Nam Thing

Nam Thing lies in the Kokang highlands between the Salween and Yunnan. Shan, Wa, Jingpho and other communities inhabited these mountains before the arrival of followers of the fallen Ming dynasty. In 1739 Yang Xiancai, a descendant of those refugees, established a chiefdom in Kokang after gaining support by defending villages against raiders. His family would rule the district for generations, navigating the claims of larger neighbours.