Original Karen Pa-oh History

Taungthu +  Po   Parachi +  Sakor

Taungthu + Po    Parachi    Sako

Mawlamyaing +  Puthein    Mawlamyaing +  Pathein

In research book on Karen tradition page 22,23- if is written that “according to Burma Ruling Acts, the announcement of the governor dates May 6, 1936, in eleven Karen tribes, Pa-oh are called Taungthu.”

In 1931, according to Burma census report account 17, paragraph 2, page 244, Taungthu are in the seventeen Karen tribes. In “Tribal People in Union of Burma” by U Min Naing, page 27, it is written that “Taungthu is called Pa-oh by some people. In ShanState they are called by both names. Pa-ohs ( Taungthu) are in Karen group who live in mountainous areas”.

As Pa-ohs are a separate group of Karen group a lot of their words are similar to Karen language as found in the following chart. Though their language are similar, their traditions are different. While some of their words are similar, some other words are totally unconnected.

Burmese                Karen                         Pa-oh

Teitei ngenge         Pi Pi                           PeiPei

Weta                     Taw-nga/Toya             Tawh-ya

Mainkalay              Munaw/ Munan            Munan

Sati                       Aw/Awng                    Ann

Yei                        Ti                               Ti

Yei tok ti                Awti                           Anti

Apei, Amei Apa,      Amo Pha,                   Moe

Pa-oh sentence construction is the same as Karen, but different to Burmese. Look at the following pattern.

Language             Subject            Verb             Object

Burmese               Kawnor ti         Sati              Tamin

Karen                   Ya                   Awng            Mei

Pa-oh                   Kway               Ann              Tyin

When study the research of Robert Jone on linguistics, it is seen that Pa-oh called Taungthu people are in Karen people group.

There is a story that tells the brotherhood of Karen and Pa-oh. It tells as follow:

"In ancient time, Pa-oh and Karen people were brothers and lived together. They shared the prey they hunted with each other.

One time Pa-oh people hunted and killed an elephant. They shared it with Karen people in equal share. On the following day Karen killed porcupine. And then they too shared it with Pa-ohs. But, Pa-ohs happened to see the big feathers of porcupine and thought the prey must be so big. Thinking that the prey was big but the share was so little, they misunderstood Karen to be unfair and cunning. From then Pa-ohs split themselves from Karen".

Since Pa-=oh people seperated from them, Karen people called Pa-oh “ta-aw-thu" in Karen language. Karen word 'ta-aw-thu" meand the people who do not eat porcupine meat or grievance or disgust. As time went by "ta-aw-thu" became tawthu and from that "taungthu". Karen people in Karen State still say that Pa-oh wereonce their close relative and brothers.

In census of 1921, Pa-oh people were included in Po Karen group. Po-Karen group was divided into Mon Karen group, Pa-oh Taungthu group, and Moepwa group. According to 1935Burma Ruling acts, in Karen ten tribes, Pa-oh were put as Taungthu in the announcement of the governor dated May 6,1936.

In the book of Willian Dunn Hackett's "The Pa-o People of The Shan State Union of Burma, Socialogical and Ethographic Study of the Pa-O(Taungthu) People, it is written that " In from 1901 to 1931 census, Pa-oh people are the third largest in Karen group. The people in authority like to put Pa-oh and Po Karen to be in the same status. In every book concerning Karen, there are references to Taungthu(Pa-oh). Evidences of cultural articles for Pa-oh are very rare. When study linguistics, it is doubtful to believe that Pa-oh language and Po Karen language are the same."

Pa-oh people were included in karen tribe till 1936. Pa-oh were put in karen tribe and given the same right as given to Karen. For example,when a tribal memberof Ruling committe was electedPa-ohmember was regarded asKaren member. In around 1939, Karen tribal member Thatung Hla Phay was Pa-oh. This was the cunning act of British government.

When Parliament Election Act was constituted, Election Act Consultant Commission was formed that there may be equality for all.

In the meeting of forming the consultant commission,Karen Council deligate Saw Aung included Pa-oh and Karenni in karen group according to 1935, Burma Ruling Acts. He proposed that in selecting karen deligates Pa-oh and Karenni should participate to be deligates.

But, in that meeting commission member U Kyaw discussed the purpose of 1935 Act and the history of the tribes. According to Burma Chronological History, Pa-oh Taungthu and Karenni were recognized as seperate tribes. So it was decided in the meeting that according to the purpose of constitutional Act ,paragraph 83,they should not be included in Karen tribe.

In Burma Encyclopedia Vol. 1 ,page 94,it is wtitten that "Karen has two seperate groups as Taung Por Karen and Kon Karen. In Kon Karen there are Sakor(5 Lakhs), Po(5Lakhs) and half Taungthu (1 Lakh)”.

In Burma Encyclopidia, vol.6,page 278, it is described that”Pa-ohs are Karen-related tribe. Each half of Taungp or Karen and Kon Karen are Pa-ohs. Because they initially lived in mountainous areas, they are called Taungthu. Karen people have their own names according to their clan. For example, Karenni call themselves Kaya. Pa-oh is the name called after their clan too. Pa-oh has the third largest population within karen".

Willian Dunn Hackett thought that "Pa-oh language is related to Karen language. Their descendants arerelated too. And they perhaps entered into Burma together." When looked at the description of each historian, it is presumed that Pa-oh and Karen were originally one tribe.

It is obvious that Pa-ohs have been living inBurma since ancient time for years. They have their own culture, tradition and language till now.

Accordidng to history, Pa-oh, Karen and Mon were living closely in unity and equality in ancient Thatung. Since they lived together and probably Pa-oh adopted karen words, some of their words are the same.

In his chronicle book,a Pa-oh wariter Pensung Sayataw described thatPa-oh resettled with their own king and palace and realm.

Zaputhaseik Chronicle described that in Burman seven tribes there were "That, Arakan, Taungthu, Pyu, Kanyan, Thawel and Myro." In Resarch dictionary, page 466,Taungthu is included inseven tribes of Burman.

In U Pho Myint's Chronicle, page282, it is described that there are Burman, Pyu, Taungthu,kanyan, Yaw, araken, Thawel in seven tribes of Burma.

Khin Maung Phyu( culture department) wrote that Pa-ohs are from Chinese-Thai group. In Thai-related Chinesegroup there are (a) Karen group and (b) shan group. In Karen group, there are Sakor, Pak, Pweh, Taungthu(Pa-oh), Karen Phyu, Po, Kaya(karenni), Padaung, Yinbaw, zaying, Baye, Yinthale, Geku, Keba groups. Pa-oh(Taungthu) were in touch with Burman since ancient time. In ancient Pagan carved letter on stones, Taungthu was mentioned.

There is a letter carved on inner wall of Laymyinthna pagoda at Minanthu village in Pagan. The letter was written in 585( itis supposed to be Burma Year). There is one obelisk and a letter is on its front side. The letter is about king Ananthathu and

the queen's good deeds. In the leter, written were the list of slaves. In line 43, it is described "Pa-oh ai ting". The letter dated back 585. Because there is "Pa-oh ai ting" in slave list, it seemed that Pa-oh slave was a potter. Pa-oh tribe is seen since 585 in that letter. Pa-oh existed even in that time.

The letter curved on stone of Zaypot pagoda in East Pagan, Phwasaw village, it was described that "Ngapyi's brother Ngakathu,Ngasakyaw, ngataungthu". According to the letter, Ngapyi's brother is a Burman. In Ngapyi's brother's house Burman,Kathu, Karen, Taungthu were living together in unity. When look at the above evidence, Pa-ohs called Taungthus were in Pagan era.They were called Taungthu or Pa-oh as a seperate people but lived in unity with other brother tribes.

In the Burma History of standard five curriculum, page 5, it is written that Burma in Pagan era was established by Pyu,Mon, Palong, Karen, Taungthu, That, Kadu, Kachin Chin, Arakan, Burman , Shan in unity. Therefore, it is known that Pa-oh were with other brother tribes in establishing Pagan and Pa-oh lived with other tribes together since Pagan era. Pa-oh(Taungthu) existed since Pagan era according to the word "Taungthu" written in Pagan obelisks.

When we look at above evidences, we can say that Pa-ohs were sperate tribe there in ancient eras for years. Therefore it is presumed that Pa-ohs are not from Karen and not Karen but separate tribe or people by themselves.

Pa-oh tribe became from his dynasty. From there Pa-oh people moved to Shan State. Pa-oh people call “Thatung distrist” “Big Thatung”and call “Sisaing” “Small Thatung” that is located in the South Shan. Pa-oh people live in these two areas.

It is a wonder. Is the legend real or not? The legend of their descendent is similar to the story found in the book of Mon Chronicle and Pagodas. It is similar to about Gawonpati found in Burma Buddhism by U Thawzin. According to historians, Mons existed before Pa-oh called Taungthu and Pa-oh called Taungthu people lived among Mons. It is thought that Pa-ohs took some of Mon’s chronicles into theirs.

In the book of ‘The History of Thatung Pagodas and Yangon Pagodas” written in Pa-oh language by Letthama-ok , it is written as follow:

“Thuwanabumi Thatung was thickly populated. King Thuriasandar who then reigned Thuwanabumi Thatung was in great glory. King Thuriasandar had 33 white elephants. In Thatung there were 384 kings of Pa-oh dynasty. Their forefathers established Thatung and lived there generation after generation.Therefore, their ancestors were unwilling to move away from Thatung. Pa-ohs still live in Thatung town.”

However, In Thatung Pagodas and Yangon Pagodas History, Thawthuwana Pakathani, Mon Chronicle and Pagodas History, Burma Buddhism, there is a slight difference to each other. In any way, from their ancestors to the present ones, Pa-oh people believe that their first father was a wizard and mother was a female dragon.

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