U Mao was a petty trader of Shan origin (ไทเขิน thai khoen or ไทขึน thai khuen in Thai) in a rural region of Mueang Sing in northwestern Laos. He migrated to Mueang Sing from Kentung (Chiang Tung) in eastern Burma at a very young age and later became an affluent, wealthy man. But he was also a devout Buddhist. So much merit he earned with generous gifts for temples and communities, that King Sisavang Vong (ເຈົ້າມະຫາຊີວິດສີສະຫວ່າງວົງ)