Panthay is a term used to refer to the predominantly Muslim Hui people of China who migrated to Burma. They are among the largest groups of Burmese Chinese, and predominantly reside in the northern regions of Burma (formerly known as Upper Burma), particularly in the Tangyan-Maymyo-Mandalay-Taunggyi area and Shan States.

The name Panthay is a Burmese word, which is said to be identical with the Shan word Pang hse.^[1] It was the name by which the Burmese called the Chinese Muslims who came with caravans to Burma from the Chinese province of Yunnan. The name was not used or known in Yunnan itself.^[2][3]

Several theories have been suggested as to its derivation, but none of them is strong enough to refute the others. The Burmese word Pathi is a corruption of Persian. The Burmese of Old Burma called their own indigenous Muslims Pathi. It was applied to all Muslims other than the Chinese Muslims. The name Panthay is still applied exclusively to the Chinese Muslims. However Chinese Muslims in Yunnan did not call themselves Panthay. They called themselves Huizu (回族), meaning Muslim in Chinese. Non-Muslim Chinese and Westerners refer to them as Huihui (回回).

Insofar as can be ascertained, the application of the term "Panthay" to Yunnanese Muslims (and, subsequently, to Burmese Muslims of Yunnanese origin) dates from about this time; certainly it was widely employed by British travellers and diplomats in the region from about 1875, and seems to have arisen as a corruption of the Burmese word pa-the meaning simply "Muslim". A considerable body of literature exists surrounding the etymology of this term, but the definitive notice (which remains, as yet, unpublished). Indicated that it was introduced by Sladen at the time of his 1868 expedition to Teng-yueh, and that it represents an anglicised and shortened version of the Burmese tarup pase, or "Chinese Muslim". In fact, the term "Panthay" was never employed by the Yunnanese Muslims (whether of China or of Burma) who prefer simply to call themselves Hui-min or Hui-hui; nor did it, apparently, enjoy widespread usage amongst the Burmans, Shan, Karen or other Burmese peoples. Be that as it may, however – and the designation is virtually unused within Burma today- the term "Panthay" achieved widespread usage during the period of British rule, and remains the name by which Burma's Chinese Muslim community has generally been distinguished in English language sources to the present day. The origin of Panthay was - the families of some loyal lieutenants led by Mah Lin-Gi(馬靈驥) of the reputable late Hui General Du Wen-Xio who committed suicide after his perilous fight against the Ching Empire jointly with its Christian ally Taipin-Tinkuo failed, and to escape from being massacred by the Ching Empire, they had no choice but had to flee to Burma for refuge. Settled down in Wa region at Northern Shan State, Ma Lin-Gi divorced with his wife of family name Yuan and married a widow of family name Ting. They later had two sons, the elder named Mah Mei-Ting (馬美廷) was born in 1878 and the second son named Mah Shen-Ting (馬陞廷) was born in 1879. The elder son later became the leader of the Panthay community there who accomplished in making it toward prosperity and the second son, a handsome man was a reputable skillful gentlemen of high dignity. Their later generations further resettled in Burma's Maymyo, Mandalay, Rangoon and many of them immigrated to US, Australia and Taiwan and so on documented to the current status. Among them, doctors and engineers are plenty where some of them holding master or Ph.D degrees as well. One thing is certain, no matter where these people located, they share the same value of being peaceful, hardworking, law-abiding and eco-friendly citizens.