Vangteh - History and Legend

History and Legend

In spite of the absence of formal writing system that has caused many to shun from reading the glorious stories of its past, the survival of oral traditions, though, still gives clear evidence, or at least glimpses, of the proud history of Vangteh as being one of the once political centers of the ruling Guite or Nwite (Vuite, Nguite, Gwete, Gwite) family in the region, that its sovereignty in the region was lasted for more than half a millennium (c. AD 1300-1900).

While other tribes and clans were also retaining their chieftainship in their local areas, but none of those could claim the same sovereignty that of the Guite family until the mid 19th century when the allied force of the southern Pois (Pawi) spilled over northward. Accordingly, S. K. Khai made a remark on the once unparalleled sovereignty of the Guite family by differentiating them as "Mang" even to contrast with the later emerging power of the Sukte family that was marked only as "To" in the book. In the native language, "Mang" implies the natural state of sovereignty by means of conscience and "To" implies a struggle for sovereignty by military conquest or force.

This old Vangteh might undoubtedly be one of the most appropriate archeological sites for experts who might want to trace back the story of at least the so-called northerners of the present Chin State (Zogam), who identified themselves more as Zomi as a whole.]]