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In the southern Shan and Kayah States, you will find people of the 'Padaung' tribe. In fact, it is very easy to identify a Padung woman. Padaung women of Myanmar wear brass or silver rings and so their neck is about a feet long. The tradition says when a Padung girl reaches eight or nine years of her age, she must put on a brass or silver ring in her neck. Every year one more ring is added and later on, they must be worn in legs and arms too.
The Padaung tribe is related to another tribe, now extinct, the "Kang Yan". The King of Kang Yan sent his son to King of Yunan, China, as an envoy. When the prince returned he was loaded with gifts and among all the things the Princess of Kang Yan loved the silver rings most. So much that she never took them, off. Now you know why the Padaung women try to preserve the tradition.
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