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Jinghpaw Text book Japan version

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Kumba majun

           Kumba ngu ai gaw nam, tsing amyu mi rai nga ai. Shi hta nam chyim sama, hpa mung n nga ai. Tu ai shaloi ninghpawng, ninghpang n'na tu ai nam banda hpan re ai hte maren, hpun kaba maling kaw n tu ai sha. Yi shari, nam sumwum hkan law malawng tu chye ai.

Majun

Lahta e tsun ai kumba hpe Jinghpaw ni gara hku kam ai hkap la ai gaw, dai kumba a majun hta mu lu ai. Hkap la kam sham ai lam nga ai majaw, asung jashawn ai lam nga wa ai, Hkap la ai lam hta hkan n'na akyu jashawn ai shloi mung, ahkyak ai, nau n ahkyak hku akyu jashawn nga ma ai. Hkam la ai lam kaba jang akyu jashawn ai lam ahkyak nga ma ai. Tu ai baw tu matu ni hta kumba gaw ahkyak htum hta lawm nga ai. Hpa majaw nga yang, Kumba gaw Cyunun yan Woi shun a kasha ma La wa rai n'na, shi gaw Karai gawng dagraw ai wa rai nga ai. Shi hpe Hpan Ningtsang Chye Ningchyang ngu shamying ai. Karai rai n'na, masha hta shangai wa ai wa rai nga ai. Shi hpe shangai ai shaloi, shadai kadoi n'na, shadai daw lup da ai kaw na Kumba tu wa sai. Dai majaw, Karai hpung shingkang lawm ai nam rai nga ai.

Asung jashawn ai lam

1. Shada sat hkat, nat hkat ai hpe bai majan sim hting ram yang, lang ai Karai a mying ningsang kaw shakaq n'na hting ram ai lam rai nga ai.
2. Hpunau shada alak mi kumba jun n'na ga shakaq tawn da chye ma ai. Masha shada sha n rai Karai a man e tawn da ai lachyum rai nga ai.
3. Num kumba shalai ai. Dinghku hpe Karai a man e ga shakaq la ai ngu mayu nga ai.

Num Shalai ai lam

Num nnan hpe kumba n hpang hku gawai wa jang gaw, dinghku shang sai hku rai sai. Dinghku shang ai shaloi Karai kaw ga shakaq la ai lachyum shapraw sai. Jinghpaw ni a Kaji Daju Ninggawn wa magam gaw Karai hpe n kam ai amyu, lapu hpe Karai hku kam ai amyu, num la sai dai majaw lapu sama, lapu makam masham hpe Karai a kasha shangai shaloi na shadai daw lup da ai, tu wa ai kumba lap hte sama shatsai kau ai.

Lapu gaw satan a ali ama rai nna Jinghpaw ni n ra ai majaw, Karai a hpun shingkang hte lapu sama satsai ai lam galaw sai rai n'na, Jinghpaw ni hta kumba shalai ai htunghking byin wa sai. N'dai prat hta gaw shadai daw hte shatsai ai hku sha n rai, shadai madu Hkristu nan nga nga sai. Dai majaw, kumba hpe makam masham hku n lang ra sai. Htunghking hku sha mai lang na sai. Shing n rai kumba lai ai hpe gaw ga shakaq ningsa htung ngu mai sawn la nga mali ai.


Sara Pungga Ja Li
Kachin Oral tradation Researcher[/B]

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CHYURUM LAIKA PRAT LATSA

SHANHPYI LAIKA

Moi shawng de Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni shanhpyi laika lu yu sai hpe,Wunpawngsha hkahku hkanam shara magup na ni tsun hkai hkrat wa ai bung nna maumwi langai mi hku mung rai nga ai. Dai rai yang dai laika hpe gara prat hta kanang na lu la ai re hpe, npawt ndung hkren chye tsun hkai dan ai masha kadai mung n nga ai. Ju adup sha kau nna htu mat sai lam hpe yawng tsun hkai ai mung bung nga ai.

Jinghpaw Wunpawg sha ni ji woi prat matut nna tsun hkai hkrat wa ai maumwi labau langai mi rai nga ai majaw, teng na re ngu hkap la mai ai shara mung nga ai. Hpa majaw nga yang, moi prat hta kung hpan nga sai mungdan ni shanhpyi hta laika ka lang hkrat wa ai hpe chye ga ai. Ya anhte lang nga ai Chyoi pra ai Chyum laika hpe shawng de shanhpyi hta ka da ai kaw nna, maisau prat du jang maisau laika hku nna bai ka lang hkrat wa ai re hpe chye lu ai.

Maisau hpe A.D 1200 ning daram kaw nna Arabian masha ni shawng chye galaw shapraw ma ai hku chye lu ai. Raitim dai prat hta lata hte sha naw shawng chye galaw ai majaw, mungdan shara magup de chyam bra wa lu hkra garai n galaw lu ma ai. A.D 1300 ning daram hkan nna she jak rung rai ni hte chye galaw wa ai hta hkan nna mungdan kau mi de du chyam mat wa sai hte maren, shawng de na zawn shan-hpyi hta ka lang ai lam grit yawm mat wa sai hpe chye lu ai.

Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni shanhpyi laika lu yu sai lam hte seng nna myitsu salang ni sumru dinglun yu ma ai gaw: Wunpawng sha ni Mongolia mung e naw shanu nga ai aten aprat hta shanhpyi laika hpe chye ka lang nna machye machyang jat let nga chying nga ring wa sai hpang, grau dam kaba ai lamu ga hpe tam ai nga dingda maga de majen je hkrat wa ai shaloi “Han” ngu ai masha ni hte lamu ga nhkan e manghkang rawng nna majan mahpan byin ai kaw pyi du sai. Shawng daw e Wunpawng sha ni padang lu na mahka sha rai sai kaw, law la ai Han masha ni n-gun galung la nna jawm htim gasat ai majaw, Wunpawng sha ni sum htingnut, hprawng yen mat wa ai gaw, hpang jahtum e tsaw la ai bum maling kata de du mat wa sai. ( Dai Han masha ni gaw ya na Miwa ni rai nga ma ai ngu nna maram chye lu ai.)

Dai shara hta tsawm ra ning na hkra majan mahpan byin ai gawp e, shanhpyi laika chye ai ni mung si htum mat nna laika sharin ya na masha mung n nga, chye hti ai masha pyi kata mat nga yang kawsi kyet ai majaw ju adup sha kau nna htum sai hku tsun htai nga ma ai. Dai lam hte seng nna salang kau mi bai tsun dinglun yu ma ai gaw: manut maza e pyi n sha jahten lu hkra, tsi amyu myu bang nna nut da ai shanhpyi hpe ju sha gaw n mai na. Lama ma a majaw shamat jahtum kau ai she rai na re nga ai ni mung nga ma ai. Kaning rai, gara hku nna mi raitim dai shanhpyi laika gaw Wunpawng sha ni a lata na htum mat sai gaw teng sai.

MAISAU LAIKA

Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni kaw shawng du sa ai A.B.M Sasana sara usa ni hta No.3, ngu na Sara Kaba Hanson, shing n rai, Dr.Ola Hanson ngu ai wa gaw 1890 ning hta Wunpawng sha ni a nga pra ginra Manmaw mare de du sa sai. Shi pyi garai n du sa ai shawng kaw nna Myen, Kayin, Sam ni kaw sa ai A.B.M Sasana sara kaba ni rai nga ai:Brownson Mason, Cushing, Crownkite hte Ferguson ni hku nna Jinghpaw Laika galaw ya na shakut ma ai gaw, shawng ningnan Sara Kaba Brownson gaw 1834 ning hta galaw yu ai hpang, langai hte langai bai galaw matut chyam dinglik yu tim n byin ai hku re. Shingrai galaw dinglik yu lai wa sai ladaw gaw 1834 ning kaw nna 1885 ning lapran (51) ning laman galaw yang n byin mai mat sai hpe 1890 ning hta Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni kaw sha-ang du sa wa ai Dr.Ola Hanson gaw shi du sa ai hpang (5) ning ngu na 1895 ning hta Jinghpaw laika kanu hpe agyin shabyin da ya sai.

Dr.Ola Hanson gaw Jinghpaw laika kanu hpe agyin da lu sai hte maren, dai laika hpe Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni shanhte a chyum laika majing hku hkap la nhtawm prat matut nna asung jashawn lang galu kaba sa wa lu hkra ngu ai myit masa kaba hte matut nna kaning rai, gara hku galaw hpajang sa wa yu sai hpe lawu na hte maren sawk sagawn chye lu ai.

Laika kanu hpe agyin shabyin da lu sai hpang, dai laika hte ga hkrang, laika hkrang ni ka shapraw shagrin da na gaw ra ahkyak kaba rai nga ai hpe shi dum chye sai hte maren Jinghpaw ni ayan tsun shaga lang nga ai ga hkum ni hpe shaning nhtoi kadun hte hkan sawk sagawn jahkum la na hku myit yu nga sai.

Shawng ningnan Manmaw ga, Jinghpaw Wunpawng sha ni shanu nga ai bumlang mare kahtawng law law de sa du sawk sagawn la ai hpang, Myitkyina ga, Hukawng hkan du hkra sa du sawk sagawn la ngut ai htawm e, Sam mung de Namhkam grup yin hte Mungbaw ga hte dingda maga de Mungjet Kapna ga hkan du hkra sa du sawk sagawn la lai wa sai hpe chye lu ai.

Dai zawn hkan sawk sagawn yu nna Jinghpaw ni a yan tsun lang nga ai ga hkum mun mi jan sawk sagawn la lu sai hta na ga hkum hkying sanit hte matsat gaw ayan na tsun shaga lang nga ai ga hkum ni rai nga ai hpe chye lu sai.

Bai, nga shara ni hta hkan nna tsun shaga lang ai ga nsen ni shai mat wa nga ai hta n ga, Myen hte ni ai ni Myen ga tsun kayau lang, Sam Miwa hte ni ai ni mung dai hte maren kaga amyu ni a ga hpe tsun shaga kayau lang mat wa nga ma ai hpe chye lu sai. Bai lam mi gaw ga hkum ni hpe hkrak n tsun lang ai. Ga shadawn: ANHTE ngu ai hpe “ahte”, “ahteng” nga nna tsun shaga lang ai hpe sawk sagawn mu lu ai.

Shi sa du hkawm ai mare kahtawng shagu na Wunpawng sha ni moi shawng de shanhpyi laika lu yu sai lam tsun hkai dan ma ai shaloi:Dr.Ola Hanson hku nna atsawm sha madat shingram yu n htawm ndai Jinghpaw sha ni gaw shawng de shanhpyi laika lang ai amyu kaba langai ngai kaw nna ran hkrat wa ai lakung lama ni rai ang ma ai nga nna maram yu lai wa sai hpe mung chye lu ai.

KACHIN DICTIONARY LAIKA 

Lahta e tsun lai wa sai hte maren Jinghpaw ni tsun shaga lang ai aga gaw nga shara, lamu ga hte amyu lakung lama ni hta hkan nna lachyum bung tim tsun shaga lang ai aga hte nsen ni loi loi shai mat wa ai hpe sawk sagawn mu lu nu ai. Bai lam mi gaw, lahta e tsun ai hte maren Jinghpaw ga ayai aya rai nga ai majaw, grin ai amyu ga langai tai lu hkra gaw, dai ga hkum ni hpe galung shinggyin shagyip, jum tek tawn na “HTANG” langai mi n lu da n mai rai nga ai hpe dum chye nu ai hte maren dai hpe hkrak shakut galaw lajang da ya sai. Dai gaw “KACHIN DICTIONARY” ngu ai laika rai nna laika man (739) rawng ai laika laika htang tai nga ai. Dai laika gaw Jinghpaw ga hkum shagu hpe Inglik ga hku gale da ai rai nna maigan masha ni anhte a ga hpe chye mayu yang dai laika hpe hti nna hka ja la na matu mung rai nga ai.

Dai laika byin tai lu hkra Dr.Ola Hanson gaw shi atsam marai htum hkra hte shaning aten tsawm ra mi la nna galaw shagrin da ya ai “Wunpawng Laika Sutdek” rai mali ai ngu tim shut na n re.

Dai laika hpe npawt nhpang dahpran shara shatai nhtawm: Chyoi Pra Ai Chyum Laika hpe Jinghpaw ga hku gale da ai. Bai, jawng e sharin lang na Jinghpaw hti laika ni hpe jawng kaji kaw nna tsang 4 du hkra na hpe ka lajang da lu sai. Jawng e sharin lang na tsang laika (Text book) byin hkra Dr. Hanson hku nna dai ten hta normal hpaji lu ai Sara Kaba F.J.Ingram hpe alit jaw shatsam da ai hpe dai ten asuya normal jawng Sara Maran La Nau madi shadaw karum ai hte 1916 ning kaw nna bum ga na Jinghpaw jawng ni yawng hta sharin lang hpang lu hkra lajang shajin da ya sai hpe chye lu ai.

Jawng e sharin lang na laika hpe ka lajang , htang dip ngut ai hte rau Dr.Ola Hanson gaw dai ten Myen mung ting hte seng ai hpaji du ginjaw(Public Instructor of Burma) a rung de Jinghpaw bum ga e hpaw da ai sasana jawng ni hte asuya jawng ni hta sharin lang lu na ahkang jahkrat ya na lam tangshawn hpyi lajin ai hpe hkap la ya sai.

Dai ten, dai prat kaw nna laili laika hpe ra sharawng marit la nga ai Wunpawng sha ni gaw MAISAU LAIKA lu la sai hte maren sharawng shara rai sharin la, sharin ya rai bang mat wa ai nga yang shaning nhtoi kadun hte Wunpawng sha ni a nga pra gin-ra shingjut shagu e Jinghpaw laika chyam bra shang wa sai.

Hpyen dap hte Jinghpaw Laika 

Lai wa sai No.(1) majan kaba hta Myen Mung Britisha asuya hpyen dap hta magam gun nga aiWunpawng sha wa – ngan la ni hpe Mesootamia Mungdan de majan sa woi gasat ai hta Britisha asuya padang lu ai hta hkan nna Myen Mung hpyendap (Burma Army) hpe bai gawgap shangang ai hta Wunpawng sha wa-ngan la ni hpe npawt madung dahpran shara shatai nna gawgap sa wa na hku dawdan da ma ai hte maren bumga na Wunpawng sha wa-ngan la ni hpe, laksan mi bai hpyendap de lahkawn bang jat shalaw wa masai.

Dai rai yang, Wunpawng sha wa-ngan la ni laika n chye ai majaw, hpyen hpaji sharin shakyang ai hta grai yak hkak nna aten garawt ai hta n ga, shabri shabrai hkuk jaw ai shaloi lata yungnu dip ra ai. Bai maga lam mi hku gaw, Wunpawng sha ni hpe hpyen hpaji sharin shakyang ya nga ai ntsa na Britisha asuya du kaji kaba ni Jinghpaw ga hte laika hpe n chye ai majaw, dap kata na magam bungli hta masan n sa, dingbai dingna byin nga ai hpe chye lu ai. Shingrai byin nga ai hpe Myen mung ting hte seng ai Britisha hpyendu ginjaw(Chief of Stagg) wa mu chye lu nna Namhkam Mare e dung ai Sara Kaba Dr.Ola Hanson hpe Yangon mare hpyendap ginjaw ( War Office ) de du sa nna shi a Jinghpaw Laika hpe loi sha pyi lajin dat ai hte maren, Dr. Ola Hanson gaw 1923 ning hta laban bat masum tup sa du madun sharin ya ai shaloi kaja wa Dr.Ola Hanson a Jinghpaw laika gaw hpyendap hpe hkrak sha akyu jaw lu na hpe chye sai hte maren (Burma Military Education) ngu ai hpyendap hpaji shakat lamang langai hku hkap la masat da nhtawm n chye n mai hpaji langai hku nna sharin ya mat wa ai majaw, bum ga na jawng n lung yu ai wa-ngan la ni hpyen dap e she Jinghpaw laika hpe sharin chye la lu masai.

Dai hte maren, Britisha du ni mung Jinghpaw laika hte aga hpe chye la nna hpyendap magam bungli masan grau sa wa ai hta hkan nna aya rawt, shabrai jat let myi man grau pa lu ma ai hpe chye lu ai. Jinghpaw laika hte Inglik laika gaw ahkrang hte nsen bung ai hte maren hpaji lai hpe sharawng ai Wunpawng sha wa-ngan la ni kau mi, jawng pyi n lung yu ai ni Inglik laika hpe aga hpe ram ging ai hku shaga lu ka lu re ni mung nga lai wa masai.

Jinghpaw Shi Laika 

Shata mi hta kalang dip shabra lai wa sai. A.B.M Sasana kaw nna jum ai Jinghpaw Shi Laika (Monthly Kachin News) hpe shawng ningnan Myitkyina mare hta dung ai Sara Kaba Rev.G.J.(Geis gaw 1918 ning August shata) kaw nna dip shabra hpang sai. Shawng ningnan maisau lam mi,laika man lahkawng hku nna sha dip shabra hpang ai kaw nna rawt jat kaba wa ai gaw hpang jahtum Japan majan du wa mahka e laika man 40 du nna la hti ai masha hkying manga hkawt rai nna, majan shawng na Wunpawng sha ni a amyi , ana , nsen tai lai wa nna magazin madang hta pyi tsap nga sai.

Dai shi laika a yaw jasat ai lam madung gaw, dai ten na sasana usa ni hku nna shanhte hpaw da ai sasana yi man masum: 1. Manmaw, 2. Myitkyina , 3. Sinli-Mongmit ginwng masum na hpung masha ni shada da shiga matut mahkai, n-gun jaw, lam madun la hkat na matu san san hku sha yaw jasat da ai re hpe chye lu ai.

Dai rai yan, shi laika la hti jat ai masha law wa ai hta hkan nna shi laika mung grau kaba wa nna shiga ni mung grau hkum wa ai. Hkristan makam masham lam jasu sharawt ai shiga ni hta lai nna: hkamja san seng lam, sun hkauna galaw, u wa yaw ai hkai rem bungli lam , maumwi labau ga shagawp, ga malai ningtam ga ni hte tsi mawan lam ni hta kaga dai ten na mungkan shiga ni hpe shata shagu hti yu, chye lu nga ai.

Bai lam mi gaw, dai ni na prat hta grau dam lada ai hku hpawng de sa wa nga ai hkalup hpung ni a mung zuphpawng hte ginwang zuphpawng ni hte seng ai zuphpawng program hpe shata mi shawng tau nna bang shabra lai wa yu sai hte maren, shi laika n la hti ai ni gaw zuphpawng program gase mat chye nga ai majaw, dai shi laika hpe n tat mayu ai masha law wa ai. 

Hpyen dap shara law law ni hta magam gun nga ai Wunpawng sha du, agyi, dapma ni shi laika chye la hti wa ai hta hkan nna shanhte nga bra ayai hkawm nga ai shara ni de shata shagu n hprai ai sha shagun ya nga ai. Dai prat hta Britisha Empire kata e rai nga ai India mung: Calutta, Bombay, Madras, Karachi, Deradun, Baw Delhi, Rawapindi, Malaya (ya na Malaysia) Singapore mare ni hte Kapali zunlawng (Andimand Island) ni hkan sa du magam gun hpai lai wa yu saga ai.

Dai zawn, sumtsan ga de sa du nga sai ni shanhte sa du nga ai shara na mahkrum madup lam ni hpe shi laika hta bang dat ai hpe nta bumga de na ni na chye lu ai. Nta buga na shiga hpe mung sumtsan de sa du nga sai ni shata shagu ana lu nga ai. Shingrai, dai shi laika gaw majan kaba shawng e shara magup bra ayai nga ai Wunpawng sha ni hpe matut mahkai ya lu ai “Ndut Sumri” nan tai lai wa sai.

Tsun mayu ai gaw, Dr.Ola Hanson agyin shabyin ya ai laika hpe 1895 ning kaw nna 1942 ning (47) ning laman, Wunpawng sha ni hku nna kade dam lada ai hku chye lang, asung jashawn lai wa yu saga ai hpe dai ni bai nhtang sawk sagawn yu ai lam re.

Chyurum Laika Hte Wunpawng Sha

Laika n lu yang matut mahkai ai lam hte matsing sumhting da ai lam hta yak dik, akyu yawm dik rai nga ai hpe, ya yang asak (60) a lahta de na ni yawng gaw naw dum shajang na re. Sumtsan de na nja nhpra makyin jinghku ni hpe matut mahkai shiga jahkrang mayu yang kumhpa matep hta: ri, samyit, hkindu, hkringmu, pasi, wan n-ga, hkit-ra, majap hte kaga rai ni hpe, tinang tsun shana jahkrangmayu ai lam lachyum htai la lu na matu shagun jaw chye ga ai.

Shingrai galaw ai hta kalang lang gaw lachyum htai lu shut nna pyaw ngawn na malai, n ju n dawng hkat ai lam ni mung byin pru wa yu sai. Bai tinang htawng ninghtawn kata e shing n rai, maigan ni hte lapran na mayak manghkang lam ni hpe lu hpyan, yan htingrai htingrat jasim, jahku jahkau da lu sai hta hkan nna htawm hpang, n hprun n run hkra ga shaka da ai hpe “Mawhke Hka” da ai nga , rapding nhtu hta, du salang yawng a man e kahtam ahka jahkang da ai htung lai lu ga ai. Dai gaw laika n rai nga ai majaw, htawm de na ni tinang chye tsun yang chye tsun ai hku nna tsun shayawn la rai mat wa chye nga ai.

Ji nat jawjau nna amyit nsin sin, laili laika n lu ai majaw lahta e tsun ai hte maren yak hkak shoichyum let lamawm hkrat wa ai Wunpawng sha ni hpe Dr. Ola Hanson hku nna laili laika agyin shabyin ya ai dai ning 1995 ning hta (100) ning jaw prat langai mi hpring sai. Jaw prat langai mi pyi garai n hpring kaw nna dai laika gaw Wunpawng sha ni hpe kaning re 

“Mau Hpa Akyu” jaw mi ai hpe lawu na hte maren sawk sagawn chye lu ga ai.

1. Asak wenyi hte seng ai Hpan da Madu a chyum mungga hpe anhte a aga hte nan hti la lu ai hta n ga, anhte nan ka shabra lu ai.

2. Hkahku, Hkanam sinpraw sinna shara shagu hkan bra ayai nga ai chyurum Wunpawng sha ni shada da ndai laika hte nan grai hkawn hkrang ai hku nna ka shana matut mahkai la hkat lu ai majaw, shawng de na ji woi ni zawn kumhpa matep hta lachyum shapraw la na arai ni matep jahkum bang shagun hkat na n ra mat sai.

3. Grai manu dan, hpu la ai: ga malai, ga shagawp , ningtam ga, dumsa jaiwa hte laka ga ni hpe anhte a laika hte sha mai ka da ai. Kadai hpa amyu bawsang a laika hte mung n mai ka ai. Kaga ni a laika hte gaw lachyum gale shapraw da na hku sha mai ai.

4. Chyurum Wunpawng sha ni yawng ndai laika hpe madung tawn nna ka lang, tsun shaga hpang wa ai kaw nna Wunpawng sha ni a myit mang shabawn ai grau dam lada, rawt jat galu kaba wa ai gaw, dai ni ndai mungkan hta amyu mungdan langai hku nna rawt tsap lu na madang de du wa saga ai.

5. Grit nem ai Jinghpaw laika hte aga hpe Wunpawng sha ni yawng gaw npawt madung hku nna jawm lang sharawt la ai majaw, dai laika hte aga grau hkum tsup, madang tsaw rawt wa ai hta hkan nna, Chyurum Wunpawng sha ni mungkan prat madang hta rawt tsap na ani sha rai sai.Tsinyu Yaw Htung, Man Maw

Source: LA GINTAWNG MAGAZINE VOL.3 2005

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Pangmu Duwa Lahpai Zau Tu . He played a pivotal role in the transition of the Kachin people from their old ways to modernity

PANGMU DUWA LAHPAI ZAU TU,

Jinghpaw Wunpawng Sha ni hpe Shawng Nnan Jinghpaw Mungdan woi hpyi ai wa

Pangmu Duwa Lahpai Zau Tu was a significant figure in the Kachin community. 

He was known for his leadership and contributions to literacy and education among the Kachin people. As the first Kachin chieftain to convert to Christianity, he played a pivotal role in the transition of the Kachin people from their old ways to modernity. His story is one of determination and a yearning for literacy, which he pursued despite the challenges of his time

Ga Nhpaw:-

            Pangmu Duwa Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu gaw mărai rawng, măgrau grang, myu tsaw myit kaba rawng ai Du amyu kaw na shăngai wa ai wa nan rai nga ai. Shanhte a kaji daju Duwa Lahpai Jau Hpa Hkun rai n nah bum gah kaw she nga ai raitim, Myen ga, Sam ga, Miwa ga, Miwa laika, hte Wunpawng amyu lakung kaw na, Minji Mila ga, Hka hku ga, Zaiwa ga, Lhavo ga, Gauri ga ni hpe atsawm chye shăga ai wa rai nga ai magrau grang marai grai rawng ai wa re hte maren Myen Hkaw hkam wa hte pyi shing jawng hpaji chyam ai lam labau hkai hkrat wa ai hku n nah chye lu nga ai. (Myen hkawhkam kadai hte re ai gaw n chye lu sai.) man dan, lak le, tsi hpaji hte dagu amyu myu rawng ai wa mung re.

            Shanhte hpe Gauri Du ni ngu shamying ma ai. Myitkyina măyan de rai yang, Mungji ga (ya na Nam San, Laiza, Hpalap ga) Da Law, Seng Mai, Nga Pyaw Daw ga, Alaw Bum gai wang rai n na, Man Maw mayan de rai yang Gauri Krung, Sinlum ginwang, Mali Hkran, Wupat hkran, Dang de gai wang du hkra kaba dik ai lămu gah măduq ni rai nga ai. Duwa Lahpai Jau Hpa Hkun gaw kăshu kăsha law law lu ai kaw na Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu a labau lasang hku nna sha sang lang dan mayu ai.

            Duwa Lahpai Jau Hpa Hkun – Lahpai Hkun Gam hte Lahpai Hkun Naw (Marun yan nau) Lahpai Hkun Gam- Lahpai Zau Bawm- Lahpai Zau Seng, Lahpai Zau Li- Lahpai Zau Tu rai nga ai. Ndai labau hku n lawm ai ding hku masha ni mung grai naw nga ai. Miwa mung dan kata Suden ga, Ta Hkaw hkaq măyan, Hu Sut gah (Miwa bang wa ga) Pung Ling ga, Hu Sa, Kawng Shan, bang wan ga hkan mung du galaw lai wa sai lam labau hta nan nga nga malu ai.

             Kaji Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu gaw kaji kawa ni mung maden htawt hkawm ai hte Sinlum Bum kahtawng kaba ngu ai mare hta, 1870 ning July 15 ya shani shangai wa sai. Nat jawq prat hta shăngai wa ai măjaw nat ni gashun lah na hkrit ai hte mying makoi hku nna, Mayam (Yam Dun) ngu kaji daw shamying ma ai. Asak 12 ning daram hta Sara kaba Roberts hte hkrum lu sai hte nta kaw na ahkaw ahkang n jaw timung hprawng sa nna Man Maw gah deq hpaji sa lăguh la hpang sai. 1897 ning hta Sara Kaba Roberts a lăta ē hkalup hkam la sai. 1899 ning hta Sara kaba Hanson hpe woi  nna kanu kawa, nta masha ting hpe Nat woi kabai kau sai. 1902 ning April shăta 14 ya shani Sarama Nang Zing Hka Jan hpe Sara kaba Hanson hkungran ya ai hte Sinlum Bum grup yin Buga sasana sara hku nna shătsam dat sai. Dai hpang shanhte a nta hpe kahtawng kaba măre kaw nna deng mi dăram tsan ai Pangmu măre de htawt let, Pangmu Duwa Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu ngu shamying let, mung du magam amu hpe mung, Hpung up magam amu hpe mung atsam dat gunhpai lai wa sai.

           

(Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu myit shingran mu da ai lam ni)

Wunpawng amyu sha ni rawt gălu kaba wa na mătu gaw Nat a lăta kaw nna shawng lawt ra ai.Hpaji chye ai amyu tai yang she mungkan a lăhkam dep ai amyu tai wa na. Chyum Jawng Dakasu jawng lu ra ai.Sut lu nga mai ai amyu tai ra ai.Bum ga kaw sha n rai myo kaba de, pang lai rap hkra nga pra sa wa ra ai.Gahkyin gumdin ai amyu, shanglawt lu ai amyu tai ra ai. Tinang a mungdan, tinang a amyu ngu nga ra ai.Anhte hpe sasana sa gălaw ai ni hpe chyeju bai htang ra ai.Anhte lu la sai Yesu a hkye lah ai lam hpe kăga amyu ni hpe mung găran jaw ra ai.Anhte hte kanawn nga ai masha amyu ni a ga hpe n chye n mai shărin lah ra ai.Dinghku kăta lahpawt lama shăngai dah ai kashu kasha langai mi mung n mai nga ai.

(Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu galaw dah lu ai bungli ni)

Wunpawng amyu sha ni yawng Ji Nat a gyit hkang ai kaw na lawt lu yang she galu kăba wa ai amyu tai wa na re ngu shingran mu da ai hte maren Madu Yesu a kabu găra shi ga hpe shi dep hkap lu ai dăram hkaw tsun sakse hkam ai hte Nat hkyawt sasana hpe grai shakut galaw nu ai. Shi a sak 106 nga ai rai yang asak 100 ning du hkra pru sa nna sasana hkaw tsun ai lam galaw ai. Lawq mălawng gumra jawn nna hkawm sa ai.  Shi de dah ai Buga Hpung hte shi du da ai sasana ginra ni gaw,Sinlum Buga Hkalup Hpung,Lawdan Buga Hkalup Hpung,Lungja- JeYang Buga Hkalup Hpung,Chyahkan Dap Buga Hkalup Hpung,Mungga Hkran Buga Hkalup Hpung,Balawng Kawng Buga Hkalup Hpung,Mai Bat (Sut Ngai) Buga Hkalup Hpung,Nam San (Mung Ji ga) Buga Hkalup Hpung,Daw Hpum Yang Buga Hkalup Hpung,Dun Hung Buga Hkalup Hpung (ya Laiza Buga),Na Lung Buga Hkalup ,HpungNam Lang Buga Hkalup ,HpungMyo Thit (Kung Law) Buga Hkalup Hpung,Miwa ga deq Kang Shan Mare,Gang Ngai Pa ga,Lung Hpum ga,Hka Htum ga,Tang Gaw ga,N hkum Krung,Jan Shi Krung,Hu Sut (Miwa Bangwa ga) du hkra rai nga ai.Hpaji chye ai amyu tai yang she mungkan lahkam dep na re ngu shingran mu ai hte măren shi a nta ndaw hta hpun pyen kum, hpri zut gălup ai jawng woi gălaw let măkau grupyin kahtawng hkan nah ma ni hpe laika shărin hpang sai. Wunpawng amyu ni hta yawng a shawng hpawq ai tinang lăgaw tinang tsap ai jawng re ai lam chye lu ai. No.1 Mungkan măjan ngut ai hpang she, Sinlum Bum de htawt lah ai hte Asuya jawng tai wa sai.Dai sha n-ga English  laika sharin jawng hpawq ya na hpyi ai shăloi ,nau nawq jau ai ngu Inglik Asuya ni tsun ai măjaw Pangmu măre hta English jawng n-lu lu hkra woi hpaw hpang sai. Sara/ma n jaw ai măjaw shi a kasha sarama Lahpai Htu Raw, Sara Lahpai Zau Neng yan hpe sharin shăngun ai. Chye wa ai ma ni hta na jawngma rai nga ai Maran nang Nem hte Lahtaw Zau Awng yan hpe ManMaw Ayebeng rung de woi sa nna, English ga hku laika tsun dan, mahkawn mahkawn shangun rai English shărin jawng lu hkra hpyi la sai. Maigan lăhkam chye na mătu rai nga ai.

            Chyum Jawng lu ra sai ngu nna mung 1930 ning October shăta hta Myen mung Hkalup Hpung Mung Zuphpawng kaba hta n lu n da sa hpyi woi sai. 1931 ning September shăta praw 1 ya shăni Manmaw măre Sara Kaba Geis a nta hta jawng ma marai (9) hte chyum laika shărin jawng hpaw hpang sai. 1932 ning kaw nna gaw Man Maw măre hta dinggrin chyum jawng hpaw sai. Dai chyum jawng hpe 1934 ning April 15 ya kaw nna gaw Kutkai de htawt la ai hte dingyang shărin mat wa sai re.

            Dakkasu jawng lu ai amyu rai ra ai nga nna Sinlum jawng hpe Dakkasu jawng byin hkra woi shakut sai. Dai ten Jinghpaw mungdaw hta hkyik dik wun dek jawng byin hkra lam woi tam sai. Raitim mungdan kata măjan a majaw n byin mat sai.

Sut lu nga mai ai amyu tai wa ra sai nga nna, hkarang yi kaw nna hkauna pa de ngu ai masing grai woi shakut sai. Nta shăgu sun lu ra ai. Tinang sha na nam si tinang hkai, gum hpraw mahkawng, hkying hkat ai sut hpaga  chye gălaw hkra shakut ga “hkau hpum yang she, ngai sau ai” nga sha atsun nga ai.Ngasat ngasa mădang mung shătsaw wa săga. Bum ga kaw sha n rai, pa ga de, mai gan du, pang lai rap hkra nga pra sa wa ra ai nga n nah kahtawng na măsha ni hpe tsun ai sha n-ga ram ai ma ni hpe Myo ga de jawng tawn, Myo ga de hpaga seng hpaw shangun, Lamu ga lah dah, pa de hkau na woi mari rai lai wa sai.Gahkyin gumdin ai lam gaw lawt lu ai lam a n-pawt nga tsun let, marai langai mi lap 5/- hpra wa bang nna “ Wunpawng Fund” ngu woi hpaw sai. Shi nan shawng bang nna shaning shagu lap 5/- bang jat wu ai. Dai Fund gaw KNC prat hta jai jăhtum sai lam chye lu ai.

Jinghpaw Wunpawng amyu ni mungdan lu ai amyu, madu nan up hkang lu ai amyu tai ra sai nga nna 1925 ning ManMaw gah de na Du Salang ni, Myitkyina, Hka hku deq na Du Salang ni mărai (56) hpe woi nna Myen mungdan up ai munggyi Sir. Spencer Hercourt Buttler kaw Jinghpaw  Mungdan jawq mi, Home Rule jaw mi, shing n rai mădu up hkang lu ai ahkaw ahkang hte laika hpaji jawng, hkam kaja dap, hkai lu hkai sha dap, Hpaga yumga dap hpawq ya mi, jaw mi ngu nna Yanggung gah du hkra sa woi hpyi wu ai.

                                             

Kăshu Kăsha ni hpe lahpawt lama n shalăngai dah ga nga tsun ai hte măren shi a n shang hkrat kasha ni yawng hpaji chye măsha kaba tai wa sai.Sarama Lahpai Nang Bang (jawng sarama),Du Kaba Lahpai Hkun Nawng (Wunpawng amyu sha ni hta yawng a shawng tsang shi awng, B.A degree lu ai. May Myo hpyen du jawng up, Naing ngandaw kongsi, Naing ngan gone ye No.1),Sarama kaba Lahpai Nang Doi (Jinghpaw laika kanu- I.L.T.A.H.K.N.Y.Z.E.M.W.hpe shalat sai),Du kaba Lahpai Shan Lum (Myen mung yup tung jahpan dap up daju- rif;BuD;),Du Lahpai Zau Neng. (Ayebyeng Du)Sarama kaba Lahpai Htu Raw (Maigan de shawng hpaji sharin sa ai wunpawng shayi- Australia and England),Rev. Lahpai Zau Yaw (Kutkai Chyum Jawng Up),Du Lahpai Zau Awng (Myen mungdan nam kawn dap up daju-rif;BuD);Sarama kaba Lahpai Seng Tawng (jawng Sarama).

( Rev. Lahpai  Zau Tu n lu gălaw shăngut da ai bungli ni; )

1.      Shi nan n lu gălaw kau dah ai Tibet sasana, Dalawng Mang Hpai sasana, Kadu Ganan sasana, Wa sasana mătut galaw na htet da ai.

2.        Jinghpaw  mungdan shanglawt lu ai grai mu mayu wu ai. Ndai mungdan gaw Hkristu a tsaw ra myit hte hpring ai, myit hkrum rap ra ai, gum chying gumsa myit n rawng ai mungdan rai shangun măyu wu ai. Dai măjaw mungdan a ningbaw ningla ni hpe kani hkum hkai, hkum lu, masha asak nau hkum sat, hpaji chye ai măsha shălat muq ngu n nah tsun ai măjaw dingla ndai hpe sat kau ra ai ngu tsun hkrum ai du hkra rai nga ai.

3.      Ngai rai n si yang Dakkasu jawngma ni yan hkawm ai mu mayu ai. Jinghpaw Dakkasu jawng lu hkra hpawq ga. Amyu a gindai gaw dai kaw nna pru na ra ai nga ai.

(Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu jaw da, htet da ai hkring htawng.)

Mungdan ra ai amyu rai yang gaw hpaji măjan sut măjan, hpawq mu. Myit măsa tsaw tsaw rai nga mu. N mai byin ai ngu ai ga hkum lang.akyu grai hpyi ai. Akyu hpyi shăgu măhkawn shăkawn, chyum laika hti ra ai. Lani mi n law htum lak san akyu masum lang hpyi ai. jahpawt u rai n goi yang, shani chyingdung, shăna de jan shang wa ten rai lu ai. Akyu hpyi ai shăloi hkrup măra re ai hpun palawng n- hpun ai. Asan sha rai hkrut da, san da ai she hpun ai. Chyum laika hpe mung shi chye ai Myen hte Jinghpaw lahkawng galoi mung shingdaw nna hti ai.Amu n galaw ai wa gaw shat mung n sha u ga. Bungli shăngun na rai yang shat shawng jaw sha yu ai. Shat law law sha ai wa hpe she raq ai.Tsa chyăru, kani gaw măsha a mădang hpe gyitkau, jahten kau, shămak kau ya ai măjaw n lu n sha gaq. De a malai coffee hpalap lu mu nga nna shi up ai măre ni hta tsaq shădu gun lai na pyi n hkraw wu ai. Kăga lam hku shi lai shangun yu ai.Magrau grang ai hkring htawng jawq dah ai. Jaw ai lam teng yang găloi mung hkum htingnut mu.Sun galaw mu, hkau na galaw mu, hpaji shakut mu, lu sha kaja chye sha hkra shakut mu, nga sat nga sa madang shatsaw mu. Jinghpaw ni gaw hkrung kanu sha naw rai ya.Shaman chyeju hpaji chye ai japan majan ten grai hkrit ra ai ten hta shi a gum ra byau la nna Nba Pa hpung up sara Rev. Damau Naw kaw sa wa ai da. Nde de hkrit ra ai ten hpa sa galaw a ta. Ngu yang Rev. Damau Naw hpe nang gaw anhte yawng a shawng hpaji chye ai hpung up sara re, ngai hpe lata mara akyu hpyi shaman ya rit ngu chyeju a hpyi la ai da.Shi asak kaba shamu shamawt yak wa ai ten masha hpe woi awn ai hkring htawng matut na matu kasha Du kaba Hkun Nawng hpe shaga la nna, Du palawng rai nga ai n-hpau lawng jahpun chyum laika baw kaw mara ya rai, nye a malai nang bai shakut u nga ap ya da ai.Mung up masa, Hpung masa, dinghku masa kaga ga rai ra ai. Shinggyim masha re ai majaw ra ai lam law law galaw let asak hkrung ra na re. rai tim hkum gayau kau, Ga sha:-Japan prat hta Sinlum Jau hpe Kyin yu shadu ai majaw Manmaw Japan rung de sa jahkrum na shaga wu ai. Masum lang shaga tim Wa Jau gaw n yu wa ai majaw Japan du ni gaw, mung up Du Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu  hpe lawan shayu dat ya rit. Masat da ai nhtoi du yang n du jang gaw kahtawng yawng nat kau ya na aming jahkrat dat wu ai. Wa Jau hpe kade tsun yu ai rai tim n yu wa hkraw ai majaw hkungga lara rai let shi a bung hkaw raw la nna lata gyit ya ai hte Manmaw Japan ring kaw woi sa nna, Rung du jang n dai jau gaw sasana sara she re, nanhte zawn nawn ai kyin yu n re. ngai mung up Duwa nan lit la n ngai ngu tsun shaw la let atsawm bai woi wa ai da. Mung up Du bungli hkrak galaw ai. Karai tsaw ra myit tup hkrak madun ai.Hpt. Sara Lasi Balawng gaw kasha lasi Sam naw hpe dai daw lek mat la na matu nga sat hkra akyu hpyi ma ai. Pangmu Duwa Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu gaw Mung Du langai hku nna, Kawn magyi hpyi wu ai. Hpt. Sara Lasi Balawng gaw Hpung shang sayang me hpa rai kawn magyi naw jaw ra n ta? Ngu n jaw ai da. Shaloi Rev. Lahpai Zau Tu  gaw labu palawng tsawm tsawm hpun, akyu atsawm sha hpyi ya nna shat n sha ai sha wa mat ai da. Hpa rai ngu san yu yang tinang a duwa hpe pyi n-chye ai ni a lu sha ngai hpa rai sha na.

Source: ``Pangmu Duwa Lahpai Zau Tu ´´ by Ginru ginsa blog.

A Yearning for Literacy: Pangmu Duwa Lahpai Zau Tu’s Story

There was an old man in our village by the name of Lapum Naw Htang, a refugee from the Burmese-Kachin conflict of earlier years. He told us that he had learned to read and write at a Shan monastery school. So I asked him what the written word looks like. He said he was first taught “ka-hka-ga” (the first 3 letters of the Burmese alphabet, or literally in Kachin, “the language of the crows”). He told me that the letters were all rounded, like circles. Ever since, the desire to become literate, to be able to read and write, burned within me.

My third great grandfather Jaufa Khun spent many years as a monk at a Shan monastery, reputedly becoming quite learned, especially in astrology. In later years, he was persuaded to leave monkhood to lead his people in the fight against the Burmese governor at Bhamo. The Burmese troops suffered heavy losses from the unconventional guerrilla tactics Jaufa Khun and his men employed. This led a strong Burmese force to come up to the hills and torch Kachin villages in revenge. Jaufa Khun lost his life from the burns he received while trying to retrieve sacred texts from his burning house.

My ancestor was learned to be sure, but he did not earn my admiration, as he did nothing to share his knowledge with his people.

It was in 1891 or 1892, that American Baptist missionaries, the Reverends Roberts and Hanson, came up to the Sinlum Hills from Bhamo, asking my father Zau Li and my uncles Zau Tang and Gauri Nawng (co-chieftains of the Gauri Lahpai clan), for a piece of land on which to build a house for Rev. Hanson[i], who needed to escape from Bhamo’s scorching heat in the summer to continue with his translation work.

My father and uncles granted the missionaries a sizeable plot, also helping them build a bamboo, thatched house. Every summer, they would go down to the Bhamo plains to fetch the Hansons, and escort them back on their return.

After Rev. Hanson and his family were more or less settled in their little house, Mama[ii] Hanson embarked on efforts to educate us children. We children were: I – Zau Tu, my cousin Seng Li, Malang Gumbau, Hpa Grawng, Ndup Nawng, and a few girls. Mama enticed us by handing out sugar candy one day, small coins the next, and pictures and molasses candy on other days. Then she taught us a song, and afterward said, “Tomorrow, I’m going to teach you to read and write”.

I was at the Hanson house earlier than usual the next morning. I had been so overcome with excitement I had hardly slept that night. After singing the song “When Jesus Our Lord Was Here”, Mama began writing the letters on a board and showed them to us.

From then on, I went everyday to learn from Mama. My friends could not be there every day. I went and stayed with the Hanson children for one whole week, and by the end of my stay, I had learned to write all the letters. Then my uncle came to the house and said I needed to come home with him, as my father was not well.

When I got home, I found that my father was not sick at all. He was in fact very well. He told me the missionaries, after teaching us the letters, would transport our spirits, so that they could take us to the low lands and devour us. “So, don’t go anymore” he said. I retorted, “If they’re going to spirit away the other children, let them spirit me away also!” My father then continued to frighten me by telling me that Sragyi[iii] had been seen stretched out on his porch, sated after eating a dog from the village. He had carried away the dog after shapeshifting into a tiger. Unfazed, I again said, “If he’s going to eat other people’s children, let him eat me also!” But soon the rains began to fall and it became cooler, and the Hansons went back to Bhamo.

Not long after, my uncle Zau Tang told me that he planned to take his son Seng Li and our friend Malang Gumbau to the Bhamo mission school after he had finished planting the paddy fields. I was to keep this a secret from my father if I wanted to come along. I was so overjoyed that the mere thought of going to school caused me to choke on my food while eating, break into an excited run when walking, or wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep again.

When the time came, I put the 2 blankets I had squirreled away in a bag, and left for Bhamo without telling my father and mother. So the five of us – my uncle Zau Tang and aunt Htu Ting, my cousin Seng Li, Malang Gumbau and myself – started on our journey to Bhamo.

(The young Zau Tu spent his school days at the Bhamo mission school working as a stable boy for the Roberts, to earn his upkeep. He met his future wife Nangzing Hka Jan at the school, and they both went on to establish the first self-supporting Kachin primary school at Pangmu, Sinlum. His children became the first Kachins to receive university education.)

 

[i] Dr. Ola Hanson; Litt.D., M.R.A.S., a much beloved missionary, spent 28 years among the Kachins. He formulated an orthography for the Kachin language using the Roman alphabet, translated the Bible into Kachin, completed a Kachin grammar and a Kachin-English dictionary, while also publishing a number of Kachin-related writings.

[ii] “Mama”, meaning ‘elder sister’ in Burmese, was a term of respect commonly used in addressing missionary women.

[iii] “Sragyi”, or “great teacher”, a term used to refer to male missionaries.

By Kachinland news

Pangmu shayi

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Tale of a Gauri Lahpai chieftain

Our first homeland (Majoi Shingra) was said to have been on a vast, fertile plateau somewhere up north in Mongolia. The Majoi Shingra community thrived, and in no time evolved into a strong major race, the land becoming known as Singhpaw Dan Layang (Singhpaw Nation Plains). The paramount chief was Wahkyet Wa, the acknowledged progenitor of the 5 Kachin tribes.

After a time, wearying of the fierce, protracted wars waged to maintain control of the land, the descendants of Wahkyet Wa moved to the plains of Tibet where they established a second Majoi Shingra. Here again, they found themselves battling a strongly entrenched Wanghkye Lauwang (Chinese) tribe.

Jatawng Nawng

Although of chiefly descent, Jatawng Nawng had to overcome childhood adversity to become a warrior of renown. After their father was killed in a Wanghkye raid on their village, Jatawng Nawng’s mother took him and his younger brothers to seek refuge with her family, the Gitnems, but they were cruelly turned away. The mother had no choice but to abandon her sons in the forest, while she herself returned to their old village, to be caught and killed by the Wanghkye. The orphaned brothers fended for themselves as best they could, living off the land in the forest.

Years later, Gitnem Zau Tai, as Singhpaw supreme commander, suffered successive military defeats at the hands of the Wanghkye, and was obliged to ask his cousin Jatawng Nawng to take over, placing tens of thousands of warriors under his command.

Jatawng Nawng was a very principled general. Before going to battle, he would exhort his warriors thus:

Spoils of war you shall not take, nor the womenfolk touch!
We go to war, but for our homeland!
No rest shall we take nor return home until victory is ours!

There were times when the Singhpaw forces had the upper hand, and times when they had to concede to the Wanghkye. Of the seemingly endless wars, Jatawng Nawng lamented:

For three straight years, we battled the Wanghkye. Warriors, two astride a horse sitting back to back, letting fly arrows front and rear.

Constant wear of military headgear took a toll on our hair; our fingertips bruised and clotted with blood from pulling crossbows.

Yet our brave attempts have failed to breach Wanghkye ranks and torch their palace.

Eventually, drawn out battles with the Wanghkye led the 5 tribes to decide on a migration journey south. Thus far, the tribes had stayed together. But as they wound their way southward,
they began to go their separate ways, carving out homelands for themselves along the migration route to the east and west of the Mali and Nmai Rivers (tributaries to the Irrawaddy).

The Lahpai Clan

The Lahpai clan traces its lineage to Wa Hkyet Wa’s third son “Lahpai Wa” La Jawng. When the Wa Hkyet Wa summoned his 5 sons to come claim their inheritance from him, La Jawng did so, firmly gripping his father’s ceremonial spear as his birthright.
(Lahpai Wa La Jawng gaw,
Kawa a daru wunmawng ri,
Shingdawng ka-ang e gra rai sai!)

The Gauri Lahpai

One branch of the Lahpai clan is the Gauri, speaking a distinctive Kachin dialect. Adventurous and adroit at finding new lands to conquer and claim, the “far spreading” Gauri Lahpai chieftains held sway over vast swathes of territory – of “land spreading from the center of the skies”.
(Du mateng Lahpai ga gaw,
Lamu ka-ang, ga shingmang hkrai rai sai da.)

Jawa Li (Gauri Nawng)

Before the time of our ancestor Jawa Li, the Irrawaddy was but a small river and the town we know of today as Myitkyina was a shallow lake. The Shans (earlier settlers than the Kachin) would come to gather reeds from the lake. When the lake gradually dried up, the Shans called the land that emerged, “Tsaya Kung” (pleasant hill/mound). To this day, the Hkahku (upriver) Kachin know of the town only as “Sara Gung” (a Kachin derivative), and would not know if referred to as Myitkyina.

The land being formerly a lake, was very fertile, and the settlement that sprang up around it became Jawa Li’s domain. Soon the Shans from Mohnyin and Mogaung came up in droves to settle in the area, and Jawa Li assumed chieftainship of all 3 towns, levying tax from all three.

Earlier in life, Jawa Li had gone to a Shan Buddhist monastery at Hkat Cho (in Waingmaw township on the east bank of the Irrawaddy) to learn Shan and Burmese, and ended up spending 9 years there as a monk.

Jaufa (Jauhpa) Khun

Jaufa Khun (8 generations after Lahpai Wa La Jawng), was my 3rd great grandfather. He was educated at a Shan monastery school much like his great-grandfather Jawa Li before him. He knew Burmese and Chinese well, and was fluent in both spoken and written Shan. Besides his native Gauri dialect, he was at home with other Kachin dialects such as Atsi (Zaiwa), Maru (Lahvo) and Minji Mila. He had a keen interest in astrology and herbal medicine, and was reputed to have been a master at magic-related practices such as telling fortunes, casting spells and amulets.

Jaufa Khun had several wives and many offspring. One of his wives was a daughter of a Shan chief of Hkai Lung named Nang Ei, whom he had seduced and kept hidden in a cave from her family for a time. This cave in the Sinlum Hills is still known today as “Nang Ei’s cave”. We, the Pangmu branch of the Gauri Lahpai chieftain family, trace our direct lineage to Jaufa Khun through Nang Ei’s elder twin son Khun Gam.

After causing the death of one of his wives, Jaufa Khun sought refuge at a Shan monastery, spending several years in the monkhood. When his father passed away, the elders came looking for him at the monastery, to ask him to be their new Duwa (chief) and lead them in the fight against the Burmese Governor’s forces at Bhamo. (It was a time when Kachin tribes in the hills beyond Bhamo were in constant conflict with the Burmese governor over the matter of collecting tax. Chinese merchants were bringing in all kinds of goods to the new market town of Bhamo – Gatmau in Shan, and Manmaw in Kachin. The Mahtang Lahpai Gauri chiefs for instance, through whose territory the Chinese merchant muleteers passed, benefitted greatly from the lucrative Chinese trade. Remains of massive stone walls that once surround a Mahtang chieftain’s mansion built in the Chinese style, can still be seen to this day.)

Jaufa Khun was not eager to return to his former life. Given his shaven head and monk’s robes, the elders could not easily distinguish him from the other monks. So they brought in his pet dog to help identify him. Jaufa Khun was then persuaded to leave monkhood and assume his chieftain role.

Jaufa Khun, a great leader and warrior, was adept at employing unconventional guerilla tactics, besting a much stronger Burmese force on many occassions. He and his men would lure the Burmese up the mountains, cut off their escape route by setting fire to the surrounding forest, or unleash rock pallets on unsuspecting Burmese patrols coming uphill.

In one instance the Burmese were tricked into thinking they had scared off a camp of Kachin warriors about to feast on a slaughtered buffalo. The Burmese happily gorged themselves, taking out their swords to slice off the buffalo meat stewing in a large pot over the fire. They then spent the night at the camp. When Jaufa Khun and his men staged a surprise dawn raid, the Burmese found themselves unable to take out the swords from their scabbards. What had happened was that remnants of buffalo fat from the previous day’s feasting had congealed on their swords during the cold mountain night, causing the swords to be stuck to the scabbards.

The Burmese later came up to the hills in greater force, and torched the Kachin villages in revenge. After the Burmese left, Jaufa Khun and his warriors came out of hiding in the forest and returned to their burning villages. Jaufa Khun, seeing his house on fire, rushed in to retrieve his treasured astrology books and other sacred texts. He received severe burns on his back and died as a result of the injuries.

Shadip Zau Seng

My grandfather Shadip Zau Seng was a great grandson of Jaufa Khun. His father Zau Bawm was the Gauri Lahpai chief that founded Sinlum or Sinlum Kaba (Big Sinlum).

During Shadip Zau Seng’s time, British Col. Sladin, leading a mission to the Chinese frontier (1868), passed through Bhamo. He invited Kachin chiefs from the Bhamo hills to a big Hpu nau shakat (brotherhood/friendship feast). Two male buffaloes, with the longest of horns in the Dabang Hkyawng area, were slaughtered for the feast.

Afterwards, my grandfather told my father and mother of the dream he had the night of the feast. He said he saw in the dream, a bountiful catch of big white fish in a woven bamboo fish net (rit) that was set facing downstream, but when the rit faced upstream it hardly caught any fish. Interpreting the dream to mean that cultivating good relations with those coming up from downstream would be advantageous to the family, he told my parents to remind his descendants of it.

Shadip Zau Li

Shadip Zau Li was my father, and Zahkung Ja Nu of the Maru chieftain clan, my mother. I was born (1878) in Sinlum Kaba, after the infant deaths of my 3 elder brothers. Fearing I would be snatched away by nats (spirits) like my elder brothers, my animist parents gave me a secrect code name – Mayam/Yam Dun (slave child). When I was about 12, my father founded the new village of Pangmu, about a mile from Sinlum, and moved the family there.

About the year 1891/1892, (American Baptist missionaries) Rev. Roberts and Rev. Ola Hanson came up from Bhamo town to meet with my father and his younger brothers and co-chieftains Zau Li and Zau Tang, and ask for a piece of land. My father and uncles granted their request, also building a dwelling place for them on the plot. Each Summer, they would go fetch Rev. Hanson and his family from Bhamo, and escort them on their way back.

Soon afterward, the British came, and Sinlum Kaba, given its strategic position in the Sinlum Hills overlooking Yunan-China, became an important frontier town. It was an administration seat with a resident British frontier officer, and a fortified army post just outside town.

By Lahpai Nang Kai

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