The Koren (Koireng) clan and kinship

Pr Kungsong Wanbe *

Koireng :: An Ethnic Doll display at Mutua Museum Cultural Heritage Complex, Andro

The Koirengs are one of the smallest tribes in India's north-eastern region which is the meeting ground of various racial and cultural elements in this part of Asia. The Koirengs are one of the oldest tribal communities of Kangleipak/Manipur. The Koireng social structure is based on the patriarchal system. Their society is male dominated world, following the law of primogeniture in succession. The ancestors of the clans were all males and succession through male line was practised through the ages.

The Clans:

The Koireng society originally had clans called by them "Phung" namely Shong, Yei, Tieltu, Thamthu, Uirei, Khuonglung, Miriem, Mikan. These eight clans were founded by the eight sons of Ruolphun and Ruoltei, the first progenitors of the Koireng tribe and each one of them had given their names to the clans which were descended from them.

At the present time, only two of the eight Koireng clans are in existence, the other six clans have vanished. According to Koireng history, one important reason for the disappearance of the six clans is absorption into other tribes with whom the Koirengs came into contact at different periods of their migration.

The Thamthu clan has been absorbed into Hmar tribe; Miriem and Mikan have been absorbed into Chothe, Kharam, Rongmei, and Maring tribes. Many Shongthu families have been absorbed into Thado and Lushai tribes. At present, there are eighteen sub-clans in the Koireng tribe; nine sub-clans under Shong and another nine under Yei clan. The following are the eighteen clans. Let us see one by one hereunder:

Shong Clan:

1. Renkhupmak
2. Renphamak
3. Ruongkhotinsan
4. Ruongreisiek
5. Ruongneisong
6. Ruongsokhel
7. Tuikhang
8. Tuoltung
9. Ruongol/Thaiba

Yei Clan:

1. Rangrihuon
2. Bakreng
3. Wanbe
4. Lunglai
5. Leisiel
6. Champi
7. Maite
8. Tumtin
9. Tiente

The Koireng society is a kinship as clearly indicated by the clan structure given above. They are reproducing the kinship terminology for future analysis by sociologists. The following are the names of kinship calling by the Koirengs. Let us see again one by one hereunder: