中国西南边疆的变迁与缅甸掸族的由来

The Changes of the Frontier Region of Southwest China and the Origin of the Shans in Burma

缅甸的掸族与中国的傣族本为同一民族,今天我们所见到的缅甸掸族,是在中国西南边疆的变迁和缅甸封建王朝的北扩这一历史背景下,促使该民族群体中的一部分逐渐形成于缅甸境内。虽然他们在社会经济和文化的某些方面与中国的傣族有所不同,但还有许多方面依然很相似。而且直到今天,居住在缅甸的掸族依然还自称傣族。

The Shan nationality in Burma and the Dai nationality in southwestern China have a shared ethnic origin. With the changes of the frontier region of southwest China and the northward expansion of the Burmese feudal dynasty, some of the Dais formed the Shans in Burma. Though the Shans are somewhat different from the Dais in China in terms of economy, society and culture, they are very similar in other aspects. Actually the Shans in Burma still call themselves Tai（Dai） today.