Introduction

According to the sixth national census in 2010, the Achang has a total population of 40,000 in China. The Achang mainly reside in Husa Achang Township, Longchuan County,Lianghe County, Nansong Achang Township and Jiubao Achang Township in Dehong Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. A small number of the Achang people live in our neighboring country Mynma.

The iron tools made by the Achang people are well known. “Husa sword^[24]” is extremely famous. The Achang have integrated with many ethnic groups in its long history of development. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the merchants from north and east part of China entered Yunlong—the Achang living area. In Ming Dynasty,manorial system was put into effect in Yunnan. Large number of the Han people from central China poured into this remote and barren region, which led to a large scale of ethnic assimilation, including the integration ofthe Han and the Achang. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Achang had frequent and communicative interaction with Han,Bai, Dai and other ethnic groups.