San Chay ethnic group-Vietnam

Name of ethnic group: San Chay (Cao Lan, San Chi, Man Cao Lan, and Hon Ban).
Population: 147,315 people (Year 1999).
Locality: Concentrated in Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, and Bac Giang provinces. Communities of San Chay are also found scattered in Quang Ninh, Yen Bai, Lang Son, and Vinh Phuc provinces.

Customs and habits
Ancestral worship is widely practiced but is influenced by Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Houses are usually built level to the ground. The San Chay house is said to resemble the "Buffalo Genie", the four pillars of the house symbolize the four legs of the buffalo, the paths around the house represent the ribs, and the roof represents the backbone. One of the two corners of the penthouse is usually used as the altar for the ancestors and is regarded as the holiest section of the house.

The San Chay inhabitants belong to various family lineages, each lineage having several branches. The father is the head of the family. After a wedding, the wife lives with her parents and she settles permanently at the husband’s house only after her first childbirth.

Culture
The language of the San Chay is classified with the Tay-Thai Group. The San Chay have many old tales, folksongs, proverbs, and sayings. A particularly popular cultural activity is the "sinh ca", an alternating love song chant. Their musical instruments include castanets, small copper bells, cymbals, wind instruments, and drums.

Costumes
The modern attire of the San Chay tends to resemble the Kinh or Tay.

Economy
The San Chay cultivates wet rice and agriculture, which plays an important role in their livelihood.

Other Vietnam Ethnic Groups:

[Xtieng ethnic group][Xo dang ethnic group][Xinh - mun ethnic group][Tho ethnic group][ Thai ethnic group][Ta Oi ethnic group][Tay ethnic group][Si La ethnic group][San Diu ethnic group][San Chay ethnic group][Ro mam ethnic group][Ra Glai ethnic group][Pu Peo ethnic group][Phu La ethnic group][Pa Then ethnic group][O du ethnic group][Nung ethnic group][Ngai ethnic group][Muong ethnic group][M’Nong ethnic group][Mong (H’Mong) ethnic group][Ma ethnic group][Lu ethnic group][Lo Lo ethnic group][Lao ethnic group][La Hu ethnic group][ La Ha ethnic group][La chi ethnic group][Viet (Kinh) ethnic group][Kho Mu ethnic group][Khmer ethnic group][Khang ethnic group][Hre ethnic group][Hoa ethnic group][Ha Nhi ethnic group][Gie Trieng ethnic group][Gia Rai ethnic group][Giay ethnic group][E De ethnic group][Dao ethnic group][Co Tu ethnic group][Co Lao ethnic group][Co Ho ethnic group][Cong ethnic group][Co ethnic group][Chut ethnic group][Chu Ru ethnic group][Cho Ro ethnic group][Cham ethnic group][Bru - Van Kieu ethnic group][Brau ethnic group][Bo Y ethnic group][Ba Na ethnic group]