Zotung People

Zotung people are one of the ethnic groups in Chin State in Myanmar also known as Burma. It is located in central and southern Chin State. Zotunges are a very distinct ethnic people in Burma. It is very difficult to get historical records of these ethnic people as they didn’t have written languages for many years. However, their history can still be traced back as far as 900 AD since there are place names in traditional songs that reveal the time period they were composed. There are also local folk tale and legends. These people are from a Tibeto-Burman group and are familiar with all other Chin groups. They have their own written language which is unintelligible with other neighboring languages unless they learn it. These people called themselves “Zo” from the early times of their ancestors which can be traced back to 700 years ago. Neighboring tribes from the north and south called them Zo, and the Mara tribe from the west called them Azyu.

From 1933, their language was recorded using the Roman alphabet. It was called “Zoccaw” (Zo Script). Most of these people are farmers and prefer hunting animals for their meals like other Chin groups. In early history, the Zo Minphuins religion was known as Lawki or Sakhua. It was an animistic and pagan religion.