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{{Short description|Royal title}}
{{Short description|Royal title}}
{{redirect|Chao Fa|the modern Thai royal title|Thai royal ranks and titles}}
{{redirect|Chao Fa|the modern Thai royal title|Thai royal ranks and titles}}
{{Infobox nobility title
{{Infobox nobility title|name=Chao Pha |image=Sukapha.jpg|image_size=|alt=|caption=[[Sukapha]], 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.}}
|name=Chao Pha
'''Chao-Pha''' ({{lit|lord of the sky}}; [[Ahom language|Tai Ahom]]: 𑜋𑜧𑜨 𑜇𑜡, {{lang-th|เจ้าฟ้า|}}, {{lang-shn|ၸဝ်ႈၾႃႉ|translit=Sào Fá}}, {{lang-my|စော်ဘွား}} ''Sawbwa,'' {{zh|t=|c=召法|p=Zhàofǎ}}) 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 and [[Khamti people|Tai-Khamti]] people. According to local chronicles, some fiefdoms of Chao-Pha date from as early as the 2nd century BCE; however, the earlier sections of these chronicles are generally agreed to be legendary.
|image=Sukapha.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption= [[Sukapha]], Chao Pha of [[Mong Mao]] and [[Ahom kingdom
|Mong Kham]]
|creation_date=
|creation=
|first_holder=Various
|last_holder=[[Purandar Singha|Chao Pha Purandar Singha]]
|remainder_to=
|subsidiary_titles=
|status=Defunct
|extinction_date=20th century
|footnotes=A nobility title used by Tai rulers}}


'''Chao-Pha''' ({{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.
==Overview==

During [[British rule in Burma|British colonial rule]], there were 14 to 16 Chao-Phas at a time, each ruling a highly autonomous state, until 1922 when the [[Federated Shan States]] were formed and the Chao-Phas 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">{{Cite book|author=Donald M. Seekins|title=Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2006|at=entry ''Sawbwa'', p. 391}}</ref> Shan is the semi-independent [[Shan States]] ([[mueang|Muang]], {{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]], 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 to 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" />

=== 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 ==
{{Gallery
{{Gallery
|title=Pictures of Chao Pha
|title=
|width=160 | height=170
|width=160 | height=170
|align=center
|align=center
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== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[List of rulers of Shan states]]
*[[List of rulers of Shan states]]
*[[Ahom dynasty|Ahom Chao Pha]]
*[[Ahom dynasty]]
*[[Chao (monarchy)]]
*[[Chao (monarchy)]]
*[[Tusi]]
*[[Tusi]]
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[[Category:Burmese words and phrases]]
[[Category:Burmese words and phrases]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]
[[Category:Ahom kingdom]]



{{name-stub}}
{{name-stub}}

Revision as of 08:59, 28 December 2023

"Chao Fa" redirects here. For the modern Thai royal title, see Thai royal ranks and titles.
Chao Pha
Sukapha, Chao Pha of Mong Mao and [[Ahom kingdom |Mong Kham]]
First holderVarious
Last holderChao Pha Purandar Singha
StatusDefunct
Extinction date20th century
A nobility title used by Tai rulers

Chao-Pha (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

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, and chao fa (Thai: เจ้าฟ้า) in Thai.[1] The title was rendered into Burmese as sawbwa (Burmese: စော်ဘွား).[1]

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 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 to 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]

China

The term was also used for the rulers of some Tai polities in what is now China's Yunnan Province.[2]

Gallery

  • 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

References

  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

  • Media related to Saopha at Wikimedia Commons

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