Martial Arts Of The World - Webs
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Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

Martial Arts Of The World - Webs Martial Arts Of The World - Webs

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630 Thaing the beginning of the twentieth century among the Wa and well into the mid-twentieth century among the Kachin.) Others were Buddhist, and so there were prohibitions against unnecessary killing. Accordingly, the development of thaing needs to be viewed in the context of movements of ethnic groups such as the Shan, Mon, Karen, Arakanai, and Kachin through the mountainous area where Tibet, Yunnan, Burma, and India meet. The Kachins, for example, have a well-developed oral tradition of migration from their ancestral home, the Majoi Shingra Bum (Naturally Flat Mountain), which was possibly located in eastern Tibet. The Karens also have a tradition that they passed through the mountains on their way to lower Burma. Meanwhile, in neighboring Manipur, India, the Meiteis (who comprise 60 percent of the population) are of Tai origin and famous for their practice of martial arts. While this may owe more to Hindu than to Tibetan influence, the primary Manipuri art thangta is closely tied to dance and ritual practice. Likewise, the equally Tai hill tribes of Nagaland (north of Manipur) have related martial traditions. Traditions from Yunnan province, which is where the Tai had an empire into the thirteenth century, also may have links with thaing. For example, as recently as 1928, Miao doctors were reported as boxing, fighting with sticks and knives, and practicing qigong (exercises for cultivating internal strength often associated with martial art training). While much more research is required into the subject, the historical connections among martial arts in the area are intriguing. How these interconnections probably came about is that during the thirteenth century, Kublai Khan overthrew the Nanchao, or Tai, states in Yunnan. This caused Tai refugees to retreat into Manipur, Nagaland, and the Irrawaddy and Menam valleys, and over time they established a number of states, including one that later became Thailand. Moreover, the Naga who entered the Kachin state were often assimilated into Jinghpaw clans. Jinghpaw oral narratives suggest a natural affinity between the two groups. Meanwhile, King Narathihapate of Pagan executed a Mongol ambassador carrying Kublai Khan’s demands to Burma and even had the audacity to directly attack China. So for the next 150 years Burma and Mongol China were almost constantly at war, either with one another or with the various Tai states. That said, lethwei only entered the oral traditions of this struggle during the eighteenth century. Specifically, according to Thai tradition, in the 1770s a Thai prisoner of war, Nai Khanom Tom, was awarded his freedom after he defeated a dozen of his Burmese captors in boxing matches. In contrast, Burmese tradition maintains that Nai was the consummate politician, ingratiating himself at the Burmese court to such an extent that he was al-

Two Kachin tribesmen near Bhamo, Myanmar (Burma), photographed around 1886. The man on the right is armed with a dha, the traditional sword used for the practice of thaing. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis) lowed to train in the royal fighting arts. This dedication to learning, his negotiating skills, and a perceived pro-Burman attitude (which induced his captors to believe he could further their cause among the Thai) led to his release. From 1811 to 1815, Burmese rebels hiding in British India led raids into Burma. The British did little to prevent this, so between 1819 and 1823 the Burmese sent military forces into British-controlled Assam, Manipur, Cachar, and Bengal. In 1824, the East India Company had had enough, and responded by declaring war on Burma. Rangoon was occupied without resistance, the Burmese agreed to pay indemnities, and in 1825 the British withdrew. However, this defeat embarrassed the Burmese government, and revolts followed. Meanwhile Anglo-Burmese relations continued to deteriorate, and there was a second Anglo-Burmese war in 1852–1853. During this war the British East India Company annexed Pegu province. Finally, in 1878, Burmese insurgents attacked Manipur, and this led to a third Anglo- Burmese war in 1885. That in turn led to the British annexation of all Burma in 1886, followed by a decade of guerrilla warfare. British rule over Burma lasted until World War II; its most famous policeman was probably Eric Blair, who in 1934 published the novel Burmese Days under the pseudonym George Orwell. During their administration, the British outlawed headhunting and instituted a campaign intended to Thaing 631

Two Kachin tribesmen near Bhamo, Myanmar (Burma), photographed around 1886. <strong>The</strong> man on the right is armed<br />

with a dha, the traditional sword used for the practice of thaing. (Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis)<br />

lowed to train in the royal fighting arts. This dedication to learning, his negotiating<br />

skills, and a perceived pro-Burman attitude (which induced his captors<br />

to believe he could further their cause among the Thai) led to his release.<br />

From 1811 to 1815, Burmese rebels hiding in British India led raids<br />

into Burma. <strong>The</strong> British did little to prevent this, so between 1819 and<br />

1823 the Burmese sent military forces into British-controlled Assam, Manipur,<br />

Cachar, and Bengal. In 1824, the East India Company had had<br />

enough, and responded by declaring war on Burma. Rangoon was occupied<br />

without resistance, the Burmese agreed to pay indemnities, and in<br />

1825 the British withdrew.<br />

However, this defeat embarrassed the Burmese government, and revolts<br />

followed. Meanwhile Anglo-Burmese relations continued to deteriorate,<br />

and there was a second Anglo-Burmese war in 1852–1853. During<br />

this war the British East India Company annexed Pegu province. Finally, in<br />

1878, Burmese insurgents attacked Manipur, and this led to a third Anglo-<br />

Burmese war in 1885. That in turn led to the British annexation of all<br />

Burma in 1886, followed by a decade of guerrilla warfare.<br />

British rule over Burma lasted until <strong>World</strong> War II; its most famous policeman<br />

was probably Eric Blair, who in 1934 published the novel Burmese<br />

Days under the pseudonym George Orwell. During their administration,<br />

the British outlawed headhunting and instituted a campaign intended to<br />

Thaing 631

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