Talk:Zotung language

Language = Zo Bya Litracy = Zo Ccaaw (Latin Alphabets) Ethnicity = Zo Mingphuin People Group = Tibeto-Burman, Chin-Kuki-Zo Population } 4,8000 - 6,0000 (2012Yr) Region}}}Yezwar and north-eastern of Matupi Township, Chin State

Not having any literacy in the early years to record their history, it is difficult to say how long these people groups are being in existence. We would only be able to trace back the history of these people group by four main clans' lineage from these community: Ccungsung Bawi (Ccungsung Bawi Clan), Razawh Bawi (Razawh or Yezwar Bawi Clan), Tingpaw Bawi (Lungngo's generation of Tingpaw Bawi Clan) and Innmae Bawi (Innmae Bawi Clan). These four clans are the distinct chief clans for these people group in the early history. According to these clans' lineage, these people group have passed a total of six centuries with over 20 generations. From 16th century AD, these people group have created or invented many traditional costumes and composed and sang many traditional songs and dances. These traditional costumes, songs and dances which reveal these people's richness in cultural heritage, were called Zo Thokeinaw (which some people called Zotung Phungtho without studying the real history). Zo Sawlaw is a very distinct and popular dance in these people's festivities. Other major traditional songs and dances are Bawi Pi Hlaw, Ahmaa Hlaw, Sung-U hlaw, Kaepawdue Hlaw, etc.

One of Zo traditional costumes called Ccuelia or ccungnah in Zo bya, and Cungnak in Hakha, became in existence from the ancient story of Tho Khei from Seipi Village. The story said that Tho Khei lived in Seipi village. Ona day, he went to the river to catch fish. But he never came back to the village for Three Years. The villagers thought that he is already dead. Three years later, he reappeared to the village and all the villagers were surprised. They wanted to know how he disappeared and managed to live in the jungle for three years. Then they asked him about his story. Tho Khei refused to answer saying that he was cursed to immediate death if he told his story. But uneducated villagers asked him again and again ignoring his life. At last, Tho khei asked the villagers to prepare all necessary things for his three-day-funeral, and then, explained about his disappearance for three years. He said that he had married with Cui Khozi Nung (Water goddess) and had one daughter. "That water godess had cursed me not to tell about our marriage to others," the villagers. Then Tho Khei passed away. After then, the villagers need to do his funeral for three days according to these people's tradition. At the first night around 2am (after the first cock roosting), all villagers fell asleep but one woman awake. The goddess came to attend Tho Khei's funeral with one small bag and was crying there the whole night by recalling his promise not to tell about their marriage. Before dawn, she went back out from the house. One woman who was not sleeping, was frightened and retold to the villagers how she was trying to wake them up, but no one woke up. In the second night, the same thing had happened and the same woman tried again to wake others up, but could not. At the last night, all the villagers prepared not to fall asleep and pretended to fall asleep. The goddess came again, weeping there for not keeping the promise and for the death of her beloved husband. At once, all the villagers cried and shouted to make her frightened. Then the goddess disappeared from the funeral but she left the bag which she brought along. The woman who saw the goddess in all three nights took the bag and tried to copy all the stripes of that bag by weaving. Then ccuelia became in existence. The story ended. That ccuelia was named as Zo (Thokeinaw) Ukccaw (Zo Traditional Costume).

Whether the above story is true or not, the main point I would like to reveal is the naming of traditional costume as Zo Ukccaw. Secondly, although this traditional costume is used by many tribes, no other tribes has such story to reveal the beginning of these costume. Therefore, these people group in extend can claim that these traditional costume Ccuelia was invented by their fore-mothers.

Therefore, I would like to encourage all the people concerned, to study carefully about over 600 years-old history of these people, and to claim the real name of these people's ethnicity according to historical reveals. Because of the influence by outsiders and the ignorance of history by these people group's new generation, the cultural heritages such as traditional songs, dances and costumes are endangered to be lost. Honesty and Respect to our history are much needed if we are to remain distinct. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Valeitha (talk • contribs) 08:12, 18 August 2012 (UTC)