1 presented at kku khon kaen, thailand myanmar culture & society 8 july 2011
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1
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
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