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Presented at KKU

Khon Kaen, Thailand

Myanmar Culture & Society

8 July 2011

Outlines of the Presentation

I. Myanmar Geography

II. Symbols of Myanmar

III.Background History of Myanmar

IV. Myanmar People

V. Economy

VI. Myanmar Culture

Myanmar Geography

Rivers in Myanmar

Symbols of Myanmar

Shwedagon pagoda Inle Lake

Adopted a new flag on 21 Oct 2010 Country coat of arms

Etymology

Burma (Formerly):

- Derived from the Burmese word “Bamar” which historically referred to the majority “Bamar” or “Burmans”

- Since the time of British colonial rule (1886)

Myanmar:

- In 1989, the military government officially changed “Burma” to “Myanmar”

- The English translations of many colonial-era names

Background History of Myanmar

I. The Early History

Mon : First people settled in Myanmay possibly as early as 3,000 BC. 

- Settled near the mouths of the Thanlwin and Sittaung rivers and established the kingdom called Suvannabhumi, which is mentioned in the early Indian literatures and Chinese records.

- Immigrated from some where in central Asia several centuries before Christ.

- Linguistically, the Mon language belong to the Mon-Khmer family who are still to be found in parts of Thailand and Cambodia today

- Introduced Buddhism and Indian culture to Burma, Besides the religion, the Mons had an advanced knowledge of agriculture. They were experts in irrigation, and turned the river basins in Lower Burma into fertile paddy fields.

Phyu: arrived Myanmar later in the 1st century BC

- Established several city - kingdoms in the north of Irrawaddy delta.

- Spoke Tibeto-Burman language (acc. to Chinese records from the Tang Dynasty)

- Created new trade routes and build grand Buddhist temples.

- In 832, Nan Chao from Yunnan of China invaded north of Burma, and took many Pyus as war-prisoners back to Nan Chao.

- Their weakness brought about the emergence of another people called Burma, who from the 9th century immigrated into Burma from the border area between China and Tibet.

I. The Early History

Bamar : Appeared in Myanmar in the 9th centurty

- Coming from the China Tibet border area

- Speak Tibeto-Burman language

- Establishd a small kingdom centered in Bangan on the Irrawaddy

river in 849 and became the dominant ethnic group in Myanmar.

The Early HistoryThe Early History

II. Monarchy Era

Three Myanmar Empire

First Myanmar Empire

(849-1287)

The first Myanmar Empire was founded in 1044 by King Anawrahta

Second Myanmar Empire (1486-1752)

The second Myanmar Empire was founded in mid 16th Century by King Bayinnaung.

Third Myanmar Empire

1753 - 1885

King Alaungpaya founded the last Myanmar Dynasty in 1752 and it was during the zenith of this Empire that the British moved into Myanmar.

British Rule

War with Britain (1824-1852)

(1st Anglo-Burmese War)

British Lower Burma (1852-1885)

(2nd Anglo-Burmese War)

British Upper Burma (1885-1886) (3rd Anglo-Burmese War)

British rule in Burma (1886-1948) ( A province of India)

- Japanese occupation of Burma (1942-1945) --- WW II

-Independence from British (Jan 4, 1948)

-(Regained her independence first though she was the last country occupied by the British in this region.)

4 Jan. 1948 Independence from the British Gov’t. U Nu, the 1st PM

2 Mar.1962 A Military coup de’tat by Gen Ne Win . Socialist Party Founded

8 August 1988 Student Uprising

18 Sept 1988 A military coup de’tat by Gen. Saw Maung, The State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) formed

Market Oriented Economic Policy

27 May 1990 National election was held.

15 Nov 1997 SLORC to State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)

IV.Post Independence and Military Rule Era

Myanmar People

Myanmar has a diverse population,

the result of three separate migrations from Central Asia and Tibet.

1st migration group : Mons 2nd migration group: the Tibeto- Myanmar 3rd migration group: Tai Shan people

Myanmar People

Officially 135 ethnic groups comprise Myanmar people

The population of the country is estimated at 55,400,000 (2009)

About 70% of the population is descended from the Barmar.

A part from the Chinese and Indians, most minority ethnic groups live mainly in the hills.

States and Regions

Eight Major Nationalities of Myanmar

Kachin Kayah

Kayin Chin

Eight Major Nationalities of Myanmar

Bamar

Mon

Rakhine

Shan

Religions

Buddhism

89.2%

Hinduism

0.5%

Christianity

5.0%

Spiritualism Animism

1.2 %

Islam

3.8%

Language and Literature

Language: belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family of languages.

33 consonants and twelve vowels Script: originally adapted from the Mon

language (derived from Pali, the ancient Indian language of the sacred text of Theravada Buddhism.

Myanmar Alphabets and Numbers

Economy

British Administration

- Myanmar was the 2nd wealthiest country in South East Asia.s

- The world’s largest exporter of rice

- Produced 75% of the world’s teak

- A highly literately population

- The country was believed to be on the fast track to development.

Economy

After Independence

1948:

- Adopted central planned economy

- Rice exports fell by two thirds and mineral exports by over 96%

1962:

- Coup de’tat was followed by an economic scheme called the Burmese Way to socialism

1987:

UN gave Myanmar Least Develop Country status

EconomyAfter Independence

In recent yrs:

- China and India has established closed ties for economic

- US,Canada and EU have imposed investment and trade sanctions on Myanmar

Foreign Invest:

- Primarily comes from China, Singapore, South Korea, India and

Thailand

- Major Agriculture is rice, 60% of cultivated land

- Rubies are the largest earner, 90% of the world’s rubies come from Myanmar (Thaland buy the majority of the country’ gems)

Economy

In 1992

- The government has encouraged tourism in the

country , fewer than 750,000 tourists enter the

country annually

GDP 2010 estimated: Total - $42.953 billion, Per capita - $702

Currency: Kyat

Myanmar Culture

Generally, Myanmar culture means Buddhist and Bamar culture

Bamar Culture has been influenced by the cultures of neighbouring countries (its langauge, cuisine, music, dance and theatre,

The arts and literature have been influened by Theravada Buddhism

The national epic of Myanmar , the Yama Zatdaw, an adaption of India’s Ramayana

Myanmar Culture

In Traditional Village:

- The monastry is the centre of culture life

A novitiation ceremony called Shinbyu (All boys)

Ear-piercing ceremonies (All girls)

- Myanmar culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the yaer

British Colonial Rule:

- Myanmar’s educational system is modelled after that of the UK.

- Colonial architectural influences are most evident in major cities

such as Yangoon.

- Many ethnic minorities, particularly Karen, Kachin, and Chin practice

Christianity.

Men and Women

In Buddhism,

- Men have a higher status than

women (Buddhists believe in

reincarnation, and a woman has to

hope that, in her next life , she is

reborn as a man.

-The husband considered the spiritual head of the Myanmar household because of his hpon ( Pone) or spiritual status.

- In public, women let men take the lead, often walking behind

their husbands or fathers

- At home, however, a husband usually hands his earnings over

to the wife, who manages the family budget and often runs her

own small business, too.

- Women are excluded from certain areas of religious buildings Despite

the hierarchy of Buddhism, however Myanmar women have a quiet

self-confidence that comes from a tradition of independence.

- Women have equal rights of inheritance with men.

- Women dominate the market as traders of goods or food vendors.

- Today, there are many women in professional occupations, working

as doctors, dentists, lawyers, writers, teachers, and scientists

Men and Women

Myanmar Culture

Proper Etiquette

- Excessive emotion, whether prompted anger or by love are frowned upon

- Elders and others of a higher status are treated with courtesy

- Considered rude to pass things over the heads of seated elder

- To show respect to grandparents, parents, and teachers on formal occasions, Kneel down with foreheads and elbows touching the ground

- When passing a pagoda or meeting a monk, they put their palms together in a gesture of reverence.

- Sensitive about imposing on, or inconveniencing, other people. The fear of embarrassing others is called anade (Ah-nar-Deh).

Family Tie

Myanmar households often

consist of three generations

Children:

- learn to share and to participate in the family life at an early age.

- Expected to respect parents ,all elders and take care of their aged parents

Interesting Myanmar Culture

Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

Myanmar Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

Food

Mon-hin-ga - Spicy Noodle with Catfish

Curry

Q&A

How does the poor Myanmar economy and national situation effected the GMS region?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of increase tourism in Myanmar society?

What are the similaraties & difference between Myanmar and other GMS culture?

Thank You