Transcript Union of Myanmar Society and Culture

Myanmar Culture & Society
10 January 2012
1
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
Rivers
A = Ayeyarwaddy
C = Chindwin
M = Mekong
S = Sittoung
T = Thanlwin
All rivers flow north to south
Symbols of Myanmar
Country coat of arms
Adopted a new flag on 21 Oct 2010
Shwedagon pagoda
Inle Lake
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.
I. The Early History
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.
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.
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 The second Myanmar Empire was
founded in mid 16th Century by
(1486-1752)
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.)
-
IV.Post Independence and Military Rule Era
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)
Myanmar People
Myanmar has a diverse population,
the result of three separate migrations from
Central Asia and Tibet.

1st migration group : Mons
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2nd migration group: the Tibeto- Myanmar

3rd migration group: Tai Shan people
Myanmar People
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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
Kayin
Kayah
Chin
Eight Major Nationalities of Myanmar
Bamar
Mon
Rakhine
Shan
Religions
Buddhism
Hinduism
89.2%
0.5%
Christianity
Spiritualism
Animism
5.0%
1.2 %
Islam
3.8%
Language and Literature
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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
Economy
After 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
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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.
Men and Women
- 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
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
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Myanmar households often
consist of three generations
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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
Curry
Mon-hin-ga - Spicy Noodle
with Catfish
Coordinating Agents in Myanmar
for MI
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Ministry of National Planning & Economic
Development
1. Daw Myat Myat Soe, Director General
2. Daw Than Than Lin, Director
3. U Tun Win, Assistant Director
4. Ms. Thida Ohn, Staff Officer
Coordinating Agents in Myanmar
for MI
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To inform the government 3 months ahead to
arrange trainings of meetings.
The course evaluation process should be
completed no later than two weeks after the end
of the course. A report should be produced for
the CAs for their information and reference.
Q&A
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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