essay

Rethinking Kachin wealth ownership

social dynamics in the highlands of southeast asia: reconsidering political systems of highland burma by e.r. leach18 • Published In 2007 • Pages: 211-255

By: Ho Ts'ui-p'ing.

Abstract
This document examines Kachin wealth ownership in order to offer an alternative to Leach's 'oscillation' model of social change for Kachin communities living in north Burma. Based on field work among Kachin peoples in Yunnan, China, it argues that the Kachin social change between the 1850s and 1950s revolved around monetized markets whose histories predate the arrival of British colonists, and a major shift in those monetized markets in association with the imposition of British colonial rule. Nevertheless, the author argues, the Kachin were not simply passive witnesses to their own history. Rather, they brought, and are still bringing, cultural understandings of wealth objects to engagements with their new circumstances. Thus, in contrast to Leach's oscillation model and similar to his critics, the author argues that external events triggered fundamental changes in Kachin society that undermined the traditional hierarchical social order.
Subjects
History
External relations
Police
Revolution
Military organization
Accumulation of wealth
Inter-ethnic relations
Household
Standard of living
Income and demand
Research and development
Mode of marriage
Burial practices and funerals
Gift giving
Exchange transactions
culture
Kachin
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem; 2011
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1850-2007
Coverage Place
Kachin State, Burma; Yunnan, China
Notes
Ho Ts'ui-p'ing
For bibliographical references see document 34:Robinne and Sadan
LCCN
2007298875
LCSH
Kachin (Asian people)