The Kachin peoples (, ; , ) are a collection of diverse ethnolinguistic groups inhabiting the Kachin Hills in northern Myanmar's Kachin State, as well as Yunnan Province in China, and the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Approximately 1.5 million Kachin people live in this region.
In contemporary usage, the Kachin peoples typically refer to a specific grouping of four to six ethnicities: the Jingpo, the Zaiwa, the Lashi/Lachik, the Lawngwaw/Maru, and to a lesser extent, the Rawang and the Lisu. Kachin identity is heterogenous and diverse, as it encompasses various ethnolinguistic groups who share overlapping territories, but do not all share coherent cultural practices and integrated social structures. Some definitions distinguish Kachin and Shan (Tai) peoples though some Kachin people have demonstrated the over-simplicity of the concept of lineage-based ethnic identity by culturally "becoming Shans".
The most widely spoken Kachin language is Jingpho, which serves as a regional lingua franca. Jingpho has a number of dialects and is written using a Latin-based script developed in the late 19th century. A version in Burmese script was later created. Various dialects are also spoken in southwestern China and northeastern India, where it is called Singpho. In neighbouring China, "Kachin" is interchangeably used with "Jingpo", who comprise the largest subgroup.
Ethnonyms Below are common ethnonyms used by the Kachin subgroups: +MyanmarChinaExonymsJinghpawJingpoKachinZaiwaZaiwaAtsiLhaovoLangsuMaruLacidLeqiLashiRawangNungLisuLisuYawyin
Exonyms The etymology of the ethnonym "Kachin" is unclear, but it likely predates British colonial rule. Burmese and Shan speakers used the term as an exonym to refer to the Jingpo, the largest Kachin subgroup. During the colonial era, "Kachin" became a broad administrative label for all non-Shan and non-Burmese speakers in the Kachin Hills. As the British developed formal classifications, they used language as a key criterion, which led to inconsistencies—some groups labeled as Kachin were not linguistically, ethnically, or racially related to others.
This ambiguity raised questions about whether "Kachin" meant one community and language, many communities with one language, or simply a geographical designation. In the post-independence era, the Burmese government continued to adopt this exonym. The Burmese government classifies the Kachin as one of the country's 8 national races. Today, the Burmese government recognises 12 groups within the "Kachin " national race:
Jingpo Maru (Lawgore) Rawang Lashi (La Chit) Zaiwa (Atsi) Lisu
Endonyms The Kachin peoples lack a collectively agreed endonym. Some Christian institutions, which tend to be dominated by Jingpo speakers, have proposed the term "Jinghpaw Wunpawng" () or "Jinghpaw," while the Kachin Independence Organisation uses the term "Wunpawng." These terms remain contested by non-Jingpo ethnic groups that reject a Kachin identity premised on Jingpo identity and culture.
History
Kachin oral history states that they all descended from or also known as . The meaning of the words are plain and refer to a "naturally flat mountain", "central (or common) plain" and "borders of the common plain". This has been alluded to referencing the plateau and was orally stated to be in the northern direction of the Kachin homeland. Further insight were not detailed but some descriptions of snow suggested the in northeastern Assam. The Kachins lived in the watershed of upper Burma surrounded by the , , and the . The Kachin were unable to move south below the 28th parallel north until a few centuries ago. This migration is attributed to the weakening of the Shan states and Yunnan in the region.
Kachin historians argue that the Kachin descended from the northern Tibetan Plateau and settled in the Putao plains. Some Kachins entered Myanmar from the north, while others migrated to Assam, and this would have happened . Other historians argue that the ancestors of the Kachin entered the Triangle Area in the 5th century. Earlier interpretations place their migration through Putao in the 17th century. Following their gradual migration into the mountainous regions of northern Myanmar, the Kachin established themselves in the highlands, where they remained largely independent of the surrounding lowland states. They frequently conducted raids against neighboring Shan and Burmese communities, which in turn carried out retaliatory expeditions against the Kachin.
During the staying in the lower basin at the confluence of the and the where they met tribes such as the Maru, Lashi, Azi Rawang and Lisu who had descended from the . During their stay at this region they attacked and robbed Chinese merchants who would cross the region to India. This forced the Chinese into keeping good relations with the Kachin. Chinese chronicles likewise state tribes such as the () lived to the west of Yongchang who produced rhinocerous, elephants, tortoise shells, jade, amber, cowries, gold, silver, salt, cinnamon, cotton trees, hill paddy and panicled millet. Leach argues that despite the identity changes, the use of the term "Pú" remained in use as an exonym by tribes. The Maru people call the Jinghpaw speaker . The Shans of Hkamti Long referred to Kachin serfs and slaves as (serf p'ok). Jinghpaw itself might be written as Chying-p'ok. The Jinghpaw language being a Tibeto-Burman language seems to suggest a northern migration, although there is no concrete evidence for such a theory.
The previous inhabitants of the Kachin Hills taught the Kachin the method of making and using stone pots which led to the terming of the regions (). Neolithic tools in the Kachin Hills also showed that there were inhabitants before the Kachins.
Leach divided the Kachins into three regions. Zone A was west of the Irrawaddy and North of Myiktinna, stretching to the Hukawng Valley, where rich monsoon rainfall allowed wet-rice cultivation. Zone B consists of crop rotations on hillsides. These individuals were reliant on the valley dwelling Shans for their rice supply. The Palaung Hill state of Tawngpeng held a law that no trading caravan could enter their state to buy tea unless they brought a cargo or rice or salt. Mong Mao similarly pressured the Kachins into cooperation by denying access to the valley rice lands. Zone C were the mountain dwellers where the land was steeper and valleys weren't large enough for irrigated paddy. Zone C relied on trade routes through the mountain barriers and used the caravan taxes for their own economic growth.
During the 8th and 9th centuries, the Kachin Hills came under the influence of the Kingdom of Nanzhao. Geluofeng of Nanzhao opened trade with India and established permanent garrisons along the route. The Chinese chronicles mentioned routes to India and tribes inhabiting them, which were conscripted by Nanzhao, but these names cannot be evidently applied to modern groups. The Kachin Hills later came under the influence of powerful Shan states, and even after the centralisation of Burmese rule, the Hkamti Shans and the Mogaung were under dubious sovereignty until 1796. By the 18th century, the jade mines west of Kamaing became a major part of Kachin politics. The weakening of Shan polities led to Shan political power struggles and the engagement of Kachin mercenaries to fight battles. As a result, the Kachin in the Hukawng Valley gained incredible influence and enslaved the Shans.
Rule in Hukawng Valley Following the outbreak of the and conflict for political change, Chief Laisai Nawng Gumkhawng went to seek land in the Hukawng Valley settling at Tungyang Hkapra in the upper Daru River. He captured a Hkumman (Khuman Naga) prisoner and taught them Jinghpaw over the years before cementing a friendship and learning about the Hukawng Valley. Hkumman Wa became his guide and lead him to the Hukawng Valley. However a dispute lead to him injuring Hkumman Wa and requiring a sacrifice of two chickens to appease the Jahtung Nat. They met the Naga village of Kassangai who led them to the Tanai Valley of Hkawnsawng Chyauhpa, Pangsang Chyauhpa and Hpaknaw Chyauhpa. He then met with Mainghkwan Wa . In the Hukawng Valley were two groups consisting of the Hkawseng Shans and the Hkumman Nagas. Chief Laisai returned to his village and set out once more with Laawn Nawng Hpung and Ure Tsalung Nawng (ancestor of Lahpai tribe). At the Daru Pass, Laisai, with his companions, made an agreement about their sovereignty and territories of the Hukawng Valley. They returned to their original villages before beginning Gumsa-led settlements in the Hukawng Valley.
Laisai settled at Htangkha， Ure Tsalung Nawng moved to the foot of the Wantuk Range and Lajawn Nawng Hpung settled at Sengtawng in the Tanai Hka. Other migrations followed such as the Tangai, Maigaw, Wakhyet Munglung and Ningru settling Mungsun Darang Range. The Sanantu and Shingbwiyang people settled in the upper Tabye River. The Ningam and Htaumaja settled at the Mawning River. The N'Hpawn settled in the lower Tabye. Some Kachins such as the Lajawn Sumbaw people settled along the Tanai River and Tawang River. Hput Htingkhrai Tsasen stayed at Nawngseng. The Tangai Tsasen, the Sharaw and the Hpuyin Ningkhrawp settled in Manaw Hka Bang Ga (modern day Gumlao N'Dup Dumsa Tract).
Laisai continued to expand his territory and travelled down through the Munggawng River where he came into conflict with the Shweri Nagas. To defeat them he contacted aid from Machyang Kadang N'Ding and rewarded them with the land of the defeated Naga tribes. Machyang Kadang N'Ding was made a chief and founded his namesake tribe. His settlements saw a surge of settlers from Machyawng, Kadang, Walabum, Bungkhaw, Wadat, Nawnghku Shingbwi, Kasentu N'Nen N'Bungkhu Maisang, Hkinram Le, Labawng Kumnen, N'Ga Jauyang and Ninggam. Machyang's peoples settled at the Hkummau River and formed the Wadat group later on.
British colonial rule and Burmese independence
The Hukawng Kachins participated in the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1824, and they captured Assamese people to keep as slaves. These Assamese slaves became the main labour force in the Kachin's agricultural work. Some of these slaves were sold to the triangle regions, while others were absorbed into the Kachin fold. Six thousand Kachin soldiers were included when Myanmar marched to Assam and Manipur in 1818. Even after the retreat of Burma, the Kachins continued to attack by using their slaves to fight for them. Following the Anglo-Singpho agreement of 1826, the British freed 6000 slaves. The British paid the Kachin chiefs () the fees.
During the 1890s, the British encountered significant resistance when attempting to take over the Kachin hills. Although the Kachin, lacking firearm supplies, were quickly defeated, their martial traditions were noted by British colonial administrators. Beginning in 1897, Kachins were enlisted and gradually subdued by being incorporated into the British armed forces and police. The British started replacing ethnic Burmans in the military with Chin, Kachin, and Karen soldiers. This exclusion of ethnic Burmans from the British military was formally adopted in 1925 when policy was written only allowing ethnic minorities to enlist in the army. Due to this change in military composition, many ethnic Burmans began associating the ethnic minorities with British oppression.
During the Second World War, British plans to connect India with China through the Ledo Road relied on the loyalty of the Kachin and other hill peoples towards the British crown. Britain organised irregular forces called the Northern Kachin Levies to fight the Japanese behind the frontline, ambushing Japanese patrols while the road was being built. The number of Kachin who gave their lives to the war effort was a high proportion of the community.
Panglong Agreement