Naungdawgyi was born Maung Lauk () to Yun San and Aung Zeya (later King Alaungpaya) on 10 August 1734 (Tuesday, 11th waxing of Wagaung 1096 ME) in a small village of Moksobo, about 60 miles northwest of Ava (Inwa) [REF].
Lauk grew up during the period in which the royal authority of the king at Ava had largely dissipated across the kingdom.