Shan People; Shan State

The name Shan is given to people who call themselves Tai Yai, and derives from the old word for Thailand, “Siam.” The Shan live in a large hilly region that stretches from southwestern Yunnan into Kachin State and across the whole of Shan State into the northern hills of Thailand. There are a number of subgroups of Tai Yai, but all speak a Tai language, and like other Tai peoples (Thai, Lao, Dong, Tai Koen, Tai Lu, etc.) are traditionally rice-growing agriculturalists known for their strong social and political organization.