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THE WHITE CHEDI OF SACRIFICE

Nearly five hundred years ago, Lanna was the subject of another Burmese invasion.

There was a long-drawn-out battle. Both armies suffered many casualties. Supplies, weapons, animals, even soldiers had been expended in great numbers. In those days - just as now - such a conflict could be solved only by either annihilation of the enemy, or diplomacy. So it was on this occasion, both sides wearied of the struggle, that a kind of diplomatic solution was proposed and agreed to.

The outcome of the battle was to be decided by single conflict - not with weapons, but by competition between two representatives from the armies in diving. It was agreed that the fate of the Lanna kingdom was to depend on the ability of their representative to stay under water longer than the Burmese soldier. And who was to be the soldier on whom the Lanna kingdom depended?

A man named Piang stepped forward, agreeing to accept the terrible challenge which would bring either victory and independence, or defeat and slavery to his country. Piang assured his commanders and comrades that he had the ability - the strategy - which couldn't fail to save their beloved kingdom. On the Burmese side too a champion was selected, equally sure that victory would fall to his side. Each side performed the ceremonies and invoked the spirits that would give them victory. Then the fateful moment came when both men dived together into the Ping River.

Then - silence, a long spell of silence and suspense until at last a head broke the surface of the water, and the soldier was pulled ashore, gasping, choking, more dead than alive - the Burmese soldier. Lanna had won! Victory and freedom was their assured reward.

But where was the intrepid Piang: where was the individual who had saved his country?

The Lanna army waited. And waited. And then discovered the truth - that Piang had sacrificed his life for his countrymen. Determined not to leave alive the river he had dived into, to assure his side of the victory he had tied himself to a tree-root by his pah-komar: the cloth he had dived into the river wearing.

Sailing up the Ping River, you will see a small white chedi in front of the Chiang Mai Municipality. The chedi was built as a memorial to Piang and his bravery.