Opening the Doors of History
“…The Lord Indra commanded Lawa Changkaraj to descend by the heavenly Kingdom of Ketubanphot. Lawa Chiang Lao. The people of Chiang Lao, being without a ruler at that time, appointed him king. Thus began the dynasty known as Lao…”
The history of the north has come down through legends and myths passed orally from generation to generation. One such story tells of the celestial being, Lawa Changkaraj, the first ruler of the Lao Dynasty.
Phaya Lawa Changkaraj lived in Ketubanphot (this may be Doi Tung) and was originally known as Pu Chao Lao Chok. He was called chok because he had the rare skills needed to produce chok - mattocks - needed by farmers. Due to his importance in the agricultural cycle, the people of Chiang Lao elevated Lao Chok to the position of ruler of the city, or chao muang.
From that time on, every ruler in the dynasty he founded had the name “Lao” placed before his name.
Another legend suggests Pu Chao Lao Chok was a Tai leader who migrated from a region called Khwaen Chok and was chosen to rule over a place called Wiang Preuksa. Yet whatever his origins, Pu Chao Lao Chok became a king and appointed his sons to administer various cities such as Chiang Khong, Muang Yong and Muang Chiang Lao. In this way cities were founded and kingdoms expanded. Lao Khiang, the fifth ruler of the Lao Dynasty, was to found Muang Ngoen Yang, an important city in the history of Lanna. Local Chiang Mai legend tells that Lao Khiang discovered a silver-white bodhi tree at Ban Yang Sieo and so established a principality which was given the name Muang Ngoen Yang - ngoen meaning silver.
The legends tell of kings as leaders of cities - of Lao Ngoen, his son Khun Chom Tham and his grandson, Khun Chuang. Khun Chuang was an important figure who distinguished himself in battle and became widely recognised as a hero in the many towns of the region of Sipsong Panna, Ngoen Yang and Phayao. Following his victory in battle over Muang Ngoen Yang, Khun Chuang sent his son to rule over Muang Phayao. He then mobilised his forces in an attack on Lan Xang and Muang Kaeo and later became ruler of Muang Kaeo where he took Nang Ukaeo as his consort. Together they had three sons. The first son acceded to the throne of Muang Kaeo, the second was sent to rule over Lan Xang and the third to Muang Nanthaburi. Thus the lineage was spread ensuring that the royal families of the cities were related to one another. Despite these relationships and the similar ethnic composition of the local people, Khun Chuang ’s sons were not able to stop the disintegration of the unified city states that came at the end of his reign. Nevertheless, Muang Ngoen Yang continued to be an important centre for the Tai
Yonok.