Phula Culture

How do they live? The Phula build their homes on mountainsides in the North Vietnam highlands. They like to keep their homes and domestic livestock a good distance from the paddy fields, so that the animals do not destroy their crops. They often live in areas near the Hmong, Dao and Hoa (Han Chinese) people, particularly in Lao Cai province, Bac Ha District. Their houses may be built on stilts or on the ground, depending on the particular subgroup of the Phula. The Phu La Han, in particular, prefer to build houses on the ground.

House. The main entrance door is always on a side wall of stilt houses, but if the house is on the ground, the front door is in the center of the front wall (facing downhill). The altar to the ancestors is located in the central room of the house. The Phula often put a small door near the altar, less than a foot wide, called the “door of the spirits”. This door is only opened during ceremonies to honor the ancestors and invite their presence and blessing. They also build a separate granary, or storage house to prevent the loss of their food if the house catches on fire. Since they use open fires with only a small hearth protecting the wooden floor, fire is a constant danger. Normally, they only keep one or two day’s supply of food in the main house. They usually eat two main meals a day: breakfast and an evening meal. The noon meal is a light lunch, usually eaten in the field.

Social structure. The leader of the village is usually the sorcerer or shaman. This is always a highly respected elder, who makes all the major decisions for the village. Phula villages have a tradition of mutual assistance. If a man helps another in the fields, he accepts no pay except for an evening meal. Most villages consists of one or two family lineages, each of which is further broken down into two or more branches. Each branch has traditional social obligations, which vary from one to another. For example, one branch may have the duty of providing fresh meat for ritual sacrifice, while another branch may have to provide salted meat. The patriarchal nuclear family is the backbone of Phula society. Children take the father’s name.

Marriage. Marriage is allowed between those of the same family, but not from the same branch of the family. After marriage, the young couple lives with the husband’s family. The decision to marry is left to the young people themselves. When they have agreed to marry, they notify their parents of their decision. Usually a family feast is held, and the decision to allow the wedding is given at that time. The wedding may be held immediately or may be delayed for years, depending on the resources of the groom’s family. A dowry must be paid to the bride’s family, consisting of practical household items, such as knives, axes, livestock, seed, blankets, cooking pots and pottery. Wedding presents from the groom to his new parents-in-law are expected. These might include new clothing, silver jewelry, many pounds of meat, jars of alcohol. As soon as the dowry and presents are provided, the wedding ceremony can be held. The wedding is simple and brief.

Birth. The birth customs are similar to other ethnic groups of the area in which they reside. Women give birth in a seated position. The placenta is saved and buried under the bed or next to the central house pillar. After a birth, strangers are not allowed in the house for three days. A distinctive signpost is placed before the door to warn strangers away. The sign looks like a conical hat on a stick or a black post covered with leaves. The shaman holds a naming ceremony 12 days after birth. Each child is given two names: one for everyday use, and a sacred name used to worship the ancestors, and to be used when the person is worshipped after death.

Arts. The Phula have musical instruments similar to that of other ethnic groups, such as the Hmong. They mainly employ drums and trumpets. They have a wealth of folklore, to include epic tales, lyrical songs (traditionally performed at weddings and festivals), proverbial sayings full of wisdom, and a complex code of conduct. They also have dances which are performed on special occasions. TheTxin Chi Ba dance is performed on a selected date one or two months before the rice is sown, usually by young people of the village. They also enjoy folk dances of the Thai people group. Children enjoy traditional games such as swings, kickball, hide-and-go-seek, and top spinning. Quite often, adults will join their children in these forms of amusement.

Livelihood The Phula grow rice and corn as their main food crops, but beans and other vegetables are important. Some (but not all) subgroups grow their crops on irrigated terraces, and those that do cultivate wet rice. Most raise at least some of their crops on upland fields, practicing slash and burn cultivation. All Phula raise domestic animals. Hogs, goats, and chickens are reared for meat and for ritual sacrifice. They also keep oxen and horses for draft and pack animals. Where wet rice is grown in paddies, they have water buffalo. Agriculture is supplemented by hunting and fishing. Phula men are excellent hunters, who make crossbows and poisoned arrows to take game. They also make craft items of bamboo and rattan. They make alcohol for home consumption. They also grow cotton, spin thread and weave their own cloth. Sticky rice and fish is a staple food. They also enjoy fried meat with spices, chile, and vegetables.