Chao Pha
Chaopha | |
---|---|
First holder | Various |
Last holder | Chao Pha Purandar Singha |
Status | Defunct |
Extinction date | 20th 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[edit]
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[edit]
Myanmar (Burma)[edit]
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[edit]
The term was also used for the rulers of some Tai polities in what is now China's Yunnan Province.[2]
Gallery[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Donald M. Seekins (2006). Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar). Scarecrow Press. entry Sawbwa, p. 391.
External links[edit]
- Media related to Saopha at Wikimedia Commons