The Women of the Kayan Tribe have a unique tradition:neck rings. Located in Northern Thailand, the Kayans have been practicing this method for thousands of years. An estimated 40,000 visitors come every year to see this women and their striking apperance.



Why Do They Wear Rings?
The neck ring tradition is said to date back to the 11th century. However, no one knows why the tradition was started. Even Kayan women aren't completely sure of the story behind the rings. The most common theory is that it was worn to protect themselves from tiger attacks. The Legend of the Kayan People says the women wear brass coils to resemble the mother their people, the female dragon.
Read the Legend of the Kayan People Here

Girls start wearing their rings early
At the age of 5 girls are given a neck ring, weighing 5 pounds. Women say the rings were painful as children, but it stops hurting eventually. They claim they have no health issues related to the rings. In a few years, it is replaced with a longer one and is coiled more. A woman usually gets 25 rings in her life. Brass coils are also worn around the legs. Cloth is usually worn underneath the rings, for they can cause discomfort.


The rings cause an illusion
Even though the rings are meant to elongate the necks, the neck, the rings don't actually stretch the neck. The weight of the rings actually push the muscles around the shoulder bones down, creating the illusion of a long neck. Girls start wearing the rings so young because their bones are more pilant. Their is speculation about whether the neck rings prevent movement, some saying you cannont look up. The coils can lead to muscle weakness since they are holding up the neck and the neck muscles dont have to do anything. Kayan women say the rings are heavy, but are minimal and they regularily play volleyball.



The Kayan people fled their homes to protect the tradition
In 1962, Burmese military forces took control of Myanmar, hoping to modernize society. They wanted to rid of aspects of Kayan culture, such as neck rings. Many tribes seeked refuagge in Thailand to save their tradition. Today, it's not uncommon for women to remove their rings, even though they are not forced to.