Who are the Tai Yuan?

There is a simple way in which you can generally understand the people of Thailand.
First, you have the 6 major hill-tribes within Thailand.
The Akha, Lisu, Mien/Yao, Lahu, Karen, Hmong/Miao.

Then you have the Ethnic Thai people.
The Ethnic Thais are divided in 4 main subgroups, each having their distinct own language and culture.

HISTORY
The Tai Yuan are also known as the ethnic Northern Thais or “Khon Mueng”.
The Tai Yuan are part of the bigger Tai people group.

It is estimated that about 90 million people of the Tai race are scattered in the Mekong Region. Tai Yuan also known as the ethnic Northern Thais are a sub group of the Tai Race. Others being:
Tai Dam in Vietnam
Tai Lue in Xishuangbanna
Tai Yai (Shan) in Myanmar
Tai Meuiy in Laos

The Tai Yuan were founders of the Lanna Kingdom, which was great and spanned Northern parts of Thailand, surrounding areas in Burma, Laos and South West China.

LIVELIHOOD
The Tai Yuan have been lowland rice farmers for centuries. They have also been skilled craftsmen, producing fine pottery, bronze ware and idols, as well as locally woven silk and cotton materials. Many aspire to positions in the government.

LANGUAGE
The Tai Yuan have their own spoken language known as “Kham Mueng”, which is different from the Central Thai language. Their native script, the Northern Thai Script is very similar to that used by the Tai Lue and the Tai Khun. In temples, the written language has always been taught to novices in the temples. There is now a renaissance of the language in North Thailand. The written script is believed to have supernatural attributes and tattoos or amulets which use this script are considered to be very powerful.

Northern Thai Script on the left. Central Thai Script on the right.

RELIGION AND BELIEFS
The Tai Yuan are predominantly Thai Folk Buddhist, which is an outward practice of Theravada Buddhism by celebrating all Buddhist festivals, but with an underlying believe in Animism (Spirit Worship).

Buddhism spread among the Yuan about 700 years ago at the time that they were migrating South from China into their present location. Chiang Saen on the Mekong River was their first capital in what is now Thailand and many temples were built there which housed beautifully sculptured Buddhist images.

A strong attachment to the spirit world exists among the Tai Yuan. Shrines to local deities and to ancient heroes are being erected throughout North Thailand and these shrines attract many petitioners who make prayers and offerings to the spirits connected with these sites.

CHRSITIANITY
Despite the Tai Yuan church beginning nearly 100 years ago, less than 1% of the Tai Yuan are Christians today. This is due in part to decades of separation between Christian and Buddhist Tai Yuan.