Dai

Dai commonly refers to the Dai people, an ethnic group of the Tai family primarily living in China’s Yunnan Province. They are concentrated in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture and form one of China’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups. The Dai culture shows strong Thai and Lao influences due to shared linguistic roots, and Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion. Traditional life often centers on agriculture, river-based livelihoods, and markets along the region’s river systems. The Water Splashing Festival, held in the spring, is a major cultural event that attracts participants from across the Dai world.

The Dai language belongs to the Tai-Kadai language family and is spoken by Dai communities in China and nearby areas. It comprises several dialects and uses a range of writing systems, including local Dai scripts and Chinese characters for everyday use. The language is related to other Tai languages such as Thai and Lao, reflecting common linguistic ancestry.

Dai also refers to DAI, a decentralized stablecoin used in the field of decentralized finance (DeFi). Minted on the Ethereum blockchain, DAI aims to maintain a stable value pegged to the US dollar through collateralized debt positions and governance by MKR holders. It is widely utilized for lending, borrowing, and payments within various DeFi applications and protocols.

In addition, Dai is a surname or given name in East Asia and may appear in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The term thus has multiple, distinct meanings spanning ethnicity, language, finance, and personal names.