Kengtung ( , ), also spelt Kyaingtong (; ), classical name Tungapuri,
Etymology
Owing to Kengtung's proximity to China and Thailand, the city is known by a number of exonyms and endonyms. The endonym used by Tai Khun and Tai Lue-speaking locals is
Jeng Tung (ᨾᩮᩨ᩠ᨦᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᨲᩩᨦ) respectively. Other
Shan language speakers use the exonym
Kengtung. The most common exonym,
Kyaingtong, is derived from the
Burmese language approximation of Kengtung. The exonym of
Chiang Tung (, ) is used by Thai speakers, while Chinese speakers use
Jingdong (p=Jǐngdòng).
History
The early history of Kengtung is made up of myths and legends. The
oral tradition of the Tai says that the ancient city of Kengtung was founded in the distant past by Tai Lue as the original inhabitants of the region,
[ M. Fiskesjo, On the Ethnoarchaeology of Fortified Settlements in the Northern part of Mainland Southeast Asia] and was later reestablished by the grandson of King
Mangrai after defeating the Tai Lue.
[ History] This migration of the
Chiang Mai dynasty in the 13th century, with the founding a new kingdom which was later named
Lanna, has resulted in Kengtung having a different type of Tai population from the rest of the
Shan State, the Tai Khün.
Kengtung, like other major towns in the Shan Plateau, was home to a Shan Saopha (Sawbwa). Kengtung was the capital of the Kengtung State. In 1905, Sao Kawng Kiao Intaleng built the Kengtung Palace.
The city was seized and occupied by the Thai Phayap Army from 1942 until the end of the Second World War and became the headquarters of the Saharat Thai Doem territory.[ Shan and Karenni States of Burma] The headquarters of the regional military command of the Tatmadaw is in the town.[Donald M. Seekins, Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar), p. 251]
Geography
Kengtung contains several lakes. The largest, Naung Tung Lake, lies in the western part of the city, followed by Naung Kham Lake and Naung Yarng Lake to the south of the Kentung Roman Catholic Mission.
Transportation
The town is served by
Kengtung Airport.
Kengtung is located on the National Highway 4 (NH4) and at the AH2 and AH3 of the
Asian Highway.
Climate
Kengtung has a tropical wet and dry/ savanna climate (Köppen-Geiger classification: Aw) with a pronounced dry season in the low-sun months, no cold season, wet season is in the high-sun months. Temperatures are very warm throughout the year, although the winter months (December–February) are milder and nights can be quite cool. There is a winter dry season (December–April) and a summer wet season (May–November).
Education
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Keng Tung University
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Keng Tung Computer University
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Keng Tung Technological University
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Keng Tung Education Degree College
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Government Technical High School (Keng Tung)
Health care
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Keng Tung General Hospital
See also
Bibliography
-
Forbes, Andrew; Henley, David (2011). Traders of the Golden Triangle. Chiang Mai: Cognoscenti Books. ASIN: B006GMID5
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J. G. Scott, Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States. 5 volumes Rangoon, 1900-1901.
-
Sao Sāimöng Mangrāi, The Pādaeng Chronicle and the Kengtung State Chronicle Translated. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981
External links
Notes
