Chueang (, ; ), or Phaya Coeng, or Yi Chueang (), is the legendary hero of the Tai peopleSujachaya, Sukanya. 1999. “Phra Ruang: Historic Hero and Culture hero”Journal of Thai Language and Literature. Vol.16: 202-216., who ruled as first king of the Lü Kingdom establishing a capital at Jinghong.Economics (Section 1); History - Page 25 International Conference on Thai Studies - 1987 "For example, in A.D. 1180, Chiang Rung was built, in A.D. 1262, Chiang Tung, in A.D. 1268, Chiang Rai, in A.D. 1296, Chiang Mai, in A.D. 1327, Chiang Sen. Those Chiang are 'town' in meaning in Chinese. 'Chiang' is called 'Cheng' in.. "
Biography According to The Chiang Mai Chronicle, Chueang was a son of Chom Pha Rueang, ruler of Ngoenyang, whom he succeeded in 1148 CE. An alternative tradition, however, identifies Chueang as the eldest son of Khun Chomtham, the founding monarch of the Phayao Kingdom and a descendant of Lao Chakkaraj of Ngoenyang. In this account, Chueang ascended the throne of Phayao upon the death of his father in 1148 CE.
The Chronicle of Chiang Saen records that during Chueang's reign—whether centered at Mueang Phayao or Fang—Tao Kwa () of Mueang Kaew Prakan (), a polity commonly identified with Xiangkhouang (Muang Phuan), and his younger brother Phraya Chanthaburi () of modern Vientiane, launched a large-scale military invasion of Mueang Ngoenyang in 1150s. At that time, Ngoenyang was ruled by Chueang's uncle, identified in the chronicles as Khun Chin or Khun Chuen (). Unable to repel the invading forces, Khun Chin sought military assistance from the Chueang brothers. The elder brother Ai Chueang () died in the battle, while the younger Chueang successfully expelled the invaders and subsequently restored the throne to his uncle and then appointed his own son, Lao Ngoen Rueang, to oversee the polity.
Following this campaign, Chueang led his forces eastward, subjugating several polities before ultimately capturing Mueang Kaew Prakan. He is reported to have ruled from this center until 1180 CE, at which point he transferred authority over Mueang Kaew Prakan to his son, Tao Pha Rueang (), and subsequently proceeded to found Chiang Hung as a new political center in the upper Mekong region. In contrast, the Chronicle of Chiang Saen contradicts this account, stating that Chueang never ruled at Mueang Kaew and that authority there was instead entrusted to his middle son, also named Chueang. Meanwhile, the claims that Chueang married a daughter of Tao Kwa of Mueang Kaew named Nang U Kaew (), with whom he had a son named Tao Pha Rueang. Later in his life, he is recorded as having married a princess from a polity in present-day Yunnan.
The aforementioned genealogy differs from that presented in the Chronicle of Chiang Saen, which attributes five sons to Chueang. According to this source, the first three—Lao Ngoen Rueang of Ngoenyang, Chueang of Muang Phuan, and Lao Pao () of Vientiane—were born to Nang Am Paeng Chan Phong (), while the remaining two—Khun Kham Roi () of Chiang Rai and Chao Soi ()—were born to O Kham Paeng Mueang (). Both consorts are described as daughters of his uncle, Khun Chin. If this genealogy is accepted, the Chueang who married Nang U Kaew, a daughter of the ruler of Muang Phuan, may instead have been his son—also named Chueang—rather than Chueang the father.
Chueang established the polity known as Mueang Ho Kham Chiang Rung ().Aséanie: sciences humaines en Asie du Sud-Est - Numéros 13 à 14 - Page 151 Sūn Manutsayawitthayā Sirinthō̜n (Thailand) - 2004 "Introduction 1. History According to indigenous sources, in the year CS 542 (1180 AD), Cao Phanya Coeng (r. 1180-1192), most probably a Tai aristocrat, came to the Tai Lü region (Daile 3? $J), ascended the "Great Precious Throne" and proclaimed himself the most Dignified Buddhist Ruler of the Golden Palace Kingdom of Chiang Rung" (Jing-long jin-dian guo JS BjH it Wi HI)-2 He conquered various Tai polities in the region ." Contemporary sources further state that following his accession, he conducted a military expedition against Muang Thaeng (present-day Điện Biên Phủ), an action which implies a concurrent or subsequent assault on Chiang Tung, the capital of the Tai Khün (Khoen) kingdom.Joachim Schliesinger Tai Groups of Thailand: Introduction and overview Page 43 2001 "Some sources state that after ascending the throne, Khun Chuang led an army to attack and occupy Muang Thaeng, ... Furthermore, Khun Chuang would then also have attacked Chiang Tung, the capital seat of the Tai Khoen kingdom ..." In Chinese historical sources, Chueang is referred to as Pa Zhen ().Journal - Volume 64 - Page 378 1976 NOTE KING MANGRAI AND CHIANG RUNG by David K. Wyatt and Dian Murray "... attempt to establish the succession of rulers in Chiang Rung from the first, Pa Chen, who ruled from 1180 to 1192, to the last, "The Dai, or the Tai and their architecture & customs in south China - Page 3 Liangwen Zhu - 1992 "According to a Dai chronicle of the period, Le History, in ad 1180, late in this period, the Dai chieftain Pa Ya Zhen ... consolidated military and civilian administration was formed at Cheli (present day Jing Hong or Chiang Rung in Thai)."...
Although the polity founded by Chueang was relatively short-lived, it laid the political and institutional foundations for the Moeng Lü of Sipsong Panna polity, which endured from 1180 until 1950 CE.Aséanie: sciences humaines en Asie du Sud-Est - Numéros 13 à 14 - Page 155 Sūn Manutsayawitthayā Sirinthō̜n (Thailand) - 2004 "Moeng Lü (1180-1950), roughly rendered into "Domain of the Lü", founded by the Tai Lü people in present-day southern fringes of Yunnan Province was a contemporary of the Kingdom of Later Dali (1096-1253) and imperial China under the ..
Identity Chueang is an ancestor in the legends and traditions of many ethnic groups and has thus gained a certain historical reality in regional historical thought. Chit Phumisak was one of the first scholars to claim Chueang as a real historical figure. However, it is difficult to ascertain his origins and date his life, as almost all surviving traditions claim great antiquity and try to situate his story in the most distant past available. The following assumptions have been made regarding his identity:
Chueang is the same person as Phùng Hưng, the leader in rebellion against the Tang dynasty in the 8th century. Chueang is the same person as Nong Zhigao, the leader in rebellion against the Lý dynasty and Song dynasty in the 11th century. Chueang is the same person as Khun Hung, king of Muang Sua. Chueang is a king of Phayao and Ngoenyang in the 11th-12th century. Chueang is the first king of Chiang Hung in the early 12th century.
Wat Thammikaraja
Located in front of the Ayutthaya Royal Palace, Wat Thammikaraja was established by Chueang, the son in law of King Sainam Phung before the Ayutthaya Period.
The temple was originally known as Wat Mukkharat, and the name was later changed to honour of the founder. Although once large and grand, today's temple is somewhat diminished. However, there are many important formations inside Wat Thammikaraja.
The focus point of Wat Thammikaraja is a roofless viharn, with ten brick pillars. Inside the temple you will discover a topless chedi surrounded by Angkorian style stucco lions, many which are in good condition, although some of their heads have been chopped off.
There is no charge to enter Wat Thammikaraja.
Plain of Jars
According to a local legend, the warrior king of Chueang brought his army from Southern China and defeated the evil chieftain, King Anga. The mighty battle was followed by a mighty feast, at which hundreds of gigantic jars of wine were consumed. Chueang was apparently, as bad at tidying up as he was good at throwing parties, for he left behind all of the empty jars, of which nearly three hundred remain, scattered around the flat plains, including his own victory cup. There is little physical evidence to say that this fanciful legend does not hold at least a little truth. Major wars have been fought on the plains over the centuries, as Lao, Siamese and Vietnamese armies attempted to win control of them.
Another local tradition states the jars were molded, using natural materials such as clay, sand, sugar, and animal products in a type of stone mix. This led the locals to believe the cave at Site 1 was actually a kiln, and that the huge jars were fired there and are not actually of stone.Bounmy Thepsimuong. The Plain of Jars. A Guide Book. Vientiane 2004.
Death Later on, his enemy sent two of his soldiers to seek help from Khun Lo of the Kingdom of Sip Song Chau Tai. Upon arrival Khun Lo led his army to fight a bloody battle against Chueang and his troops. Chueang was killed on the battlefield in 1192.ท้าวฮุ่ง ท้าวเจือง ฉบับพิมพ์ครั้งแรก 2548
Legacy
Chueang had extended his territory far and wide, encompassing Chiang Rung, Chiang Tung, Guangdong, Guangxi, Muang Kaeo, Muang Puan, Muang Sua, Shan and Lavo. As a consequence, these cities rulers claimed Chueang as their ancestor.
Khun Chomtham brought his people and built the city of Phayao in the beginning of 11th century A.D. and enjoyed independence up until the late 13th century A.D. when Phayao had been annexed to Lanna Kingdom.
Phaya Lao Meng married Nang Thep Kham Khai and had one son named Mangrai, who is the first king of Mangrai Dynasty and found Chiang Mai and moved the center of political power and development from Ngoen Yang Chiang Saen to Chiang Mai.'King Mangrai of Lan Na' in: Forbes, Andrew, and Henley, David, Ancient Chiang Mai Volume 1. Chiang Mai, Cognoscenti Books, 2012.
Modern culture
Chueang appears in various versions of the Phra Ruang myth. Phra Ruang, the City Father of Lavo, then a subject of the Khmer king, was obliged to send water-tribute to Angkor. Instead of using normal jars, he devised big baskets to hold a large amount of water. Later Phra Ruang escaped to Sukhothai and ordained as a monk. The Khmer king sent a warrior after him. The Khmer warrior travelled underground and emerged at the temple where Phra Ruang was sweeping the ground. Upon seeing the monk and not knowing Phra Ruang, the Khmer warrior asked where he could find Phra Ruang. Phra Ruang told him to wait for a minute. He then turned the Khmer warrior into stone.Pra Ruang me Kom Dam Din. 2e éd. Author, Rama IV (roi de Siam dit Mongkut)
Descendants Mangrai the Great, the first King of Lan Na Ngammueang, the king of Phayao Ram Khamhaeng the Great, the third king of the Phra Ruang dynasty
See also Luang Prabang Province Muang Sua Phayao Province Plain of Jars
Notes
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