Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu
Encyclopedia
Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu was a king of Pagan
and father of Anawrahta
who founded the Pagan Empire. Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 964 to 986, the actual reign, deduced from his son Anawrahta's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 992 and 1014. (Much of the information given in Burmese chronicles prior to Anawrahta's reign are unreliable or legendary.)
According to the chronicles, Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu was a son of an early Pagan king Tannet
, who was assassinated as his queen was enseint with Kunhsaw. In order to tie Kunhsaw to the story, the chronicles give his age at death as 115. Other sources give his age at death as 80. It is more likely that he was a descendant of Tannet. He took over the Pagan throne from King Nyaung-u Sawrahan
, and married three of Nyaung-u's chief queens, two of whom were pregnant and subsequently gave birth to Kyiso and Sokkate
. Kunhsaw raised Sokkate and Kyiso as his own sons. He also bore a son of his own Anawrahta in 1014.
When the two sons reached manhood, they forced Kunhsaw to abdicate the throne and become a monk. Sokkate married one of Kunhsaw's queens, mother of Anawrahta. In 1044, Anawrahta killed Sokkate in single combat. Anwarahta offered the throne to Kunhsaw. But the former king, who had long been a monk, refused, allowing Anawrahta to ascend the throne.
Kunhsaw died four years after his son Anawrahta ascended the throne—circa 1048/1049. After his death, Kunhsaw was entered into the pantheon of Burmese nats
or spirits as Htihpyusaung Nat
.
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
and father of Anawrahta
Anawrahta
Anawrahta Minsaw was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma...
who founded the Pagan Empire. Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 964 to 986, the actual reign, deduced from his son Anawrahta's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 992 and 1014. (Much of the information given in Burmese chronicles prior to Anawrahta's reign are unreliable or legendary.)
According to the chronicles, Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu was a son of an early Pagan king Tannet
Tannet of Pagan
Tannet was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma from 906 to 934. Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 878 to 906, the actual reign, deduced from King Anawrahta's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 906 and 934. Tannet was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from 906 to...
, who was assassinated as his queen was enseint with Kunhsaw. In order to tie Kunhsaw to the story, the chronicles give his age at death as 115. Other sources give his age at death as 80. It is more likely that he was a descendant of Tannet. He took over the Pagan throne from King Nyaung-u Sawrahan
Nyaung-u Sawrahan
Nyaung-u Sawrahan was a king of the Pagan dynasty of Burma . Although Burmese chronicles state that he reigned from 931 to 964, his actual reign, deduced from King Anawrahta's year of ascension, 1044, was likely between 959 and 992...
, and married three of Nyaung-u's chief queens, two of whom were pregnant and subsequently gave birth to Kyiso and Sokkate
Sokkate
Sokkate was a king of Pagan dynasty. The king lost his life in a single combat with Anawrahta, who succeeded him and went on to found the Pagan Empire. Historical sources do not agree on the duration of his reign, given as c. 986–1010 by Arthur Phayre, c. 992–1044 by GE Harvey, and 992-1017 by the...
. Kunhsaw raised Sokkate and Kyiso as his own sons. He also bore a son of his own Anawrahta in 1014.
When the two sons reached manhood, they forced Kunhsaw to abdicate the throne and become a monk. Sokkate married one of Kunhsaw's queens, mother of Anawrahta. In 1044, Anawrahta killed Sokkate in single combat. Anwarahta offered the throne to Kunhsaw. But the former king, who had long been a monk, refused, allowing Anawrahta to ascend the throne.
Kunhsaw died four years after his son Anawrahta ascended the throne—circa 1048/1049. After his death, Kunhsaw was entered into the pantheon of Burmese nats
Nat (spirit)
The nats are spirits worshipped in Burma in conjunction with Buddhism. They are divided between the 37 Great Nats and all the rest . Almost all of the 37 Great Nats were human beings who met violent deaths . They may thus also be called nat sein...
or spirits as Htihpyusaung Nat
Htibyuhsaung
Htibyuhsaung is one of 37 nats in the official Burmese pantheon of nats. He was King Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu, father of Anawrahta. He was deposed and forced to become a monk by his stepsons, and died later....
.