Burman history

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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
Language: English
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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..."
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Source/publisher: School of Oriental and African Studies (London)
2002-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2021-10-10
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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..."
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2011-05-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-04-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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....."
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Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
1981-04-22
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Burman history
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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..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
1902-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
1901-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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.."
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Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
1943-10-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
1905-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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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..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Kham Koo Website
2004-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
Category: Burman history
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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.
Creator/author: 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
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-08-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 195.27 KB
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