Thang Ta: A journey
(Through the history of Kangleipak)
from an ancient combat art to a popular modern sport
- Part 1 -

By Dr.HanjabamCha Barun *

Thang Ta is the popular, common name given to 'Huyen Langlon (Lallon)', the martial art system of the Meitei race, major inhabitants of the valley of Kangleipak (Meitrabak/Meeteileipak; Sannaleipak; Poirei Meetei Leipak/Poileipak), present day Manipur, Northeast India.

Thang Ta ['Thang'- sword; 'Ta'- spear, as these are the major weapons used] is a complete martial art; complete in the sense that it has both the external {the weapons art; the unarmed aspect:
'Sharit-Sharak' or 'Sarie-Sara', including the indigenous wrestling / grappling style - throwing & locking art- 'Mukna'; the physical exercise- power/strength development, conditioning, balancing, flexibility etc - Sajen Kanglon}; the internal component {focusing on the awareness of the spirit & mind; meditation & concentration- Hirikonba; & self cultivation}; the health component { Layeng Kanglon; including the breathing control & exercise- Hirikonba}; along with spiritual & ritualistic aspects {the morning practice of Chingkheirol (mostly in olden days); the tradition of Thengou (sacred martial forms/dance) ; the tradition of performing spear martial forms by Pana Khousaba in the Kwak- Tanba festival, (near Hindu Dussehra),& Ta Khousaba (spear forms) in Lai Haraoba (Merry festivals of Meitei Deities); even the performance of some of Ta Khousarols in the funeral procession by some group of Meitei- the Chakpa/ Loi & Andro/ yathibi (mostly found at places like Shekmai, Phayeng, Leimaram, Andro, & various places of Thoubal & Bishnupur, Manipur)}

[They are the descendants of a group of brave Meitei people, who dared to oppose the forceful conversion to Hinduism, rather preferred to die & be tortured, & were, thus, expelled & sent to faraway places & hills - being treated as the Sudras, the lowest caste in Hinduism - during the reign of Meidingu (= Meitei king) Pamheiba (~1709-1748); & who still are preserving some of the indigenous traditions & cultures of Meitei race].

In short it is a way of life; an integral element of the Meitei culture; the very foundation upon which the kingdom of Kangleipak was laid; the life giving oil for the Meitei race, whose overall survival depended upon it. Hence, not to be amazed , to the local legend, stating the origin of each & every movements of Meitei form Thang Ta- the world famous Manipuri Classical dance, the splendid Pung & Pala Cholom, the graceful Lai Haraoba dance- all trace their origin in the moves , gaits & postures of Thang Ta.

The origin of Thang Ta is full of myths & legends; is believed to be born out of the basic survival instinct, the self- defense needs, the hunting activities {some of the sequences of a particular Ta-Khousaba depict various stages in hunting & catching wild animals.} [Ta-Khousaba: an exercise series for proficiency in handling spear- in other words, spear forms/patterns.

Its main types are: Maram Nungetpa, Maram Achouba, Maram Macha, Kabui, Tangkhul, Thel, (Athou, Yangbi & Atan, the main 9 types, as per many learned masters; according to others, in addition to the above six, other main types are- Maram Nungjongba, Athou Chumthang, Athou Macha & Athou Achouba)], the military training & experience, & most importantly, the utmost desire of the Meitei race to remain independent. One popular legend relates the creation of universe with Thengou [sacred martial art forms/dances performed with sword or spear. As with Ta Khousaba, nine styles are known: Akao Thengou, Leiphal Thengou, Nongphal Thengou, Leichal Thengou, leipak Thengou, Leinet thengou, Langkak Thengou,Akham thengou, Leishit Thengou.] performed by the Gods. So sacred are the forms considered till today that they have been kept very secret, & revealed only to only few worthy, by the great masters, under immense precautions, strict supervision & rituals. Unfortunately, this very fact is making the art prone for extinction.

Another myth is the divine origin of weapons as derivations form the limbs & bones of the Meitei God, Til Sidaba. Whatever the legends say, the origin & evolution of Thang Ta can be understood (to some extent, even if indirectly) through the origin of Meitei race; the history of Kangleipak {the ancient books & literatures like Cheinarol - with details of many medieval fights & challenges , mainly among the commoners }; the geographical characteristic, interaction with surrounding Kingdoms (their culture & martial arts- including major battles fought); the profile of migration in & out of the kingdom; socio-cultural & religious evolution of the society, life of some of the well known Thang-Ta masters, & lastly the arrival of modern sport movement in Manipur.

According to the ancient religion of Meitei, The God Sannamahi (or the sun god: spreading the liquid of life in all directions) created all life forms when there was nothing in the universe, as asked by his father, the supreme god, Atiya Kuru Sidaba (Atiya- vast empty sky; Kuru- circular hemisphere; Sidaba- never ending/no birth, no death present). Then to sustain & propagate the newly created life, The God father sent his younger son, Lord Pakhangba, who became the protector & in due course of time, the King (hence regarded as the first King of the Meitei people).

[Pakhangba laining (worshipping or mediation) was therefore traditionally performed by the Kings, Nobles & Maichous (scholars), which requires deep concentration & meditation, instead of verbal chanting. Hence, Lord Pakhangba is considered to be the source of Thang Ta, so in the past, it was compulsory for every Thang Ta disciple to have a devotion to & worship him (Lord Pakhangba or Ibudhou Pakhangba). On the other hand, the Sannamahi laishon became common to all people- here, verbal chanting & singings are very common]

Scientifically speaking, no one can knows, with 100% certainty, the origin of Meitei race - only probabilities & suggestions, based on archeological evidences, the written records, legends, myths & oral traditions etc. The earliest settlers of Kangleipak were believed to be the Himalayan Mongoloids groups (though disagreed by some).The Proto-Austroloid was believed to have inhabited the ancient Kangleipak before the advent of Tibeto-Burmans around 5000-4000 B.C. However, the first evidence of the Pleistocene man here dates back, even to about 30,000 B.C. {as the evidences from Khangkui caves, 11 km southeast of Ukhrul; & from tools found in Machi (in Chandel district), from Maring Naga Village}.

Some argue that the Kangleipak Valley (the dry areas- probably near the Kangla; some scientific sources date the approximate human habitation of parts of the Kangla at around 180,000 years BC) were first inhabited by a group of people, called Lai people (~ Lei-Hou tribes?), coming down from the Koubru Mountain ranges (to the north-west of present day Imphal); & their descendants became the Meitei. They had been there (in Koubru) since the early dawn of mankind.

[In accordance with the latest scientific theory of first Human appearance (by about 195,000 years ago) & evolution in Africa, some learned argue that they came in one of the waves of pre-historic migrations from Africa, some 70,000-50,000 years ago, arriving in present India, around 20,000 years ago, & through Northeast India, including present Manipur, went to Southeast Asia].

One among the many theories indicates the early Chinese influence. A group of adventure seeking people [believed to be belonging to earlier Shang Dynasty(~1766BC to 1046BC), China, founded by the rebel leader (of Shang tribe, Cheng Tang or Zi Lu, after fighting 17 years (11 major battles) against the Emperor Jie, the last of the Xia Dynasty (~21st to the 17th century BC; considered a myth by many, hence the Shang is the first true dynasty of China)& ultimately overthrowing him in the Battle of Mingtiao] reached the Koubru Mountain ranges, Kangleipak, following the Yangtse river -{The river which traditionally divides the Chinese martial arts into Northern styles (which lay more focus on legworks, kicking & acrobatics etc) & the southern styles (which lay more focus on low stable stances, short powerful movements, combining both attack & defense, use of arm & full body techniques)}- from the Yangtse river to the Chindwin river or Ningthi tural (now in Myanmar), passing the Somra hills, & reaching the origin of the Ireel river, & ultimately the Koubru.

[(a) Tang was the 14 generation Shang leader(descendent of Yilu & his son Yao Situ, the vassal of then Xia King) was a good & virtuous ruler, a model/ideal ruler, whose example was imitated by every monarch. He ruled as a king for13years, succeeded by his younger son (as believed by many- the elder son, Tai Ding/Da Ding was said to have died at an early age without succeeding his father), Wai Bing, & grandson, Tai Jia.

(b) Shangs are the tribes who used to live in the lower reach of the Yellow River (hence also called Yellow Civilization).Their Dynasty lasted over 500 years, with 31 kings belonging to 17 generations,& ruled much of the northern (or northeastern) China, with seven different successive capitals. Two most important events/developments during the period were the invention & development of a writing system (the ancient Chinese inscriptions found mostly on tortoise shells, & flat bones, mostly of cattle's, like scapulae etc- called oracles bones; bronze inscriptions; on pottery, jabe, horn, stones etc), & the use of bronze metallurgy.

The advance bronze casting techniques gave then a military advantage-their infantry were armed with varieties of bronze (& stone, wood or horn) weaponry- like bow, axe, halberd or ji ( similar to a spear, with an extra blade attached at its end.) etc- although the bronze was commonly used for art rather than weapons. Hunting was considered as an important part of their martial training. They practised some earliest form of Chinese martial arts- Shoubu ch'uan fa (or, more popularly, kung fu); jiao di (or horn butting developed by The Yellow Emperor) & earlier form of Xiang Bo (much similar to sanda/sanshou of present day wushu ). Martial arts also evolved into a kind of dancing, which was very useful for training soldiers, & increasing their morale. Many of the wrestling techniques were applied in battlefields.

There was rapid development of the skill & technology of sword forging, & sword ceremony. They (specially near the end of their dynasty) were also known to migrate (emigrate) & travel far & wide - the foundation of Gija Joseon, which became one of the early Korean states (by the Yin, latter part of Shang dynasty, prince Jizi); & the theories of their travelling & settling to ancient America- sharing part of ancestry of native American people.), hence, no surprise to the theory of their immigration to the ancient kingdom of Kangleipak.]

Around 1445 B.C., one leader of the group, Tang-Ja Leela Pakhanga (1445-1405 BC) {Pakhangba here isn't the Meitei God, but a name/title; 'Pa' = forefathers, 'khangba' = knowing; one who know his forefathers} married the daughter (Sinbee Leima) of the Chief of Lei-hou people, & established his kingdom.[However, the first monarch of Kangleipak (as believed by many learned) , was Konchin Tukthapa Ipu Athoupa Pakhangpa, who ascended the throne much before the arrival of Tang- Shang people, near 2000BC (~1737 BC)] . The dynasty continued till the King Korou Nongdren Pakhangba (~934 B.C.to?)& his (younger) son, the King Sentreng. The following 700 years there were no rulers.

To be continued....