Padaungs

'Padaung' is one of the most well-known ethinic groups of Myanmar. Most of them live in southern Shan and Kayah States. In the early 1900s, there were as many as 150,000 members of Padaung tribe in Myanmar, however there isn't as many as this today.

Padaung women are well-known by their foot-long necks decorated with silver or brass rings.

Tradition

Although padaung men do not wear such heavy rings on their necks, Padaung women used to wear up to 16-22 rings on their necks, and up to 30 rings on the calf of their legs.

Padaung believe that it is beautiful to have rings and that the more rings they wear, the more beautiful they look.

Soon after a Padaung girl reached the age of 5, they start adding brass rings one after the otherr. It is said that only a skillful person, specialized in this art, can add or remove these rings if they want to.

Those rings in fact, are solid, not hollowed, weighing up to almost 30 pounds.

Origin

Padaung ethinics rooted in another nationality called "Kang Yan", which is extinct hundreds of years ago. The King of Kang Yan sent his son to King of Yunan, China, as a diplomat. When the Prince came back with presents of King of Yunan, Kang Yan princess loved the silver rings most, that she never wanted to take it off. Since then women of this tribe wear silver or brass rings on their necks, and mostly never remove them at all.

With the development of the region, the number of Padaung women wearing such rings has obviously reduced.

Padaung Singles

There always is one hostel of unmarried Padaung men in every Padaung village. It is their tradition that all Padaung single, unmarried men, and widowers have to live in this hostel where they are trained. They had to leave that hostel when they got married.

Weddings

It can be found that Padaung people carefully avoid marrying relatives, some avoid up to 7 generations, and some to 9 generations.

According to Padaung tradition, in the morning of wedding days, a pig is killed to see whether it is the right day for the wedding. If the liver of the pig is in perfect condition, it is considered as a lucky day, and marriage is celebrated. It is usually tried 3 times, and if the liver is not in perfect condition 3 whole times, that wedding has to be cancelled, believing that they will always be unlucky or will be childless.

Moral Image over Padaungs

The general image of other national races over Padaung people is that Padaungs are strong, simple, and hard-working people.

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Last Modified : 23-3-05 (TSZW)