Today, Dehong Dai and Tengchong Autonomous Prefecture and the area, before the Yuan that is, "Cur Chang" people live ("Yuan Shi Geography - Jin Tooth Xuanfu Division"), Ming Zhengde "Yunnan Zhi" that is the Tang Dynasty, "seeking to pass" people. At that time, "seek transmission" people under the jurisdiction of the Zhenxi section of the Nanzhao, but also live "no silk floss", "scattered in the mountains without the king's head" of the primitive life. "Seek Chuan" people in the development process to the Yuan and Ming period has gradually divided into the Achang and Jingpo part of the tribe. In the 16th year of the Ming Dynasty (1383), Zuo Na led his troops to submit to the Ming Dynasty. During the Hongwu years, the Ming Emperor gave the Han Chinese Duanbao as the Yunlong Prefecture Palm Printing Tuji Prefecture, the Achang were reduced to the ruled ethnic groups, and moved southwest to the territory of Dehong, gradually lost the native. The Achang tribe inhabited by the household Lazar, early Ming dynasty belongs to Luchuan Xuanfuzhuangji. 15 century, Ming general Wang Ji three conquests after Luchuan, belongs to the Longchuan Xuanfuzhuangji. Wang Ji appointed his subordinates Lai Luoyi and Fong Ben as generals, respectively in charge of Tusa and Laxia, and became hereditary lords. Achang people from the Han Chinese troops stationed at the border where they learned to cultivate paddy fields, making iron technology, promoting the division of labor in Achang agriculture and handicrafts, the commodity economy has a preliminary development.
The early Qing Dynasty inherited the Ming Dynasty's Tusi system. WuSanGui to pull out of the area to "XunZhuang". Kangxi thirty-one years (1692), the abolition of the "Hoon Chong", still return to the original Lai, the situation of the two inheritance. Yongzheng two years (one hundred and seventy-two four years), household Lazar area under the jurisdiction of Teng Yue state. In the Qianlong period, the South Dianji jurisdiction of the Achang people, in addition to the Dai feudal lords to pay tribute, more than 80 percent of the farmers fell into the nearby Han, Dai landlords tenants. At the same time by the feudal lords, the double exploitation of landlords. During the Republic of China, Yunnan warlords in Longchuan, Lianghe and other places in the construction of the Bureau, the implementation of the system of insurance armor, but the feudal system until the eve of the founding of the country, the rule of the Achang people for more than 500 years. In addition to the fixed annual payment to the Secretary of the "three big money" (official rent, tobacco money, foundation silver), the cottage is also burdened with special servitude.
Before the founding of New China, the Achang area was mainly a feudal lord economy, while the feudal landlord economy also had a certain development, the widespread phenomenon of pawning, mortgaging and buying and selling land. Many Achang people were reduced to tenants of nearby Han and Dai landlords. In the Achang area, agriculture and handicrafts are more developed, and the tobacco of Tolasa is famous in western Yunnan and exported to Myanmar; "Achang Knife" is loved by all ethnic groups on the border of Yunnan and Myanmar, and is a necessary production tool. Sugar cane, tea and other cash crops, embroidery, weaving and other handicrafts are also very famous.
After the founding of New China, in 1952, in Longchuan County, the Achang people gathered in the area of the Tura withdrawal established the Achang Autonomous Region (district level). 1953, 1954, and successively in Lucy County, Jiangdong District, GaoJiaJiaTian Township, Lianghe County, Chaidao District of the Propagation of the townships and Guanzhang townships to establish the three Achang ethnic townships. Beginning in the fall of 1955, a peaceful and negotiated land reform movement was carried out in the Achang areas, completely abolishing the feudal land ownership system. The privileges of lords and landowners, miscellaneous pies and usury were likewise abolished. The victory of the land reform enabled the Achang people to completely free themselves from the feudal yoke, thus promoting the development of production. The local industry in Achang area developed gradually. For example, Liangdong County opened small factories for ironwork, agricultural tools, oil extraction, soap, rosin and cloth dyeing, etc. Ironworks were also set up in Tohuansa area. The People's Government also helped to set up sanitary and epidemic prevention stations, trained a group of Achang medical personnel, and eliminated infectious diseases such as plague, cholera and typhoid fever which were rampant before the founding of the People's Republic of China, thus effectively guaranteeing the people's health. Cultural and educational undertakings have also developed accordingly, the Achang people have teachers with higher education, and school-age children have the opportunity to go to school.
The Achang people are rich in oral literature such as songs, stories and legends. There are many beautiful legends circulating in the folklore, such as the long narrative epic "Chapa Ma and Chapa Mima"; the long narrative poem "Cao Zha", "Blacksmith War Dragon King"; the customary story "Valley Jik", "Pro-Cousin Sisters", "Crotch Bone"; the animal story "Muntjac and Panther Changing Work", "Old Bear Tearing Cheeky Skin", etc. These poems and legends are all very simple and simple, and they are also popular among consumers at home and abroad. These poems and legends are very simple, vivid and touching. Song" is a favorite activity of young men and women in their spare time, which can be roughly divided into three kinds, one is called "Xiangleji", which is sung by young men and women in the field, generally melting the scene, improvising lyrics, mountains, water, clouds, trees, etc. can be included in the song; one is called "Xiangzuo", which is sung by young men and women in the field. "Xiangzuo", is in the dead of night, male and female youth in the forest when the meeting, whispered love songs, feelings sincere, often a song is an all-night; there is a "Xiang Le Mo", is also a kind of love songs, tunes elegant and friendly, the lyrics of deep meaning, metaphorical vividness. The lyrics have profound meanings and vivid metaphors. Musical instruments include the bamboo zither, cave xiao, gourd sheng, three strings, elephant foot drums and tongluo. The most popular dances are the Elephant Foot Drum Dance and the Monkey Dance. Folk sports are also colorful, such as swinging, horse racing, shooting, dancing Achang knife and martial arts. Arts and crafts include embroidery, lacquer painting, dyeing and weaving, carving, and silverware making. Especially the carving has a high level, and various animals and plants can be seen carved on furniture, buildings and Buddhist shrines. In addition, architecture and painting also have certain national characteristics. Customs and Traditions
The Achang men wear blue, white or black lapel tops and black pants, and some wear left lapel tops. Women's clothing varies slightly from place to place, and they like to wear all kinds of silver jewelry during festivals. Married women generally wear skirts and narrow, long-sleeved lapel coats with green cloth wrapped around the head; unmarried women wear pants with light-colored lapel coats and plaits. Food is mainly rice, potatoes, vegetables, meat, etc., acidophilic food. In the past, young men and women had the habit of chewing betel nut, and their teeth were often stained black. Housing is mostly brick, wood and stone structure of the courtyard building, the main house to live, both sides of the compartment upstairs pile of food and other means of subsistence, downstairs is a pigsty, cattle pen. The houses in the village are relatively neat. Walled traffic between the main road is generally stone or gravel road, easy access. Men go out and carry with them bags and long knives. Men and women are used to carrying goods on their shoulders, and mules and horses are used for long-distance transportation. The Achang people are generally monogamous small families, free love before marriage, prevalent "string of girls", but the conclusion of marriage arranged by parents. In the past, the Achang generally did not marry people with the same surname, but intermarriage with the Han, Dai and other ethnic groups has long been more common. The system of transferring houses to the husband's brother's marriage is prevalent. Widows can remarry, but can not take away the husband's property, and their children to the husband's family support. After death, people are generally buried in the earth, and those who die unnatural deaths must be cremated. Achang people are cheerful and very polite and hospitable. In their hospitality etiquette, it is popular to use tea altar, which is a kind of earthenware utensil for cooking tea. To the Achang home to guests, the host will first take out the wine pot poured on a small cup of wine for the guests to wash the dust, and then take out the tea altar, put on the tea leaves, pour boiling water, put on the charcoal fire to cook for a while, after the cooking is done, poured into the teacups, the hosts and guests together to drink tea and talk.
Religion and Important Festivals The Achang people in the Tolaca region generally believe in Hinayana Buddhism, and there are regular religious festivals and activities, such as "Into the Pits", "Out of the Pits", "Burning White Chai", and so on. There are regular religious festivals and activities such as "Entering the Pits" and "Leaving the Pits" and "Burning White Chai". In the past, the Achang people in Lianghe area believed in ghosts and gods, and offered sacrifices to the "earth lord" (ground ghosts) three times a year before spring plowing and fall harvesting, and the whole village had to go to the fields to sprinkle the blood of chickens and plug in the feathers of chickens, in order to pray to the ghosts to protect the crops. In addition, due to the influence of the Han Chinese, they also worship their ancestors. The Achang people of Tolasa, the larger festivals of the year, such as Catch Pendulum, Stirrup Wolo, Street Festival, Taste the New Festival, Water Festival, into the puddle, out of the puddle, etc., are the same as the neighboring Dai people. In addition, there are torch festivals, change the yellow sheet, burning white firewood, watering flowers and other festivals.