Hkun Ai In Burmese mythology, a hero who married a Naga, a dragon woman, and fathered a king, Tung Hkam. Hkun Ai fell in love with a Naga princess and went to live in the kingdom of the Nagas. To make it easier for Hkun Ai, the king of the Nagas ordered all of the dragons to assume human form, which they did. At the time of the Nagas’s water festival, however, they had to assume their dragon shapes. After seeing the Nagas sporting in the waters, Hkun Ai became gloomy and wanted to go home to his parents. His wish was granted. The Naga princess, however, said she would lay an egg from which a child would be hatched who could be fed with milk from Hkun Ai’s little finger whenever he thought of her. A child was hatched from the egg and named Tung Hkam, or Golden Dead Leaves. When the boy grew up, he wanted to marry Princess Pappawadi, whose palace was surrounded by water and had to be reached without the use of bridge, boat, or raft. He called on his mother, who appeared and stretched her body from the shore to the palace on the island, and Tung Hkam walked over her to reach the princess, whom he married. Tung Hkam reigned for 72 years and was succeeded by two sons, Hkun Lu and after him Khun Lai.

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Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow – Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante