Chiang Hung


Chiang Hung, also called Moeng Lü or Sipsong Panna, was a Tai Lü kingdom located in present-day Xishuangbanna, China. Its capital was the city of Chiang Hung, modern Jinghong. The kingdom, in its most powerful state in the 13th century, covered a large area before being subjugated by neighboring powers such as the Yuan dynasty, the Lan Na kingdom, and the Konbaung dynasty. Chinese dynasties recognized the local leaders as tusi of Cheli.

History

The history of the state can be divided in two periods:
  • Early Period 1180 - 1290
  • *Chao Phaya Chueang 1180 - 1192
  • *Khai Loeung 1192 - 12..
  • *Thao Ai p. 1290
  • Later Period 1312 - 1805

    Early history

, Paya Jueang or Chao Jueang Han was said to wage wars with the native Akha and other Tai peoples in the area and established the kingdom in favor of Tai Lü people at Chiang Hung or Heo Kam on the Mekong in 1180. In the early 13th century, King Inmueng greatly expanded Heokam territories. The tributaries of Heokam kingdom includes Kengtung, Chiang Saen, Meuang Thaeng, and Xieng Thong, making Heokam the sole leader of Tai kingdoms in the north. The Tai Lü people then began scattering throughout Heokam's area of influence.
However, Heokam then fell to the Mongol invasions in 1290 and became a tributary of Yuan dynasty. After a rebellion and subsequent capture of the city by King Mangrai, the Mongols made a peace agreement and the city remained under Mangrai's rule. The Mongols granted the title Chao Saenwi Fa and the surname of Dao to the Kings of Chiang Hung. The power vacuum in the area was filled by newly formed Lanna kingdom evolving from Ngoenyang state. Mangrai the Great of Lanna put Chiang Hung under Lanna tributary. However, Lanna authority weakened in the early 16th century and Heokam enjoyed a brief period of autonomy until Lanna was conquered by Burmese Toungoo dynasty in 1558. The Burmese under Bayinnaung had already put the area under its control and Chiang Hung became a Burmese tributary. The Burmese divided Heokam into twelve pans, translated by the Tai Lü people Sipsong Panna. Sipsong Panna served as the battlegrounds between Burma and the Qing dynasty.
Heokam faced three centuries of Burmese rule. In efforts to recover the manpower taken by Burma, Buddha Yodfa Chulalok ordered Prince Adthavorapaño of Nan to invade Kengtung and Chiang Hung to gather the Tai peoples there into Nan and other Lanna cities. Today, Nan hosts the largest Tai Lue community in Thailand. Also King Kawila of Chiang Mai invaded Chiang Hung to get the people. The Tai Lue people and culture therefore surged into Lanna.

Dynastic struggle

A dynastic struggle in 1847 brought chaos to Chiang Hung. According to Siamese chronicles King Mahawan of Chiang Hung died in 1847, to be succeeded by his son Prince Sarawan. However, Mahawan's uncle Prince Mahakhanan took the throne. Prince Sarawan fled to Dali in dismay and sought supports from Qing dynasty. Sarawan returned and killed Mahakhanan, Mahakhanan's son, Prince Nokam, went to Ava to gain supports from Pagan Min. The Burmese invaded and took Chiang Hung - culminating a large Tai Lue emigration into Lanna. Prince Nokam was then crowned but was later killed by his own nobles. Ava then re-installed Sarawan as the king.
Sarawan's brother, Oalnawudh, fled to Luang Prabang and proceeded to Bangkok in 1852. The Siamese nobles then saw this as an opportunity to gain control over Shan States and Chiang Hung and planned to take Kengtung on the way to Chiang Hung. The Siamese invaded the north but were unable to penetrate the mountainous highlands. In 1855, another attempt was made to march to Chiang Hung but yet failed.

Later history and legacy

Chiang Hung then came under the suzerainty of Qing dynasty for about a century. After the Chinese Empire was overthrown, the kingdom status of Chiang Hung technically ended. However, Republic of China continued to recognize local leaders as tusi. The last chieftain of Jinghong, Dao Shixun, attended the foundation ceremony of the People's Republic of China in 1949, and later became president of the Yunnan Minzu Institute. Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Region was established in 1953 and became an autonomous prefecture in 1955. A former tusi of Mengpeng, Shao Cunxin, was the head of Xishuangbanna government from 1953 to 1992.
Following constant warfare in the late 18th century, a large number of Tai Lue people were displaced. Nowadays some Tai Lue settlements can be found in the northern provinces of Thailand and Laos.
Some members of the ruling family, such as Dao Shixun's brother, fled to Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 1949. Dao Shixun visited them in 1986.

Rulers

The rulers of Chiang Hung bore the title Cao Phaendin.
Name in Tai LüName in ChineseReign according to Li Fuyi Reign according to Gao Lishi
Phaya CoengBa Zhen1180–11921159–1180
Tao Sam Khai NoengTao Kangleng1192–12111180–1201
Tao Pung or Ai PungTao Beng1211–12341201–1206
Tao Hung Kaen CaiTao Long Jian Zai1234–12571206–1227
Tao Haeng LuangDao Lianglong1257–12731228–1254
Tao PuwakDao Buwa1273–12871255–1269
Cao Yi Peng Lak SaiYi Bing La Sai–1270–1271
Cao AiDao Ai1287–13471271–1311
Cao Kham MoengDao Kan1347–13911312–1350
Tao Sida KhamDao Xianda1391–14131350–1430
Tao KummanDao Gongman–1430–1432
Tao Kü MoengDao Gengmeng1413–14151433–1436
Tao Sòng MoengDao Shuangmeng2 ½ monthsBetween 1436 and 1439
Tao BakòngDao Bagong–1439–1441
Tao Kham Tet or Tao Kham DaengDao Dian or Dao Khangliang1417–14281442–1445
Soe Long Fa She Longfa1428–14571446–1466
Tao PhasaengDao Baxian2 months in 14575 months in 1466
Tao Sam Pò LütaiSan Bao Lidai1457–14971467–1490
Tao Sam Khai NoengSan Kaileng1497–15021491–1495
Cao Khan MoengZhao Kan1502–15231496–1518
Cao Sili SomphanZhao Sili Songban1523–15301518–1539
Cao Un MoengDao Nuomeng1530–15681539–1567
Cao Sali SunantaZhao Sili Sunanda6 months in 15686 months in 1568
Cao In MoengDao Yingmeng1569–15981569–1578
Cao Ong MoengDao Yunmeng1598–16281584–1602
Cao Sili SuthammaZhao Shili Sutanma1628–16391603–1620
Cao Mòm Kham LüZhao Kangle1639–16691621–1634
Cao Mòm TaoDao Mudao–1634–1641
Cao Nò MoengDao Nuomeng1669–16811642–1655
Cao Moeng TaoDao Mengtao1681–16841655–1668/1669
Cao Paeng MoengDao Bianmeng1684–17241670–1697/1698
Tao Cin PaoDao Jinbao1724–17291698–1707
Tao Sao WünDao Shaowen1729–17671707–1730
Tao Wui PhinDao Weiping1767–17771730–1745
Tao Cao SuwanDao Shiwan1777–17961746–1763
Tao Thai Khò or Cao MahawongDao Taihe1797–18021764–1770
Tao Yung Khò Dao Yonghe–1770–1779
Tao Sunwu Dao Shengwu1802–1833–
Tao Thai Khang Dao Taikang–1780–1785
1786–1809
Tao Coen Cong Dao Zhengzong1834–18641788–1818
Tao Cin An Dao Jun'an–1863–1879
Cao Mòm Saeng Dao Taikang or Dao Bingfu–1880–1883
Tao Soen An Dao Cheng'en–1884–1924
Tao Tung Laeng Dao Dongliang–1927–1943
Tao Sü Sin Dao Shixun–1947–1950