee plantations.
	A rice winnowing fan helps the Lihu remove bits of grass when harvesting rice grains.

	A bamboo table or “MeeJu” supports food during mealtimes.
	A chicken cage or “AyaKudu” that is made from bamboo and is used to hold chicks.

	A bird trap or “Yajyajudu” catches birds by using worms as bait.
	A rat trap or “Apujudu” that is used to trap rats which are either seen as pests or as a food source.

	A birdcage or “Yayakuedu” that is made of bamboo.้
	A bamboo tray or “Wama” that is used to carry food or to lay out food for drying.

	A hammer or “Achu” which is used to chop wood.
	A knife sheath or “Atagudu” which is used to hold knives.

A shovel or “Tucha” used to dig pits when planting or transplanting rice.

http://lisu.hilltribe.org

Life style : A The way of life in the Year

Lisu community is agriculture, have a plantation in the hill. The Lisu have many ceremonies but have an interval. When the Lisu have a ceremony, they will help each other and take for respect such as a cremation, the wedding or in each family ceremony. Agriculture have a time table because has a specific time. Now Lisu mix a farm like fruits with coffee such as other an occupation.

Month	The way of living	A Tradition	Picture
January - February	To clear undergrowth by burn	New Year ceremony (KohSeYee)
March - April	Start to do a farm	Repair the shrine ceremony.
May - June	Plants a corn , rice and vegetable and start to harvest the produce , vegetables.	Merit ceremony.
July - August	Mow the grasses in the farm and harvest the produce.	Thank given the god.
September - October	Mow the grasses again for planting the second time.	-
October- November	Harvest the rice and the other produce from the farm.	-
December- January	Harvest and find other place for planting and start to weaving, sew the clothes for new clothes. Prepare equipment for New Years Ceremony.	-

http://lisu.hilltribe.org

Life style : The History of Lisu alcohol

The First process of alcohol product       The process to make Lisu alcohol is not complicated at all. The ingredients of the Lisu alcohol include sticky rice and corn. The sticky rice will be combined with the corn and soak for 4 to 5 months. The rice and the corn that mix together will be fermented and alcohol will be produced by the soaking process.

The Second process of the alcohol product       The Lisu people will boil and then distills out the alcohol from the fermented rice corn mixture. The Third process of the alcohol product       Other than the first and second production processes, they can add certain herbs to the fermented mixture and produce herbal medicine which can be used for curing illnesses. The Lisu people will usually make this Lisu alcohol together with their family members. They believed that this alcohol can be served to relatives and friends when they come visiting. Serving them Lisu alcohol will signifies their form of kindness and hospitality to welcome visitors. While consuming the Lisu alcohol, the Lisu people would be able to gather together and share their joy and experience together with one another. Lisu alcohol also has great significance as an offering to their ancestors because the Lisu people believed that offering Lisu alcohol to the dead is a way to communicate with the spirits.       This Lisu alcohol has another use. It serves as an herbal medication which can be used to cure illnesses. The Lisu doctors will use the alcohol brewed and mix with other herbs to use it to cure sickness because the Lisu alcohol is very nutritious.

The ceremony and belief       Lisu believed that the alcohol is a pure and holy liquid which is a great source which is usually used during holy ceremonies. Traditional and sacred rituals hosted by the Lisu shaman will involve the use of Lisu alcohol to pray to the spirits during the rituals. Birth and Holiness of Alcohol       The Lisu people worship their ancestors and will serve alcohol to invite the ancestors to be a witness for the new born baby of the family. They believed that it is a respect to the dead to introduce new member of the family to them. The Lisu family will pour a mixture of water and the Lisu alcohol onto the new born baby. It is done because the Lisu people believed that this holy alcohol mixture will protect the baby from harm.

New Year festival       The Lisu people will celebrate their harvest of their cultivation during New Year. During New Year, Lisu people will sew and make new clothing for the family members to be worn during New Year ceremony. The purpose of the ceremony is to thank the god for protect their cultivation and land and to seek for continual blessings for the new coming year. They will offer food and the holy Lisu alcohol to the ancestors and other holy spirits in the village. Each household will use their own alcohol that they made during the ceremony. Funeral ceremony       The Lisu alcohol is also used in the funeral ceremony for the Lisu people. When a person dies, the relative of the dead will go into the forest to find suitable wood material to make coffin for the dead person. Before they make the coffin, the Lisu people will offer the Lisu alcohol to the holy God and spirits in the village to seek permission to make the coffin. This serves to protect the people making the coffin for the dead too. After which, the family of the dead will ask a man of no blood relation to carry the coffin to get cremated. Sustain their health by the alcohol’s herb       Lisu alcohol has medicinal properties which can be beneficial to our human skin and muscles which can absorb the nutrients of the alcohol readily. The herb to connect the simple fracture       Lisu people use herbs and combine it with their Lisu alcohol to make medicine which can be used to cure bone fractures. The herbs collected will be grind into small pieces and will mix with the alcohol. This special mix of medicine is believed to relax the muscle and relieve the pain of the fracture. This mixture can be consumed or applied on skin. Young children who do not con sume alcohol will use a cloth to soak into the mixture and apply it on the affected area. A fire will be set up to keep the cloth warm and it is very effective. The Herb for blood replenishment, vitamins and improve appetite       After giving birth, Lisu women have to consume herbs and Lisu alcohol that they brewed because they believed that the alcohol are useful to women and provide the nutrients for them. Expellants herb       When the Lisu people get bites from the poisonous snakes, they will apply the Lisu alcohol on the biting area to eliminate the venom. The alcohol also helps to relieve inflammation and burning pain caused by the venom. The Lisu alcohol also serves as an disinfectant and can be used to clean the wound or cuts.

The process to make the flour for fermentation from Herb The first step is making the flour for fermentation. Soak rice around 5-7 days until the rice swell and become fluffy. Dry the swell rice. Pound rice. The second step is preparing herbs. Clean the herbs. Pound and cut the herbs. Crush and dry away the herb smell. Boil the herbs until it macerates. Filter out the waste from boiling mixture. The Third step is kneading the flour for fermentation. Mix rice and herb together. Knead and make it flat. Put in the rice straws around 7 days since the flour has yeasts. Then, dry the flour and keep it in a basket or put on the shelf over the stove.

The equipment for boiling alcohol. A big stove A big steamer A big pan strings Wet pack The substratum that made from wood. Jar to put the alcohol Tray Mortar or grinder Jar The process to boiling alcohol. The first step is fermenting the corn’s alcohol. Boil corn until softens. Sieve the flour fermentation and grind.  Mix the flour and the corn together. Ferment the mixture in the jar and cover it. Leave it around 3 days. Move the jar a little and leave around 15 days, and then boil to get the alcohol.

The Second step is ferment the alcohol Put the water in the big pan and put the steamer on the pan. Put the substratum in the steamer Put the corn and flour mixture to fill ? of the steamer. Put the substratum to receive the alcohol in the steamer. Put the pan and put some water on it. Put the pan on the top of the steamer. Put the jar to for the alcohol that from the straw.

http://lisu.hilltribe.org

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

Tradition : A religious precept day

A religion precept day or “Jue”
A religion day or karma day of Lisu, will have every 15 day. The people in the village they will count the date, month and year follow the Chinese calendar. The religion precept day is full moon and moonless. The religion leader will announce to the people in the village before has the ceremonial one day. In this day the people in the village can not use sharp like a knife, an ax, a spade. This day the villager can not go to work in the farm also.On this day the villager do not kill pig, chicken or a living thing. A religion precept day the villager stops to work one day, stay in the house and family. For a women, sew the clothes and a men go to the forest to find the stuff or do a little thing in the house.       

To do.

In each area, the way of living and the believe not all the same because from an ancestor to generation. The thing that the villager to do in the believe or ceremony especially the religious precept day is very important. Every family must to break off work to give a merit and offering food and make a ceremony for give worship by Lisu believe so the Lisu break off their works and to be at home to take a merit.

	Warn and to practice. 1. Could not work outside the village. 2. Not kill the animal in the religious precept day. 3. Not said bad things and not propitious. 4. No alcohols in the religious precept because if drink alcohols in this day will get a sick easier.

http://lisu.hilltribe.org