History of Hmong people
Originally, the Hmong people were immigrants from Tibet, Siberia and Mongolia, before migrating to China 3,000 years ago where they settled down in areas around the Yellow (Huang Ho) River, Kwaijoa, Hunnam, Kwangsi and Yunnan. During the 17th century, the Manju Dynasty (Hmeng) wielded power in China. The King changed policy to suppress Hmong people who refused to practice and believe in the Chinese culture and tradition, because Hmong men have a similar character to Russians which led the Chinese to believe that they were Russian. Another reason was that the Hmong was a barbarian race, and constantly fought each other. Eventually, the Hmong people were defeated and moved to the south of China, separating into small groups. Most of these groups lived on the hills in Sibsongpanna, while another set of immigrants lived on the northeast of the Lao republic around Haihin Dianbianfu.
The Leader, named ‘General Wungpor’ collected Hmong immigrants, and moved to Thailand around 2400 in Buddhism era (c. 1857). Now, Hmong people in Thailand have set up villages on the hills, or the lowlands, around Chiang Rai, Payao, Chiang Mai, Prae, Lampang, Khampang Phet, Loei, Phisanulok, Phetchabun, Tak and Mae Hong Son. The current population of Hmong people stands around 151,080.
