The Lang family system in muong traditional society (through a field study conducted in Thach Thanh district, Thanh Hoa province)

Abstract

The relationship between Nhà Lang "the Lang family” and the Muong ethnic minority in Muong traditional society was characterized by a distinctive egalitarian ethos. While the Lang family held the position of ruling elite, they were simultaneously bound by obligations to the populace within their domain. Unlike the feudalistic landlord class prevalent in Vietnamese (Kinh) society, Nhà Lang exhibited unique attributes, representing the interests of both their own class and the Muong ethnic minority. The Lang family was responsible for providing assistance to the Muong people during periods of hardship, such as droughts, crop failures, and famines. They also undertook significant communal tasks and were entrusted with organizing important rituals in Muong life. Furthermore, the Lang family was subject to the customs and laws of the Muong people, and their authority could be contested if they failed to fulfill their duties effectively. Thus, the Lang Dynasty regime constituted a distinctive cultural feature of the Muong people, embodying a unique equilibrium between authority and accountability.