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Laihka State

Laihka (Legya)
State of the Shan States
1505–1959

Laihka State (in yellow) in a map of the Shan States
Area 
• 1901
3,711 km2 (1,433 sq mi)
Population 
• 1901
25,811
History 
• State founded
1505
• Abdication of the last Saopha
1959
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Hsenwi
Shan State
An elephant-supported pagoda in Laihka, a Shan capital which suffered terribly in the civil war that marked the reign of King Thibaw. A very similar pagoda stands in Muong Nan, one of the Lao Shan States

Laihka State (Shan: လၢႆးၶႃႈ), also spelt Legya or Lecha (Burmese: လဲချား), was a state in the central division of the Southern Shan States of Burma, with an area of 3,711 square kilometres (1,433 sq mi).

The general character of the state was hilly and broken, with a mean altitude of a little under 3,000 feet (910 m). The main rivers were the Nam Teng, an important tributary of the Salween, and the Nam Pawn. Laihka, located in the plain of the Nam Teng, was the capital where the saopha had his palace (haw).[1] The town of Panglong, where the Panglong Agreement took place, is located close to Laihka.

History

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Traditional legends talk about a predecessor kingdom in the area named Hansavadi. Laihka State was founded in 1505 as a state subordinated to Hsenwi State. On the downfall of King Thibaw civil war broke out, and reduced the population to a few hundred. In 1901 it had risen again to 25,811. About seven-ninths of the land under cultivation consisted of wet rice cultivation. A certain amount of upland rice was also cultivated, and cotton, sugarcane and garden produce made up the rest. Laihka, the capital, was noted for its ironwork, both the iron and the implements made being produced at Pang Long in the west of the state. This and lacquerware were the chief exports, as also a considerable amount of pottery. The imports were chiefly cotton piece-goods and salt.[2]

Rulers

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The rulers bore the title Myosa until mid nineteenth century.[3]

Myosas

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Saophas

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The ritual style was Kambawsa Rahta Mahawunths Thiri Thudamaraza. The saopha start at 1505 the first Sao Khua Hpa and in 1542 the linege of him is vacant Sao Hkun Möng (Hso Han Hpa) the saopha of Hsipaw send his son Hkun Naw to be the saopha here

References

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  1. ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 16, p. 118.
  2. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Lègya" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 16 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 384.
  3. ^ Shan and Karenni States of Burma
  4. ^ James George Scott; John Percy Hardiman. Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Part 2, Volume 2. p. 5. He was succeeded in 1012 B.E. (1650) by his younger brother, Sao Ne Ya, who reigned for thirty years. He left no children and was succeeded by his wife, who held the State for three years and then died.
  5. ^ James George Scott; John Percy Hardiman. Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Part 2, Volume 2. p. 6. Hkun Hkawt, a brother of Hkun Lek, was appointed Sawbwa, but died in four years. In 1228 B.E. (1866), therefore, his youngest sister, one of the Queens, was appointed to the charge of Lai Hka with the title of Myoza. She appointed myooks and myo-teins to govern the State for her. This continued for two years and then the former Sawbwa, Hkun Mawng, now become a youth, was appointed to the State.
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21°16′N 97°39′E / 21.267°N 97.650°E / 21.267; 97.650