Chao Pha

Chaopha
Sukapha, Chao Pha of Mong Mao and Mong Kham
First holderVarious
Last holderChao Pha Purandar Singha
StatusDefunct
Extinction date20th century
A nobility title used by Tai rulers

Chaopha (lit.'lord of the sky') was a royal title used by the hereditary Tai rulers in mainland Southeast Asia, including the Mong Dun, Mong Shan, Mong Mao, and Khamti fiefdoms.

Names and etymology

The title literally means "lord of the heavens" in Tai languages, including chaopha (𑜋𑜧𑜨 𑜇𑜡) in Ahom, saopha (Shan: ၸဝ်ႈၽႃႉ, romanized: tsaw3 pʰaa5) in Shan, chau-fa (Tai Nuea: ᥓᥝᥲ ᥜᥣᥳ) in Tai Nuea, and chao fa (Thai: เจ้าฟ้า) in Thai.[1] The title was rendered into Burmese as sawbwa (Burmese: စော်ဘွား).[1]

Usage

Myanmar (Burma)

In the pre-colonial era, the term 'sawbwa' was utilised by the Burmese monarchy in reference to the hereditary rulers of Shan-speaking polities called mong (Shan: မိူင်း, pronounced [mə́ŋ]), in the region.[1] In order of precedence, the sawbwas outranked local rulers of lower ranks, namely the myoza and ngwegunhmu.[1]

During British colonial rule, colonial authorities adopted the Burmese system, recognising between 14 and 16 sawbwas who enjoyed a degree of autonomy in their fiefdoms.[1] In 1922, the establishment of the Federated Shan States greatly reduced the sawbwas' autonomy.[1] In April 1959, the sawbwas relinquished their feudal authority to the Burmese government.[1]

China

The term was also used for the rulers of some Tai polities in what is now China's Yunnan Province.[2]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Seekins, Donald M. (2017). Historical dictionary of Burma (Myanmar). Historical dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East (2nd ed.). Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-0183-4.
  2. ^ Donald M. Seekins (2006). Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar). Scarecrow Press. entry Sawbwa, p. 391.

External links

  • Media related to Saopha at Wikimedia Commons


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