History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Shan people and their culture 5
The great silver mine in NamTu (Bawdwin) was supposed to be the second largest in the
world. 15 There are forests in the areas with an altitude of 3,000 feet above sea level in Shan States.
Bamboo grows naturally in the forests with trees such as Kyun (teak), Pyingadoe, Padauk, In, Kanyin
and other hardwood. Shan States have over 2,000,000 acres of forest reserve, over 1.5 million acres of
cultivated areas consisting of over 500,000 acres for paddy and crops cultivation, about 200,000 acres
for hill-side cultivation, over 8,000 acres of land formed by the process of silting for cultivation and
over 200,000 acres for gardens.
Political History
After the last Shan Kingdom, Muong Mao Kingdom, was overthrown by Burman King in AD
1560 Shan fragmented countries were governed by SaoPha (Shan chief) appointed by Burman King.
Burman King allowed SaoPha to rule their regions but they had to pay allegiance to the Burman central
court. From the middle of 19 th century onwards the Burman authority imposed greater control through
the stationing of military officers, sitke or bhomu, to impose regular payments of allegiance to the
central treasury. 16 The holder of the authority over the town was known as MyoSa (literally means town
eater). MyoSa was assigned to collect revenues on behalf of Burman king. 17
In AD 1765 there were 12 Shan territories.
AD 1782-1819 there were 188 towns and 5,885 villages in Shan territories.
Before Second World War there were 14 SaoPha ruling Shan territories.
AD 1824-26; First Anglo-Burmese war ended with the “Treaty of Yandabo”, according to which
Burma ceded the Arakan coastal strip between Chittagong and Cape Negrais to British India.
AD 1852 Britain annexed lower Burma, including Rangoon, following the second Anglo-Burmese war.
The defeat of the Burman troops in the second Anglo-Burmese war led to more significant political and
administrative changes.
AD 1885-86; Britain captured Mandalay after a brief battle and Burma became a province of British
India. Mandalay fell and King ThiBaw and his queen SuPhaYaLat were taken to Ratanagir near
Bombay.
Britain annexed Shan States in 1887. The Shan States were administered separately from Burma with
SaoPha.
The Shan States under British (1887-1948)
After annexation of Shan countries by British in 1887 the British sought to govern Shan
countries and its people by SaoPha. SaoPha had to acknowledge British supremacy, maintain peace and
not oppress their subjects. Between 1887 and 1895 the SaoPha pledged their allegiance to the British
crown and their domains were placed under the supervision of British Assistant Superintendents. 18
The formal administrative entity known as the “Federated Shan States” was not created until
1922. Under British government, the 40 Shan States were combined and then divided into three general
sections: the Northern Shan State, the Southern Shan State and the Eastern Shan State; altogether they
formed the “Federated Shan State”. Federated Shan State was formed under British colony on October
1, 1922. There are three Shan States until today. All these Shan States gained independence on January
4, 1948 together with other States but they all are now under Burma Military Government since 1962.
15 A study of Baptist work in the Shan State by E.E. Sowards, published by Burma Baptist Press, Rangoon, 1954, p2
16 The State in Burma by Robert H. Taylor, published by University of Hawaii Press , April 1988, p22-23
17 Ibid pp 26-27
18 Ibid pp91-94