Ethnos

Shan

The Shan are an ethnic group of Southeast Asia. The Shan live primarily in the Shan State of Myanmar, and in adjacent parts of China, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Shan number approximately 6 million, but a population census has not been taken. The Shan language is part of the Tai languages group of the Tai-Kadai language family, and is related to Thai and Lao. The southern Shan use an alphabet based on the Burmese alphabet.

The Shan dwell mostly on the plains of the Shan Plateau, which is drained by the Salween River. The capital of Shan state is Taunggyi, which is a small city of perhaps 150,000 people.

The Shan are traditionally wet-rice cultivators, shopkeepers, and artisans. Most Shan are Theravada Buddhists and/or observe their traditional religion. ***