Where have the Pyu gone to?

Dr Than Tun

(Translation in gist by Dr Maung Maung Nyo)

(Myazedi,Pagan or Bagan)

Prologue

I am always intrigued with the Pyu, an early Tibeto-Burman

tribe that entered Burma since the beginning of the Burmese

History, since my high school days. We read in the Burmese History

books that the three big tribes entered Burma to populate it namely

Pyu, Kamyan and Thet. The Pyu became Burman later, Kamyam

became Arakanese and Thet became Chin.

(Dr Than Tun M.A.,B.L.(Yangon), Ph.D.(London), D.Litt.(London)

Recipient of Fukuowa Prize for Humanities Research)

However, Professor Luce and modern Burmese historians write that

the Pyu disappeared completely by about AD 9^th century as their city

probably Hanlin or Halin was destroyed in AD 832 by the Nan Chao.

However, the Burmese traditionally say that the Pyu became

Bamar and the Bagan or Pagan was established by the Pyu of

the Sri Ksetra (Prome or Pyi) led by Thamudrit when the latter was

destroyed by the Nga-Sagaw Army.

Sayagyi Luce hypothesized that the Nga-Sagaw Army may belong to

the Sagaw Karen of today. Is the rumour (Nga Sagaw! , Nga Sagaw! ,

a widow shouts for her Sagaw, a flat circular basket for sieving rice,

and people fled helter skelter thus Sri Kestra is destroyed!) reliable ?

And I cannot believe that a whole tribe of the Pyu disappeared because

there are no longer Pyu writings and Pyu speaking people. It may be

due to these people no longer using their writing alphabets and language.

(Modern Map of Burma, Union of Myanmar)

Look at the countries of the English speaking people nowadays:

In USA the native Indian’s languages have disappeared tribe by tribe.

So is the Aborigine’s language in Australia and Maori language in

New Zealand. I also know that in Malaysia changing the script

from the Urdu script to Roman script made Malay no longer able

to read or write their old Malay scripts. By not using these old Malay

script does not mean the Malays have disappear!

(Map of Asia Showing Nan Chao and Pagan, Arakan, Burma)

The Malay people are still here in Malaysia. So is the change in Vietnam

when the script changed from the old Vietnamese pictogram to the

present Roman script. This could have happen to the Pyu of Burma as

they are absorbed into Bamar or Burman. This view is being put forward

by the late Dr Than Tun, an eminent Burmese historian. Enjoy.

Where have the Pyu disappeared?

This is the title of the book written by the late Sayagyi Dr Than Tun, the

celebrated historian of Burma. It was published in July 2006.

(The P

(The Pyu Alphabets)

Dr Dr Dr Than Tun writes: If some one asks where have the Pyu disappeared?

I would I would say, ” I’m here!” It’s because the Pyu and Myanmar are the same.

I’ll give the irrefutable evidence. Today Burma comprising Shan (Tai) in the east,

Rakhaing in the west, Mon in the south, Chin and Kachin in the north, Myanmar

in the centre has great cities starting with Bagan.

(Pyu Script on the Face of Myazedi Stone Inscription)

If weIf If we talk about Pagan, we must start with Pyu Saw Hti (Pyusawti), the king of Pyu.

Where are those Pyu? They are mixed with Bamar now. But this assimilation is not so long. We see Pyu writings in the Myazedi Inscription in AD 1084 and the latest one in the AD16^th century. Some people say the Pyu still live in the Yaw region of Magwe Division. Why did this happen?

It’s due to the influence of the Bamar. Let’s see the defence forces of the Pyu.

(Map of Burma Showing the Places Where the Pyu Lived)

Pyu had 9 forts or fort towns:

(1) Taungdwingyi

(2) Hsipaw

(3) Halin (Hanlin)

(4) Nahtogyi

(5) Maingmaw (Mongmao) near Kume

(6) Htichaingt (Hticheint)

(7) Hmawzar (East Thegone)

(8) East Bhamo (Kanthidar)

(9) Mauria near Mway Yin

Mauria is situated to the west of Irrawaddy River, but its exact situation is not known. Majority of the Pyu lived in Bhamo, Htichaingt, Shwebo District, Kyaukse District, Taungdwingyi areas. These areas are Bamar places and the Pyu have come and lived there since the 1^st century AD.

The Pyu places are as follows:

1) Around Kyugoke (Kyu-Gok)

2) Rakhaing (Arakan) Coast (Some places)

3) Around Thabeikkyin

4) West of Irrawaddy River between Katha and Shwegu

5) Around Monywa

6) Near Panlong River and Zawgyi River Confluence

7) Near Salin

8) Htilin area

9) Pagan

10) Sittang River basin

11) Around Tagaung

12) Around Toungu

13) Around Pegu

14) Around Mottama (Martaban) and Thaton

The Pyu in the above places married with the incoming Bamar and their children no longer use the Pyu names. It’s the reason these Pyu seemed to disappear.

In the foreign relations, the Pyu had relations with India especially Orissa

from the estuary of the Hugeli River to the southern end of Malay Peninsula

and all the coastal regions of India, Vietnam, Champa. But the peoples

in those foreign lands forget the Pyu and they call Burmese peoples

as Shan (Tai), Mon and Bamar (Myanmar) only. I mean the Pyu

disappeared by assimilating into the Bamar. In this book I’ll pick or

take out the Pyu that have lived hidden staying underground.

(Dr Than Tun, 12.05.2006 )

The Ancient Pyu

The “Further India” was populated mostly by the Indonesian peoples

from Annam to Java Islands. Burma at that time was populated by

cannibals and also by the tailed hominids, according to Ptolemy.

The Chinese Records describe the inhabitants of Burma as Piaou, polite ones.

The Chinese Records say, “There are established ways of correct relations

between king and ministers, father and son, senior and junior in rank,

” The Piaou wear silk cotton dresses. They use swords and axes

made with iron , copper metal, and gold. They use spices and herbs, clove.

The Tang Dynasty Historians called the Piaou as Tu Lou Kyu or Tu Li Chu.

They are also known as Ti- Sul or Trit-Cul. These Piaou are Pyu.

They live in Halin, Sri Kestra and Beikthano. There are urns with inscriptions

of names ending in Vikrama. There are other inscriptions ending with Gupta

or Varmans. They show the influence of Indian civilization in the Pyu areas.

The Pyu burn the dead and put the ashes in the urn.

The Tang Dynasty records have the detailed description of the Pyu culture.

The Pyu called the king Maha Raja and the Chief Minister as Maha Sena.

They have established ways of King Travel. The King has many queens.

They would not wear silk for fear of killing the silk worms.They are devout

Buddhists. There is evidence of Siva and Vishnu worships in the Pyu cities.

(Map of Sri Ksetra)

Sri Kestra is the largest city of the Pyu. The Pyu went north when it was

destroyed, but the Bamar or Pyu still have great aspects for the city by

calling it the City (Pyi). The Pyu writing was first found in the Myazedi

Inscriptions that has four surfaces, each written in Bamar (Myanmar),

Pyu, Pali and Mon respectively. The Pyu are Tibeto-Burman, closely

related to the Burman.

(Bawbawgyi Stupa in Sri Kestra)

The Pyu are dominated by the Nan Chao who sent the Pyu delegation

to the Chinese Emperor who liked the Pyu Dance. The Pyu dance and

music are well recorded by the Tang Dynasty. The Nan Chao destroyed

the Pyu City, probably Halin (Later research points to Sri Kestra),

in 1832 and ended the Pyu Reign. The Nan Chao took away3000 Pyu

whose remnants may be still seen in China living as destitute fishermen.

(Map of Halin)

(GH Luce. The Ancinet Pyu. JBRS, XXVII, iii, pp 239-253 and

BRSFAP, I, 307-322 translated by Dr Than Tun to Burmese,

translated in gist by Dr Maung Maung Nyo to English.)

The Pyu According to the Burmese Chronicles (Classic Histories)

From the study of the Pyu insciption it may be inferred that the Pyu language

has no consonants and has 8 syllables. It is a Tibet-Burman language, close

to the Burmese. (Tin in General Linguistics.)

(Pyu Coins Compared with a US Ten Cents Coin)

The Pyu has different names. They called themselves Tu-LaoKyu , the Chinese

called them Piaou. Javans called them Ku-Li-Chu. The Persian called them

Tirsul or Tir-Cul. Kyanzittha Palace Inscriptions mentioned them as Tircul.

They had been in Burma since the 3^rd century AD. A Hanlin Inscription of

the Pyu indicates the Pyu script resembles the Southern Indian Script.

(Big Stone Urn with Pyu Inscripton)

The Sri Kestra Inscriptions indicate there are two Pyu kings- Harivikrama and Zayachandrawikrama. They are contemporary kings in Sri Kestra. Harivikrama founded the city. This city is still extant although ruined. It’s circular in shape. It has many Pyu pagodas or stupas.

The Bawbawgyi Pagoda or Stupa is still visible and it is bell shape.

There are many Pyu coins with Hindu symbols. The Buddhist votive

tablets are also found. The Pyu have relations with China (Yunnan)

and India. The Pala have relations with the Pyu.

The Pyu City That Was Destroyed

It is stated that the Nan Chao destroyed the Pyu City in AD 1832. Professor Luce and older historians thought it was Halin. However, Dr Than Tun now thinks it wasSri Kestra, not Halin. It’s because if the Nan Chao had destroyed the city why would the Pyu go north to establish another city nearer to the enemy.

In AD 763-764, the Nan-Chao King Ko-Lo-Feng has overtaken the Upper Irrawaddy Basin. So the Pyu city destroyed must be Sri Kestra; the Pyu moved north.

(Present Day Halin in Shwebo District)

As the carbon dating has become available in 1993 I (Dr Than Tun)

would like to change the dates concerning Sri Kestra:

(1) That Sri Kestra is established in AD 638 is impossible.

(2) I also do not agree it is established in 1^st century AD.

(3) I like to alter the dates of Vikramas too:

(a) Suriavikrama (Regnal years 63-688)

(b) Harivikrama (r 688-695)

(3) Sihavikrama(695-718)

(Gold Filled Teeth Found in Halin)

The Pyu Foreign Relations

The so-called Pyu coins are found in Sri Kstra, Halin, Shan State,

Kayah State, Thailand and Kampuchea. The symbols are Hindi

indicating sun, moon, conch, trident, sriwisra, geha etc. These coins

are used from 2^nd century BC to 14^th century AD. They are now

known to be minted by the Cambodian Kings. The Burmese called

the old Cambodians "Kwan or Gwan".

The Pyu State extends as follows:

East... Chenla (Kampuchea or Cambodia)

South... Bay of Bengal

West... India

North...Yung Chan or Pao-Shan

East of Pyu Land.. Dvarawati of Thailand

North East... Nan Chao

East... Khmer (Funan or Cambodia)

North of Funan lies Annam, now Vietnam.. Fanman or Srimar

(AD 205-225) once attacked Sri Kestra. King Srimar fought up

to Arakan Yoma, Kra Isthmus, governing Suvannabumi. He also

attacked Beikthano called Lin Yang by the Chinese.

(The Excavation at Beikthano)

Beikthano was founded in AD 1^st century by the Pyu who left in

AD 3^rd century. Then Mon entered it. In 4^th century AD, the Pyu came

back and expelled the Mon. When Nan Chao destroyed Sri Kestra the

Pyu have already occupied the Irrawaddy Basin and Delta, Pegu,

Sittang Valley, Salween Estuary. The King in Sri Kestra City controlled

not only the city, but also areas outside it. Sri Kestra had rice fields in it

to withstand enemy siege, encirclement and starvation.

(Map of Beikthano)

The Pyu Inscriptions and Pyu History

The Pyu came to Burma from the north-west of the country.

They followed the path of Naga, Thet (Sak) and Kanan (Ganan)

after living in South West of Yunnan (Yong Chang). They migrated

down along the rivers of N’Mai-Kha and Irrawaddy Rivers. They lived

near Katha, then Shwe Bo District and along the Irrawaddy River

down to Beikthano and Sri Kestra. In the 2^nd century AD Beikthano

was destroyed by the Funan or Kwan Army and the Pyu established

the Sri Kestra. They spread to the Irrawaddy Delta, Sittang Basin and

Pegu River Estuary. That Pyu country may be called the First Union of

Burma (Union of Myanmar). Sri Kestra was destroyed in AD 832.

(Pyu Symbols on the Pyu Coins)

There are many Pyu inscriptions in Sri Kestra and other Pyu Cities.

Seven Pyu kings can be named:

(1) Devamitra

(2) Harivikrama

(3) Sihavikrama

(4) Suriavokrama

(5) Sirituvikram

(6) Zatravikrama

(7) Aditravikrama

Their dates of birth and ages with AD years can be ascertained starting

from AD 78 that is Saka Era:

Harivikram 57 y, 2 m, 24 d died on 19.07.120 AD (41Calendar Year)

Sihavikrama 80 y, 2m, 4 d died 20.09.123 AD (44 Calendar Year)

Suriavikrama (Queen) 35 y died on the same date (44 Calendar Year)

Suriavikram (King) 50 y, 5 m died on 143 AD (64 Calendar Year)

Ditaravikrama died in 163 AD (84 Calendar Year)

(Symbols Found on the Pyu Coins)

There was an overland route from Funan (Cambodia) to Vesali (Rakhaing)

through Dvarawati (Thailand), Beikthano (Burma), Sri Kestra (Burma).

The Pyu country was therefore surrounded by Funan in the east, East India

in the west, Nan Chao in the north and Bay of Bengal in the south.

The Chinese called Beikthano “Ramanna” in the 4^th century AD. It grew

in strength and conquered all the Tai states in the north and Mon land in

the south. It could be called the First Union of Burma before Anawrahta.

Duttabaung the Great Pyu King

The great Pyu King Duttabaung is mentioned in many Burmese chronicles.

He is a hero associated with the occurrence of earth quake, land slide and

drying of sea. It’s unbelievable. However, the geologists said those events

occurred long before he was born. I know now he is a great Pyu King.

The Pyu came to Burma in the 1st century BC and by 1^st century AD

they have occupied Burma from Halin in the north, Maingmaw or Mongmao

and Beikthano in the middle, Sri Kestra in the south. By 4^th century AD

their population extends from Lashio in the north and Mottama (Martaban)

in the south. They are the First Union of Burma builders. But in AD 832

Sri Kestra is destroyed and they intermarried with the new comer

Tibeto-Burmans and gradually disappeared. By 12^th century the Pyu are

not mentioned as slaves in the inscriptions. Now, apart from 60 to 50 Pyu

words no body knows how to read the Pyu script. Duttabaung is not

the name of a king, it means just any Pyu king. Now we know that

Duttabaung means several Pyu kings.

According to the legend, Duttabaung is born from Mahathamawa

of the Tagaung ancestry. Mahathamawa married Bedayi in Sri Kestra

and her father Hermit consents the marriage after he knows that

Mahathamawa is his nephew. They established Sri Kestra. Mahathawawa

dies after some years and his younger brother Culathamawa inherited

the throne as well as Queen Bedayi. Hence King Duttabaung is said

to be born of two fathers (Maha and Cula Thamawas). His birth is

heralded by great events:

(1) A big earth quake with great din occurs.

(2) A lake appears in Pho U Taung area.

(3) Samon and Samyeik Rivers appear.

(4) Mount Popa emerges from the earth.

(5) Sea around Sri Kestra disappears.

The geologists say those events occurred about one million years ago!

But, the Pyu lived in Sri kestra and Duttabaung was their king.

He is the embodiment of several Pyu kings (7) that govern the Pyu

and protect them from enemies. These kings maintain order, preserve

Pyu culture, encourage religion, mostly Theravada Buddhism, build pagodas:

(1) Sawkrama Stupa

(2) Nyinyi Stupa

(3) Cici Stupa

(4) Bawbawgyi Stupa

(5) Pahthogyi Stupa.

King Duttabaung travels widely,is very powerful and conquers many

insurrections. But he confiscates a religious land not in use and he becomes

blind.He drowns while boarding a ship in the Negris Sea. Is it real?

It may be to letthe later kings know the punishment for trespassing the

religious property. Even a so powerful a king like Duttabaung dies

ingloriously if he confiscates the religious land! It’s a lesson for all.

(A Votive Tablet Showing the Buddha,found in Sri Kestra)

In 1993 a new stone urn was found. It contains inscriptions and it has

the word Duttabaung in Pyu script. But it refers to not one king, but

to several Pyu kings:

(1) Devamitra (Lover of Deva or Nats)

(2) Hariwikrama (Disciple of Vishnu)

(3) Sihavikram (Brave as lion king)

(4) Suriavikrama (As powerful as the sun rays)

(5) Triduvikram (Protected by body armour)
(6) Zatravikrama (Winner of whole tribe)

(7) Aditravikrama (As glorious as the sun)

Now, we know their dates of death and Regnal years. The years described

in the inscriptions belong to the Saka Year that is less than 79 years from

Christian AD years. The Tang Dynasty Records describe 32 Pyu towns.

These towns can be located with modern Burmese places:

1. Alisi... Alakappa

2. Alimagni

3. Alishay

4. Amawlo..Amarwati

5. Swelugtang... Yepawmi (Watershed of Yu River)

6. Sophan... Kyapin, west of Yangon

7. Sugansaw...momeik

8. Phamaw... Middle of Sittang Basin

9. Lawson-i.san...Wantin, Kyugoke

10. Lohan...Zokethoke

11. Luwu...Dyke-U

12. Lu-yu

13. Mie-chaw... Rakhaing Coast

14. Maw-ti-paw... Martaban

15. Myo-yin

16. U-may

17. Paw-law-pho-ti...Palawati

18. Wu-wu-thaw... Ahlonpana, Ahlon Monywa

19. Sai-si-ya...Tagaung

20. Sai-ta..

21. Shay0ywe...Zeyawaddy, near Taoungo

22. Tamaw...Tayoke, Zawgyi and Panlong rivers Confluence

23. Tan-paw...Tampa, Pagan

24. Taung-pu...Thabeik-kyin

25. Taung-lin-ga...Pegu, Mon

26. Ti-so..Didoke, 40 miles north of Yangon

27. Tili-lan=ga...Hti Lin

28. Wung Tig

29. Wunkong...Wan-tein, Kyu Goke

30. Ye-pan...Yin-Pyin near Shwe-gu

Previously, we thought the Pyu live along the middle of the Irrawaddy

Basin only. Now we know they live between Latitude North 16º30´

and Latitude North 24º, between Longitude East 95º and Longitude

East 98º30´, thus occupying the Northern Shan State west of Salween River,

Ye-U River in the Yaw Area, down to Mottama (Martaban) in the

Tenasserim Division or Mon State.

But there are only 9 Pyu Forts or Fort Towns;

1. Shi-li-i...Hsipaw

2. Kan-Wung...Kanthida near Nga O village near Shwe-Li River

3. Mina-tao-li...Myingyan

4. Maw-Fu...Mauria (Mywe Yin, west of Irrawaddy River)

5. San-Taw...Halin or Hanlin

6. Ta-li-Moh...Thegone, South east of Hmaw Zar

7. Taung-Lin-Wung...Taungdwingyi

8. Ti-Che...Hti Chaingt

9. Tu-mein...Kume, Maing Maw or Mongmao

(Conservator of Forest Uu Aung Myint named it after he found it near Kume.)

Five (5) Forts lie north indicating the enemy would come from that direction

more than from the south where there is the sea (Bay of Bengal).

There are Pyu coins with many Hindu symbols.: Badra (Stool), Sandr (Moon),

Sanche (Conch), Sriwisra (House), Swastika (Cross fan), Visra ( Thunder bolt).

They were minted in the 3^rd century AD by the Khmer used along the

trade route between Kampuchea and East India or Northern Rakhaing.

(Map of Asia Showng Trading Partner Countries of the Pyu in Burma)

There are 20 foreign states or places that the Pyu had traded:

1. San Paw.. Champa,

2. Sendah...Kampuchea

3. Celsius... Kalika,India

4. Ci-ya-law-faw-ti...Kalwunti near Twante

5. Ceana..Ganu

6. Ci-a-thaw...Katana, Kadamb

7. Su-lon... Bali

8. Baw-te...Sri Vijaya, Palabaung

9. Kamarupa... Old Assam

10. Sun-lang... Konyong near Salween River Estuary

11. Law-yu...Malayu

12. Mie-Seg... Labisi-ang, Taikala

13. Maw-i...Philippines

14. Maw-li...Mali, India

15. Panti... Panne, East India

16. Phaw-li... Bali

17. Shay-phaw Java

18. Shay-way-i... Savatti

19. Taw-ku-e.i.. Kra Isthmus

20. Wu-tay... Orissa

These Pyu built the first Union of Burma, but they disappeared by

intermarriage with the Bamar. Duttabong was their great king, but

9 kings took its honor of Dutta Bonna in the Pyu script beginning

with King Harivikrama who died in AD 120.

Conclusions

Dr Than Tun states in this book that the Pyu and the Burman or Bamar

are the same. The Pyu as a tribe disappear by intermarriage with the

Burman and by discarding the use of the Pyu names. The Pyu naming

system is cumbersome as the last word of the father becomes the first

word of the children like Pyu Saw Hti (Pyu-sao-ti):

1. Pyu Saw Hti

2. Hti Min Yin

3. Yin Min Pike

4. Pike Theli

5. Theli Kyaung

6. Kyaung Du Yit

This system is stilled followed by the Pyu relatives in the China-Burma

border such as by the Lolo and other Tibeto-Burman tribes. This system

may be applied as in Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s name as her father’s name

is Aung San.

(The Myazedi Stone Inscriptions with Four Faces, each Face

for Pyu, Pali, Mon and Myanmar Respectively)

Besides, the Pyu formed one subgroup of the

Tibeto-BurmanTribes that entered and occupied Burma since the beginning

of the Christian era.These Pyu gave rise to the present Bamar by intermarriage

with the later Tibeto-Burman including the Burman. So. the Bamar are the

Pyu and the Pyu are the Bamar, we can say. This is my layman’s interpretation.

I’m not a historian. Geneticists may confirm this racial integartion by DNA

testing of the Pyu and Burman (Bamar).

Dr Maung Maung Nyo

21.04.2009 (Translated the Essence of the Book)