As king Manuha was taken by king Anorata after he conquered Thatung, Thatung was with no king to reign. It became desolate. Knowing that the kingdom they lived in for ages had been defeated, their religion disappeared, and they were helpless, Pa-oh people divided into nine groups and departed from Thatung.
One group was led by a monk called “Mawtopha” and they moved to a new place in the west of Pakukku. They still live there and are called ‘Taungtha people”. Pa-oh people believe that Taungthas are from their tribe. Among another eight groups, more than three groups moved to the upper Sitaung river and Shan hills. They still live throughout Southern Shan areas. It is said that directed by monk Mawtopha they lived in Shan State and Thailand borders.
It is written in the Biography of chieftain Sasaw Maung and Nyongshwe History by U Nyein of Nyongwhwe town as follow:
“As it is the neighbouring area, Taungthu people came and lived in Nyongshwe since king Anorata conquered king Thatung Manuha and destroyed Thatung”.
In Inlay Phawngto Oo Pagoda history, page 95, by monk Oo Tawpitha of Inlay HeyaYwama monastery, “Taungthu people depressed and came to live in Nyongshwe when Thuwanabumi Thatung king Manuha was overcome by king Anorata”.
Therefore, it can be known that when Pa-oh people left Thatung, they moved to live in Southern Shan State.
They moved from Thatung to upper Burma in Thatana year 1606, Koza year424. Among those who came to Shan hills, royal clan moved to Palong area and the
clan of hemit to Sawng-on village, Hoepone township. In Sawng-on village, there are caves still seen where the hermits once lived.
Although left together, when they arrived at Shan hills, they parted separate and lived in different groups. When they arrived Lwesan village, royal clan searched for another fertile area because Lwesan was not a good soil to cultivate. Finding a fertile land of Sisaing, Kon Maung Tha and Kon Maung Naing of royal clan led their people and lived there permanently. In order to remember Thatung they poured nine baskets of earth and nine buckets of water brought from Thatung on the ground and established Sisaing town(called Thatunglay-small Thatung).
Taungthu peple who lived in lower Burma came to live in Thatung in 1781. They lived there before States were divided. Taungthu people have increased in number. Now, Thatung(Sisaing) becomes the place where Taungthu people live permanently.
The first chieftain to control Thatung was Kon Smu. Kon Smu was a ntive of lower BurmaThatung. He was discreet and led Taungthu people. In 1781, he established a village in Thatung area and settled there. In his time, Kon Smu himself controlled Thatung area. He gave the name “Thatung”(shan Thatung) as ordered by king Podaw. Kon Smu’s descendent led Thatung area till 1839. And then Kin Kyaw lay led it . In 1905 , Kon Law, the grandson of Kon Kyaw Lay was assassinated. The murderer was arrested alive by Kon Maung his uncle.( Note from Shan State and Karenni List of Chiefs And leading Families).
There was a tree called “Tipan” by Pa-oh. It had holes in its bark. There was a jewel between the holes. The jewel was called “Ting” by pa-oh. That is why the place was called “Titing”(the town in which a jewel is found). They built a pagoda putting the jewel inside it. They called the place “Titing” and permanently settled there. Pa-ohs read “t” to be “s”. Therefore,”Titing” later became Sisaing. Till today, Pa-ohs call Sisaing “Thatung-pei”(small Thatung) and call Thuwanabumi Thatung of lower Burma “Thatung-tan”(big Thatung).
Perhaps Pa-oh people resettled in Shan State in the middle of Pagan era. Now they become the second largest population in Shan State. They live with Shan people in peace and friendliness. There is a song that says “We Shan Taungthus receive 50 cents and give 25 cents”. Shan people and Pa-oh people mix as one people and are even called “Shanpa-oh”.
