Burman history
Websites/Multiple Documents
Description:
"In 1989, the military government officially changed the English translations of many names dating back to Burma?s colonial period or earlier, including that of the country itself: "Burma" became "Myanmar". The renaming remains a contested issue.[25] Many political and ethnic opposition groups and countries continue to use "Burma" because they do not recognise the legitimacy of the ruling military government or its authority to rename the country."
Source/publisher:
Wikipedia
Date of entry/update:
2014-07-03
Grouping:
Websites/Multiple Documents
Category:
Events 1989-1997, Burman history
Language:
English
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Individual Documents
Description:
"The Abhiraja/Dhajaraja story, the most important origin myth legitimizing
Burmese kingship, is widely viewed as a central Burmese (Burman) tradition. Based
on evidence from available pre-eighteenth century historical texts, many previously
unexamined by scholars, this article finds that the Abhiraja/Dhajaraja origin myth
developed in western Burma over three centuries before its appearance in central
Burma in a 1781 court treatise. This analysis demonstrates that during a significant
1
The author owes gratitude to numerous colleagues who, at different stages, offered help of various
kinds. Special gratitude, however, is owed to Vic Lieberman, Ryuji Okudaira, and Atsuko Naono for
their extensive comments and suggestions on earlier drafts. In addition, Ryuji Okudaira helped me gain
a copy of one of the chief western Burmese chronicles under examination in this article. Help has also
been provided in gaining access to premodern Burmese texts by Patricia Herbert and the late Daw May
Kyi Win. The author is also indebted to U Saw Tun for raising my interest in premodern Burmese
literature during my language training in literary Burmese.
period of cultural borrowing, from the 1780s until the 1820s, central Burmese
(Burman) literati inserted western Burmese (Arakanese) myths and historical
traditions into an evolving central Burmese historical perspective with which most
scholars are more familiar.
Introduction
Several origin myths made the royal ancestry of Burmese kings sacred by
connecting them genealogically to a solar dynasty. The first, likely pre-Buddhist,
origin myth traced the lineage of Burmese kings to Pyu-zàw-htì (Pyu-mìn-htì), the son
of the Sun God and a naga princess.2 Second, Mahasammata, the first human king of
the world in Buddhist thought, served as both a legitimizing model for unifying
Burmese kings and, secondarily, as an origin myth for certain Burmese kings who
drew up loose genealogies connecting themselves to him.3 A third origin myth
provided a fuller elaboration of these genealogies to demonstrate a clearer lineage
from Mahasammata to the Burmese kings, through the intermediary of the solar race
of the Sakiyan clan (the same clan from whom later sprang Gotama Buddha).
2
Maung Kalà [Ù Kalà], Maha-ya-zawin-gyì, Saya Pwa (ed.), Rangoon: Burma Research Society, 1926,
I, p. 143; Shin Sandá-linka, Maní-yadana-bon, Rangoon: Di-bat-sa Press, 1896, pp. 10-11; Zei-yá-thinhkaya, Shwei-bon-ní-dàn, Yangon: Zwei-sa-bei-reib-myoun, 1957, pp. 99-100; See also the discussion
in Ryuji Okudaira, “Rekishiteki Haikei,” in Ayabe Tsuneo & Ishii Yoneo (eds.)., Motto Shiritai
Myanmar, 2nd ed., Tokyo: Kobundo, 1994, pp. 9-13. This work was thankfully translated for the author
by Atsuko Naono.
3
For Burmese thought on the Mahasammata myth as legitimation for earthly rulers, see William J.
Koenig, The Burmese Polity, 1752-1819: Politics, Administration, and Social Organization in the
Early Kon-baung Period, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Center for South and Southeast Asian
Studies, 1990, pp. 65-67, 69-71, 73-74, 93; Victor B. Lieberman, Burmese Administrative Cycles:
Anarchy and Conquest, c. 1580-1760, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984, pp. 66, 72-4, 83; S.
According to this myth, a king of this clan, having lost his kingdom in Northern India,
found his way to central Burma. There he established the first Burmese state,
Tagaung. When Tagaung was later destroyed, a second ruler of the Sakiyan clan
reestablished it.4 According to this origin myth, all Burmese kings are descended from
this clan and, given the connection made in Burmese histories between Mahasammata
and the Sakiya clan, from Mahasammata himself.5 Although this origin myth has been
treated in the secondary literature on Burmese history as a development stemming out
of central Burmese thought, it did not surface in central Burmese texts until 1781 in
Shin Sandá-linka’s Maní-yadana-bon.
6
The absence of any reference to this myth in Burmese inscriptions and its late
appearance in Burmese chronicles led the epigraphist G. H. Luce to argue that:
The old view of some (not all) Burmese historians [concerning Tagaung]
is hardly worth discussion. The Abhiraja/Dhajaraja legends were
presumably invented to give Burmans a noble derivation from the
Sakiyan line of Gotama Buddha himself. But one has only to put a
Burman between a North Indian and a Chinese, to see at a glance where
his racial connections lie.7
J. Tambiah, World Conqueror and World Renouncer: A Study of Buddhism and Polity in Thailand
Against a Historical Background, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976, pp. 93-4.
4
Hman-nàn maha-ya-zawin-daw-gyì, Mandalay: Ratana Theiddi Press, 1908, I, pp. 175-182.
5 Koenig, The Burmese Polity, pp. 86-87.
6
Shin Sandá-linka, Maní-yadana-bon, Rangoon: Di-bat-sa Press, 1896. Pe Maung Tin explains,
however, that this myth did not enter central Burmese chronicles until 1785, with the appearance of the
New Pagan Chronicle. See Pe Maung Tin, “Introduction,” in Pe Maung Tin & G. H. Luce (trans.), The
Glass Palace Chronicle of the Kings of Burma, London: Oxford University Press, 1923, p. xv..."
Source/publisher:
School of Oriental and African Studies (London)
Date of publication:
2002-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2021-10-10
Grouping:
Individual Documents
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315.6 KB
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Description:
"...In the recent years, the interstate wars have declined and intrastate wars/ internal conflicts are on rise. Impacts of internal conflicts are no longer limited within a nation state, they incur international consequences of disturbing magnitude. Myanmar (Burma) is affected by two types of internal conflicts. The first is between the military government and various ethnic groups spread along the international borders with India, China, Laos and Thailand. These ethnic minorities speak different languages, have different cultures and have taken up arms. They seek to have a say in the political process, economic development of their regions and the right to practice their language, culture and religion without constraints. They have been operating across the international borders. In the absence of economic security, law and order and effective governance to meet their needs, they tend to indulge in various illegal activities like arms smuggling and drug trafficking having effect on the neighbourhood. The second internal conflict is due to the aspirations of the people demanding democratic government which is being severely put down by the military junta. The conflict arising out of the democratic aspirations of the people and the approach of the military government has serious implications to the neighbouring countries. This volume comprises of eleven research papers presented at the seminar held in Singapore in May 2010 in collaboration with Institute of South East Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore..."
Date of publication:
2011-05-31
Date of entry/update:
2020-04-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
1.59 MB
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Description:
"... Books contents: Rangoon, Amenities of Rangoon, Across the Yomas to Taungdwingyi, In a Burmese market town, Jungle life at Kokogon, Through the forest to Pyinmana, One thousand miles up the Irrawaddy, One thousand miles up the Irrawaddy, Two capitals, Some other towns, A month on the Lashio line, Camping in the Northern Shan States, The Burman, Resources and Trade, Government, Travel, Hints to visitors....."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
1981-04-22
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-19
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burman history
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
16.38 MB
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Sub-title:
BURMA
Description:
"... Table of contents: Introduction, the initial stages, preliminary discussion with the local government, the general village register, areas not dealt with synchronously, a three fold classification, treatment of the Shan States and the Chin hills, non-synchronous arrangements for the districts of Burma, preparatory erasures, code of census procedure, definitions, circle lists, training census officers, experimental enumeration, forms and stationery, the preliminary enumeration, testing the preliminary record, census holidays, the final enumeration, preparation of the provisional totals, the work of abstraction, the work of abstraction, cost of operation, Chapter (1) the distribution of the population, selection of natural divisions, district densities, provincial density, urban and rural population, imperial table no.1, of little value for purposes of comparison of urban population, numerical distinction between towns and villages, average number of inhabitants per village and of residents per house, overcrowding in Rangoon, average number of residents per house in the scheduled area, registered buildings, no return of boat population, Chapter (2) The movement of the population, factors regulating the movement of the population, the natural factors, unreliability of birth and death statistics, the social factor, increases and decreases b districts, variations in urban population, lower Burma, variations in urban population, Upper Burma, extent of foreign immigration in the various districts, movement from rural to urban areas, persons born in Burma but censused in India, Chapter (3) The religion of the people, Buddhism, Burmese Buddhism, Burmese Buddhist Sects, Power of the priesthood in Burma, Latent Animism, Animism, Animism and ancestor worship, Nat worship in Burma, Animism and head hunting, spirit worship of the Karens, Muhammadanism, Hinduism, Christianity, Christian Denominations, Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Baptists, Other denominations, Sikhism, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Chapter (4) Age, Sex and Civil condition, age returns to be first considered, the ages returned, want of accuracy in age returns, unadjusted age return, the mean age of the population, proportionate increase or decrease in age periods since 1891, proportion of the two sexs, district proportion, Lower Burma, district proportion, Upper Burma, civil condition, marriage in Burma, percentage of married, to total population, civil condition by sex and age periods, distribution my age for indigenous races, Chapter (5) Education, improved system of education classification, contrast of figures with figures of previous censuses, alteration of age periods, treatment of those only able to sign their names, actual increase in literacy obscured by increase of census area Education by Age periods, district proportion of literacy, female education, education by religion, literacy by religion, literacy by race, literacy by languages know, no comparison of census with departmental figure, Chapter (6) The languages of the province, tones in the languages of the provinces, pitch and stress tones, origin of tones, the morphological order, grouping of provincial languages, the Burmese language, Arakanese, Travoyan, Yaw, Chaungtha, Yabein, Intha, Taungyo, Kadu, Szi, Lashi and Maru, Hpon, Maingth, the Lisaw sub-group, the Chingpaw language group, the Chin language group, Kuki Chin sub-groups, Northern Chin Languages, central Chin languages, Old Kuki languages, Southern Chin Languages, Southern Chin forms in Lower Burma, the Siamese Chinese sub-family, the Tai language group, Southern Tai sub-group, Norther Tai sub-group, Northern Burmese Shan, Southern Burmese Shan, Chinese Shan, connection of Shan with Chinese, the Karen languages, Southern Karen sub-group, Northern Karen sub-group, the Non annam sub-family, group of the Mon Annam sub-family, North Cambodian group, Dunnu or Danaw, Synopsis of Indo-Chinese languages, Selon, other....Chapter (7) Infirmities, definition of infirmities, high upper Burma figures in 1891, general decrease in infirmities in 1901, insanity, insanity by age periods, deaf mutism, deaf mutism by age periods, Blindness, Blindness by age periods, leprosy, leprosy by age periods, Chapter (8) Caste, Triee and race, caste in Burma, Difficulty of recording caste in the province, Misleading answers and errors in transliteration, No real castes in Burma, Indian castes, paraiyan, Mal, Kapu or Reddi, Palli, other castes, Susalman Tribes, methods of studying the people,Methods of studying the people, Application of the scientific methods The Burmans Dr. Macnamara's theory Burmese characteristics The Arakanese, Tavoyans, &c. TheTalaings,The Chingpaw or Kachins, Connected tribes, The Maingtha, TheShans, The Karens, Bghai and cognate tribes The Chins The Northern Chins The Central and Southern Chins The Taungthus, Taungyos and Danaws, The Palaungs , The Was, TheKadus, The Taws, The Tamans, The Lisaws The Lahus, The Akhas, The Hka Muks , The Yin, The Hpons, The Panthays, The Chinese The Sellings, The Manipuris, Europeans, Exogamy and Endogamy, Tctemism , Chapter (9) Occupation, Subsidiary occupations Subsidiary Occupations of those whose main occupation was agricultural. Difficulties experienced in compilations ... Classification of Occupations... Contents of Imperial Table XV Comparison with 1891 totals ... Class A.—Government ... Class B.—Pasture and Agriculture Landholders, Tenants, &c. ... Growers of special products ... Partially Agriculturists Class C.—Personal Services ... Class D.—Preparation and Supply of Material substances Order VIII.—Lighting, Firing and Forage Order IX.—Buildings Order X.—Vehicles and Vessels Order XI.—Supplementary Requirements Order XII.—Textile Fabrics and Dress... Order XIII.—Metals and Precious Stones Order XIV.—Glass, Earthen and Stoneware Order XV.—Wood, canes and leaves ... Order XVI.—Drugs, gums and dyes Order XVII.—Leather Class E.—Commerce, Transport and Storage Order XVIII.—Commerce ... Order XIX.—Transport and Storage ... ... ... ,, Class F. —Professions ... ... „. Learned professions Midwives ... ... ... ... ,„ Artistic professions ... ... ... .,, , Tattooers Class G.—Unskilled Labour not Agricultural ... ... - Class H.—Means of subsistence independent of occupation Subsidiary Tables Nos. IXA. and IXB..."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
1902-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burman history, Several Groups
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
11.33 MB
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Description:
"...Book contents: Chapter (1) Introduction, Burma a distinct type- previous isolation - influence of Buddhism - current misconceptions about Burma - sketch of history, Chapter (2) Childhood, Infancy - early influences - children's games - school teaching - Togwin, Chapter (3) Adolescence, Universal monastic novitiates - Buddhist institution - The Yanan Theinthamot - Kyaung, Ecclesiastical architecture - Decadence - Zedi - ancient religious orders - Brahmans - Payadyun - Religious worship - principle of Buddhism - return to secular life Chapter (4) Manhood and occupation, agriculture - home industry - Manners and customs - settlements - climate, Chapter (5) Trade and professions, Oil - pressing - palm and cane sugar growing - fruit and vegetable gardening - fishery - the chase - pottery - brick and tiles - plaster - work - stone - cutting - cordage - silk weaving - umbrellas - lacquer - work - foot - gear - metallurgy - implements - ornaments - coins - alchemy - alchemy - forest and timber - carpentry - carving - painting and design - inscriptions and writing - literature - medicine - dealers - transport - boats and carts - travel, Chapter (6) Shan - Karen - Chin - Chimpaw - Chinese - Native of India - European, Chapter (7) political, chronic wars - brigandage - village system - native administration - British administration - royalty - history, Chapter (8) pageants and frolics, the drama - music - games - festivals - Nat worship - pilgrimages - the great shrines, Chapter (9) Age and mortality - funeral observances - tombs..."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
1901-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
20.6 MB
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Description:
"...Table contents: Introduction, Geography, Climate, Health, Natural products, Fauna g Peoples and languages, Social life of the Burman, Early history, First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824, Second Anglo-Burmese War, 1852, Third Anglo-Burmese War, 1885, Government, Burma and Japan, The Burma Road, First Battle of Burma, 1942, Co-prosperity, Selected bibliography.."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
1943-10-29
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
4.75 MB
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Description:
"... Book contents: Chapter (1) Rangoon, Chapter (2) Amenities of Rangoon, Chapter (3) Across the Yomas to Taungdwingyi, Chapter (4) Life in a Burmese Market town, Chapter (5) Jungle life at Kokogon, Chapter (6) Through the forest to Pyinmana, Chapter (7) One thousand mile up the Irrawaddy, Chapter (8) One thousand mile up the Irrasaddy II, Chapter (9) Two Capitals, Chapter (10) Some other towns, Chapter (11) A month on the Lashio Line, Chapter (12) Camping in the Northern Shan State, Chapter (13) The Burman..."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
1905-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burman history, Several Groups, Burmese literature - texts, reviews, profiles, obituaries, articles, papers, bibliographies etc.
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
16.32 MB
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Description:
"...Book contents: Kings and distant wars,The Irrawaddy valley in the early nineteenth century, The Court of Ava, Empire and identity, The grand reforms of King Mindon, Revolt and the coming of British rule, Reformists and royalists at the court of King Thibaw, War and occupation, A colonial society
Conclusion: The making of modern Burma..."
Source/publisher:
Kham Koo Website
Date of publication:
2004-00-00
Date of entry/update:
2020-01-05
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burman history
Language:
Format :
PDF
Size:
1.12 MB
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Description:
Abstract: "History,
language,
and
literature
are
inseparable.
Undoubtedly,
historian
represents
the
past
via
language
and
employs
literature
as
historical
evidence.
The
late
Dr.Than
Tun,
the
highly
respected
and
prominent
Myanmar
historian,
was
trained
in
a
positivist
fashion
under
the
supervision
of
D.G.E.
Hall
and
G.H.
Luce,
the
leading
colonial
scholars.
Hence,
his
treatment
of
literature
fundamentally
confined
to
and
empirical
historical
framework,
attaching
great
importance
to
its
factual
data
and
historicity.
Nonetheless,
some
of
his
writings
reveal
that
he
did
not
neglect
discussing
how
to
trace
back
and
interpret
Myanmar
history
from
fictional
genres
of
the
past,
for
example,
myth,
legend
and
folklore.
He
suggests
that
pre-‐Buddhist
elements
of
pre-‐literate
societies
are
preserved
in
those
traditional
songs,
fables,
proverbs,
riddles
and
customs.
Moreover,
to
study
the
history
of
Myanmar
literature
is
supposed
to
begin
with
the
earliest
form
of
literature,
the
oral
tradition.
While
his
copious
historical
research
was
primarily
based
on
very
formal
literary
evidence,
for
instance,
inscriptions,
royal
orders,
first-‐hand
accounts,
contemporary
historical
documents
on
tax,
revenue,
demography
and
even
tombstones,
when
he
wrote
his
works
he
preferred
to
write
in
the
colloquial
Myanmar
form.
He
advocated
Ludu
U
Hla?s
campaign
for
simple
and
accessible
writings
for
people.
He
also
urged
his
pupils
to
write
theses
in
the
colloquial
language.
This
paper
attempts
to
analyze
Dr.Than
Tun?s
perception
of
Myanmar
language
and
literature
in
a
light
of
the
historical
context
of
Myanmar
society.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015.
Pamaree Surakiat
Source/publisher:
International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-26 July 2015
Date of publication:
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update:
2015-08-20
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Society and Culture, Burma/Myanmar - general studies, Languages of Burma/Myanmar, Burmese literature - texts, reviews, profiles, obituaries, articles, papers, bibliographies etc., Burman history, Languages of Burma - general, International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies (ICBMS) 23-26 July, 2015
Language:
English
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pdf
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195.27 KB
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