A village of the Lanten people
The Lanten people living in the most remote mountainous areas of Northern and Central Laos.
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These people originally came from China, and have their own script, similar to Chinese. The women wear black clothes, which are coloured using natural dyes. The men and younger people mostly wear modern t-shirts and trousers. The people here believe in animism. The village has an Elder, who makes all the important decisions, and a shaman, who is responsible for spiritual matters.
The Lanten still make hand-made paper – mostly to sell as souvenirs.
The modern-day shaman’s house has ancient manuscripts, which are kept in trunks in the roofspace.
One of the shaman’s most important possession is his seal, which is passed down by inheritance.
