Taungoo Explained

Settlement Type:City
Official Name:Toungoo
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map:Burma
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Burma
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Division
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Taungoo District
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2014
Population Blank1:Burman, Karen
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2:Theravada Buddhism, Christianity
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Urban:108,569
Established Date:17 April 1279
Established Title:Founded
Government Type:District government and Township government
Coordinates:18.9333°N 122°W
Leader Title:Mayor
Timezone:MST
Utc Offset:+6:30

Taungoo (in Burmese pronounced as /tàʊɰ̃ŋù mjo̰/ Tauñngu myoú;), also spelled Toungoo and formerly Toung-ngú,[1] is a district-level city in the Bago Region of Myanmar, 220 km from Yangon, towards the north-eastern end of the division, with mountain ranges to the east and west. The main industry is in forestry products, with teak and other hardwoods extracted from the mountains. The city is known for its areca palms and betel nut chewing.

The city is famous in Burmese history for the Toungoo dynasty which ruled the country for over 200 years between the 16th and 18th centuries. Taungoo was the capital of Burma in 1510–1539 and 1551–1552.

Kaytumadi new city (new city of Taungoo) is the central command of the southern command division region of Armed Forces (Tatmadaw). Hanthawaddy United Football Club is based in Taungoo.

Names

The classical Pali name of Taungoo is Ketumadi (ကေတုမဒီ;), which translates to "possessed of the royal standard."[2]

History

See main article: Taungoo Dynasty and First Toungoo Empire.

Taungoo was founded in 1279 in the waning days of Pagan as part of frontier expansion southwards. After the fall of Pagan Empire in 1287, Taungoo came under the rule of Myinsaing Kingdom and later Pinya Kingdom. In 1358, Taungoo successfully revolted and became independent until 1367 when it became a nominal part of the Ava Kingdom. Its rulers retained a large degree of autonomy, playing larger Ava and Hanthawaddy kingdoms against each other. In 1470, Ava put down another rebellion and made Sithu Kyawhtin, the general who defeated the rebellion, governor. Sithu Kyawhtin's grandson Mingyi Nyo became governor of Taungoo in 1485. Under Mingyi Nyo's leadership, the principality grew powerful. In October 1510, Mingyi Nyo formally broke away from Ava and founded the Taungoo Kingdom.[3]

Mingyi Nyo's successors Tabinshwehti and Bayinnaung went on to found the largest empire in the history of south-east Asia.[4] Taungoo's stint as capital was short-lived, however. Tabinshwehti moved the kingdom's capital to Pegu (Bago) in 1539. The city briefly again became capital of a rebellion in 1599 when viceroy Minye Thihathu II of Taungoo declared himself king. In December 1599, Taungoo's forces in collaboration with the Arakanese armies aided by Portuguese mercenaries, sacked Pegu. The rebellious city state remained independent for another 10 years when Natshinnaung ascended the Taungoo throne in 1609. In the following year, King Anaukpetlun captured Taungoo and ended the city's long line of rulers.[5] Although few visible historic remains survive, all four sides of the brick city wall remain from the dynastic period, with the exception of the part of the southern wall. The 9.6 m wide moat has largely dried up, except for a section on the eastern side, which is still maintained.

By the mid-19th century, Taungoo was governed by a local governor appointed by the Konbaung kings. The Taungoo District consisted of 52 wards, including today's Pyinmana (and Naypyidaw) regions. The district was cut in half after the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The British annexed the southern half, including the city of Taungoo while the northern portion, including Pyinmana and Ela, remained under Burmese control.[6] British troops were withdrawn in 1893.

In 1940, the British Royal Air Force built an airfield north of the town, which from August 1941 through February 1942 served as a training and support base for the 1st American Volunteer Group, popularly known as the Flying Tigers.

In the Battle of the Yunnan-Burma Road in 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army attacked the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma in what is known as the Battle of Toungoo.

Taungoo celebrated its 500th birthday on 16 October 2010, by reconstructing and renovating many city attractions.[3]

Geography

Three mountain ranges traverse the district—the Pegu Yomas, the Karen Hills, and the Nat Ma Taung or "Great Watershed"—all of which have a north and south direction, and are covered for the most part with dense forest. The Pegu Yomas have a general elevation of from 800feetto1200feetft (toft), while the central range averages from 2000feetto3000feetft (toft). The rest of Taungoo forms the upper portion of the valley of the Sittaung River.

Climate

Taungoo has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) bordering on a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). Temperatures are hot throughout the year, and the months before the monsoon (March–May) are especially hot with average maximum temperatures exceeding . There is a winter dry season (November–March) and a summer wet season (April–October).

Administration

Emergency

Military and Internal Security

Attractions

Investigative bodies

Demographics

The population of Taungoo in the 2014 census was 108,569; in the 1983 census it was 65,851.[7]

The Bamar (Burmans) make up the majority with a significant Kayin (Karen) population on the eastern side of the city. The Chinese, Indians, Shan and Kayah people make up the rest.

The majority of residents are Theravada Buddhists, and minority Baptists and Roman Catholics. Taungoo is home to a number of Karen Christian association headquarters and churches. See list of churches.

Transport

The main transport options to Taungoo is rail and motorways.

Rail

The Taungoo railway station is on the main north line of Myanmar Railways, and the Taungoo Highway bus station is served by domestic bus lines.

Intra-city transport is mainly through a circular railway line which serves around the Taungoo District and bus lines, which serve downtown, and suburban areas:

Roads

There are two main road bridges: over the Sittaung River and the Kaphaung River.

Air

Taungoo Airport is the area's only airport and is a military-only air base of Myanmar Air Force. MAF's No.47 Helicopter Squadron is stationed at the airport.

Education

High schools

Taungoo has eleven high schools: see List of high schools in Taungoo.

Public universities and colleges

Nursing and midwifery schools

Divinity schools

Healthcare

Major sites

Pagodas

Notable residents

Media

External links

Notes and References

  1. .
  2. Book: The Baptist Missionary Magazine. 1856. en.
  3. Taungoo prepares for 500th birthday . Shwe Yinnma Oo . The Myanmar Times . 2010-08-02 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100804053338/http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/news/534/news015.html . 4 August 2010 .
  4. Book: Victor B Lieberman . Strange Parallels: Southeast Asia in Global Context, c. 800-1830, volume 1, Integration on the Mainland . 2003 . Cambridge University Press . 150–154.
  5. Book: A History of Burma . Cambridge University Press . New York and London . 1967 . Maung Htin Aung . 140 . Htin Aung.
  6. Book: Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States, Part 2 . 3 . 374 . 1901 . Sir James George Scott, John Percy Hardiman . Printed by the superintendent, Government printing, Burma.
  7. Web site: Myanmar . City Population . 10 May 2018.
  8. Web site: Saw Durmay (Po Min) in Myanmar. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130601062357/http://www.elephant.se/location2.php?location_id=1677&show=1. 1 June 2013. 6 July 2012. Koehl D, Elephant Encyclopedia.
  9. Book: San C. Po. Dr.. Burma and the Karens. 1928. Elliott Stock. London. http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks08/0800051h.html. VII Karen Celebrities.
  10. Web site: MyanmarMp3.net . 6 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111125072352/http://myanmarmp3.net/artist.aspx?ArtID=107 . 25 November 2011 .
  11. Web site: MyanmarMp3.net . 6 July 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125114814/http://myanmarmp3.net/artist.aspx?ArtID=357 . 25 November 2010 .
  12. Web site: Kayin People's Party . 12 March 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130306003732/http://www.mizzima.com/political-pro/new-parties/kpp.html . 6 March 2013 .

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