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The Kayan are a group of the Karenni people, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic minority of Myanmar (Burma). They are also known as Padaung (Burmese: ပဒောင္‌လူမ္ယုိး). In the 1990s, due to conflict with the military regime in Burma, many Kayan tribespeople fled into neighbouring Thailand. There they live with an uncertain legal status in the border area, in villages set up to display them to tourists willing to pay to admire their particular body modification, which consists of coiling lengths of brass around the necks of the women. There are around 7,000 members of the Kayan tribe.

An unrelated tribe in central Borneo are also called the Kayan, similar to, and neighbors of, the Kenyah tribe. They are part of a larger grouping of people referred to collectively as the orang ulu, or upriver people. They are known for being fierce warriors, former headhunters, adept in dry-rice cultivation, and having extensive tattoos and stretched earlobes amongst both sexes.

Contents 1 Brass coils 2 See also 3 Sources and references 4 External links

Women of the tribe wear ornaments known as neck rings, brass coils that are placed around the neck. These coils are first applied to young girls when they are about five years old. Each coil is replaced with longer coils as the weight of the brass pushes down the collar bone and compresses the rib cage. As more rings are added, the neck begins to lengthen. Many ideas regarding why the coils are worn have been suggested, often formed by visiting anthropologists. Some believe the coils protect from tiger bites, while others think they protected women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. It has also been suggested that the coils give the women resemblance to a dragon, an important figure in Kayan folklore^{[citation needed]}. The origin of the tradition is not known. Kayan women, when asked, acknowledge these ideas, but usually say their purpose for wearing the rings is for a cultural identity (one associated with beauty). The rings, once on, are seldom removed, as it is a somewhat lengthy procedure. Contrary to popular belief, the women do not suffocate if the rings are removed.Many women have removed the rings for medical examinations. Though most women, once their necks are elongated, prefer to wear the rings, as their necks and collar bones are often bruised and discolored from being hidden behind brass for so long, and of course also because the collar after ten years or more of continuous wear, feels like an integral part of the body.

The government of Burma began discouraging this tradition as it struggled to appear more modern to the developed world. Consequently, Many women began breaking the tradition. However, the practice has gained popularity in recent years because it draws tourists who bring business to the tribe. The biggest Kayan village of Nai Soi receives an average of 1,200 tourists annually, and collects an entry fee of 250B per person.

• Ndebele people of South Africa - An African tribe with a similar practice.
• Foot binding
• Lip plates

• HuayPuKeng.com
• The FarEast.info

• Guernicamag.com: "The Dragon Mothers Polish their Metal Coils"

v • d • e Ethnic groups in Myanmar (classification by the government of Myanmar)

Anu • Anun • Asho • Atsi • Awa Khami • Bamar (Burman) • Beik • Bre (Ka-Yaw) • Bwe • Chin • Dai (Yindu) • Daingnet • Dalaung • Danaw (Danau) • Danu • Dawei • Dim • Duleng • Eik-swair • Eng • Ganan • Gheko • Guari • Gunte (Lyente) • Gwete • Haulngo • Hkahku • Hkun (Khün) • Hpon • Intha • Kachin (Jingpo) • Kadu (Kado) • Ka-Lin-Kaw (Lushay) • Kamein • Kaung Saing Chin • Kaungso • Kaw (Akha-E-Kaw) • Kayah (Karenni) • Kayin (Karen) • Kayinpyu (Geba Karen) • Ka-Yun (Kayan; Padaung) • Kebar • Khami • Khamti Shan • Khmu (Khamu) • Khawno • Kokang • Kwangli (Sim) • Kwelshin • Kwe Myi • Kwi • Lahu • Lai (Haka Chin) • Laizao • Lashi (La Chit) • Lawhtu • Laymyo • Lhinbu • Lisu • Lushei (Lushay) • Lyente • Magun • Maingtha • Malin • Manu Manaw • Man Zi • Maramagyi • Maru (Lawgore) • Matu • Maw Shan • Meithei (Kathe) • Mgan • Mi-er • Miram (Mara) • Moken (Salon; Salone) • Mon • Monnepwa • Monpwa • Mon Kayin (Sarpyu) • Mro • Naga • Ngorn • Oo-Pu • Paku • Palaung • Pale • Pa-Le-Chi • Panun • Pa-O • Pyin • Rakhine (Arakanese) • Rawang • Rongtu • Saing Zan • Saline • Sentang • Sgaw • Shan • Shan Gale • Shan Gyi • Shu (Pwo) • Son • Tai-Loi • Tai-Lem • Tai-Lon • Tai-Lay • Taishon • Ta-Lay-Pwa • Tanghkul • Tapong • Taron • Taungyo • Tay-Zan • Thado • Thet • Tiddim (Hai-Dim) • Torr (Tawr) • Wa (Va) • Wakim (Mro) • Yabein • Yao • Yaw • Yin Baw • Yin Kya • Yin Net • Yin Talai • Yun (Lao) • Za-How • Zahnyet (Zanniet) • Zayein • Zizan • Zo • Zo-Pe • Zotung