Chang Naga
Encyclopedia
Chang is a Naga
of Nagaland
, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.
The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai (Khiamniungan), Changru (Yimchunger
), Duenching (upper Konyak), Machungrr (Ao), Mochumi (Sema) and Mojung (Konyak).
tree), after a mythical banyan tree that grew at the now-abandoned Changsang.
Another theory says that the Chang migrated to present-day Nagaland from the east, and therefore call themselves Chang ("Eastern" in the local dialect).
Some Changs also claim the Aos as their ancestors. The Chang folklore is similar to that of the Ao.
. Their principal village was Mozungjami in Tuensang, from which the tribe expanded to the other villages.
According to the 2001 figures, their population was 16,075.
Chang clans (phangs), each with a traditional religious function.
Kangshau (or Kangcho)
Ong (or Ang/Ung)
Hongang (or Haongang)
Lamou (or Lumao/Lomou)
According to the Chang mythology, their ancestors lived with wild animals, some of which have assumed the status of clan spirits. The Ong clan regards the tiger
as a clan spirts, while the others regard wild cats and birds (crows and eagles) as spirits.
Braja Bihari Kumara (2005) lists five Chang clans: Chongpo, Ung, Lumao, Kangcho and Kudamji. The Chongpo is further divided into Shangdi, Hangwang, Hagiyung, Ungpong and Maava clans.
Historically, the clans were anchored to non-overlapping areas within the village (khel), and lived in harmony. The traditional Chang khels were were well-protected and fortified.
in the pre-British era. The person with maximum number of hunted heads was given the position of lakpu (chief), who would settle the village disputes. He was entitled to maintain special decorative marks in his house, and to wear special ceremonial dress during the festivals.
After the headhunting was abolished, the village disputes were resolved by a council of informally elected village leaders. Such councils also selected the fields for jhum cultivation
, and fixed the festival dates.
The Changs constructed a platformed called "Mullang Shon" in the center of the village, which would serve as a public court. Issues such as village administration, cultivation, festivals, marriages and land boundaries were discussed on this platform.
The State Government of Nagaland later established Village Development Boards in all the villages. The Village Development Board consists of 5-6 members, including one female member. It executes the development schemes in the village. The statutory village council consists of 6-7 adult males from different clans or territories (khels). This council maintains peace and order in the village, settles civil disputes according to the traditional laws, arranges for arrest of criminals and enforces the Government regulations. A higher-level area council comprises members elected by the village councils. The area council settles the inter-village disputes, and implements the welfare schemes.
The official interpreters (dobhashis) are recruited from important villages by the Deputy Commissioner of the district. These dobhashis help settle tribal cases, and fix the fine rates for some of the cases. The traditional village judges (youkubu) also help resolve the land disputes.
s. However, the Chang tribals were originally animists. They believed in a continuity between the humans, the nature and the supernatural forces. They do not worship any family, clan or village deities. But, they believe in several nature spirits (water, sky, jungle etc.) The most important spirit is Sampule Mukhao (or Shambuli Muhgha), the spirit of the paddy field. Traditionally, the Ongbou (the village priest from the Ong clan) performed major sacrifices during the festivals.
The Chang conversions to Christianity started in 1936, and the Chang Naga Baptist Association was formed in 1940.
is used for communicating with the outsiders. The educated Changs also speak English and Hindi languages.
-like garments and ornamented headgear. Colonel Ved Prakash mentions that the Chang shawls "surpass all the Naga shawls in beauty and eye-catching patterns". The shawl designs are different for different age groups and clans. Mohnei, a cowrie-ornamented shawl, could be worn only by a man who had taken more than 6 heads.
s. The traditional instruments have been replaced by guitar
among the modern Changs.
s are permitted.
in a big way. They have six traditional festivals:
On the first day, the domestic animals are slaughtered, the villages are cleaned, and firewood
and water are stocked.
On the second day (Youjem, dark moon day), the tribals exchange gifts and food items, and play sports. Women play a musical instrument called kongkhin. The paths and the houses are decorated with leaves, and a shrub called Ngounaam is planted in front of the house to ward off the evil spirits. At sunset, seeds called Vui long are buried inside the paddy
husks and burnt around the house. The fragments of the exploding seeds moving away from the house are considered a good omen. If the fragments bound back towards the house, it is a bad omen. People don't go out of their homes at sunset, as it is believed that the spirit Shambuli Muhgha visits the village, and harms anyone outside the house.
On the third day, the village and the approach roads are cleaned. Later, the paths leading to the fields and neighbouring villages are cleaned.
is practiced. Rice, millets, Job's Tears
, pulses and vegetables are the main crops. Trade and business were practiced mainly as subsidiary occupations.
The Changs carried out barter trade with the other tribes (Yimchunger
s, Khiamngan, Ao and Konyak), exchanging shawls and other garments for the things they needed. Crafts such as wood-carving, spinning, weaving, pottery and basketry are also pursued.
Naga people
The term Naga people refers to a conglomeration of several tribes inhabiting the North Eastern part of India and north-western Burma. The tribes have similar cultures and traditions, and form the majority ethnic group in the Indian state of Nagaland...
of Nagaland
Nagaland
Nagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.
The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai (Khiamniungan), Changru (Yimchunger
Yimchunger
- History :According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave...
), Duenching (upper Konyak), Machungrr (Ao), Mochumi (Sema) and Mojung (Konyak).
Origin
According to oral tradition, the Changs emerged from a place called Changsangmongko, and later settled at Changsang. The word Chang is said to have derived the word chognu (banyanBanyan
A banyan is a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree...
tree), after a mythical banyan tree that grew at the now-abandoned Changsang.
Another theory says that the Chang migrated to present-day Nagaland from the east, and therefore call themselves Chang ("Eastern" in the local dialect).
Some Changs also claim the Aos as their ancestors. The Chang folklore is similar to that of the Ao.
Demographics
The traditional territory of the Changs lies in the central Tuensang districtTuensang District
Tuensang District is the largest and the eastern most district of Nagaland, a state in North-East India. Its headquarters is Tuensang.-History:...
. Their principal village was Mozungjami in Tuensang, from which the tribe expanded to the other villages.
According to the 2001 figures, their population was 16,075.
Divisions
Hamlet Bareh (2010) lists four major exogamousExogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
Chang clans (phangs), each with a traditional religious function.
Kangshau (or Kangcho)
- The Chang mythology states that the Kangshau were the first to arrive on the Earth, and therefore they are placed highest in the social hierarchy.
Ong (or Ang/Ung)
- Ong is placed below Kangshau in the social hierarchy, and the village priest (Ongbou or Ungshedbou) is selected from this clan.
Hongang (or Haongang)
- The Hongangs are below the Ongs in the hierarchy. The Hongang elders announce the date and time for the village festivals.
Lamou (or Lumao/Lomou)
- The Lamou are placed lowest in the social hierarchy. The Lamou elders announce the dates of agricultural activities.
According to the Chang mythology, their ancestors lived with wild animals, some of which have assumed the status of clan spirits. The Ong clan regards the tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
as a clan spirts, while the others regard wild cats and birds (crows and eagles) as spirits.
Braja Bihari Kumara (2005) lists five Chang clans: Chongpo, Ung, Lumao, Kangcho and Kudamji. The Chongpo is further divided into Shangdi, Hangwang, Hagiyung, Ungpong and Maava clans.
Historically, the clans were anchored to non-overlapping areas within the village (khel), and lived in harmony. The traditional Chang khels were were well-protected and fortified.
Administration
The Chang, like several other Naga tribes, practiced headhuntingHeadhunting
Headhunting is the practice of taking a person's head after killing them. Headhunting was practised in historic times in parts of China, India, Nigeria, Nuristan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Micronesia, Melanesia, New Zealand, and the Amazon Basin, as...
in the pre-British era. The person with maximum number of hunted heads was given the position of lakpu (chief), who would settle the village disputes. He was entitled to maintain special decorative marks in his house, and to wear special ceremonial dress during the festivals.
After the headhunting was abolished, the village disputes were resolved by a council of informally elected village leaders. Such councils also selected the fields for jhum cultivation
Jhum cultivation
Jhum or Jhoom cultivation is a local name for slash and burn agriculture practiced by the tribal groups in the northeastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also in the districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet...
, and fixed the festival dates.
The Changs constructed a platformed called "Mullang Shon" in the center of the village, which would serve as a public court. Issues such as village administration, cultivation, festivals, marriages and land boundaries were discussed on this platform.
The State Government of Nagaland later established Village Development Boards in all the villages. The Village Development Board consists of 5-6 members, including one female member. It executes the development schemes in the village. The statutory village council consists of 6-7 adult males from different clans or territories (khels). This council maintains peace and order in the village, settles civil disputes according to the traditional laws, arranges for arrest of criminals and enforces the Government regulations. A higher-level area council comprises members elected by the village councils. The area council settles the inter-village disputes, and implements the welfare schemes.
The official interpreters (dobhashis) are recruited from important villages by the Deputy Commissioner of the district. These dobhashis help settle tribal cases, and fix the fine rates for some of the cases. The traditional village judges (youkubu) also help resolve the land disputes.
Religion
, about 80% of the Changs were ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
s. However, the Chang tribals were originally animists. They believed in a continuity between the humans, the nature and the supernatural forces. They do not worship any family, clan or village deities. But, they believe in several nature spirits (water, sky, jungle etc.) The most important spirit is Sampule Mukhao (or Shambuli Muhgha), the spirit of the paddy field. Traditionally, the Ongbou (the village priest from the Ong clan) performed major sacrifices during the festivals.
The Chang conversions to Christianity started in 1936, and the Chang Naga Baptist Association was formed in 1940.
Language
The Changs speak the Chang language, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. NagameseNagamese
Nagamese is a creole used in Nagaland. It is based on Assamese. Since Nagaland is inhabited by people belonging to different Naga tribes speaking languages which are mutually unintelligible, Nagamese is the preferred form of communication for all. It is used in the Nagaland Legislature, as a...
is used for communicating with the outsiders. The educated Changs also speak English and Hindi languages.
Clothing
After the advent of Christianity, several Changs have adopted modern clothing. The traditional Chang dress features distinctive shawlShawl
A shawl is a simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, and sometimes also over the head. It is usually a rectangular or square piece of cloth, that is often folded to make a triangle but can also be triangular in shape...
-like garments and ornamented headgear. Colonel Ved Prakash mentions that the Chang shawls "surpass all the Naga shawls in beauty and eye-catching patterns". The shawl designs are different for different age groups and clans. Mohnei, a cowrie-ornamented shawl, could be worn only by a man who had taken more than 6 heads.
Cuisine
The traditional Chang cuisine is non-vegetarian, and comprises a variety of meats and fish. Rice is the staple food of the tribe. Milk, fruits and vegetables were not a major part of the traditional Chang food habits, but have been adopted widely in the modern times. Rice beer used to be of high social and ritual importance, but has largely been abandoned after the conversion of Changs to Christianity.Music
The traditional instruments include xylophone, various drums (made by stretching animal hide), bamboo trumpets and bamboo fluteBamboo flute
Flutes made of bamboo are found in many musical traditions.Some bamboo flutes include:Flute Country of Origin Atenteben Bashi Bansuri Chi Dizi Daegeum...
s. The traditional instruments have been replaced by guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
among the modern Changs.
Social practices
The traditional Chang society is patrilineal, and the males inherit the land and the positions of authority. Nuclear families are predominant in the Chang society. The marriage is called chakenbu, and remarriageRemarriage
Remarriage is a marriage that takes place after a previous marital union has ended, as through divorce or widowhood.Some individuals are more likely to remarry than others; the likelihood can differ based on previous relationship status , level of interest in establishing a new romantic...
s are permitted.
Festivals
Being Christians, the modern Changs celebrate ChristmasChristmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
in a big way. They have six traditional festivals:
| Festival | Time | Monitored by the clan | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naknyu Lem (or Naknyulum) | July-August | Ung | Festival dates are fixed 2 days ahead. Naknyu Lem is a 6-day festival during which the dead are honored and the sky god/spirit is appeased. Marriages are prohibited during the period. Household fires are lit during the night. |
| Po-anglum or Poang Lem | December | Haongang | Festival dates are fixed 6 days ahead. |
| Jeinyu Lem | Haongang | Festival dates are fixed 6 days ahead. | |
| Muong Lem | Ung | Festival dates are fixed 6 days ahead. | |
| Monyu Lem | Ung | Festival dates are fixed 6 days ahead. | |
| Kundang Lem (or Kundanglum) | April/July | Haongang | Festival dates are fixed 5 days ahead. Kundang Lem is a five-day festival. The first three days are spent collecting the construction material for field huts in the Jhum cultivated area. The material is tested on the fourth day, and the huts are collectively constructed on the fifth day. The festival ends with feasting. |
Naknyu Lem
Naknyu Lem is the major traditional festival of the Changs. According to the Chang mythology, the ancient people had to remain inside their homes for six days due to extreme darkness. Naknyu Lem is held to celebrate the light on the seventh day.On the first day, the domestic animals are slaughtered, the villages are cleaned, and firewood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
and water are stocked.
On the second day (Youjem, dark moon day), the tribals exchange gifts and food items, and play sports. Women play a musical instrument called kongkhin. The paths and the houses are decorated with leaves, and a shrub called Ngounaam is planted in front of the house to ward off the evil spirits. At sunset, seeds called Vui long are buried inside the paddy
Paddy
Paddy may refer to:*Paddy , a World War II carrier pigeon*Paddy , a comic strip*Paddy field, a type of cultivated land*Paddy Whiskey, a liquor*Patrick , including people with the name*Padraic, including people with the name...
husks and burnt around the house. The fragments of the exploding seeds moving away from the house are considered a good omen. If the fragments bound back towards the house, it is a bad omen. People don't go out of their homes at sunset, as it is believed that the spirit Shambuli Muhgha visits the village, and harms anyone outside the house.
On the third day, the village and the approach roads are cleaned. Later, the paths leading to the fields and neighbouring villages are cleaned.
Economy
Agriculture is the traditional occupation of the tribe, and jhum cultivationJhum cultivation
Jhum or Jhoom cultivation is a local name for slash and burn agriculture practiced by the tribal groups in the northeastern states of India like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and also in the districts of Bangladesh like Khagrachari and Sylhet...
is practiced. Rice, millets, Job's Tears
Job's Tears
Job's Tears , Coixseed, Tear Grass, adlay, or adlai, is a tall grain-bearing tropical plant of the family Poaceae native to Southeast Asia but elsewhere cultivated in gardens as an annual. It has been naturalized in the southern United States and the New World tropics...
, pulses and vegetables are the main crops. Trade and business were practiced mainly as subsidiary occupations.
The Changs carried out barter trade with the other tribes (Yimchunger
Yimchunger
- History :According to the Yimchunger tradition, the tribe emerged at a village called Moru, and then came to the Jure village. The Yimchungers and the Khiamungans are believed to have migrated to the present-day Nagaland from Upper Burma as one group, in one wave...
s, Khiamngan, Ao and Konyak), exchanging shawls and other garments for the things they needed. Crafts such as wood-carving, spinning, weaving, pottery and basketry are also pursued.