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, ပဒေါင် [bədàʊɰ̃]), Kayan Ka Khaung (Gekho), Kayan Lahta, Kayan Ka Ngan. Kayan Gebar, 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.
Kayah people also known as Red Karen or Karenni or Kayah, a Sino-Tibetan people. The name Kayah is a new name invented by the Burmese to split them off from other Karen. Kayah people comprise of different 9 ethnic groups such as Kayah, Zayein, Karen (Padaung), Gheko, Kebar, Bre(Ka-Yaw), Manaw, Yin Talai and Yin Baw. Among them, the main ethnic groups are the Kayah, Kayaw and Karen (sometimes called by the Shan term Padaung), attract tourists from around the world. Karen women stack their neck with brass rings, which give the long-neck illusion. Karen mythology claims the tradition arose to prevent tigers from biting their necks! Some say that the lengthened neck is a sign of beauty and wealth and will attract a better husband. Most of Kayah people inhabit in Loikaw, the capital of Kayah State in Myanmar. It is located in the Karen Hills area. In addition, a large number of Kayah people moved and live in Mae Hong Son province of Thailand. Estimated 49 percent of kayah people are Buddhists, 43 percent are Christians and 6 percent are Animists.
Ethnically, Kayah state has about 7 to 10 ethnic groups, the primary being the Kayan people and the Padaung people. Other ethnic tribes include Geba, Bwe, Manumanaw, Zayein, Yinbaw, Paku and a few more. The Kayan people are a part of the Red Karen people and are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar. The first historical reference of these people ranges back to 739 AD in the Demanwso area of Karenni State. Today, apart from Myanmar, these people also stay in Thailand. Traditionally, girls are made to wear these brass coils from the age of five. A coil is added to their neck every year as they age. A fully-grown woman can wear as many as 35 rings around their neck. There are several stories behind this tradition of wearing these coils. Some say that these were worn to protect their necks from the attack of tigers while others say that these were worn to disfigure the look of women so that they could not be married forcefully against their wishes.
The Kayan form one of a number of sub-groups of Myanmar’s Red Karen people, a Tibetan-Burmese-speaking minority. The Kayan consists of the following groups: Kayan Lahwi (also called Padaung), Kayan Ka Khaung, Kayan Lahta, Kayan Ka Ngan. Kayan Gebar, Kayan Kakhi and Bwe people (Kayaw). Padaung is a Shan term for the Kayan Lahwi (the group in which women wear the brass neck rings). The main works to earn their livelihood were cultivation and hunting. Their economy is just self-reliance: there is no surplus for the household. When the time for cultivation and plantation comes, they cooperate. As for breeding, they do not mean to get a commercial profit out of it; they mean to get some meat for offering to the spirits. Similarly, they never use the handicrafts such as weaving baskets and weaving cloths on back-strap looms for any commercial profit. Almost all traditional Kayan houses are one-storey buildings, and their legs are quite high. They generally use timber for floors and walls whereas they use thatch for roofing. The height of the legs of their houses is generally higher than that of a man. The shape of a house is usually rectangular and there are always a ladder and veranda in front of the house.
Kayah people are also known as Red Karen or Karen, settled in isolated mountainous area of Kayah State. Because most of the ethnic minorities in Burma are traditionally practicing animism or spiritualism, the Kayah should also be the subject of Christian missionaries during British colonial domination. The name “red Karen” derived from the main color in the traditional costumes of the Kayah and has some similarities with the costumes of the ethnic Kayin (Karen). Today, the Kayah occupies a very small part of the population structure of Myanmar – less than 1%. The majority of the Kayah live by farming. In addition, a large number of Kayah people living in Mae Hong Son province of Thailand.
Despite being the smallest state in Myanmar, Kayah is mighty in size when it comes to diversity and amazing travel experience. Closed from visitors for nearly 50 years, the state’s reopening has allowed it to flourish as a hidden gem of Myanmar that shines with authenticity. Kayah is home to nine different ethnic groups, giving ample opportunities for tourists to discover the cultures and heritages. The most distinctive tribes are Kayah and Kayan. The Kayah people are known to dress in bright and red-coloured attire while the Kayans are easily recognized from the brass rings they wear on their neck. The humble town provides warm local hospitality and memorable hands-on experiences with the tribes through the Community-Based Tourism initiatives. Locals are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge in various skills with tourists.
Kayah State is located in the eastern part of Myanmar. It is also called “Karenni State” which is the name formerly given to a group of States that included Kanarawadi, Kyebogyi and Bawlakhe. It is bounded on the north by Shan State, on the east by Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province, on the south and west by Kayin State. The state is divided into 2 districts (Bawlakhe in the south and Loikaw in the north) which are divided into 7 townships with 106 awards and villages. Loikaw is the capital city of Kayah State. Kayah has different types of tribes which are Kayah, Kayan, Kayaw, Yinbaw, Yintale, Geko, Geba, and Manumanaw. The people in the State practice Buddhism, Christianity and animism. Despite being the smallest state in Myanmar, Kayah is mighty in size when it comes to diversity and amazing travel experience. Closed from visitors for nearly 50 years, the state’s reopening has allowed it to flourish as a hidden gem of Myanmar that shines with authenticity.
The Yintale of Kayah State are among the smallest of the country’s 135 officially recognised ethnic groups, and their language, traditions and culture are in danger of disappearing. The government lists eight Kayah sub-groups: the Kayah (Red Karen), Gheko, Ghebar, Kayum (Padaung), Pre (Ka-Yaw), Manu Manaw, Yin Baw and Yintale (Yintalai). Unofficially, there are ten groups, with the other two being the Zayein and Paku (Karen). The Yintale celebrate regular festivals during which sacred offerings are presented to the pillars. Annual festivals include sacrificial offerings of medium-sized animals, such as pigs and goats. Festivals held every 10 years include offerings of bigger animals, such as cattle, and are marked by the erection of a new pillar.
Kayan people who just came back to their motherland are well-experienced in attracting tourists, thanks to their exposure in foreign countries. They have been using their experiences and supporting the International Trade Center (ITC) to enhance Kayah State tourism. Unfortunately, they still need training in technical processes even though they know how to attract tourists. In the souvenir shops, sadly, we found out that there are lots of souvenirs from other countries because we are yet to create our own souvenirs which have enough quality to attract tourists. We already have exclusive handicrafts with our distinctive identity. We need to promote them more to create awareness about the rich cultural heritage of Myanmar. The Kayan people living in other countries are those flowers who’s original fragrance has been covered by fragrance from other sources. I have read in the eyes of the Kayan people that they want to meet and unite with their relatives who are living in other countries. I hope they get an opportunity to do so. I hope that these Kayan people gain back their original fragrance and return back to their motherland to unite with others from their own race.
Kayah in eastern Myanmar is a region of mirror lakes and emerald fields, studded with soaring, craggy mountains. Nestled between Shan and Kayin, Kayah is Myanmar’s smallest state by both geographical area and population — just 286,627 people live here — but it is also one of the country’s most diverse. The main ethnic groups are the Kayah, Kayaw and Kayan (sometimes called by the Shan term Padaung, though most prefer Kayan). With their towering brass neck coils, Kayan women are some of Myanmar’s most recognisable people. Traditionally the rings are stacked higher as a girl goes through adolescence and are never taken off. The heavy loops give the appearance of lengthening the Kayan women’s necks, but in fact compress their shoulders. There are many stories to explain the practice, including to protect against tiger attacks and to ward off unwanted suitors from other ethnic groups. The rings are still regarded as a proud symbol of Kayan heritage, although fewer and fewer women opt to wear them. They have also generated controversy. War and economic hardship caused tens of thousands of people from Kayah to flee across the state’s border with Thailand during the years of military rule. The striking appearance of the Kayan women among this diaspora led to the creation of special tourist villages, likened to human zoos, where the women are put on display to be photographed by foreign visitors.
Indigenous Peoples Literature 
