Tai Peoples

The Tai peoples originated in Southern China and then some of them moved down into Southeast Asia, following the Mekong, Red, and other rivers. Anthropologists describe them as highly socially organized rice-growing cultures who settled in fertile river valleys. They speak related languages that have diverged to varying degrees over the centuries. In modern times, the Thais, northern Thais, Lao, Tai Yai (Shan), Tai Koen, Tai Yuan (of northern Laos), Tai Dam, Tai Lu and others all live outside China, while within China the peoples named Dai and Dong are also Tai.