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{{Short description|Royal title}}
{{redirect|Sawbwa|the fish|Sawbwa barb}}
{{redirect|Chao Fa|the modern Thai royal title|Thai royal ranks and titles}}
{{Infobox nobility title|name=Chao Pha |image=Sukapha.jpg|image_size=|alt=|caption=Chao Pha and Prince of [[Mong Mao]] and [[Ahom kingdom|Mong Kham]]|creation_date=|creation=|peerage=|baronetage=|first_holder=|last_holder=[[Purandar Singha|Chao Pha Purandar Singha]]|present_holder=|heir_apparent=|heir_presumptive=|remainder_to=|subsidiary_titles=|status=Not used in Modern days|extinction_date=|family_seat=|former_seat=|arms=|crest=|supporters=|pinsel=|badge=|crest_badge=|plant_badge=|footnotes=A Tai Nobility Title used by Ahom Kings, Shan Chiefs, Thai Prince / Princess and Khamti Chief.}}
{{Infobox nobility title
⚫
[[File:Shan saophas (sawbwas) at the Durbar, Delhi, India.jpg|thumb|Two Shan saophas on a visit to Delhi, India in 1903]]
|name=Chaopha
⚫
[[File:Family of Saopha of Wuntho.jpg|thumb|Wife and child of the Saopha of [[Wuntho]], c. 1880]]
|image=Sukapha.jpg
'''Chao Pha''' or '''Sawba''' (literally meaning "lord of the heavens"<ref name="HD">{{Cite book |author=Donald M. Seekins |title=Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar) |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2006 |at=entry ''Sawbwa'', p. 391}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author1=Barbara Watson Andaya |author2=Leonard Y. Andaya |title=A History of Early Modern Southeast Asia, 1400-1830 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2015|page=170}}</ref>[[Thai royal and noble titles#Chao Fa .28HRH Prince.29 .28HRH Princess.29|Chao Fa]] ({{lang-th|เจ้าฟ้า|}}, [[Shan language|Shan]]: {{lang-my-Mymr|ၸဝ်ႈၾႃႉ}}, ) was a royal title used by the hereditary rulers of the [[Tai peoples]] of [[Ahom kingdom|Mong Dun]], [[Shan people|Mong Shan]], [[Mong Mao]], kingdoms of [[Thai royal and noble titles|Mueang Thai]] and [[Khamti people|Tai-Khamti]] people.It is the Thai equivalent.<ref name="HD"/> [[wikt:เจ้า|Chao]] means "master" or "lord", and [[wikt:ฟ้า|Fa]] means "sky" or "heaven". According to local chronicles, some fiefdoms of saophas date from as early as the 2nd century BCE; however, the earlier sections of these chronicles are generally agreed to be legendary.<ref>{{cite web
|image_size=
|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/demo/sojourn_journal_of_social_issues_in_southeast_asia/v021/21.1laungaramsri.html
|alt=
|title=Pinkaew Leungaramsri. - Women, Nation, and the Ambivalence of Subversive Identification along the Thai-Burmese Border - Sojourn: Journal of Social Issues in Southeast Asia 21:1
|caption= [[Sukapha]], Chao Pha of [[Mong Mao]] and [[Ahom kingdom|Mong Kham]]
|publisher=muse.jhu.edu
|creation_date=
|accessdate=2008-03-27
|creation=
|last=
|first_holder=Various
|first=
|last_holder=[[Purandar Singha|Chao Pha Purandar Singha]]
⚫
}}
|remainder_to=
</ref>
|subsidiary_titles=
|status=Defunct
|extinction_date=20th century
|footnotes=A nobility title used by Tai rulers}}


'''Chaopha''' ({{lit|lord of the sky}}) was a royal title used by the hereditary [[Tai peoples|Tai rulers]] in [[mainland Southeast Asia]], including the [[Ahom kingdom|Mong Dun]], [[Shan people|Mong Shan]], [[Mong Mao]], and [[Khamti people|Khamti]] fiefdoms.
During [[British rule in Burma|British colonial rule]], there were 14 to 16 saophas at a time, each ruling a highly autonomous state, until 1922 when the [[Federated Shan States]] were formed and the saophas' powers were reduced. However, they nominally kept their positions as well as their courts and still played a role in local administration until they collectively relinquished their titles in favour of the [[Post-independence Burma, 1948–62|Union of Burma]] in 1959.<ref name="HD"/>Shan is the semi-independent [[Shan States]] ([[mueang|Mong]], {{lang-shn|{{lang-my-Mymr|မိူင်း}}}}, {{IPA-shn|mə́ŋ|pron}}) in what today is Eastern [[Myanmar]] (Burma). It may also be used for rulers of similar Tai/Dai states in neighbouring countries, notably including China's [[Yunnan]] Province.<ref name="HD"/>.

== Names and etymology ==
The title literally means "lord of the heavens" in [[Tai languages]], including '''chaopha''' (𑜋𑜧𑜨 𑜇𑜡) in [[Ahom language|Ahom]], '''saopha''' ({{lang-shn|ၸဝ်ႈၽႃႉ|translit=tsaw3 pʰaa5}}) in [[Shan language|Shan]], '''chau-fa''' ({{lang-tdd|ᥓᥝᥲ ᥜᥣᥳ}}) in [[Tai Nuea language|Tai Nuea]], and '''chao fa''' ({{lang-th|เจ้าฟ้า|}}) in [[Thai language|Thai]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Seekins |first=Donald M. |title=Historical dictionary of Burma (Myanmar) |date=2017 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-0183-4 |edition=2nd |series=Historical dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East |location=Lanham}}</ref> The title was rendered into Burmese as '''sawbwa''' ({{lang-my|စော်ဘွား}}).<ref name=":0" />

==Usage==

=== Myanmar (Burma) ===
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 [[Mueang|mong]] ({{lang-shn|{{lang-my-Mymr|မိူင်း}}}}, {{IPA-shn|mə́ŋ|pron}}), in the region.<ref name=":0" /> In order of precedence, the sawbwas outranked local rulers of lower ranks, namely the [[Myoza (royal title)|myoza]] and ngwegunhmu.<ref name=":0" />

During [[British rule in Burma|British colonial rule]], colonial authorities adopted the Burmese system, recognising between 14 and 16 sawbwas who enjoyed a degree of autonomy in their fiefdoms.<ref name=":0" /> In 1922, the establishment of the [[Federated Shan States]] greatly reduced the sawbwas' autonomy.<ref name=":0" /> In April 1959, the sawbwas relinquished their feudal authority to the Burmese government.<ref name=":0" />

The distinction in the titles dates from the days of the Burmese monarchy although the same states have not continued to hold the same titles for their chiefs during the centuries -- changes took place according to royal favour, results of battles and later, the decisions of the British authorities. The privileges and titles were so much a matter of royal ordinance that every one of a Sawbwa's symbols of power was laid down in a special book of dispensations granted by the higher court. His regalia and clothes, the guilding and jewel decoration of betel boxes, spittoons, fly-whisks and such articles of use, the dress of ministers, the umbrellas, spears and horses in procession, the caparisoning of the royal elephant, the instruments for processional music, the gateways and the style of residence, all were rigidly prescribed to ensure that the dignity kept up accordance with the status of a royal chieftain, yet did not encroach on the special privileges reserved for the court of Ava itself. The British, whose success in administration was largely bound up with observance, of precedence in a hierarchy, listed states also as Sawbaships, Myosaships and Ngwegunhmuships

=== China ===
The term was also used for the rulers of some Tai polities in what is now China's [[Yunnan]] Province.<ref name="HD">{{Cite book |author=Donald M. Seekins |title=Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar) |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2006 |at=entry ''Sawbwa'', p. 391}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
|title=
|width=160 | height=170
|align=center
|footer=
⚫
|File:Shan saophas (sawbwas) at the Durbar, Delhi, India.jpg
|alt1=Two Shan saophas on a visit to Delhi, India in 1903
|
|File:Family of Saopha of Wuntho.jpg
⚫
|alt2=Wife and child of the Saopha of [[Wuntho]], c. 1880
|
|File:Shan sawbwa in court dress.jpg
|alt3=Shan saopha in Burmese royal court dress
⚫
}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[Ahom dynasty]]
*[[List of rulers of Shan states]]
* [[Ahom dynasty|Ahom Chao Pha]]
*[[Chao (monarchy)]]
*[[Tusi]]
*[[Tusi]]


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==External links==
==External links==
*{{commonscat inline}}
*{{commons category-inline}}
{{Shan states}}
{{Shan states}}


Latest revision as of 02:17, 13 May 2024

"Chao Fa" redirects here. For the modern Thai royal title, see Thai royal ranks and titles.
Chaopha
Sukapha, Chao Pha of Mong Mao and Mong Kham
First holderVarious
Last holderChao Pha Purandar Singha
StatusDefunct
Extinction date20th 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]

The distinction in the titles dates from the days of the Burmese monarchy although the same states have not continued to hold the same titles for their chiefs during the centuries -- changes took place according to royal favour, results of battles and later, the decisions of the British authorities. The privileges and titles were so much a matter of royal ordinance that every one of a Sawbwa's symbols of power was laid down in a special book of dispensations granted by the higher court. His regalia and clothes, the guilding and jewel decoration of betel boxes, spittoons, fly-whisks and such articles of use, the dress of ministers, the umbrellas, spears and horses in procession, the caparisoning of the royal elephant, the instruments for processional music, the gateways and the style of residence, all were rigidly prescribed to ensure that the dignity kept up accordance with the status of a royal chieftain, yet did not encroach on the special privileges reserved for the court of Ava itself. The British, whose success in administration was largely bound up with observance, of precedence in a hierarchy, listed states also as Sawbaships, Myosaships and Ngwegunhmuships

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]

  • Two Shan saophas on a visit to Delhi, India in 1903
  • Wife and child of the Saopha of Wuntho, c. 1880
  • Shan saopha in Burmese royal court dress

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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


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