The Unique Culture of the Mishmi Deng People in Nyingchi Zayü County

Deng (Mishmi) People of Zayü County: A Rare Ethnic Culture in Eastern Tibet

Zayü County, located in eastern Tibet, is one of the most culturally diverse regions on the Tibetan Plateau. Among its most distinctive communities are the Deng (Mishmi) people, also known as the Dengba people. Recognized as one of the smallest ethnic groups in Tibet, the Deng (Mishmi) culture preserves a way of life deeply connected to nature, spiritual belief, and ancestral tradition.

According to the 2020 population census, around 1,600 Deng people live in Zayü County. Locally, Tibetans refer to them as Yidu Lhoba, and they are mainly settled in villages between Upper Zayü and Lower Zayü, with Shaqiong Village being the most accessible and culturally representative settlement.

Who Are the Deng (Mishmi) People?

The Deng (Mishmi) people belong to the Sino-Tibetan language family, specifically the Tibeto-Burman branch. Their spoken language is unique, and traditionally, they did not use a written script. Instead, they recorded important events through knot tying and wood carving, a rare cultural practice that reflects their close relationship with memory, craftsmanship, and oral history.

Shaqiong Village in Lower Zayü serves as an important cultural center. Its exhibition hall displays traditional tools, hunting equipment, and costumes, offering visitors a rare opportunity to understand the daily life and heritage of the Deng (Mishmi) people.

Language and Spiritual Beliefs of the Deng (Mishmi)

Bilingual Communication

Due to long-term interaction with Han Chinese and Tibetan communities, many Deng people today are bilingual, speaking both Mandarin Chinese and Tibetan, while still preserving their native Mishmi language within the community.

Animism and Shamanic Rituals

The spiritual world of the Deng (Mishmi) people is rooted in animism. They believe that all natural elements—mountains, rivers, animals, and forests—possess spirits. Illness, disasters, or misfortune are often seen as the result of displeased or malevolent spirits.

To restore balance, shamans known as “Gua” or “Ge Bu Ying” conduct rituals involving chanting and animal sacrifices, praying for peace, health, and prosperity. These practices remain an essential part of Deng spiritual life.

Traditional Lifestyle and Agriculture in Zayü County

Farming Practices

The Deng (Mishmi) people are traditionally agriculture-based, using two main sowing techniques:

• Spot sowing
• Broadcast sowing

Their farming methods are simple but highly adapted to the mountainous environment of Zayü County.

Wild Honey and Food Culture

Wild honey is one of the most valued local products. In daily life, chicken claw grain—often seasoned with chili—is a staple dish. Rodent meat, though unfamiliar to outsiders, is considered a delicacy served to honored guests, reflecting traditional hospitality.

Marriage and Social Structure

Deng society follows a patrilineal and monogamous marriage system. Both men and women openly enjoy smoking and drinking, and tobacco pipes are common personal items.

Traditional Dress and Cultural Identity

Men’s Clothing and Accessories

Deng men typically wear:

• Long black sleeveless wraps
• Large silver earrings
• A machete, carried at all times as both a tool and a defensive weapon

They do not wear trousers. Instead, a piece of cotton or hemp cloth is used for modesty. Long hair is common, and going barefoot is part of traditional life.

Women’s Clothing and Jewelry

Tibetan communities call Deng women “Na Hong,” meaning “big earlobes,” due to their striking silver earrings. Women traditionally wear:

• Short, tight tops covering only the chest
• Long tube skirts
• Large silver hoop earrings
• Silver forehead bands, hair pins, and necklaces

Clothing is woven from wild or cultivated hemp, sometimes dyed red or black and decorated with geometric patterns. Cotton fabric may also be traded and used.

Tobacco Culture and Craftsmanship

Both men and women enjoy tobacco, often carried in bamboo or silver pipes intricately carved with patterns. These pipes are not only functional but also reflect Deng artistry and aesthetic values.

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Zayü County

Several aspects of Deng culture have received official recognition:

• Deng traditional clothing is listed as national intangible cultural heritage
• Deng silver jewelry craftsmanship is recognized as regional intangible cultural heritage in Tibet
• Zayü Wooden Bowl Making Technique
• Zayü Ancient Jade Fruit Harmony

Deng silver jewelry is highly valued not only by the Mishmi Deng people but also by Tibetans and Naxi communities, with each piece crafted as a unique cultural expression.

Traditional Houses, Marriage, and Funeral Customs

The Deng (Mishmi) people are also known for their two-story stilt houses, designed to suit the humid and mountainous environment of Zayü County. Their marriage customs and funeral rituals reflect deep respect for ancestors, nature, and spiritual continuity, preserving a cultural system that has remained largely unchanged for generations.

Culinary Delights of the Deng (Mishmi) People in Zayü County

Although Zayü County appears small in size, its food culture is surprisingly rich and diverse. Influenced by Tibetan, Sichuan, and Yunnan cuisines, local dining reflects both the region’s geography and its ethnic heritage.

In Deng (Mishmi) villages, one of the most distinctive traditional dishes is hand-pulled chicken rice, served on fresh banana leaves. The meal is typically accompanied by homemade chili sauce and chicken claw millet wine, offering a bold and earthy flavor unique to eastern Tibet.

A special cultural detail lies in how chicken gizzards and livers are carefully preserved and reserved for honored guests. This practice symbolizes the highest level of respect and hospitality in Deng (Mishmi) society, reflecting the community’s strong traditions of guest treatment and social bonds.

Chronicles of Zayü County: A Historical Overview

Zayü County has played an important administrative and strategic role throughout Tibetan history.

• During the Tubo (Tibetan Empire) period, an official administrative office was established in Zayü.
• Under the Phagmodrupa (Phaktu) Dynasty, the authority founded Komei Zong, appointing Sichen Gyantsen as the first Zongben (county head).
• In 1912, Komei County was officially formed, with its county seat later moved to Jigong, under the jurisdiction of the Kashag’s Chamdo General Office.
• In 1954, the region came under Chamdo Prefecture.
• By 1960, it was renamed Sang’ang Qu Zong County, with the county seat relocated to Chitong Laka in Lower Zayü, administered by the Chamdo Region.

These changes reflect Zayü’s evolving role within Tibet’s administrative and political landscape.

Traditional Stilt Houses of the Deng (Mishmi)

Architecture Shaped by Environment

The Deng (Mishmi) people live in distinctive two-story stilt houses, elevated about half a person’s height above the ground. This design protects against moisture, wild animals, and uneven terrain.

• Upper floor: Living quarters for the family
• Lower floor: Shelter for livestock

The elongated structure resembles a train’s hard sleeper carriage, featuring:

• Storage rooms at both ends
• A corridor running along one side
• Individual rooms divided by bamboo or wooden partitions

Roofs are gabled, covered with grass or wooden planks, and include windows for natural light. Each room measures approximately 9 square meters.

Cultural Rules Inside the Home

Doors are gender-specific:

• East door: for men
• West door: for women

Male guests may only enter the guest room, while female guests can move freely inside the house. Animal skulls are often mounted on the main doorframe, believed to ward off evil spirits and protect the household.

Marriage Customs of the Deng (Mishmi)

Monogamy and Social Rules

Traditionally, the Deng (Mishmi) follow a monogamous marriage system, with strict rules:

• Marriage is forbidden between people of the same surname
• Marriage is prohibited between relatives on the father’s side
• Cross-cousin marriage (through the mother’s side) is allowed

Marriage proposals are arranged through a mediator, and the dowry commonly includes barley, cattle, pigs, chickens, and dried meat.

Wedding Rituals

During weddings, the bride and groom sit at the center of the house while relatives and friends dance, sing, and offer blessings. These celebrations emphasize community unity and ancestral continuity.

Historical Practice of Polygamy

In earlier times, polygamy existed among wealthier families. The number of wives depended on household wealth, with dowries ranging from one to several cattle.

• The head wife lived closest to the husband
• Other wives were arranged according to rank
• The husband signaled his choice for the night by hanging a bear-skin bag on the chosen wife’s door

Funeral Practices and Beliefs of the Deng (Mishmi)

Burial and Cremation Traditions

The Deng (Mishmi) practice both burial and cremation, but water burial is strictly forbidden.

A common burial method is the “curled-up burial”, where:

• The body is placed in a fetal position
• Knees are drawn to the chest
• Hands are clenched under the chin or beside the neck

Grains such as corn, barley, and chicken claw grain are placed on the chest as provisions for the afterlife. The body is wrapped in bamboo mats or clothing.

Ritual Process

In some traditions:

• The body is kept in a small shed near the home for 4–5 nights
• A shaman performs rituals
• The body is cremated in wasteland
• Ashes are buried two days later

Another ancient method involves placing the body inside a hollowed log, buried with a hemp rope leading to the surface. After one year:

• A loose rope means the spirit has departed
• A tight rope requires exhumation, cremation, and reburial

Modern Changes

Today, burial in wooden coffins has become more common, placed directly into the ground without a raised mound. During mourning, the entire village halts work, and the family prepares pigs, chickens, and alcohol for mourners as a final act of respect.