24/11/2018
Traditional House of Daai Chin
Daai (Yindu) people who live in southern part of Chin hills, western side of Myanmar built their houses in a scattered settlement pattern in primitive time. Today their houses are built altogether to face the sunrise as everyone considers the eastern side holy according to their traditional and religious beliefs.
For the construction of the traditional Daai Chin house, the wooden carved posts are erected and the creepers are used to tie firmly as to that of nails are used today. The floor and wall of house are made of bamboo and thatch or bamboo stem leaves are used for roofing. Houses are traditionally rectangular in shape and the side varies from 3 to 4 fathoms in breadth and 5 to 6 fathoms in length. The side of the house actually depends on the wealth, the family members and the high status of house owner. The type of construction and the fashion of the house are different in design from tribe to tribe. The house usually has family hall along with kitchen, and mats made of bamboo and cane strips are placed in attic. In fact, there is a small room like corridor on side of the house where baskets, weaving materials, other household items are stored. In the front porch, some livestock are kept at night in primitive time and then the pounding table and pestles used for husking rice. In this front porch, there are the skulls of the sacrificial and hunted animals hung on wall so as to indicate the richness and the high status of the house owner in society.
Four-footed animals like cattle and pigs are raised and kept under the house to protect from wild animals attacks as the house is built half raised floor from the ground. Patio is extended outside the house with bamboo floor and banisters, used for relaxing, merry making when festivals (like Feast of Merit) are held and for displaying the rice and food articles in fine weather. Patio is connected with wooden ladder to the ground for comings and goings.
Photos credit to - original uploader