# Saopha

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"Chao Fa" redirects here. For the modern Thai royal title, see [Thai royal ranks and titles](/source/Thai_royal_ranks_and_titles).

**Saopha** (lit. 'lord of the heavens'), also spelled **Sawbwa**, was the title used by hereditary rulers of Shan states in [Upper Myanmar](/source/Upper_Myanmar).[1] **Chaopha**and **Chao Fa** were similar titles used by the hereditary [Tai rulers](/source/Tai_peoples) in [mainland Southeast Asia](/source/Mainland_Southeast_Asia) and the [Ahom kingdom](/source/Ahom_kingdom) in India.

## Names and etymology

*Saopha* (shn: *ၸဝ်ႈၽႃႉ*, *tsaw3 pʰaa5*) means "lord of the heavens" in the [Shan language](/source/Shan_language). It was rendered into Burmese as *sawbwa* (*စော်ဘွား*).[1]

Variants in other [Tai languages](/source/Tai_languages) include *tsāo phâa* (𑜋𑜰𑜫;𑜇𑜡.) in [Ahom](/source/Ahom_language), *chau-fa* (*ᥓᥝᥲ ᥜᥣᥳ*) in [Tai Nuea](/source/Tai_Nuea_language), and *chao fa* (เจ้าฟ้า) in [Thai](/source/Thai_language) and [Lao](/source/Lao_language) (ເຈົ້າຟ້າ).[citation needed]

## Usage

### Myanmar (Burma)

In the pre-colonial era, the term 'sawbwa' was utilised by the Burmese monarchy in reference to the hereditary rulers of Shan-speaking polities called [möng](/source/Mueang) (shn: *My-mymr: *မိူင်း**, mə́ŋ), in the region.[2][page needed] In order of precedence, the sawbwas outranked local rulers of lower ranks, namely the *[myoza](/source/Myoza_(royal_title))* and *ngwegunhmu*.[2]

During [British colonial rule](/source/British_rule_in_Burma), colonial authorities adopted the Burmese system, recognising between 14 and 16 sawbwas who enjoyed a degree of autonomy in their fiefdoms.[2] In 1922, the establishment of the [Federated Shan States](/source/Federated_Shan_States) greatly reduced the sawbwas' autonomy.[2] In April 1959, the sawbwas relinquished their feudal authority to the Burmese government.[2]

The distinction in the titles dates from the days of the Burmese monarchy although the same states have not continued to hold the same titles for their chiefs during the centuries—changes took place according to royal favour, results of battles and later, the decisions of the British authorities. The privileges and titles were so much a matter of royal ordinance that every one of a Sawbwa's symbols of power was laid down in a special book of dispensations granted by the higher court. His regalia and clothes, the guilding and jewel decoration of betel boxes, spittoons, fly-whisks and such articles of use, the dress of ministers, the umbrellas, spears and horses in procession, the caparisoning of the royal elephant, the instruments for processional music, the gateways and the style of residence, all were rigidly prescribed to ensure that the dignity kept up accordance with the status of a royal chieftain, yet did not encroach on the special privileges reserved for the court of Ava itself. The British, whose success in administration was largely bound up with observance, of precedence in a hierarchy, listed states also as Sawbaships, Myosaships and Ngwegunhmuships

### Ahom kingdom

The [Ahom kingdom](/source/Ahom_kingdom) (Möng Dön: 𑜉𑜢𑜤𑜂𑜫: 𑜓𑜢𑜤𑜃𑜫) used Chaopha as a title for their kings.[3] The Swargodeu ([Assamese](/source/Assamese_language): স্বৰ্গদেউ) was the Assamese equivalent translation of Chaopha which also means Lord of the Heaven in [Assamese](/source/Assamese_language). The first ruler and establisher [Sukaphaa](/source/Sukaphaa) used Chao-pha and Chao-lung (lit. 'Great Lord') as honourable prefixes.[4][5]

### China

The term was also used for the rulers of some Tai polities in what is now China's [Yunnan](/source/Yunnan) Province.[1] In the Ming dynasty, Chinese [Dai](/source/Dai_people) [Tusi](/source/Tusi) chief attached Pha (法) after the name, but they don't use the term when they contact with official. The imperial court also doesn't use the term when refer their name.[6]: 273

## See also

- [Ahom dynasty](/source/Ahom_dynasty)
- [Chao (monarchy)](/source/Chao_(monarchy))
- [Tusi](/source/Tusi)

## References

1. Donald M. Seekins (2006). *Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)*. Scarecrow Press. entry *Sawbwa*, p. 391.

1. Seekins, Donald M. (2017). *Historical dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)*. Historical dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. 2nd ed. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-5381-0183-4.

1. ["Ahom Administration: Lessons from 600 Years of Stability!"](https://csap.co.in/ahom-administration/). *CSAP IAS ACADEMY*. 2025-02-05. Retrieved 2025-03-20.

1. ["History Of Ahom Dynasty"](http://www.assaminfo.com/famous-people/50/chaolung-sukapha.htm). *www.assaminfo.com*. Retrieved 2025-03-20.

1. ["Moidams at Charaideo - Sivasagar"](https://sivasagar.assam.gov.in/sites/default/files/public_utility/Moidams%20at%20Charaideo.pdf). Retrieved 2025-03-20.

1. 张志淳撰 & 李东平等校注 (1999). *南园漫录校注*. 昆明: 云南民族出版社. ISBN 7-5367-1748-2.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saopha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saopha) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saopha?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.