Hereditary lords · The kingdom of Pagan under Narapatisithu · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Yenangyaung earth-oil pits

Hand-dug pits on the east bank from which crude oil is dipped in pots; the name means the creek of stinking water.

The oil burns in lamps, waterproofs boats and treats timber. The wells are old by tradition (a tenth-century claim), but English Wikipedia knows no record before 1755 and no dated grant before the colonial period; the twenty-four hereditary twinzayo families belong to those centuries. For 1 January 1200 the honest statement is that the oil is probably being drawn and no source says who owns the pits.

Who he is

Title
The pit-owning families of Yenangyaung (a hereditary body only attested much later)
Since
not known
Born
not known
Family
not known
Confidence
low

English Wikipedia, Yenangyaung: origins uncertain, some claim the tenth century; earliest extant records of 1755; a hereditary corporation of 24 families (twinzayo) is recorded only in the colonial period.

What it holds

  • The oil pits at Twingon and Beme (names from the later record)

How things stand that morning

Working on tradition; ownership not known.

Places of note

  • Yenangyaung: Oil pits.

Where the sources disagree

  • The campaign board entry yenangyaung-earth-oil: 'the hereditary families who own the wells are documented only later': agreed.

Evidence: No record before 1755.

"The campaign board" is OMNIA's working map. These notes record where its earlier claims were checked against the sources.

Primary sources for Kingdom of Pagan

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

Sources and studies

  1. English Wikipedia, Yenangyaung

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.