Long Neck Tribe, a photo from Chiang Mai, North

Photographer's Note

Paduang: Population: marginal Origin: Thailand
The Paduang are a sub-group of the Shan, who aren't entirely considered minorities as they have always occupied the areas of Northwest Thailand and the Shan states of Myanmar. The Shan speak a dialect similar to Thai and are even known as Thai Yai, having been assimilated into Thai culture.
There are pockets of Paduang around Mae Hong Son. The Paduang attract many curious visitors on account of their long-necked women. A tradition of beautifying women by adding brass rings to their necks has been preserved largely for generating tourism. Although the neck appears cruelly elongated, it is the collarbone which has been displaced rather than the stretching and weakening of the neck.
The long-necked ladies of the Padaung tribe begin wearing brass rings around their neck at age 4, and add one ring each year until they are in their 40s

Northern Thailand is home to interesting and colourful ethnic minorities, known as the hill tribes. These add an important element to tourism here and you may visit, or go trekking to, numerous villages, where they are happy to receive you. Since most are rural and poor, any economically uplifting opportunities are welcomed.

Most of the hill tribes have migrated into the region during the past 100 years from the Asian interior and have largely preserved their traditional ways, making them a fascinating cultural study. They prefer living above 1,000m, and shy away from the outside world.

There are seven broad hill tribe groupings: Karen, Lahu, Hmong, Lisu, Akha and Mien. However, within these categories, there are sub-categories and clans that further divide the groups. Each hill tribe has its own customs, language, dress and spiritual beliefs and this is sometimes true even of the numerous sub-categories within one hill tribe. For example, the Green Hmong and White Hmong speak in different and distinct dialects and dress differently. The hill tribes are most distinctly recognised for their colourful and unique costume, which they continue to wear daily.

basithry marcou esta nota como útil

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basithry (480) 2008-05-27 4:20

Hello krishnagopal Kodoth!
Very nice and informative shot with note- I've counted that she has 28 rings round her neck- keeping in view your this statement,"The long-necked ladies of the Padaung tribe begin wearing brass rings around their neck at age 4, and add one ring each year until they are in their 40s"...Then she must be now 32 years old :-)
Nice expression and colors.
(Best of luck for future)
Basit
Basit

limule (4176) 2008-05-27 14:17

I like your pciture but however, as a woman , I am very dubitative about this tradition. I do not think it is good just because it is a tradition. I am just asking myself practical questions/ how do they live like that. How can they move freely, how can they be spontaneous.... Geraldien

GrantNZ (0) 2008-05-29 0:11 [Comment]

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krishnagopal Kodoth,

Like your photo but the Internet can be so misleading.
It is simple to do a search on Google try Chiang Mai long neck and verify your facts before you post. I know there are many Hill tribes here in the North of Thailand were I have lived on and off for over 30 years, and it is hard to remember who is who.

Thailand and Burma have at one time of another ruled each other over the last 1000 years or so. The Thai Yai as they like to call them selves (Shan) has mostly fled the never ending war in Burma (Myanmar).
The Thai Yi has the same ethnic origins’ as the Thai. (they are the same race).

The Long Neck on the other hand is Karen.
Karen Long Neck Hilltribe - Padaung

About the Karen Long Neck Hilltribe - Padaung
The Padaung are a sub-group of Karen (Bwe Group) living in Kayah state of eastern Burma on the Thailand border. They number less than 40,000 people in total. The Padaung call themselves "Lae Kur" or "Kayan". They have their own language which belongs to the Kenmic group in the Tibeto-Burman language family.
The Karen themseves are not one homogeneous group but rather a loose confederation of heterogeneous and closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung.
In Thailand, only a few families of Padaung have settled temporarily as refugees in Muang District of Mae Hong Son Province, near Ban Tha Ton in Chiang Rai Province, and as of June 2005 a small group near Chiang Dao. Generally they live among other hilltribes groups, mostly Karen.
The Padaung escaped from the Kaya State in Burma to Thailand in the mid to late 1900's and are actually refugees of a political turmoil. They belong to the Karenni sub-group of the Karen People, which are still fighting for their independence in Burma.
The Karen-Padaung occupied central Burma before the Burmese arrived from the North and they, together with the ancient Mon, farmed the Irrawaddy and Salween Valleys and built civilizations based on their unique cultures.
The Padaung women famously wear brass rings around their necks. This distorts the growth of their collarbones and make them look as if they have long necks - which they don't. This row of brass rings do not actually stretch their necks but in fact squash the vertebrae and collar bones. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. This neck ring adornment is started when the girls are 5 or 6 years old.
http://www.chiangdao.com/chiangmai/karenlongneck.htm

Grant Wills | http://Akha-Hill.com

haabet (0) 2008-09-20 23:22

Paduang and Karen are very different nations from different states in Burma; but both Paduang and Karen have some members of Kayan-society. If the tourist brochure tell about Long Neck Tribe, Long Neck Karen, the woman are Kayan from Karen. Because they a easy to get on with.

Karen people has female order of succession; Matriarchal order of succession.
In Karen people Kayan is a matriarchy and a upper-class. The coils was a capital, and was reserved for heiress.

It is correct as the coils give some protection against tigers, because predator do not like the shining brass.

It is correct as the coils give some protection against slave hunters, because the ransom for a heiress, is greater than the price of a slave.

Photo Information

Copyright: krishnagopal Kodoth (dugulk) (48)
Genre: Pessoas
Medium: Cor
Date Taken: 2007-08-25
Categories: Vida Diária
Camera: Cannon Powershot s3is
Exposição: f/5.0, 1/20 segundos
More Photo Info: view
Versão da Foto: Versão Original
Date Submitted: 2008-05-27 1:32

Viewed: 43059

Points: 6

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