Lan Na

The Lan Na kingdom is known by a number of exonyms in neighboring languages. In Burmese chronicles and sources, it is called Zinme Pyi (, ), Zinme being a Burmese language transcription of Chiang Mai; or Yun Pyi (, ), Yun being the Burmese term for the Northern Thai people. In the Laotian language, it is known as Anachak Lan Na (). The Pali chronicles refer to the kingdom as Yonaraṭṭha (Kingdom of the Yun) or Bingaraṭṭha (Kingdom of the Mae Ping). In the Chinese History of the Yuan, it is called Babai Xifu (Pa-pai-si-fu) (), first attested in 1292. ==History==

Early establishment Mangrai, the 25th king of Ngoenyang (modern Chiang Saen) of the Lavachakkaraj dynasty, whose mother was a princess of a kingdom in Sipsongpanna ("the twelve nations"), centralized the mueangs of Ngoenyang into a unified kingdom or mandala and allied with the neighboring Phayao Kingdom. In 1262, Mangrai moved the capital from Ngoenyang to the newly founded Chiang Rai — naming the city after himself. Mangrai then expanded to the south and subjugated the Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai (centered on modern Lamphun) in 1281. Mangrai moved the capital several times. Leaving Lamphun due to heavy flooding, he drifted until settling at and building Wiang Kum Kam in 1286/7, staying there until 1292 at which time he relocated to what would become Chiang Mai. He founded Chiang Mai in 1296, expanding it to become the capital of Lan Na. Claimed territories of Mangrai's Lan Na include the modern northern Thai provinces (with exception of Phrae, which was under the vassalhood of Sukhothai, and Phayao and Nan), Kengtung, Mong Nai, and Chiang Hung (now Jinghong in Yunnan). He also reduced to vassaldom and received tribute from areas of modern Northern Vietnam, principally in the Black and Red river valleys, and most of Northern Laos, plus the Sipsongpanna of Yunnan where his mother originated. Disunity and prosperity , Chiang Mai Around 1311, Mangrai died and was succeeded by his second son Grama, or Chaiyasongkhram (Khun Hham). He soon retired to Chiangrai and appointed his son Saenphu as the Uparaja (Viceroy) of Chiangmai. Mangrai's youngest son, ruler of Mong Nai returned to claim the throne, occupying Haripunjaya. Saenphu and his brother Nam Thuem fled to their father in Chiangrai. Nam Tuam succeeded in driving out their uncle, restoring Saenphu onto the throne in 1322 or 1324. Saenphu founded the city of Chiang Saen in 1325 or 1328, before he died in 1334. His son Khamfu replaced him but reigned only few years, before he was succeeded by his son Phayu, who restored the capital to Chiang Mai again. There he fortified the city and built Wat Phra Singh. Ket was restored in 1543 but suffered mental illness and was assassinated in 1545. Ket's wife, Chiraprapha, then succeeded her husband as the queen regnant. As Lan Na was plundered by the dynastic struggles, both Ayutthaya and the Burmese saw this as an opportunity to overwhelm Lan Na. Chairacha of Ayutthaya invaded Lan Na in 1545, but Chiraprapha negotiated for peace. Chairacha returned next year, sacking Lampang and Lamphun, and threatened Chiangmai itself. So, Chiraprapha was forced to put her kingdom under Ayutthaya as a tributary state. Facing pressures from the invaders, Chiraprapha decided to abdicate in 1546 and the nobility gave the throne to her grandson, Prince Xaysettha of Lan Xang. Chaiyasettha moved to Lan Na and thus Lan Na was ruled by a Laotian king. In 1547, Prince Xaysettha returned to Lan Xang to claim the throne and ascended as Setthathirath. Setthathirath also brought the Emerald Buddha from Chiangmai to Luang Prabang (the one that would be later taken to Bangkok by Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke). The nobles then chose Mekuti, the Shan saopha of Mong Nai whose family was related to Mangrai, to be the new king of Lan Na. It was said that, as a Shan king, Mekuti violated several Lan Na norms and beliefs. Burmese rule The kingdom then came to conflict over Shan states with the expansionist Burmese king Bayinnaung. Bayinnaung's forces invaded Lan Na from the north, and Mekuti surrendered on 2 April 1558. Encouraged by Setthathirath, Mekuti revolted during the Burmese–Siamese War (1563–64). But the king was captured by Burmese forces in November 1564, and sent to the-then Burmese capital of Pegu. Bayinnaung then made Wisutthithewi, a Lan Na royal, the queen regnant of Lan Na. After her death, Bayinnaung appointed one of his sons Nawrahta Minsaw (Noratra Minsosi), viceroy of Lan Na in January 1579. Burma allowed a substantial degree of autonomy for Lan Na but strictly controlled the corvée and taxation. After Bayinnaung, his massive empire quickly unraveled. Siam successfully revolted (1584–93), after which all the vassals of Pegu went their own way by 1596–1597. Lan Na's Nawrahta Minsaw declared independence in 1596. In 1602, Nawrahta Minsaw became a vassal of King Naresuan of Siam. However, Siam's control was short-lived. The actual suzerainty effectively ended with Naresuan's death in 1605. By 1614, Siam's control over Lan Na was at most nominal. When the Burmese returned, the ruler of Lan Na, Thado Kyaw (Phra Choi), sought and received help from Lan Xang, not his nominal overlord Siam, which did not send any help. After 1614, vassal kings of Burmese descent ruled Lan Na for over one hundred years. Siam did try to take over Lan Na in 1662–1664 but failed. By the 1720s, the Toungoo dynasty was on its last legs. In 1727, Chiang Mai revolted because of high taxation. The resistance forces drove back the Burmese army in 1727–1728 and 1731–1732, after which Chiang Mai and Ping valley became independent. Chiang Mai became a vassal again in 1757 to the new Burmese dynasty. It revolted again in 1761 with Siamese encouragement but the rebellion was suppressed by January 1763. In the 1765, the Burmese used Lan Na as a launching pad to invade the Laotian states, and Siam itself. End of Burmese rule In the early 1770s, Burma was at the peak of its military power since Bayinnaung, having defeated Siam (1765–67) and China (1765–69), the Burmese army commanders and governors became "drunk with victory". This arrogant repressive behavior by the local Burmese government caused a rebellion in Lan Na. The new Burmese governor at Chiang Mai, Thado Mindin, was disrespectful to local chiefs and the people, and became extremely unpopular. One of the local chiefs, Kawila of Lampang revolted with Siamese help, and captured the city on 15 January 1775, ending the 200-year Burmese rule. Kawila was installed as the prince of Lampang and Phraya Chaban as the prince of Chiang Mai, both as vassals of Siam. Burma tried to regain Lan Na in 1775–76, 1785–86, 1797 but failed each time. In the 1790s, Kawila consolidated his hold of Lan Na, taking over Chiang Saen. He then tried to take over Burma's Shan state of Kengtung and Sipsongpanna (1803–1808) but failed. Nonetheless, the Kingdom of Chiang Mai, as a vassal state of Siam, had come into existence. Under Siamese suzerainty, Lan Na kingdom was divided into five smaller principalities, namely the Chiang Mai, Nan, Lampang, Lamphun, and Phrae. Lan Na ceased to be an entity on its own after it was incorporated into modern Kingdom of Siam. Chiang Mai, under Burma's rule, lasted more than 200 years, but there were some periods that switched to Ayutthaya rule. The reign of King Narai the Great, and there were some independent periods, but was dominated and ruled by the Lao King called Ong Kham from the Kingdom of Luang Prabang for more than 30 years. == Lan Na language ==

Kham Mueang or Phasa Mueang () is the modern spoken form of the old Lan Na language. Kham Mueang means "language of the principalities" (Kham, language or word; mueang, town, principality, kingdom) as opposed to the languages of many hill tribe peoples in the surrounding mountainous areas. The language may be written in the old Lan Na script, which somewhat resembles that of the Thai, but differs significantly in spelling rules. Due to the influence of the latter, it also differs significantly from the modern pronunciation of Kham Mueang. ==Historical writings on Lan Na==

• The Chiang Mai Chronicle — Probably started in the late 15th century and enlarged with every copying of the palm leaves manuscript. Current version is from 1828, English translation available as . • Jinakālamāli — composed by Ratanapañña (16th century) an account of the early rise of Buddhism in Thailand and details on many historical events. • Zinme Yazawin — Burmese chronicle of Zinme (Chiang Mai). == Modern Reconstruction and the "Lanna Renaissance" ==

During the 1980s and 1990s, Northern Thailand underwent a cultural movement often termed the "Lanna Renaissance." This period saw a resurgence in regional pride, the use of the Lanna script (Tham), and the adoption of traditional architecture and dress. This movement was largely led by academics at Chiang Mai University, most notably Professor Vithi Phanichphant, who sought to reclaim a local identity that had been marginalized during the "Thaification" policies of the early 20th century. In his work, Phanichphant explains that the northern dialect script and identity were erased from the area, and the people in the north did not know what Lanna was. While Thailand had undergone centralization that erased local differences, many Lanna traditions had become dormant. Researchers had to looked to Luang Prabang as a primary historical mirror and "time capsule". Laos had preserved these "Old Tai" roots, and Luang Prabang provided aesthetic templates - particularly in lacquerware and aristocratic silk weaving - to fill gaps in the reconstructed Lanna identity. Phanichphant argues that because Chiang Mai (Lanna) and Luang Prabang (Lan Xang) were "sibling kingdoms" under the Tai cultural umbrella, Luang Prabang’s survival as a royal capital allowed it to preserve styles that Chiang Mai had lost. Architecture and Textiles Phanichphant identifies specific areas where this historical mirror was applied: • Temple Architecture: To understand Lanna aesthetics before they were influenced by Bangkok styles, scholars looked to temples like Wat Xieng Thong in Luang Prabang, which represent the shared architectural "DNA" of the upper Mekong region. • Textiles and Royalty: In his textile research, Phanichphant points out that elaborate silk Tinsin (gold-threaded borders) and specific ways of draping the sabai (shoulder cloth) seen in modern Lanna festivals are imports from the Lao aristocratic tradition. According to Phanichphant, the reintroduction of the "shimmer of Luang Prabang silk" helped local people perceive their culture as "civilized" and "royal" rather than a rustic, peasant tradition. Academic Critiques and "The Lanna Deception" While the revival was successful in establishing a distinct regional brand, it has been the subject of scholarly debate regarding its authenticity. In a 2009 investigative feature titled "The Lanna Deception," journalist James Austin Farrell, citing interviews with Phanichphant, explored the idea that modern "Lanna style" is a contemporary reconstruction rather than an unbroken historical tradition. Key elements of this discourse include: • Invented Traditions: The movement modified certain traditions for commercial and aesthetic viability. For example, the Khantoke dinner, now a symbol of Northern hospitality, was identified by Phanichphant as a modern hybrid of Tai Lue traditions and Hawaiian-style dinner shows (luau) introduced in the 1950s. • Standardization of Ethnicity: Critics argue the revival standardized diverse "sticky rice cultures" (including Tai Lue, Lao, Tai Khoen, and Tai Yuan) into a single, high-fashion "Lanna" brand. This curation often replaced historical realities - such as toplessness and betel-nut-stained teeth - with a more "civilized" aesthetic to appeal to modern tourists and local elites. ==See also==