Tanintharyi
Encyclopedia
Tanintharyi or Taninthayi (widely known during the British occupation and since as Tenasserim) is a small town in Taninthayi Township
, Myeik District
, in the Tanintharyi Region of southwestern Burma (Myanmar). It is the administrative seat for the township. The town is located on the Great Tenasserim River
which eventually enters the sea at Myeik. The town is located at the confluence of this river and a tributary known as the "Little Tenasserim River" which runs south.
The town is built on a hill slope on the site of an ancient city which, for hundreds of years, served as the principal port of Siam. Ethnic Bamars (Burmans) (with Dawei and Myeik subgroups) are the majority community here. The hill people who are non-Buddhists are most numerous here. The majority of the population speak the Tavoyan dialect.
Thenasserim, Tenáscri, Tciiaçar, Tanater, Tarnassari, Tenazar, Tannzzari, Tanaçari, Tanaçary, Tanaçarim, Taunararin, Tanaçarij, Tcnaiarij, Tanacarim, Tanassarim, Tenassarim, Tenasari, Tanussarin, Tenascri, Dahnnsari, Tanaseri', Tenauri, Tanasserin, Tananarino, Tenassarim, Tenassere, Tanararij, Tanassaria, Tonazarin, and Denouservn.
and Myeik along the eastern hill ranges of Myanmar.
The town enjoyed a reputation for trade with European nations since the 17th century. In 1759, the Burmese conqueror Aloung-bhura (Moung-oung-zaya) invaded the town. He pillaged it the following year and further damaged it in 1765. By 1767, it was destroyed by Ayuthia, and in the town's fall, the seaport of Mergui was brought to commercial ruin.
The Toungoo dynasty, which ruled this area in the16th century, lost to the British during the three wars fought between 1824 and 1885; Rakhine and Thainthreyi came under the British who, thereafter, re-established the Burman Dynasty.
, tucked away into a small peninsula, with the Great Tenasserim River to the north and west and the Little Tenasserim River to the east. Settlements close to Tanintharyi include Kadaw
to the west, Mawtone across the river to the northwest and Bangyok to the northeast. It is characterized by a narrow coastal zone flanked by mountains, and is situated between the Gulf of Martaban and Victoria Point, just north of the Equator
. The coast land has a long maritime history of trade dealings with the rest of the world, particularly India
on the Coromandel coast
, Siam and the Middle East.
.
In earlier days, approximately 4 sq mi (10.4 km²) of the town were surrounded by a brick and mud wall. Though the wall has since been dismantled and the bricks repurposed within other buildings such as the jail, the wall's foundation can still be seen in certain places. Its courthouse was erected on a hill above the village, and this is also the site of two ancient pagoda
s.
In 1877, the population was approximately 666 inhabitants. As of 1916, the village contained approximately 100 houses.
n tin zone.
Taninthayi Township
Taninthayi Township is a township of Myeik District in the Taninthayi Division of Myanmar. The principal town is Taninthayi....
, Myeik District
Myeik District
Myeik District is a district in the Tanintharyi Region of Burma .-Townships:The district contains the following townships:*Myeik Township*Kyunsu Township*Palaw Township*Taninthayi Township...
, in the Tanintharyi Region of southwestern Burma (Myanmar). It is the administrative seat for the township. The town is located on the Great Tenasserim River
Great Tenasserim River
Great Tenasserim River or the Tanintharyi River is a major river of southeastern Burma. It flows through the Tanintharyi Region, past the town of Tanintharyi before entering the sea at Myeik . The river rises from the Tenasserim Range at an altitude of and flows into the Andaman Sea...
which eventually enters the sea at Myeik. The town is located at the confluence of this river and a tributary known as the "Little Tenasserim River" which runs south.
The town is built on a hill slope on the site of an ancient city which, for hundreds of years, served as the principal port of Siam. Ethnic Bamars (Burmans) (with Dawei and Myeik subgroups) are the majority community here. The hill people who are non-Buddhists are most numerous here. The majority of the population speak the Tavoyan dialect.
Etymology
The town name has varied, often based on the nationality of the traveller. These variations include Tdnaosi or Tannaw (Siamese); Tanalish or Tdnasari (Malay); Tenanthari, Tanncthaice, Ta-nen-tkd-ri, and Tanang-sci (Burmese); and Ta-na-ssu-li-sen (Chinese). Other sources have referred to it as:Thenasserim, Tenáscri, Tciiaçar, Tanater, Tarnassari, Tenazar, Tannzzari, Tanaçari, Tanaçary, Tanaçarim, Taunararin, Tanaçarij, Tcnaiarij, Tanacarim, Tanassarim, Tenassarim, Tenasari, Tanussarin, Tenascri, Dahnnsari, Tanaseri', Tenauri, Tanasserin, Tananarino, Tenassarim, Tenassere, Tanararij, Tanassaria, Tonazarin, and Denouservn.
History
The town's importance as a trade partner depended on it serving as the starting-point on the western coast of Siam as an overland route to the capital, Ayuthia. In addition, it was a port at which smaller vessels could unload their cargoes, and thus avoid circumnavigating around the peninsula. Trade links were strong with Siam who also controlled this territory and got tributes from Burma. Trading was done with them through DaweiDawei
-Transport:Only recently Dawei was connected to the rest of Myanmar by road and rail. There are plans to construct a deepwater port in Dawei. In November 2010, the Myanmar Port Authority signed a USD $8.6 billion deal with Italian-Thai Development to develop a deep sea port at Dawei...
and Myeik along the eastern hill ranges of Myanmar.
The town enjoyed a reputation for trade with European nations since the 17th century. In 1759, the Burmese conqueror Aloung-bhura (Moung-oung-zaya) invaded the town. He pillaged it the following year and further damaged it in 1765. By 1767, it was destroyed by Ayuthia, and in the town's fall, the seaport of Mergui was brought to commercial ruin.
The Toungoo dynasty, which ruled this area in the16th century, lost to the British during the three wars fought between 1824 and 1885; Rakhine and Thainthreyi came under the British who, thereafter, re-established the Burman Dynasty.
Geography
Tanintharyi lies on the southern bank of the Great Tenasserim RiverGreat Tenasserim River
Great Tenasserim River or the Tanintharyi River is a major river of southeastern Burma. It flows through the Tanintharyi Region, past the town of Tanintharyi before entering the sea at Myeik . The river rises from the Tenasserim Range at an altitude of and flows into the Andaman Sea...
, tucked away into a small peninsula, with the Great Tenasserim River to the north and west and the Little Tenasserim River to the east. Settlements close to Tanintharyi include Kadaw
Kadaw
Kadaw is a village in Bhamo Township in Bhamo District in the Kachin State of north-eastern Burma..-External links:**...
to the west, Mawtone across the river to the northwest and Bangyok to the northeast. It is characterized by a narrow coastal zone flanked by mountains, and is situated between the Gulf of Martaban and Victoria Point, just north of the Equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
. The coast land has a long maritime history of trade dealings with the rest of the world, particularly India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on the Coromandel coast
Coromandel Coast
The Coromandel Coast is the name given to the southeastern coast of the Indian Subcontinent between Cape Comorin and False Divi Point...
, Siam and the Middle East.
Culture
Less than a mile from the present village stands and erected by the Siamese at the city's founding in 1383 AD is a large, roughly cut stone pillar weighing several tons which is said to have once been the original city centre. Legend has it that a live woman was thrown into the hole where the pillar was planted and that she became the city's guardian angelGuardian angel
A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity...
.
In earlier days, approximately 4 sq mi (10.4 km²) of the town were surrounded by a brick and mud wall. Though the wall has since been dismantled and the bricks repurposed within other buildings such as the jail, the wall's foundation can still be seen in certain places. Its courthouse was erected on a hill above the village, and this is also the site of two ancient pagoda
Pagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
s.
In 1877, the population was approximately 666 inhabitants. As of 1916, the village contained approximately 100 houses.
Resources
The town's agricultural resources include the cultivation of rubber and fruit crops. Pearl farms are also established here by the Ministry of Mines. Tanintharyi is located within the Southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n tin zone.