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The village of Huai Sua Tao is home to dozens of "long-necked women"—women known for wearing numerous brass rings to lengthen their necks. This unique practice has attracted many tourists, providing a stable income for the residents. However, it has also become a controversial tourist destination for these Myanmar refugees.
Anyone who comes here is curious and impressed by the Kayan women with their long necks.
Culture with its own unique characteristics
The long-necked culture of the Kayan tribe is not only a unique custom but also considered a symbol of wealth, power, and beauty in their society. This culture originated from the Kayan tribe in Myanmar and has been maintained through generations since their migration to Thailand about three decades ago. Bringing with them their rich cultural identity, the Kayan tribe introduced the tradition of wearing brass neck rings into daily life in Thailand, where they found a new home.
The Kayan people still maintain the custom of wearing many large rings around their necks.
The Kayan are a Karenni ethnic group of Tibetan origin, living in the border region with Thailand. Kayan women beautify themselves in their own traditional way, which involves wearing large rings to lengthen their necks. A woman may wear up to 25 rings, and the longer her neck, the more beautiful she is considered. Furthermore, this is also a symbol of nobility and family wealth.
This custom holds significant meaning for the Kayan people and enriches the cultural heritage of the country.
At the age of five, Kayan girls begin wearing brass rings around their necks. These rings are stacked on top of each other, causing their necks to lengthen over time due to pressure on the collarbone and chest. Therefore, wearing many large rings for extended periods often leads to neck health problems for Kayan women. The area around their necks may experience permanent pain and have thinner skin than other parts of the body. The total weight of each set of rings can reach up to 10 kg.
When Kayan girls reach the age of five, they begin wearing brass rings around their necks.
However, they also feel uncomfortable if they remove the rings. They may even experience serious health problems due to their weak necks. In the Kayan tribe, not everyone is entitled to wear a full set of "neck rings."
There are many explanations for this unusual custom. Some believe it's a way to distinguish the beauty of Kayan women from that of other tribes. At the same time, it helps women avoid becoming victims of human trafficking across the border.
Anyone who comes here is curious and impressed by the Kayan women with their long necks.
Another explanation is that they wear these "neck rings" because their mothers and sisters do the same. In fact, this custom originates from an ancient legend. In a dream, the tribal chief was warned that on the fourth day after his child was born, a tiger would appear and attack the villagers. It would bite them to death. Therefore, the tribe decided that all children must wear rings around their necks from the fourth day after birth to prevent the tiger from appearing.
For this reason, the people strongly believe in the power of the necklaces. Over time, this practice spread and became one of the strange and unique customs of the Kayan people. It is estimated that this form of body transformation dates back to the 11th century and has been a tradition for over 1,000 years.
A Kayan woman may wear up to 25 necklaces. The number of necklaces also signifies the family's wealth.
Kayan women wear these necklaces until they die. If they betray their husbands, the necklaces are removed and they are ostracized by the community. In addition, Kayan girls wear rings around their ankles and wrists to maintain the original size of their limbs.
The custom of wearing rings around the neck is one of the distinctive features of the people of Myanmar. Every year, around 1,000 tourists visit the Kayan village to learn about the "giraffe women."
Despite the health risks, Kayan women are unwilling to give up these bracelets.
Western media reports indicate that the Kayan people highly value the role of women as important members of the family. When drinking alcohol, women sit in the inner circle, while the men are seated in the outermost circle. Specifically, the central area is reserved for the oldest women in the village. The second circle consists of women of different ages. The women in the central circle have the honor of holding the brass rings that are placed around the necks of Kayan girls during their coming-of-age ceremonies.
The dark side of a long-standing cultural tradition.
Tourists come to the village from many places, but the majority are Thai. Visitors often stroll by, taking photos or selfies with the long-necked women, and buying products displayed at the stalls. Thai tourists can enter for free, but foreigners usually have to pay 250 baht (about $7.50) to enter the village, which goes towards the women's basic monthly salary of 1,500 baht.
In this rapidly changing world, it is rare for unique customs from centuries ago to still exist today.
“It’s like a human zoo,” said Kitty McKinsey, spokesperson for the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), amid allegations that Thai authorities are particularly hindering Kayah women from resettling in third countries because of their value to tourism.
For many Kayan women, wearing brass necklaces from a young age is not only part of tradition but also an expression of pride in their cultural identity. This tradition connects them to their ancestors and the tribe's long history, giving them a sense of belonging and pride. Each necklace is not just an ornament but also a part of the personal story and collective identity they carry.
However, it cannot be denied that wearing a necklace for life also brings inconveniences and challenges.
Opportunities to live and work in Thailand are severely limited for undocumented migrants like the Kayah, and the cost of living can be significantly higher.
However, it's undeniable that wearing neck rings for life also presents inconveniences and challenges. Heavy rings can put pressure on the spine and neck muscles, leading to pain and fatigue. Furthermore, performing daily activities, from eating to sleeping, can become more difficult. This raises questions about the balance between preserving tradition and ensuring the health and comfort of these women.
Faced with challenges and controversies, the future of the Kayan long-necked cultural tradition may depend on the tribe's flexibility and adaptability in maintaining its cultural identity while ensuring the health and well-being of its members. In this way, pride in cultural identity and personal comfort can be harmoniously balanced, ensuring the sustainable survival and development of the long-necked tradition in modern society.
