Lisu is one of the tribal groups living in Thailand, with approximately 27,900 Lisu residing in 135 villages in northern Thailand. The Lisu tribe originally came from China and moved to Thailand sometime in the 20th century, and now primarily grow rice and vegetables.
Initially, they cultivated opium poppy, but after a government initiative, the Lisu started selling hand-made objects in the surrounding villages. Since the villages in which they live are close to the village markets, they can earn more money by selling their goods.
Lisu people live in bamboo houses and huts, with each house having an ancient altar. They practice animism and strongly believe in ghosts, performing rituals and ceremonies for their ancestors, spirits of the forest, trees, sun, moon, and everyday objects. They also believe in the guardian spirits of the village, and women are not allowed in the guardian spirit shrines. Despite the modern appearance of some villages with electricity, television, and concrete slab homes, they lead a very traditional Lisu life.
Their clothing is more colorful than that of other tribes, with Lisu women making clothes for their family, mostly handmade and hand-woven. The women wear colorful costumes, consisting of tunics, blue or green knee-length skirts with a wide black belt, and blue or green pants. The sleeves, shoulders, and wrists have narrow horizontal stripes in blue, red, and yellow embroidery. They carry large amounts of hand-crafted silver ornaments for festive occasions. Lisu men produce crossbows, musical instruments, and traps for birds and animals to supplement their income.
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