Muang Sing

Province

(Written Lao ເມືອງ ສີງ, also Müang Sing ) Muang Sing is a town in the province of Luang Namtha in northern Laos, about 14 kilometers from the border with China. The village lies in a valley about 700 meters high surrounded by high mountains on the river Nam Sing and was detectable inhabited since 1792. From 1885 he was the capital of Müang ( Principality ) of the Tai Lü. In the 1890s, here came the colonial claims of France and Britain together. In 1916 it was incorporated into the French Empire.

Population

The first detectable population of Muang Sing Tai Lü formed, the followers of Chao Surintha, of the late ruler of Chiang Khaeng widow were, and she and her son Chao Saengsi accompanied here. Chao Surintha was here in 1792 a large stupa ( That) build. At the beginning of the 19th century deported the former Müang ( principality ) Nan a majority of the residents of Muang Sing and other dominions in the north of Laos to Chiang Kham, where they were made to do forced labor. As a result, the valley remained for several decades, virtually uninhabited and remained only isolated groups of immigrants from the east hill tribes.

In the 1870s, the rulers of Chiang Khaeng let individual inhabitants of his territory to settle in the valley and exploit nature reserves of wood and other things. This met with angry resistance of the ruler of Nan Chao Ananta Worarittidet, whose design won the withdrawal of strangers from the claimed area from him. Early as 1880, but can be a new attempt of Chiang Khaeng be detected, as they wanted to break away from the Burmese Ava and looked around for a better -defended capital. 1887 about 1,000 residents of Chiang Khaeng were relocated to Muang Sing.

As a result of the settlement policy of the French population increased since the beginning of the 20th century. It consists now of Akha, Tai Lue, Tai Nuea, Yao, Thai, Hmong (Lao Sung ) and Khmu (Lao Thoeng ). 1992, there were about 200 households.

Settlement history

The first settlement was located about 5 kilometers southwest of present-day Muang Sing at Ban Nam Dai. Wiang Fa Ya: Within one generation, a second settlement with a wall, which was called "City " was born.

On one of the southern summit then the great pagoda Phra That Siang Thuem was built.

Buildings

In the north of the city of Muang Sing was built in 1884 Wat Hua Khua, the actual new city Muang Sing was completed in 1887 to the extent that settlers could be recorded. The city was laid out like a checkerboard with eight square fields. The spacing between the squares were different widths. Overall, the city has about 800 meters side length and an area of ​​approximately 65 ha

For 1890 121 houses were counted that were of a temple, Wat Luang, which was within the protective earth wall in the southeast, supplied. After 1896 the French built a fort and stationed troops. A paved road went from Muang Sing to the Chinese border. On this road they had set up a market that became the economic center of the city in Muang Sing.

Muang Sing still had to at least the 1920s, built a wooden palace, which had a very high pitched roof.

Political history

Muang Sing was dependent on the Burmese since its founding by Lü - ruler of Chiang Khaeng and delivered as Chiang Kheang, over many years annual tribute in the Burmese capital of Ava. After the dark period of Burmese turmoil, dissolved Chiang Khaeng from Ava and established in 1885 with Muang Sing a new capital, which was much easier to defend against possible retaliatory Burmese attacks. When moving the capital of their name emigrated with and in many documents of the following time, Muang Sing as Chiang Khaeng called.

At the same time, but also the Müang Nan in Northern Thailand claimed dominion over the area. Through a continued military action by Nan territorial claim in 1889. As Nan was Muang Sing from 1890 vassal of the Siamese King Chulalongkorn ( Rama V ). 1895/96 Muang Sing went on in the Colonial Empire French Indochina, the colonial master Siam had military pressured and providing for the assignment of large areas on the eastern bank of the Mekong. The French were not popular, which is why 1907-1911 conflicts broke out and the ruler of Muang Sing in the neighboring, also ruled by Tai Lü Müang Chiang Hung in the southern Chinese territory Sipsongpanna had to flee. The French put him from 1916 and assumed Muang Sing directly to their colonial administration.

1946 was the Kuomintang of China from Muang Sing and partially destroyed the market. 1954 the French abandoned Laos completely.