essay
Translating gumlau: history, the 'Kachin' and Edmund Leach
social dynamics in the highlands of southeast asia: reconsidering political systems of highland burma by e.r. leach • 18 • Published In 2007 • Pages: 67-87
By: Sadan, Mandy.
Abstract
This document discusses the many meanings of the Kachin word 'Gumlau' which, according to the author, was not well translated in 19th and early 20th ethnographic texts on Kachin peoples. It shows that both 'gumlau' and 'gumsa' are highly problematic historically. As used by Leach, 'gumlau' refers to a system with an egalitarian, non-hereditary system of leadership. In recent years, however, the term is used by Kachin nationalists into an ideological narrative of revolt against despotism. It is used to reconstruct and describe the ideal Kachin polity; a proto-democratic, enlightened leadership that does not exclude the possibility of heredity where appropriate.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2012
- Region
- Asia
- Sub Region
- Southeast Asia
- Document Type
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Historian
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Teferi Abate Adem; 2011
- Field Date
- 1996-1999
- Coverage Date
- 1888-2007
- Coverage Place
- Kachin people, Burma and China
- Notes
- Mandy Sadan
- For bibliographical references see document 34:Robinne and Sadan
- LCCN
- 2007298875
- LCSH
- Kachin (Asian people)