Khamyang people
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The Tai-Khamyangs (Thai:ชาวไทคำยัง, Chao Thai Kham Yang), also known as Shyam, is a subgroup of the
Tai peoples Tai peoples are the populations who speak (or formerly spoke) the Tai languages. There are a total of about 93 million people of Tai ancestry worldwide, with the largest ethnic groups being Dai, Thais, Isan, Tai Yai (Shan), Lao, Tai Ahom, a ...
of Southeast Asia. They are numerically a small indigenous group found in
Tinsukia Tinsukia (Pron: ˌtɪnˈsʊkiə) is an industrial town. It is situated north-east of Guwahati and away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of Assam, India. History During th ...
, Jorhat,
Sivasagar Sivasagar (Pron: or ) ("the sea of Shiva"), is a city in and headquarters of the Sivasagar district, Assam. Sivasagar is situated about 360 kilometers (224 mi) northeast of Guwahati. It is well known for its Ahom palaces and monuments. S ...
and Golaghat districts of
Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
and adjacent parts of
Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh (, ) is a state in Northeastern India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and became a state on 20 February 1987. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south. It shares ...
. Their population totals about 7,000, of which only a small minority speak the native Tai
Khamyang language Khamyang is a critically endangered Tai language of India, spoken by the Khamyang people. Approximately fifty people speak the language; all reside in the village of Powaimukh, located seven miles downstream of Margherita in the Tinsukia distric ...
while the vast majority speak the
Assamese language Assamese (), also Asamiya ( ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the north-east Indian state of Assam, where it is an official language, and it serves as a '' lingua franca'' of the wider region. The easternmost Indo-Iranian langua ...
. The Khamyang are followers of
Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' () ( si, ථේරවාදය, my, ထေရဝါဒ, th, เถรวาท, km, ថេរវាទ, lo, ເຖຣະວາດ, pi, , ) is the most commonly accepted name of Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school' ...
and are closely related to the Khamti. They maintain good relations with other Tai Buddhist tribes of
Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
. "Khamyang" itself is a Tai word, deriving etymologically from "kham" (gold) and "yang" or "jang" (to have), and meaning "people having gold". They ruled an independent principality in Mungkong until the end of the 18th century. Many Khamyang have historically used "Shyam", which is a
cognate In historical linguistics, cognates or lexical cognates are sets of words in different languages that have been inherited in direct descent from an etymological ancestor in a common parent language. Because language change can have radical ef ...
with "
Siam Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
", the old word for Thailand, as a surname. The modern trend is for mostly their family names: Thaomung, Chowlu, Chowlik, Tungkhang, Wailong, Pangyok, Chowsong, Pangyok and Chowhai.


Distribution

The Khamyang, as a distinct tribe, are found i
Balijaan Shyam Gaon Na Shyam Gaon
an
Betbari Shyam Gaon
(Betoni)near Titabor in
Jorhat district Jorhat (pron: ˈʤɔ:(r)ˌhɑ:t) is an administrative district of the Indian state of Assam situated in the central part of the Brahmaputra Valley. The district is bounded by Majuli on north, Nagaland state on the south, Charaideo on the east and ...

DisangpaniChalapather Shyam Gaon
and Rahan Shyam Gaon near Sapekhati in Sibsagar District
Powaimukh Shyam Gaon
near Margherita in
Tinsukia Tinsukia (Pron: ˌtɪnˈsʊkiə) is an industrial town. It is situated north-east of Guwahati and away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of Assam, India. History During th ...
district and Rajmai Shyam Gaon near Sarupathar and Rajapukhuri Shyam Gaon
Golaghat District Golaghat district (Pron:ˌgəʊləˈgɑ:t) is an administrative district in the state of Assam in India. It attained district status in 1987. The district headquarters are located at Golaghat. The district occupies an and lies above sea level. ...
. Tai Khamyang people are also found in some villages of Namsai District and
Lohit District Lohit () is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The district headquarters is located at Tezu. As of 2011 it is the third most populous district of Arunachal Pradesh, after Papum Pare and Changlang. Etymology ...
of
Arunachal Pradesh Arunachal Pradesh (, ) is a state in Northeastern India. It was formed from the erstwhile North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) region, and became a state on 20 February 1987. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south. It shares ...
.


Language

The Khamyang language, along with its close relatives, Khamti, Tai Phake, Turung, Tai Aiton and Shan, is classified with the Northwestern subgrouping of the
Southwestern Tai languages The Southwestern Tai, Southwestern Thai or Thai languages are a branch of the Tai languages of Southeast Asia. Its dialects include Siamese (Central Thai), Lanna, Lao, Shan and others. Classification The internal classification of the South ...
in the Tai-Kadai language family. Khamyang, however, is not in use among the Khamyangs of Assam except in a small settlement of approximately 50 people seven miles downstream from
Margherita Margherita is an Italian feminine given name. It also is a surname. As a word, in Italian it means " daisy". Given name As a name, it may refer to: *Margherita Aldobrandini (1588–1646), Duchess consort of Parma * Margherita de' Medici (161 ...
in
Tinsukia Tinsukia (Pron: ˌtɪnˈsʊkiə) is an industrial town. It is situated north-east of Guwahati and away from the border with Arunachal Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Tinsukia District of Assam, India. History During th ...
district named Powai Mukh. The majority speak the
Assamese language Assamese (), also Asamiya ( ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the north-east Indian state of Assam, where it is an official language, and it serves as a '' lingua franca'' of the wider region. The easternmost Indo-Iranian langua ...
although many Khamyang (Tai) terms are still retained in their vocabulary. There are also few Tai Khamyang people in Arunachal Pradesh who speak the Tai Khamti language. Thus, in language and some other cultural traits, the Khamyangs are in the process of harmonious assimilation to the local Assamese culture. Various efforts are undergoing for the effective revival of Tai-Khamyang language by workshops, publishing souvenir, compiling text books.


History

The Tai-Khamyangs belong to an area called "Khamjang" which lies in the Kachin state of Myanmar. This small unit of Tai-Khamyang people migrated from "
Möng Mao Muang Mao, also spelled Möng Mao ( shn, မိူင်းမၢဝ်း; tdd, ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥛᥣᥝᥰ; my, မိုင်းမော; ) or the Mao Kingdom was an ethnic Tai state that controlled several smaller Tai states or chieftainsh ...
Lung dynasty" (A.d-764-A.d-1252) in present-day Yunan Province of China and settled near Kopdup river in
Upper Myanmar Upper Myanmar ( my, အထက်မြန်မာပြည်, also called Upper Burma) is a geographic region of Myanmar, traditionally encompassing Mandalay and its periphery (modern Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway Regions), or more broadly speak ...
. It is said that the regions of Upper Myanmar geographically have full of resources. The Kopdub river flows through this region and has plenty of golds in the form of sand. The Tai-Khamyangs resided for a long period in this area lying on the Kopdub river. So literally they were known by the name "Khamyang" (Kham- Gold & Yang- To have) or "the people having gold" According to Ahom chronicles, prince Sukhapha and his followers were attacked by the Nagas at Khamjang on their way over Patkai. After his crossing over the Patkai, Khamyangs were driven away to take refuge in Assam under the oppressions of Siukhanpha. It is that early settlement of the section of Noras who was subsequently known by that name. The Tai Khamyangs, in the
Patkai The Pat-kai (Pron:pʌtˌkaɪ) or Patkai Bum ( Burmese: ''Kumon Taungdan'') are a series of mountains in the Indo-Myanmar border falling in the north-eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Upper Burma region of Myanmar. The ...
, got divided into two groups namely the Maan Nam or Pani Nora (Low Land Nora) and Maan Loi or Dum Nora (Upper land Nora). This settlement lies near the great lake "The Lake Of No Return" (Nong Kheo Lok Yang). In the mid-eighteenth century, due to the criticism surrounding for the presence of a couple of Cobras in the lake and problems faced from the Kachins, the Tai-Khamyangs crossed over the Patkai hill and settled in a fertile valley of Arunachal Pradesh. It is said that they constructed a pagoda which is still present near the no return lake. In the later period, they maintained good relationships with the Tai-Khamtis and established villages in Tengapani area. During the rule of Ahom king Gaurinath Singha, they immigrants to Jorhat district of Assam. With regard to their earlier migration to Assam, it may be noted that some Noras had accompanied Swargadeo Sukhapha and later on their separate identities were merged with the name Khamyang. History bears testimony to the fact that in 1524 Swargadeo Chukungmong married the daughter of the Nora Raja and Nora Raja equally was honored with a Khamyang damsel. It is quite probable that some Noras might have accompanied the princess in 1576. Swargadeo Chukhamfa also married one Nora princess. The princess was accompanied by a Nora prince, a priest, and 1000 Nora people.


Culture


Festivals & Events

* ''Poi-Sangken'' (Water Festival) used to be celebrated generally from 14th of April to 16th of April at all the Buddhist Monasteries across the places populated by Tai Khamyang community along with other communities. The ''Poi'' or festival is a spring festival of Tai Buddhist of the world. The word is originated from the Pali/Sanskrit word ''Sangkranti'' and this festival is observed by Tais (Thai) of Thailand and Myanmar simultaneously by following same Tai Buddhist calendar. The ''Poi Sanken'' festival starts on the day of and continues for three days. During the festival the statues of Lord Buddha are showered with clean and scented water. However on the closing day of this ceremony people start splashing water and mud on each other. The Tai peoples believe that throwing water at each other will wash away enmity and sin of the society. * ''Poi Mai-Ko-Chum-Phai'' is another important festival observed by the Tai Khamyang community of Assam. It is observed on the full moon day of the Assamese month Magh (Maghi Purnima). This festival is observed by firing woods and significance of which is impermanence (''Anitya-Dukha-Anatma''). During the festival the Tai Khamyang people prepare traditional food and offer it to each other. * Buddha Purnima (''Poi Noun Houk'') is observed on the fool moon day of the Assamese month Baisakh. The significance of this day is related to the three great events which are, birth, death and getting enlightenment of Buddha. * Barsha Bash (''Poi Chatang'') / Monsoon Fast starts from full moon of 'Ahara' to the fool moon of 'Ahina'. During the festival Buddhist Monks (Bhante) and follower of Eight Precepts visit Monastery (Kyong) for prayer and undertake fast for three month. The starting day of Barsha Bash is Called Poi Khaw Wa and ending day is called Poi Akwa. * There are some other festivals like ''Poi Patesa'' (Kalpataru), ''Poi Lu Fra'', ''Poi Kanta Sangha'', ''Poi Lu Kyong'' and ''Poi Kathin Sivara'' etc.


Gallery

File:Pasaw Tai-Khamyang.webp, Pasaw Tai-Khamyang (Tai-Khamyang girls) File:Poi-Pee-Maw Tai 2116" (Tai-New Year 2021) .webp, Poi-Pee-Maw Tai 2116" (Tai-New Year 2021), Charaideo, Assam, India File:Kongmu & Kyong of Man Chalapothar Khamyang.webp, ''Kongmu'' (Pagoda) & ''Kyong'' (Buddhist Monastery), ''Man'' (Village) Chalapothar Khamyang, Charaideo, Assam, India File:Koun Tai-Khamyang .webp, ''Koun Tai-Khamyang'' (Tai-Khamyang people) File:Pasaw Tai Khamyang.webp, ''Pasaw'' ''Tai-Khamyang'', Tai-Khamyang girls, Assam, India


External links


Ethnologue profile


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ข่าวเอพีวันนี้ที่เกี่ยวกับ Shyam และชนเผ่า Tai Khamyang


{{DEFAULTSORT:Khamyang People Tai peoples Tribes of Assam Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh Social groups of Assam Buddhist communities of India