Danu people
Ethnic group in Myanmar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Danu people (Burmese: ဓနု) are a government-recognized ethnic group in Myanmar, predominantly populating the areas near the Pindaya Caves in Shan State.[1] They speak the Danu language, which is closely related to Burmese.[2]
ဓနု | |
|---|---|
A troupe of Danu dancing girls in Pindaya (c. 1906) | |
| Total population | |
| 255,477 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Around Pindaya Caves, Shan State, Myanmar | |
| Languages | |
| Danu, Burmese | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Bamar, Arakanese, Intha |
Etymology
Origins
Some oral traditions trace the ancestry of the Danu to the intermarriages of Burmese men and Shan women in the 16th century, coinciding with the expansionist policies of King Bayinnaung, who oversaw the establishment of Burmese administrative posts throughout the kingdom, including in Shan city-states.[3]
Notable Danu people
- Aung Myat - former Chief Minister of Shan State
