Koshanpye or Koshanpri (, , Pali: Kosambhī )also called Kopyidaung (, ), is a historical name in Burmese literature which means "nine Shan states". The name was first introduced to western readers by Francis Buchanan-Hamilton in the Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, X, year of 1824.
Discovery and explanation
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton obtained the Map of Koshanpri from the slave in Ava. Hamilton didn't research the proper name of "Koshanpri" or the literal meaning "Nine Provinces of Shan", but he pointed out that the Shan territory had been divided into 18 lordships, the slave even alleged that this number had been increased to 22. After that, many scholars have given conflicting lists of "nine Shan states" strove to explain the name.
Different version of nine Shan states Common used name nowaday Burney Hannay Harvey English Chinese Tai Nuea Refer to Maingmo Manmaw 八莫（蛮莫） ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥛᥨᥝᥱ Bhamo Tsi-guen Sigwin Hsenwi 兴威（木邦） ᥔᥦᥢᥲ ᥝᥤᥴ Theinni Ho-tha Hotha Hotha Husa 户撒 La-tha Latha Latha Lasa 腊撒 Part of Husa Township Mo-na Moongla Mona Ganya 盈江（干崖） ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥘᥣᥲ / ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥢᥣᥲ Yingjiang County Tsan-da Santa Santa Zhanda 盏达 ᥓᥣᥢᥰ ᥖᥣ Part of Yingjiang Mo-wun Moongwoon Mowun Longchuan 陇川 ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥝᥢᥰ Longchuan County Kaing-mah Kaingma Gengma 耿马 ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥐᥪᥒ Gengma County Maing-Lyin / Maing-Lyi Mainglyin Mong Lem 孟连 ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥘᥥᥛᥰ Menglian County Moongmau Maingmaw Mengmao 瑞丽（勐卯） ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥛᥣᥝᥰ Ruili city Sanla ? ? ? Moongsie Kunming 昆明 ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥔᥥᥴ Kunming city Moongtie Nandian 梁河（南甸） ᥛᥫᥒᥰ ᥖᥤᥰ Lianghe County
Some of the scholars don't agree with the literal meaning of "nine Shan states". James George Scott believe "Koshanpye" was a corrupted form of "Kaushambi" (Pali: Kosambī) because Mong Mao and Hsenwi use the name "Kosambī" as their classical buddhist name. The Burman official did not admit that a Shan kingdom had any right to a classical name. But the Shan scholar Sao Saimong opposes this opinion; he states that Koshanpyi could never be mistaken for Kosambī, Burman central court respected Shan states using their own classical name, and Koshanpyi is specifically referred to Chinese Shan states.
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