Theinhko (Burmese: သိန်းခို; also Theinkho, pronounced: [θéiɴkʰò]; c. 919–956) was king of Pagan dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) from c. 934 to c. 956. According to the Burmese chronicles, Theinhko was a son of the previous king, Sale Ngahkwe. Theinhko was killed by a farmer, Nyaung-u Sawrahan, from whose farm he took a cucumber. The king had been on a hunting trip and separated from his retinue, exhausted and thirsty.[1] The farmer was accepted as king by the queen to prevent unrest in the kingdom and became known as the "Cucumber King", "farmer king" or "Taungthugyi Min".[2]

The story is likely a fairy tale. There are at least three other versions—an exact parallel in the Burmese fairy tale "Princess Thudhammasari" and two variants in Cambodian history, one in the eighth and another in the 14th century. Kings of Cambodia claim descent from the gardener.[3]

Various chronicles do not agree on the dates regarding his life and reign.[4] The oldest chronicle Zatadawbon Yazawin is considered to be the most accurate for the Pagan period.[note 1] The table below lists the dates given by four main chronicles, as well as Hmannan's dates when anchored by the Anawrahta's inscriptionally verified accession date of 1044.

Chronicles Birth–Death Age Reign Length of reign Zatadawbon Yazawin 919–956 37 934–956 26 Maha Yazawin 880–917 37 901–917 16 Yazawin Thit and Hmannan Yazawin 891–931 40 915–931 16 Hmannan adjusted 919–959 40 943–959 16

References

^ (Maha Yazawin 2006: 346–349): Among the four major chronicles, only Zatadawbon Yazawin's dates line up with Anawrahta's inscriptionally verified accession date of 1044 CE. (Aung-Thwin 2005: 121–123): In general, Zata is considered "the most accurate of all Burmese chronicles, particularly with regard to the best-known Pagan and Ava kings, many of whose dates have been corroborated by epigraphy."

^ Hmannan Vol. 1 2003: 222 ^ Harvey 1925: 18–19 ^ Harvey 1925: 315–316 ^ Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 347

Bibliography

Aung-Thwin, Michael A. (2005). The Mists of Rāmañña: The Legend that was Lower Burma (illustrated ed.). Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 9780824828868.

Harvey, G. E. (1925). History of Burma: From the Earliest Times to 10 March 1824 . London: Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.

Kala, U (1724). Maha Yazawin (in Burmese). 1–3 (2006, 4th printing ed.). Yangon: Ya-Pyei Publishing.

Royal Historical Commission of Burma (1832). Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). 1–3 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar.

Theinhko Pagan Dynasty Born: c. 919 Died: c. 956 Regnal titles Preceded by

Sale Ngahkwe King of Pagan

c. 934–956 Succeeded by

Nyaung-u Sawrahan



