A hand-drawn; hand-coloured watercolour from the late 19th century by an unknown Burmese artist.

The name of the ethnic group featured appears near the top of the picture in Shan script (left); Burmese script (Centre) and Khun script (right). Khun script was formerly used in Kengtung / Kyaingtong in eastern Shan State and in Lan Na or Lanna; northern Thailand.

The Shan; or Tai Yai (Large Tai) people are indigenous to Burma; but also have settlements in Thailand and China's Yunnan Province. Myanmar has a northern region called Shan State; its capital is Taunggyi. The Shan have an estimated population of some 6 million.