Who are the Shan?

The Shan are a Tai ethnic group of East Asia. The Shan make up the majority of the population of Myanmar and make significant minority populations in northern Thailand and southwestern China. They speak the Shan language, which is related to Thai and Lao, and practice Theravada Buddhism.

The Shan are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in southwestern China to present-day Myanmar in the 11th century. They settled in the central and eastern regions of Myanmar, where they came into conflict with the Bamar people, who were the dominant ethnic group in the country. The Shan states were semi-independent from the Bamar kings of Myanmar, and the Shan people maintained a distinct identity and culture.

The Shan states were annexed by the British in the 19th century, and the Shan people came under British rule. After Myanmar gained independence from Britain in 1948, the Shan states were abolished and the Shan people were integrated into the new Myanmar state.

The Shan people have faced discrimination and persecution from the Myanmar government since independence. In the 1960s and 1970s, thousands of Shan people were forcibly relocated by the government in a campaign of "Burmanization." The Shan people have also been subjected to military violence and human rights abuses by the Myanmar army.

Despite the challenges, the Shan people have retained their distinct identity and culture. The Shan language is still spoken by millions of people, and Theravada Buddhism remains the dominant religion among the Shan. The Shan people are also known for their traditional music and dance, which have been influenced by both Chinese and Thai cultures.

Shan people can also be found in northern Thailand, where they have migrated over the years in search of work and better opportunities. Although the Shan have a long history of migration into Thailand, they have never been granted full citizenship status and remain largely marginalized within Thai society.

The Shan have a complex relationship with the Thai state. On the one hand, the Shan have historically been seen as a “barrier people” between Myanmar and Thailand, and have thus been subjected to various forms of state control and surveillance. On the other hand, the Shan have also been used as a source of cheap labor by the Thai state, particularly in the agricultural and construction sectors.

The Shan are a largely Buddhist people, and this is reflected in their culture and traditions. Shan language and literature is heavily influenced by Theravada Buddhism, and many Shan people follow the Theravada tradition. However, there is also a significant minority of Shan people who follow the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism.

The Shan people have a long and rich history, but they have often been marginalized and discriminated against by the Thai state. The Shan are a proud people with a strong sense of identity, and they continue to fight for their rights and for a better future for their community in Thailand.