Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2018, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (4): 54-99.

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Buddha-King versus Emperor: Ethnic Mobilization among Mountain Communities and the Decline of Silver Mining Industry in the Yunnan and Burma Border Region

MA Jianxiong   

  1. Division of Humanities, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
  • Online:2018-07-20 Published:2018-07-20
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by the Research Grants Council(RGC) General Research Fund Project(No.16655916).

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Abstract:

The development of silver mining industry between the Mekong River and the Salween River in the Yunnan and Burma border region and the political conflict between Qing and Burma gradually weakened native chieftains since the 17th century. The newly emerged Buddhist master Monk Tongjin exploited the secret societies of miners and the merchant network amongst mines and salt markets to seek his political rise between officials and chieftains in the mountainous area. The silver mining industry in the region began before the 16th century and peaked in the 18th century,and then declined in the early 19th century. The wars between Qing and Burma (1762-1769) bankrupted the local government in Yunnan because of the burden of transporting logistics for the war. To deal with the crisis by tightening local salt revenue,Emperor Jiaqing reign (1796-1820) made the salt trade,an important ingredient in silver smelting,between salt wells and the mines illegal,causing a jump in cost of silver production and eventually the demise of the silver mining industry. Depressed economy brought the expansion of secret societies among laid-off miners and affected villagers in the mountainous region. Monk Tongjin and his fellows became the core leadership that helped to reconstruct a new political institution to challenge the neighboring chieftains and county officials.Threatened by the movement,Emperor Jiaqing ordered the elimination of Monk Tongjin. This paper reviews historical events that led to the rise of Monk Tongjin as a Buddha-King among his people and a collaborator to local officials,but seen as a political threat by the emperor.It examines the relationship between the new political institution and its social agency with the states. In addition,the relationship between the stretch and limitation of the Qing imperial state on the frontier and the construction of ethnic identity of the Lahu is also investigated.

Key words: the Buddha-King, silver mining industry, native chieftain system, the Qing-Burma Wars