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Proper name: Pa Hung.
Other names: Meo Lai,
Meo Hoa, Meo Do, Bat Tien Toe....
Population: 3,680
people.
Language: The Pathen
language belongs to the Hmong - Dao language groups.
History: As the
legend has it, the Pathen from Than Lo in China came to
Vietnam 200 - 300 years ago, crossing the sea with the Dao
people.
Production activities:
In the past, the Pathen mainly lived by cultivating
swidden fields, using the digging stick to make holes for
seedlings planted into the cleared, burnt fields. Crops
include rice, corn, and various kinds of vegetables, such
as beans, khoai so, khoai mon. Agricultural tools include
the axe, knife and hoe. With crop production being largely
dependent on weather conditions, the Pathen periodically
must go into the forest and dig cu nau (a root crop
yielding brown dye) and yam to supplement their diet when
they have bad crops. The gathering of forest fruits still
plays an important role in their economic life. Weaving
cloth was developed a long time ago, and the Pathen's
woven textiles are much appreciated by surrounding groups.
Pathen men used to do basketry and carpentry. The Pathen
raise farm animals, such as cows, buffaloes, goats, pigs
and poultry, also used for religious activities. Buffaloes
are also used as draught animals.
Diet: The Pathen
mainly eat rice for their two main meals each day. They
enjoy eating boiled or fried dishes.
Clothing: The
clothing of Pathen women still keeps its special features.
Their traditional clothing includes a long skirt and shirt
which are very colorful and include decorative trims that
are similar to thosg on clothing worn by the Dao people.
Housing: The Pathen
mainly reside in Tuyen Quang and Ha Giang provinces.
Depending on the area, the Pathen used to live either in
houses on stilts or in semi-stilt houses. Houses could
also be built directly on the ground. In many places,
houses with pillars are built, which tend to make the'
structures look stronger and more beautiful.
Transportation:
Back-carrying is the principal means for the Pathen to
transport goods.
Social organization:
Good relations with neighbors play an essential role in
community life. The Pathen live in harmony with each other
and often take care of and help each other. They give
mutual assistance during the harvest- time and when the
farm work requires more labor. They have many family
lineages living together in one village, in which there is
usually one big family lineage. The Pathen have eight
original family lineages and some other lineages
originating from the Dao people (Ban, Trieu). Each family
lineage is divided into smaller branches with their own
legends.
