China Postcard: Lisu Ethnic Wedding

The Lisu are one of the smallest ethnic groups in northern Thailand. They comprise about 4 percent of the total hilltribe population with more than 90 percent of the Lisu living in the provinces of Chiangmai, Chiangrai and Mae Hong Sorn.

They are relatively new to Thailand with two subdivisions of the tribe crossing over from Burma as recently as the 1920's. Their fundamental outlook on life is what is referred to as 'Primacy' and this very colorful ethnic group goes to great lengths to maintain patrimonial clans within the tribes, and kinship relationships are based on family, extending in increasingly