SHAN (TAI) AND THAI STUDIES IN MYANMAR
Chair: Sai Aung Tun, Myanmar Historical Commission
The Shans in Myanmar: Their Culture and Tradition
Sai Aung Tun, Myanmar Historical Commission
In this paper the author will trace the brief history of the Tai migration from their original homeland around the Hwang-ho river basin until they reached the regions of Southeast Asia, including Myanmar. On the way, they made many stops to establish their traditional Baans, Mongs, dynasties, kingdoms and even empires. They reached Myanmar around the 1st century A.D and settled along the border areas. Later, they were able to penetrate to the heartland of Myanmar and establish the three dynasties of Pinya, Sagaing and Ava which lasted for nearly three hundred years. Mow, the Shans or Tai are scattered all over various parts of Myanmar as one of the largest ethnic groups.
In the paper, the author will also give a brief account of the following features of Shan culture and tradition.
- The traditional establishment of Baans, Mongs and the Shan feudal administrative system
- Shan literature
- Shan Buddhism and the worship of the spirits
- Shan customary laws and judicial settlements
- Shan society
- Marriage system
- Naming ceremony
- Burial system
- Tattooing
- Other customs and beliefs.
The Shan (Tai) Thammasat
Sai Kham Mong
Aimed at introducing administration in Shan states, the British issued the “Shan States Act 1888”. By section 3 of the said Act, the British Government declared the administration of Shan customary law in each State of the Shan states. This fact disclosed the existence of Shan law practiced by earlier Shans since they were under the Mao Kingdom.
Attempting to look into the sources and the extant of the pre-modern Tai (Shan) law, some twelve numbers of Shan manuscripts on code of law called Thammasat in Shan, codified in various Shan scripts have so far been collected. However, they are recopied versions done during the 18th century and the British administration period of Shan states (1886-1948). The contents of the Shan Thammasat texts include legal texts, judicial decisions, and commentaries on the conduct of the Shan sawbwas (ruling chiefs).
Generally, the Shan Thammasat texts differentiate between the law texts (Thammasat) and Sung Pyat Tra (collection of decisions). Based on these Thammasat manuscripts and the nature of state formation given in the local history of the Shan, it is hoped that it will help in tracing the sources of Shan Thammasat; adopted from the Mon, the Myanmar, the Yunnanese Shan origin or from the Theravada Tipitaka.
Influence of ZAWTI SECT Buddhism in Northern Shan
Sai San Aik
At the beginning of Nan Chao period or 6 century, Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism already reached Tai people (Zhu Liangwen, The Dai Architecture, DD Books, Bangkok, 1992).When Theravada had been flourishing in Mon Kingdom, a corrupted kind of Buddhism called Arijee (Ari=Pali=Ariya=noble one; jee=Indian=respectful) who took alcohol, opium, evening meal, accept woman, had been very strong at Burmese Pu-gam (Pagan=Bagan) in 10th-11th century. This practice slowly reached Mong Mao Long kingdom (North and East of Pagan) to Mong Yang, Mong Gong, Van Mo and part of Yunnan. Tai people called this practice Pwe kyaung (following Burmese words); Burmese called it A-Yee-Gyi; Tai own word for this is (Small Gurng Yoon), because the sect's Pali is Tai Yoon Pali, which had been extensively brought to Northern Tai (Shan) people (Keng Tung, Sippsongpanna, Mong Mao long, present Kachin state included) by Tai Yoon (Lanna), much earlier than Zawti time; this is called Gurng Yoon Long or Big Yoon Sect.
Tai Yoon Pali, Tai Pali is similar to Mon Pali, Thai Pali and Sri Lanka Pali (International Pali), different from that of Burmese Pali.
(Sasana Vs Tharthana, O-gar-sa Vs Au-gar-sa).There was a prince of Mong Mao (Present Ruili Yunnan) who was fed up of this Arijee Practice. He learned and became a monk at Burmese Sagaing (Zay Geang = town of Mark Geang = Tamarind)), was honoured the title of WARA ZAWTI. His colleagues went to Mong Mao Zefang town (Loi Leik temple), from there with the power of his Royalty and Dhamma Vinaya, they cleansed out the small groups Arijee (Small Gurng Yoon) starting from AD1775, this has far reaching effect in Northern Shan, thus Buddhism among Northern Tai or Shan, the present Theravada prevailed.
Kraeng and Thai Myanmar Relation
Ba Maung, Myanmar Historical Research Department
Khraeng is an important place in the history of Thai-Myanmar relation. It was stated in the Royal Chronicle of Ayudhaya that Siam King Mahin died in Khraeng on his way to Hansawaddy after the fall of Ayudhaya; that King Naresuan declared Thai independence in Khraeng; and that Tabinshwehti and Thai forces fought in Khraeng in the first Siam-Myanmar War after the fall of Madaban. Some historians suggested that Khraeng was situated on the west bank of the Sitaung River near today Wal, which is one day journey from Hansawaddy. If that is correct, Bayinaung should not wait his troop for eleven days in Khraeng and King Naresuan could not declare independence in Khraeng and escape from Hansawaddy forces. Moreover, it is impossible for him to shoot his gun from the opposite bank of the Sitaung River. The river should be narrow.
I assumed that Khraeng is not very far away from Kamphanphat and the word Khraeng is descended from Khale during the British annexation to Myanmar. After the first Anglo-Myanmar war, Arakan region fell into the British hand and most of the interpreters for the British administrators were Arakanese. They pronounce the Burmese names with Arakanese voice. British officers write down some of the names of Myanmar villages and cities in Arakanese pronunciation.
Khale is located in Kyainseik-kyi township in Myanmar. The Royal Chronicle of Ayudhaya stated that once upon a time the Lord Buddha and two Reverends, Ubali Then and Khirimanon, arrived at Samo Khareng Mountain. The two saints passed away and their ashes being enshrined there. The two pagoda village is situated in Khale today. Maybe, the shooting ground of King Naresuan is the Win Yaw River flowing there.
