Mythologies of the Padong Tribe

The Padaung tribe is a subgroup of the larger Kayah tribe, which in turn is a subgroup of the Karenni which in turn is a subgroup of the Karen. The Padaung have no written language and are best known for its long-necked women. The tribe is named after the Padaung area, where most of them live. There are about 10,000 people in the tribe. "Padaung" means "long neck" in the Shan anguage. Their homes and villages are found scattered in the area between the Kayah State, east of Taungoo and Southern Shan State. Some inhabit the plains in the basin of the Paunglaung River which are also part of the Kayah State east of Pyinmana. The Padaung woman's traditional attire consists of a colorful, elegant turban with a short thick loose shift and leggings. Padaung women wear a short, dark-blue skirt edged with red with a loose white tunic also trimmed with red and a short blue jacket A turban-like headscarf is draped around their head. When working they wear short- sleeved smocks. Amit R. Paley wrote in the Washington Post, “The traditional wardrobe for Padaung women is a red, saronglike dress with a blue or magenta jacket and towellike head covering. Most distinctive are the dozens of rattan rings that circle their waists.” Men wear the basic Southeast Asian longji.

The Padong, also known as the Long Necks Karen, exhibit physiological traits stemming from Southern Mongoloids. However, their distinctive culture and social characteristics distinguish them as a subgroup of the Karen people. Residing in a plateau region with slopes descending towards the Salween River in Myanmar’s Kayah state, near the Thai border, their population totals approximately 30,000 individuals. The Padong people lead tranquil lives focused on hard work, mirroring the lifestyle of the Karen in Thailand. Their primary occupation involves cultivating rice in stepped rice fields and rotational rice fields. Additionally, they cultivate crops like cotton, tobacco, vegetables, and fruits. Padong houses typically comprise teak wood and bamboo structures with elephant grass roofs, elevated from the ground with access provided by ladders. Interiors are equipped with essentials such as stoves, mattresses, cooking utensils, and valuable possessions, while pets are often kept beneath the house. While most Padong adhere to Catholicism, a portion still incorporates elements of Buddhism, ghosts, and ancestral spirits into their beliefs. A distinctive and notable Padong tradition involves adorning a single, coiled brass ring around the neck, a practice commencing during ages 5–9. Originally, only Padong women born on Wednesdays and full moon days wore these rings, and exclusivity to the Padong tribe was essential. However, the tradition later extended to all Padong women, regardless of their birth day. Over time, brass replaced gold in the crafting of these rings. The rings, solid and two centimetres in diameter, are bent skillfully around the neck, akin to coiling a spring. Prior to wearing, the brass is soaked in lemonade to soften it. Wearing these rings holds multiple meanings. Apart from showcasing beauty, class status, and position, they also emphasize the importance of marriage within the tribe. The Padong women’s distinct attire sets them apart from other hill tribes in Myanmar. Different tribes adopt unique dress codes, and some even tattoo their bodies to prevent attraction from outsiders. Two ancient stories offer explanations for the practice of wearing rings: one recounts using rings to protect Padong women from a threatening tiger, while the other attributes the practice to their lineage from a dragon and a swan, aiming to maintain a dignified and elegant appearance suited for their mythical ancestry.

The Palong (Thai:ปะหลอง) hill tribe who live in Thailand came from Myanmar (Burma). The name Palong or Palaung originated in Burma. We will use the spelling “Palong” on this website as this is the word that Thai people use in general. Palong refers to Mon-Khmer-speaking peoples living in the mountains of Shan State and Southern Kachin State in Myanmar. Culturally and Linguistically, the Palong consist of three main groups: the Shwe, the Rumai, and the Pale. The Shwe people are also known as golden Palong or Ta-ang. The Pale people are known as Silver Palong or Di-ang. These two groups of Palong people identify themselves as Dara-ang (ดาราอั้ง). It is likely they originated in Southern China and later migrated to Myanmar. There are approximately 600,000 Palong living in Myanmar. Palong communities are present throughout Shan State and southern Kachin State. They live in Shan State from Namhkam in the north, near the Chinese border, to Muang Mit and Namhsan in the west, to Kalaw in the southwest, and the east Kengtung near the Thai border. The Palong who live in the north of Shan State’s mountain areas are called Shwe or Golden Palong by the Burmese and the Shan. A small number of Palong people, about 12,000, live in the Dehong region in Yunnan Province in southwestern China.

The Padong Long Neck Women are a "tourist attraction" in Northern Thailand. Their tribe migrated to Northern Thailand from Myanmar (formerly Burma). During my tour of Thailand I visited their village. These women are synonymous with the brass coils that they wear around their necks to "stretch" their necks and make them appear longer. Actually, the coils push their shoulder blades down, giving the appearance of a long neck.