Chang Naga

Chang

Regions with significant populations
Nagaland, India	16,075 (2001)
Languages
Chang language
Religion
Christianity (99.45%), Hinduism (0.37%)
Related ethnic groups
Other Naga tribes

Chang is a Naga of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes.

The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga tribes know the Changs by different names including Changhai (Khiamniungan), Changru (Yimchunger), Duenching (upper Konyak), Machungrr (Ao), Mochumi (Sema) and Mojung (Konyak).

According to oral tradition, the Changs emerged from a place called Changsangmongko, and later settled at Changsang. The word Chang is said to have been derived the word chognu (banyan tree), after a mythical banyan tree that grew at the now-abandoned Changsang.

Another theory says that the Chang migrated to present-day Nagaland from the east, and therefore call themselves Chang ("Eastern" in the local dialect).

Some Changs also claim the Aos as their ancestors. The Chang folklore is similar to that of the Ao.

The traditional territory of the Changs lies in the central Tuensang district. Their principal village was Mozungjami/Hakű in Tuensang, from which the tribe expanded to the other villages.

According to the 2001 figures, their population was 16,075.

Hamlet Bareh (2010) lists four major exogamous Chang clans (phangs), each with a traditional religious function.

According to the Chang mythology, their ancestors lived with wild animals, some of which have assumed the status of clan spirits. The Ong clan regards the tiger as a clan spirts, while the others regard wild cats and birds (crows and eagles) as spirits.

Braja Bihari Kumara (2005) lists five Chang clans: Chongpo, Ung, Lumao, Kangcho and Kudamji. The Chongpo is further divided into Shangdi, Hangwang, Hagiyung, Ungpong and Maava clans.

Historically, the clans were anchored to non-overlapping areas within the village (khel), and lived in harmony. The traditional Chang khels were well-protected and fortified.

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