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One of the border towns in southwestern Yunnan, the trading outpost of Jie Gao, saw a visit from Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in March 2003. This was part of a five-day country-wide tour of Burma. At the time, there was a report of resentment on the Shan side of the border resulting from heavy-handed Burmese security operations.
As New Mandala readers know, the Thai royals undertake regular trips abroad: all covered in much detail in daily newscasts. Many of these trips result in glossy commemorative volumes giving day-by-day, and blow-by-blow, accounts of royal progress.
Such trips usually involve heavy schedules of official functions. On 12 March 2003, at one such event, Princess Sirindhorn planted a Bo tree on the Chinese side of the Sino-Burmese frontier. Sirindhorn’s visit to this area is still commemorated in the robust planting that marks one side of the local Dai-Jinghpo cultural park.
The plaque is written in Chinese, Dai, English and Burmese.
For New Mandala readers, I can happily report that the tree looks to be in good health.
I realize a bo tree wouldn’t mean as much as it would to Dai, Thai, Burmese and even Chinese, but why isn’t there a Jinghpaw version on the plaque in a Dai-Jinghpo cultural park?
I’m also curious about the murals in the background. What do they depict?
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Thanks Aiontay,
I was also intrigued by the lack of Jinghpo on the plaque. Unfortunately, I have no extra insight to offer on the matter.
What I will soon offer is more about this cultural park. As for the murals in the background – you will have to wait and see. I have pictures of a selection of them and will devote a post to them in coming days.
Standby for more to come.
Nich
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Is that around Ruili? The Dai script is in fact Tai Mao (Northern Shan) script!
I can’t help having a very unpleasant shiver over “cultural parks”.
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Hi Amateur,
Jie Gao is 7 kilometres from Ruili, just across the river (and a very big bridge). It abuts the Shan State quite directly.
No need for unpleasant shivers over this particular Dai-Jinghpo cultural park. It is a well maintained little spot with fountains and the obligatory Manau poles.
It seemed a nice little spot – hemmed in by the big buildings of downtown Jie Gao.
Nich
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Thanks for posting all these photos, Nich. In mid-2001 I did a two week Intrepid tour to Yunnan on my way home from Japan. We went south and did a float trip down the Mekong, followed by a trek to a little village for a homestay. I remember our Australian guide pointing to the hills about a kilometer away and telling us that was Burma. Unfortunately at the time I knew next to nothing about Burma or the cultures and politics of the region. I couldn’t even say for sure if the village we stayed in was Dai or not. How I wish I could go back and see all the things I missed! I’m looking forward to reading the rest of your Yunnan posts.
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Tara,
Do you have any pictures of that trip? It could be an interesting “now and then” comparison.
Nicholas, do the Jinghpo in Yunnan use the same script as the Jinghpaw in Burma? How about the Rawang?
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Thanks for your comments, everyone.
Aiontay,
The Jinghpaw and Jinghpo written lingua franca are very similiar although regional differences in spelling are somehwat common. The same “Jinghpaw/Jinghpo Wunpawng” ethnic and cultural affinity is asserted across the borders in China.
I am far less familiar with the Rawang dialects but am open to input from readers.
Thanks for the questions.
Best wishes to all,
Nich
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I do have pictures from that trip, Aiontay. Hah, I hadn’t even thought of that! I remember losing a boat load of pictures because one of my digital cards was corrupted, but most of those pictures I’d taken in the north around Dali. I’ll have to go sorting through them and post them on my flickr, but I’ll post a link in the comments here in case anyone else is interested in seeing them.
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[…] week I posted about the Sino-Thai “tree of friendship” planted by Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the Yunnanese border town of Jie […]
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This single tree is so symbolic of Thailand, which is fast becoming a tree-less country.
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