Jingpo people
The Jingpo people[a] (Burmese: ဂျိန်းဖော; Chinese: 景颇族; pinyin: Jǐngpō zú; siŋphou) are an ethnic group who are the largest subgroup of the Kachin peoples. The greater name for all the Kachin peoples in their own Jingpo language is the Jinghpaw. Other endonyms include Zaiwa, Lechi, Lisu, Maru, Hkahku etc.[4][b]
For broader ethnic groups, see Kachin people.The Kachin people are an ethnic affinity of several tribal groups, known for their fierce independence, disciplined fighting skills, complex clan inter-relations, craftsmanship, herbal healing and jungle survival skills. Other neighbouring residents of Kachin State include the Shans (Thai/Lao related), the Lisus, the Rawangs, and the Bamar, the latter forming the largest ethnic group in Burma. In China, the Jingpo form one of the 55 ethnic minorities, where they numbered 147,828 people in the 2010 census.
Religion[edit]
Jingpo folk religion worships various gods as well as the spirits of their ancestors. The ancestor of all the Jingpo, who is worshipped as a spirit or god, is held to be named Madai. Jingpo Animists believe that spirits reside everywhere, from the sun to the animals, and that these spirits bring good or bad luck. For the Jingpo, all living creatures are believed to have souls. Rituals are carried out for protection in almost all daily activities, from planting of crops to warfare.
The majority of Singphos in India follow Theravāda Buddhism. Christianity is also one of the religions among the Jingpo. Around 90% of the Jingpo people in Myanmar follow Christianity, while the remaining 10% are Animists or Theravada Buddhist.[5]