This video is a short introduction to my time with the Lai Tu People. It was filmed and edited by Wesley Chang. Pick up your copy of the book here and help me support the Lai Tu.
The Kaang people fall under the Chin Nation, as with the other peoples in this section. They can be recognised by their dotted tattoo pattern with lines breaking it, typically across the forehead, nose, and cheeks. They are also recognisable for their huge earrings. In the past, a woman of beauty for the Kaang people was considered one who had the perfect tattoo, many necklaces, and the biggest earrings. They are from the Mindat area of southern Chin State. Although […]
Coming soon.
The Yindu are one of the smaller groups of Chin people. Many of their villages are quite remote and their culture is not as well preserved or remembered as some of the other groups. Some of the tattooed elders still keep their traditional clothing and some of the men recall their traditions. The tattoo is one of the more intricate and painful among the Chin peoples and was often completed over four or five separate sessions so the girls could […]
The Mün are possibly the most recognisable Chin people from afar. The women’s “B” shaped tattoo stands out for its graphic form and even younger women still wear it with pride. Apon closer inspection, their tattoo also has a distinctly green tinge to it. This was the sign of quality ink and girls worked hard to make sure their ink had the perfect colour. Sometimes they would go over their tattoo several times to make sure the colour was just right. The Mün, […]
“They knew me as the ‘Strong Woman’.” Ipay Harong is 98 years old. She is a member of the Truku people of Taiwan. At the age of 92 she began to exhibit signs of Parkinson’s disease, which has since worsened, and she is now unable to communicate except for physical gestures. During our visit, she would periodically attempt to make both eye contact and physical contact. Our interview was conducted with her daughter, who now takes care of her in […]
“I wasn’t ready for the pain.” Si Coung is a good-humoured 73-year-old woman from Rakhine State in Myanmar. Her people, the Lai Tu Chin, are known world-wide for their distinctive spider-web facial tattoos. This pattern helps differentiate them from the other Chin peoples. She began by recalling the day she was tattooed. She really wanted to get it done, as she thought her peers were so beautiful. However, at 9 years of age, she was not quite prepared for the […]
“Tattoos are a way to remember the events of your life.” Kacaw is a native Taiwanese from the Amis Tribe. He moved to Taipei from his home of Hualien to become a tattoo artist. You can find him at Showhand Ink in Taipei City. We sat down with him during our time in Taipei to talk about tattoos and what they mean to him. According to Kacaw, those who have facial tattoos within the tribes must be great people. They […]
“I came down with the rain.” My interview with Tanyang Jayo is hard to get. She is a tenacious soul with an appetite for life that makes her step out the door and work every day despite her age and her family’s constant pestering to keep her home. She is my guide Guddi’s grandmother, Thankfully that has some sway and we finally get to meet her. Her stories and experiences were well worth the wait. As a young lady, she […]