September 14, 2007

6:00 pm 6:45 pm
Krannert , RM G20

Myanmar (BurMA)
The Golden Land

PISA
Presentation
 MYANMAR(BURMA)
THE GOLDEN LAND

Presented by:
Aung Kyi San

Compiled by : Kyaw Min Tun, Aung Kyi San, Ei Ei Phyu, and Sandar Kyaw
 Outline of the Presentation

Introduction to the country, Myanmar

Myanmar, the Golden Land
History and Current Government
Yangon, Capital of Myanmar ???
Nay Pyi Taw, the new Administrative Capital of Myanmar
Scenes from Mysterious Myanmar
Great People of Myanmar
10 Myanmar Traditional Arts
Myanmar Musical Instruments
Interesting Myanmar Culture
Myanmar Food
Festivals in Myanmar (Highlight: Myanmar New Year (Water Festival))
 Situated in South East Asia
Borders with China, Laos, Thailand,
Bangladesh, and India
Area = 676,577 km2 (261,228 sq miles)
in the shape of a diamond
Population = 47 ~ 50 millions
Union of many nationalities as much as
135 groups ( 8 major groups)
The main religions of the country are
Buddhism (89.5 % ),
Christianity (4.9 % ),
Muslims (3.8 % ),
Hindus (0.05 % )
 Eight Major
Eight MajorNationalities
Nationalities ofof Burma
Burma

Kachin Kayah Kayin Chin

Bamar Mon Rakhine Shan

 Religions

Buddhism

Christianity Muslims Hindus Animism

 History and Current Government
First Burmese empire --- Pagan Kingdom (849-1287)

Second Burmese empire --- Toungoo Dynasty (1486-1752)

Third Burmese empire Konbaung Dynasty (1753-1885)

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)

Nationalist Movement in Burma (after 1886)

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

Independence from British (Jan 4, 1948)

 History and Current Government

Post-Independence Burma (1948-1962)

Military Era (1962 -1988)

(Burmese Way to Socialism: One-party system )

8888 Uprising (1988) ( Fight for democracy) Aung San Suu Kyi Than Shwe
(The Lady) (The Dictator)
Military Junta (1989-present)

Head Senior General Than Shwe (State Peace and Development Council -
SPDC)
(Ranked number 6 in the worlds worst dictator list (2007) compiled by Parade
Magazine of USA, an improvement from last years (2006) list when he was
number 3.

Opposition Leader: Aung San Suu Kyi ( National League for Democracy NLD)
Yangon (Green City of Grace) the former capital?
Attractions . (Shwedagon Pagoda)

One of the wonders of the world

Marvelous architecture
* Conical structure
* 99.4 meters (326 feet) high
* 432.8meters (1420 ft)perimeter
* Covered with 60 tons of gold leaf
* Priceless Gems on pinnacle
Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions . (Shwedagon Pagoda)

Golden Umbrella

Close up view of Diamond Bud

Golden Resting Place structure

Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions . (Sule Pagoda)

Situated right in the center of

Yangon

Over 2000 years old

46 meters (152 feet) high,

surrounded by small shops and
services such as of astrologists,
palmists
Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions. China Town
Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions. Night Scene
 Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital)

Naypyidaw means "Royal Palace/City", but is also translated as "seat of

kings

The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a

greenfield site two miles west of Pyinmana on 6 November 2005.

Naypyidaw is approximately 320 kilometers north of Yangon. The

capital's official name was announced on Armed Forces Day in March
2006.
Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital)
Constructions and Some Ministry Buildings
Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital)
Residential and Ministry Buildings
Father of Burmese Army Nobel Peace Laureate,1991 Third General-Secretary
of United Nations
Hero of Burma Independence Leader of Burmese
from British Pro-Democracy Movement
 Founder of the modern Burmese Army. Hero of Burmese Independence

During the Second World War, he formed the Burma Independence Army
(BIA) with Japanese assistance, leading a core group known as the Thirty
Comrades.

Led the BIA (renamed the Burma National Army) against the Imperial Army
and after helping the Allies to defeat the Japanese in 1945, he formed Peoples
Volunteer Organization to pressure the British to grant independence.

Reached an agreement with British in January 1947 and his party won in 1947
assembly election.

But before he could become the first prime minister of a fully independent
Burma, he and six colleagues were assassinated by a political rival on July 19,
1947.
Burmese Bank Notes Issued in Honor of General Aung San
Daughter of Burmese independence leader Gen Aung San.

In August 1988, began addressing Burmese people about

political change and received large amounts of support.

Secretary-general of the National League of Democracy

Party, 1988-present. Placed under house arrest from 1989-
1995.

In 1991, awarded Sakharov Prize for Freedom of

Thought and the Nobel Peace Prize. (Oct 14, 1991)

Continues to play major role in Burmas democratic

struggle. Placed under house arrest again from Sept 2000 to
May 2002, and currently she is under house arrest again
since May 2003.

She has received more than 10 honorary doctorates

degrees, US presidential medal of freedom(2000) and
many other awards.
 Secretary-General U Thant

Term: 1961-1971

U THANT
THIRD SECRETARY-GENERAL OF
UNITED NATIONS
Acting Secretary-General since 3 November 1961.

He was then unanimously appointed Secretary-General by the General

Assembly on 30 November 1962 for a term of office ending on 3 November
1966.

U Thant was re-appointed for a second term as Secretary-General of the

United Nations by the General Assembly on 2 December 1966 on the
unanimous recommendation of the Security Council. His term of office
continued until 31 December 1971.

He received 35 honorary doctorate degrees from universities including UC-

Berkley, Harvard U., Princeton U. , New York U. , Yale U. and U. of Michigan-
Ann Arbor.
 Burmese Traditional Arts

Pan Pei Pan Tein

Pan Yan

Pan Tin Pan Tawt

 Burmese Traditional Arts

Pan Pu Pan Ta Mawt

Pan Chee

Pan Put Pan Yun

 Burmese Traditional Orchestra
Cymbals

Oboes

Series of gongs Timing bells

Brass gongs circle

Short Drums

Fipple-flutes
 Burmese Traditional Orchestra

Drum circle

Main Drum
 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

 Interesting Myanmar Culture

Burmese Country Style

Myanmar Food
 Myanmar Food

Spicy fried fish Fried Dried Fish Fried Crabs

Egg Curry Chicken Curry Beef Curry Water Cress with Garlic
 Myanmar Food

A Must for Burmese People !!!

Mon-hin-ga >> Spicy Noodle with Catfish Pork

 Festivals
Tagu - Burmese New Year (Thingyn Festival)
Kason - Pouring water at the bo (Bodhi Nyaung) tree
Nayon - Examinations in religious scriptures
Waso - Waso Festival
Wagaung - Boat Races in Old ties
Taw Tha Lin - Regatta Festival
Thadingyut Light Festival
Ta zaung mon Light Festival & offering of robe to monks
Na Daw - Celebration in honour of the literati
Pya Tho Equestrian Festival
Ta Bo Dwe Festival of making Htamanei
Ta Baung Festival of Sand pagodas
 BURMESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
Thingyan Water Festival

What? - Thingyan water festival, the most joyous and hilarious of the many
festivals in Myanmar, everyone, irrespective of race, creed, caste or
color can enjoy in carefree abandon within the bounds of cultural context.
- Celebrated countrywide.
- Symbolizes the change = Thingyan from old year to new year
according to Burmese Lunar Calendar.

When? Mid-April, usually starts on April 13 or 14. Lasts for 3 to 4 days.

This year it starts on April 13

How? - 1) Throw water to each other.

2) Do Good Deeds.

Why Water? - to wash away sins and evil from the old year
- to cool down the warmth of summer time
 Throwing Water Traditionally

At Old Times At Modern Times

Water Throwing These Days

ThinGyan for Youngsters

Flower of the Festival
Padauk (Pterocarpus soyauxii)
http://www.timetraveler-book.com/mig/
Burmese New Year Dance

Yangon Mayors Pavilion

Burmese New Year Dance
 New Year Time is not only a time for fun but also a time for doing good
deeds. Even though it is not a religious festival, the devout Buddhists enjoy
doing good deeds during the festival and on the new year day as it is special
time for Burmese.
Many Burmese visit Buddhist monasteries to offer alms to monks and
observe Buddhist rites . Some gather at pagodas to wash Buddha images
and clean the pagoda compounds.
Young people also accrue merits by paying homage to old folks of their
town or village, manicuring, then bathing them and washing their hair. Some
young people temporarily join Buddhist orders; young men and boys become
monks while girls become nuns.
 Myanmar New Year Day ended the three-to-four day long water throwing
festival

On this auspicious New Year Day, City dwellers donated provisions to

members of the Sangha, manicured parents,older persons and teachers,
served monks and people of various regions with nourishment and set birds,
fish and animals free.