The Long Neck Karen Hilltop Tribe: A Village in Thailand
In the northern end of Thailand, my travel journey led me from the peculiar White Temple of Chiang Rai to the hidden hill tribe of the Karen Long Neck people. It’s a place mostly known for the women adorning spiral brass coils that elongate their necks. Their culture sparks varied opinions – a delicate dance between spectacle and survival. Some perceive it as a curated performance, while others see a lifeline in supporting the tribe through handmade crafts. I found that it may be a little bit of both rolled into one.
The Karen are a diverse group of people with roots stretching across Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. They are known for their deep connection to nature, their vibrant textiles, and their fiercely independent spirit. The Kayan Lahwi, however, stand apart with their distinct tradition of neck elongation, a practice shrouded in mystery and cultural significance. Originating from Myanmar’s lush hills, the Long Neck Karen tribe, also known as Kayan Lahwi (Padaung), brings a rich heritage to Thailand. Escaping conflict, they found sanctuary in the mountains of northern Thailand, shaping the culture of various villages. Huay Pu Keng, the largest community along the Pai River, hosts around 600 Kayan residents. Their cultural threads extend across Mae Hong Son province, telling tales of resilience in hidden valleys. What distinguishes these villages are the adorned women. With slender necks embellished by golden brass rings, they symbolize cultural identity. Beyond adornment, the women showcase artistry through intricate weaved goods, reflecting unique stories.
The Long Neck tradition’s origins remain a bit of a mystery, with views ranging from beauty marks to symbols of wealth or spiritual connection. Some say it’s a mark of beauty, others a symbol of wealth or spiritual connection. There are even those who speculated that the brass coils, worn from the age of five, may have helped protect the women from tiger bites in the past. Regardless of how it started, the practice involves adding brass coils, weighing 4-11 lbs (2-5 kgs), around the neck each year. There is no maximum limit, however there are instances where individuals wear up to 25 or more coils. This gradual process displaces the collarbone and ribs, creating the illusion of an elongated neck. The cultural impact and significance add depth to this intriguing tradition, making it more than a physical transformation.
The Long Neck Women Of The Kayan Tribe
A Kayan woman with brass coils around her neck
The Kayan tribe of Northern Thailand, also referred to as the “Karen long-neck people”, are quite popular for wearing neck rings. Its women are known to wear brass neck rings made by burmese men, which appear to lengthen their necks.
The Kanyans believe that the longer the neck, the more beautiful the woman. As early as age five, Kayan women are acquainted with the use of neck rings. They wear more brass coils as they get older. There are reports that they add a new coil every two years.
The Kayans are originally from Myanmar. They fled to the Thailand borders in the late 1980s during the conflict between the Myanmar army and the rebel forces. During this time, they were housed in some refugee camps within the Thai border areas, where they sought refuge. There was a “long neck section" and it eventually became a site for tourism. Within a short time, Kayan women quickly became a huge source of attention.
The Real Life Under 25 Neck Rings: Karen Long Neck Tribe Thailand
Thailand is home to many unique tourist attractions that are well worth a visit. However, it’s always good to be aware of the fact if visiting a certain attraction supports a good cause, like in the case of visiting the Long Neck Tribe villages. Sometimes unintentionally it can be just the opposite. One of such controversial attractions is the Kayan Long Neck Tribe village in Northern Thailand. Have you thought about how ethical it actually is to go there to admire these long neck people?
It’s a village nearby border of Myanmar where the Karen tribe lives. These long neck women (also known as giraffe women) are one of the most visited attractions in Thailand. However, the story of these Karen hill tribe people is quite sad. That makes it questionable, should people even visit the Long Neck Tribe as a tourist attraction? The origins of the Kayan Long Neck Tribe, which is a sub-group of the Red Karen people, are in Myanmar, where thousands of these people live in the mountains just across the Thai border. Many of them have chosen to flee to Thailand in search of a safer life, as there’s been a brutal military conflict in their home country for years. The Kayan Long Neck tribes live in Northern Thailand as refugees. They also serve as one of the most profitable tourist attractions in the Thai tourism industry.
Unfortunately, their lives in Thailand are difficult and it’s quite visible to any tourist, who visits the village and dares to think, what it must be like to live there. There is a lot of conflicting information about the lives of the Karen people of the Kayan tribe in Thailand. Thai tour guides are willing to explain to curious tourists about the living arrangements of the tribe in Thailand, making them seem quite acceptable, whereas the Karen women are sharing a whole different story. Also with United Nations Refugee Agency encouraging tourists to boycott the attraction, which they refer to as a “human zoo”, makes really rethink the ethics of visiting this place.
PADAUNG LONG NECK WOMEN
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 Padaung’s famous long-necked women wear brass coils — not rings — around their necks. A symbol of wealth, position and beauty, the coils can stretch their necks over a foot and weigh over 20 pounds According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world record for longest neck — 40 centimeters (15¾ inches) — belonged to a Padaung woman. The Ndebele in South Africa wear rings around their necks. Padaung means “long neck.” The coils are made from brass and gold alloy. Because long necked women can't lean their head's back, they drink from straws. According to the British journalist J.G. Scott there voices sound "as if they were speaking from the bottom of a well.” Padaung women might appear to have long necks but this is an optical illusion. As the coils are added they push the collar bone and ribs down, creating the appearance of a longer neck. Actually stretching the neck would result in paralysis and death. Removing the coils does not cause a woman's neck to collapse, although the muscles weaken.
The Kayan Lahwi Tribe: Unveiling the Cultural Significance of Long-Neck Women
Immersed in the verdant landscapes of Southeast Asia are the Kayan Lahwi people, a group famous for their distinctive tradition of wearing brass neck coils. The women, often called “the women of the long necks” or Padaung, begin this practice in early childhood, leading to the appearance of elongated necks as they grow. This cultural hallmark has drawn widespread curiosity and intrigue, positioning the Kayan Lahwi tribe as a unique symbol of cultural identity.
While the visual allure of neck rings draws initial attention, the tribe’s history and culture are deeply rooted in their heritage and surroundings. The Kayan Lahwi have maintained their traditions through generations amidst regional socio-economic changes and global attention. Their way of life offers insights into various practices, from artistry to their continued struggle within an evolving landscape. As they navigate the complexities of preserving their culture in a rapidly changing world, the story of the Kayan Lahwi women is symbolic of resilience and the enduring strength of cultural traditions.
In exploring the fascinating origins and history of the Kayan Lahwi people, we uncover the story of a distinct cultural heritage that has persevered through time. Our narrative traces their roots from the hazy highlands of Myanmar to their current settlements. The Kayan Lahwi tribe hails from Myanmar, specifically from the Kayah State. Historically known as the Karenni States, this region is home to the Kayan people, who are recognised for their strong cultural identity and rich heritage. They are part of the Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority, with their unique customs having been passed down through generations.
10 Interesting Facts About The Kayan People Of Myanmar
Kayan women are noted for their long necks with brass neck rings
The Kayan people of Myanmar are a subgroup of the Karenni people ( Red Karen). The population of the Kayan is estimated at 130,000, of whom more than half live in Myanmar. They are found in Karenni State around Loikow and Demawso and southern Shan State. The Kayan inhabit three villages in Mae Hong Son province of Thailand; Huay Pu Keng, Huai Seau Tao, and Karenni refugee camp. These are some interesting facts about the Kayan.
The Kayan consists of several groups, including Kayan Lahwi (Padaung), Kayan Ka Khaung, Kayan Kakhi, Kayan Ka Ngan, Kayan Lahta, Kayan Gebar, and the Bwe people. The Padaung are popularly known for their brass neck coil. The Kayan people of northern Thailand are closely linked to Padaung but prefer being called Kayan. In the 1980s and 90s, many fled the civil war in Myanmar and sought refuge in Thailand, where they integrated with the local Thai people and are still living in the country. Although some have assimilated into the local Thai population, a majority continue to live in abject poverty in refugee camps along the border of Thailand and Myanmar.
The most distinctive culture of the Kayan people is the brass neck ring worn by women. Although all tribes wear the ornament, it is popularly associated with the Kayan Lahwi sub-tribe. Girls begin to wear the ring at the age of five and are replaced by larger ones as they age. Once the coil is worn, it is rarely removed since uncoiling it is a lengthy procedure. Since 2006, younger women have shunned the ornament to pursue education and protest the restrictions imposed by their culture. In the past, the Kayan believed that removing the coil lead to a broken neck and death by suffocation The government discourages women from wearing the ornament in a bid to change the retrogressive culture. The coil weakens the neck muscles and often bruise and discolor the collarbone. It appears to lengthen the neck by deforming the clavicle. It is the reason why Kayan women have earned the moniker “ long-necked women.” Kayan women barely feel the weight of the brass since the ring feels like part of the body after several years of wear.
The Reality Behind Thailand’s Kayan Long Neck Hill Tribe Will Make You Rethink Your Trip
In the hills of northern Thailand are the cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, famous for the Golden Triangle (where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet) and the Kayan Long Neck Hill Tribe — a sub-group of the Red Karen people.
The Kayan people are originally from Myanmar. Due to political turmoil in the late 80s between the Karen National Liberation Army and the military dictatorship in Yangon, and the violence that ensued, many of the Kayan people escaped to Thailand and were set up in refugee camps. The Kayan tribes quickly became a “tourist attraction”, mostly because the girls and women (also known as “giraffe women”) traditionally wear brass coils around their neck. The girls start wearing these brass coils from the age of five, and more are added as they get older. The brass will push the collarbone down to compress the rib cage. This will give the impression that their neck is longer and stretched. There are several theories that attempt to explain where this tradition started; some accounts state that the brass rings were used to make the women look unattractive to the slave traders who were hunting them down, while others explain were that it was a sign of beauty and wealth.
Thanks to the tourist revenue they generate, the Thai authorities allowed Kayan villages in the provinces closer to Chiang Mai where tour companies could “promote their business.” Tourist flock here to see what they think is traditional living. The Kayan women only receive a small portion of the money generated by tourism; most of it goes to the tour operators.
The History of Thailand’s Kayan People
In the northern Thai provinces (such as Mae Hong Son) live Thailand’s Kayan people, communities of displaced ethnic minorities of Tibeto-Burman origins, who originally fled strife and persecution in neighbouring Myanmar.
The Kayan form one of a number of sub-groups of Myanmar’s Red Karen people, also known as the Karenni. The Kayan group are also referred to colloquially in English as the ‘long-neck people’ for the trademark brass neck rings traditionally worn by its women, which appear to lengthen the neck. Alongside the Kayan in northern Thailand are the so-called Kayaw, or ‘long-ear people’, also originating from Myanmar. The specific group of Kayan people identified by their traditional neck coils are, in some contexts, instead referred to using the word Padaung, a term in the native language of Myanmar’s Shan state. However, many of the group that has now resettled in northern Thailand are believed to consider this term pejorative, and instead prefer to call themselves Kayan.
The existence of the Kayan in northern Thailand began in the late 1980s, when conflict between the Myanmar army and rebel forces forced Kayan tribes to flee to Thai border areas, from where they sought refuge in Thailand and were housed in a number of refugee camps. Among these was a self-sufficient camp open to tourists who wished to see the Kayan women’s striking neck coils and learn about their way of life. Today three villages remain accessible to tourists, while the main Karenni refugee camp is not, and estimates put the number of Kayan people in Thailand – out of a worldwide population of approximately 130,000 – at around 600.
Kayan people (Myanmar)
A Kayan (Padaung) woman in Thailand displaying her neck rings
The Kayan are a sub-group of Red Karen (Karenni people), Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar (Burma). The Kayan consists of the following groups: Kayan Lahwi (also called Padaung, Kayan Ka Khaung (Gekho)Kayan Kadao, Kayan Lahta, Kayan Ka Ngan. Kayan Kakhi and, sometimes, Bwe people (Kayaw). They are distinct from, and not to be confused with, the Kayan people of Borneo.
Padaung (Yan Pa Doung) is a Shan term for the Kayan Lahwi (the group in which women wear the brass neck rings). The Kayan residents in Mae Hong Son Province in Northern Thailand refer to themselves as Kayan and object to being called Padaung. In The Hardy Padaungs (1967) Khin Maung Nyunt, one of the first authors to use the term "Kayan", says that the Padaung prefer to be called Kayan. On the other hand, Pascal Khoo Thwe calls his people Padaung in his 2002 memoir, From the Land of Green Ghosts: A Burmese Odyssey.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s due to conflict with the military regime in Myanmar, many Kayan tribes fled to the Thai border area. Among the refugee camps set up there was a Long Neck section, which became a tourist site, self-sufficient on tourist revenue and not needing financial assistance. According to U Aung Roe (1999:21ss) Kayan number about 90,000 in Shan State (around the Pekhon Township area) about 20,000 around Thandaung kayin state, and 70,000 in Kayah State (around Demawso and Loikaw). A 2004 estimate puts the population at approximately 180,000. About 600 Kayan reside in the three villages open to tourists in Mae Hong Sorn, or in the Ban Mai Nai Soy refugee camp.
Village of the Long Hair Women
More than 250 women joined together to set a new Guinness World Records title that celebrated their beautiful culture. Red Yao women from a number of villages met in Huangluo Yao Village in Longsheng Autonomous County, Guilin, China, on 22 April to create the longest hair combing chain.
It was all part of the annual Longji Long Hair Festival.
The women dressed in beautiful costumes as they headed to the local Moon Island and stood along the river, singing the "Long Hair Ballad". In the presence of a crowd of locals and tourists, the 256 Red Yao women formed a 456 m (1,496 ft) chain and began combing the hair of the woman in front of them with wooden combs. Huangluo Yao Village is located in the Longji Scenic Area in Longsheng, Guilin, inhabited by the Red Yao people. The Red Yao is a branch of the Yao people, one of China's ethnic minorities. It is called the Red Yao because the women in the village are as passionate as fire and are most beautiful in red, which is a distinctive feature reflected in their clothing.
Since ancient times, the women of the Red Yao have the traditional habit of keeping their hair long, and they will only cut it once in their lifetime when they are 18 years old. In the hearts of Red Yao women, long hair has a very important meaning. Long hair symbolizes long life and wealth, prosperity and good fortune. Red Yao women treasure their hair and have many secret hair care recipes. In the village, it is rare to see a single white hair, even in the elderly. This custom of growing and combing hair, which has been passed down from generation to generation, has led the Red Yao to invent their own unique recipes for hair care. It is said that they never use modern shampoo, but put grapefruit peel, tea oil dregs and a secret blend of herbs into fermented rice water, then boil it and use it to wash their hair after it cools down. They put their long hair in the rice water to soak for a period of time so it fully absorbs the nutrients, then wash and comb it with spring water. These special hair care recipes leave the long hair soft, black, shiny, and with no split ends. The charming top style they wear their hair in has become an iconic image that attracts a large number of Chinese and foreign tourists to visit the village every day.
