Nanchao: Between China and Southeast Asia

Where and What Was Nanchao?

Nanchao was a kingdom that existed on the borders of China, centred on what is now the province of Yunnan, from the 8th to the 13th centuries. This area contains a wide range of geography - from the mountainous uplands on the edges of the Tibetan plateau through the plains around Lake Dali and Human Ear Lake down to the semi-tropical forests of the Xishuangbanna (Twelve Thousand Rice Fields) on the borders with Myanmar [Burma] and Laos. During the period in which Nanchao flourished, southern China and northern Southeast Asia was warmer and wetter than it has been later, which meant, for one thing, a wider range of tropical flora and fauna in the area, notably elephants, only a few of which these days roam wild on the very southern tip of China.

This region of China is home to a wide range of different ethnic types, with many varieties of Tibeto-Burman peoples, many of whose societies are based on horse riding, together with Tai peoples and others. Some peoples practice matriarchy - rule by women - and others have very liberal approaches to sexual relations, which has always perplexed the very straight-laced Han Chinese majority. It was believed at one time that the dominant people in the Nanchao kingdom were Tai tribes, which was a belief partly stimulated by nationalistic Thais who wanted to believe that an independent Thai state had existed for thousands of years - Thais are members of the larger Tai group who live in Thailand. However, it now seems more likely that Tibeto-Burmese formed the elite ruling groups and that Tais were peasants or slaves in the Nanchao area of influence.

Society, Culture and Life in Nanchao

Nanchao was a very militaristic society. This was partly a result of bordering the enormous Chinese empire and the fear of invasion, as well as being bordered to the west by the Tibetans who, at that time, had a powerful expansionist state of their own, based on formidable armoured cavalry. This meant that all men were expected to provide military service and to ensure they were capable archers, horsemen and soldiers.

To support the military effort, comparatively high levels of technology were achieved and a stable economy was created with a basis of agriculture in the plains areas and trade with a variety of neighbours, much of which was in the horses that flourished around the capital of Dali. Horses were always of considerable importance to China who needed them to counter the threats of mounted nomads who bordered the empire all around the western and northern edges and who were able to raid Chinese lands at will if not met by cavalry.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic