1. History of Karen in Thailand
The Karen is the first tribe that migrated into Thailand. The Karen is the largest tribe in numbers. They spread living 16 provinces, namely Chiangrai, Chiangmai, Maehongson, Lampang, Lamphoon, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, Kamphaengphet, Uthaithani, Suphanburi, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuapkhirikhan, and Ranong. The Karen is divided into four main groups based on their languages, cultures and walk of life. (Fine Arts Department 1991: 194-195)
1. "Sakauw" or "Pagageyauw" In the north, people call them "Yangkaw" "Yangdoi" "Yangkalur". In the central, people call them "Ga rang". They live on the mountains and can be mostly found in the north. 2. "Po" or "Pwo" They call themselves Phlow , Phlong , Pholuangchut. Thai people call them Yangpiang or Yangnamchut. Burmese people call them Kariangtaleng. They live along in the plains in the western region, especially in Saunphueng and Baanka Sub-district, Ratchaburi. 3. "Bawae" or "Bew" Northern people call them Yangdaeng. They mostly live in Kayah or Gareni State, Myanmar. In Thailand, they live in Tak, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. 4. "Tong Tu" Thai people call them “Tong Su”. The Burmese call them “Pa-ao”. They are mostly seen in Myanmar. They may be seen in Mae Hong Son, Thailand.
Karen people’s original habitation was in the east of Tibet, and later immigrated to settle in China approximately over 3,000 years ago. In B.E. 207, the Karen were assailed by the king of Qin Dynasty, causing them to flee down along the Mekong River to the Salawin River in Myanmar and scattered living along the Ayeyarwady mountain ranges, the northernmost border of Myanmar from “Tong yee” to the southernmost, area of Kra Isthmus (Khokhodkra).
The evidence showed that the Karen immigrated to settle in Thailand in 1775 (B.E. 2318) in the era of Prachao Alongpaya, the King of Myanmar, who made war with Mon people and conquered and took control of Hongsawadee. Because Karen people had a close relationship with Mon people, they supported Mon people in the war, which caused them in trouble too. As the result the Karen fled across Tanaosee mountain ranges and immigrated to Thai territory with Mon people.
In the nine-troop war during the era of King Rama I the great (Phrabatsomdet Phraphuttayodfachula), the Karen from Sangkhaburi sent a message to the people in capital city to warn them to prepare for the war. The Karen and Thais had a long-standing relationship in the history of Thailand. The Karen had contributed significantly equally as Thais to protect the land of Siam and its resources.
The Karen people play the important role in the fight against the Burmese. They were outpost troops, spies, and soldiers. They took the role instead of people of Lawa, which was a traditional ethnic group at the edge of the provinces of Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, and Kanchanaburi. Mon and Karen people had professional expertise of the terrain, so they were supported since Krungthonburi until early Krungrattanakosin era.
The anecdotes of the Karen in the central part of Thailand were referred to n many of Thai literatures such as Khun Chang Khun Plan, the royal writing of His majesty the King Rama II, Klaong Nirat Supanburi, the poetry by Suthorn Phu. It also appears in the murals in the chapel of Pratu Sarn Temple, Mueng District, Supanburi Province, in Bang Khae Yai Temple, Kwae Aom Sub-district, Ampawa District, Samutsongkhram Province, in Sai Areerak Temple, Klongtakhot Sub-district, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province. It’s also seen in the pictures in wood carvings at Chaeng Chareon Temple, Wat Pleng District, Ratchaburi Province.
Many of Karen people were appointed as the chiefs and the governors of cities in the west. For example, Phraya Pichaichanasongkram was the governor of Srisawat. (who took care of border station, the passage to Srisawat that the Burmese invaded Thailand through Saka River, Baantilaipa, Jakae, Tharai, Phisoengpong, Thungyaisesawo, Danmaechantha, Khliti since Ayutthaya period.) Luang Pratetkhuenkhan was the commander of Baan Bongtee Station. Luang Phitak Banpot and Khun Pitak Phraiwan were the commander of Baan Yangtong Station. And Phra Maeklong was the chief of the station taking care of the border city of Umphang Station connected to city of Kamphangphet and Uthai Thanee.
Thai-Karen people living in Ratchaburi province are Plong and Pagageyo. They settled at the border near Tanaosee mountain ranges. People assumed that the Karen living in Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, and Prachuapkhirikhan might have emigrated from Dawei in Myanmar. The old generation of Karen people living in Saun Phueng Sub-district had been relating for over 200 years that they were assailed by the Burmese. Since then, they migrated across the Tanaosee mountain ranges to Thailand through the border at Saiyok District, Kanchanaburi Province. And then, they scattered living in Ratchaburi at Ban Kao Karieng and Ban Nong Kao Karieng (nowadays called Nong Nokkarien). Later they moved to the west of Phachi River, and inhabited in Suan Phueng and Baan Kha District. The other group split to the south, and populated at the Phetburi headwaters. The Karen in Suan Phueng and Baan Kha scattered living in sub-district of Saun Phueng, Baan Bueng, Baan Kha, and Tanao Sri, and some in Yang Hak Sub-district in Pak Tho District.
The Ratchaburi Karen people, period of Ratchaburi County, B.E. 2468 (A.D. 1925) Men putting a piece of cloth on their shoulder, and tying the other piece around the waist like the women did. In old time, The Karen musical instrument was a long Khan. Latter it was adjusted to be shorter like Isaan-Lao Khan.
The Ratchaburi Phong people, period of Ratchaburi County, B.E. 2468 (A.D. 1925) Men and women carrying Ngo, bamboo container, to work in the field (photo book, Ratchaburi)