Life and Works of Rizal

Myanmar in Rizal’s Time:

Society and Religion
2ASN1 - GROUP 5:
LAGMAN, JANNA ALESSANDRA
LIM, EARL LOUIS
MARCOS, JULIA IAN

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I. Significant events in
Myanmar between
1801 - 1900

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1. The First Burmese Christian Convert
(1819)

In 1813, Judson arrived in Myanmar to

study Burmese and preach Baptism
(Aung 2019).

In 1819, he baptized his first convert,

Maung Nau (Pierard 2006; Scott 2019).

Retrieved from:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-missionaries-baptism-nbaptistm-of-
a-convert-in-burma-by-the-american-95498866.html 3
The missionary who first promoted
Christianity in Myanmar was
Adoniram Judson (Aung 2019).

Christianity in Burma continues to

cultivate a significant influence in
society (Rogers 2015).

Christians have been vital in social

development (Rogers 2015).

Retrieved from:
https://www.wholesomewords.org/images/judson3.jpg
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2. First Museum Opened: Phayre Museum (1871)

A museum honoring Sir

Arthur Phayre at the
beginning of the colonial
period (Sonoda, 2016).

It was situated on the

grounds of the Rangoon
Agri-Horticultural Society
(Sonoda, 2016).

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Retrieved from:
https://media.gettyimages.com/illustrations/lieutenant-general-sir-
arthur-purves-phayre-british-indian-army-illustration-id1154127168
Sir Arthur Purves Phayre,
was Burma's first Chief
Commissioner from 1862 to
1867.

Retrieved from:
https://media.gettyimages.com/illustrations/lieutenant-general-sir-arthur-purves-
phayre-british-indian-army-illustration-id1154127168
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Upon its opening, the museum housed the private collection of Sir
Arthur Phayre, who was an avid collector of coins that are now on
display at the British Museum.

Retrieved from:
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG243409

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3. The Rise of Yok Thay A Ka in Upper Burma (1885)

"The Dance of the Marionettes" (Young and Aung 2015)

A traditional Burmese puppet theatre (yoke thay) dates from the

15th century, however in the 19th century, it reached its peak
(Young and Aung 2015

Yoke thé is the Burmese name for marionette puppetry.

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Significance

Traditional puppetry was

revived in the late 20th
century (Otter 2012)

Their performances have

also included political
and religious festivals
(Otter 2012)

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Retrieved from:
https://www.omicrontravelsmyanmar.com/index.php/en/omi-travel-blog/195-yoke-the-marionettes-or-burmese-

puppet
4. Norman Kyaung Kyi Htaik or Norman Monastery (1852)

It is one of the oldest

surviving historic
monasteries in Yangon.
(International Council on
Monuments and Sites, N.d).

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Retrieved from:
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/hidden-heritage-under-threat-norman-
monastery-icomos/jwUxCcLbgUS2LQ?hl=en
According to the International Council on Monuments and Sites:

Built in the year 1852, the Monastery was initially a school built
by British engineers.

However, due to its distance from the town, the building was soon
left vacant.

1881, a wealthy Burmese merchant U Pho Tha bought the building

at a government auction for 20,000 Rs.

He soon donated the building to Ashin Pyinyar, who converted it

into a monastery and became the first presiding monk.

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It was used by the local community as monastic compound and a
venue for religious activities and meditation retreats.

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Retrieved from:
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/hidden-heritage-under-threat-norman-
monastery-icomos/jwUxCcLbgUS2LQ?hl=en
 Retrieved from:
https://artsandculture.google.com/story/hidden-heritage-under-threat-norman-
monastery-icomos/jwUxCcLbgUS2LQ?hl=en

Colored Glass Fanlight

Interior Wooden Sculpture on the

Column Column
It's beautifully decorated monastic buildings not only increased it's
spiritual significance but it also captivated the local community.
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5. Parabaik : 19th century manuscript (1870s - 1880s)

Parabaik is the traditional Burmese folding paper manuscript (The

Met 2017; The British Museum 2011; Lu and Stadtner 2015)

It is painted on a locally produced mulberry paper (The Met 2017;

The British Museum 2011; Lu and Stadtner 2015)

It provides a colorful record of the court ceremonies of Myanmar's

King Thibaw (Lu and Stadtner 2015)

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It also contains images of
eight festivals in Burma
(Myanmar), including the
Thadingyut Festival
(British Library n.d.)

A procession during the Thadingyut Festival

Retrieved from:
https://www.bl.uk/britishlibrary/~/media/bl/global/dst%20discovering%20sacred%20

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texts/collection%20items/depiction-of-a-procession-or_15021_f023r.jpg?

w=608&h=342&hash=77E7BA6F905F014D478ED3D4C35978E4
II. Significance

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Myanmar's history...

Preserve the intellectual heritage of a rich and ancient culture (Oo

2013)

Can be used as a historical source materials (Oo 2013)

Provides historical facts and information on economic activities,

social relationships, and religious matters (Oo 2013)

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For our group...

The preservation of the Norman Monastery, the Parabaik Manuscript

as well as the Burmese Puppetry emulates how the Burmese people
appreciate their origins.

It helps us understand how other cultures affect them up til this day.

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III. References

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Aung, Wei Yan. 2019. “Myanmar’s First Christian Missionary Dies at Sea.” The
Irrawaddy. Retrieved from <https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/myanmars-first-
christian-missionary-dies-sea.html> 23 October 2022.

“Depiction of a procession during the Buddhist Thadingyut festival.” British Library .

Retrieved from <https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/depiction-of-a-procession-
during-the-buddhist-thadingyut-
festival#:~:text=Thadingyut%2C%20also%20known%20as%20the,mother%20and%
20other%20heavenly%20gods> 24 October 2022

Lu, Sylvia Fraser and Donald Stadtner. 2015. “Illustrated folding book (parabaik).”
Asia Soceity Museum. Retrieved from <https://www.tci-
thaijo.org/index.php/pub_jss/article/download/158501/114836/> 24 October 2022.

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Oo, Moe Moe. 2013. “Historical Value of Parabaik and Pei.” Meiktila
University, Research Journal, 4, no. 1. Retrieved from
<https://meral.edu.mm/record/920/files/Historical%20Value%20of%20Parabai
k%20and%20Pei.pdf> 24 October 2022.

Otter, Elizabeth. 2012. "Myanmar." World Encyclopedia of Puppetry of Arts.

Retrieved from <https://wepa.unima.org/en/myanmar/> 25 October 2022

“Parabaik.” The British Museum. Retrieved from

<https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2011-3015-1> 24
October 2022

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Pierard, Richard. 2006. “The Man Who Gave the Bible to the Burmese.”
Christian History Institute. Retrieved from
<https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/the-man-who-gave-the-
bible-to-the-burmese> 23 October 2022.

Rogers, Benedict. 2015. “The Contribution of Christianity to Myanmar’s Social

and Political Development.” The Review of Faith and International Relations,
13, no. 4:60-70. Retrieved from
<https://doi.org/10.1080/15570274.2015.1104973> 24 October 2022.

“Royal processions, ceremonies, and entertainments.” The Met. Retrieved from

<https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/744940#:~:text=This%20tra
ditional%20Burmese%20folding%20paper,a%20total%20of%2066%20pages>
24 October 2022.
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Scott, Tim. 2019. “Maung Nau: Adoniram Judon’s First Convert.” Salem
Baptist Church. Retrieved from <https://salemsbc.org/maung-nau-adoniram-
judsons-first-convert/> 24 October 2022.

Sonoda, Naoko. 2016. “New Horizons for Asian Museums and Museology.”
Springer. Retrieved from <https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-
981-10-0886-3.pdf> 23 October 2022.retrieved.

Tun, San Lin. 2020. “Yangon's Phayre Museum.” Myanmar Times. Retrieved
from <https://www.mmtimes.com/news/yangons-phayre-museum.html?
fbclid=IwAR0GA6J-
EjaIZKe15q5_MGNO2pEweqB3rHnSqIh9JmDov09xX2NxnWzFaeY > 23
October 2022.
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Young, Kit and Ne Myo Aung. 2015. "Music and Dance from Myanmar:
Shwe Man Thabin Zat Pwe". Asia Society. Retrieved from
<https://asiasociety.org/files/uploads/127files/MusicandDancefromMyanm
arProgram NotesFINAL.pdf > 23 October 2022.

Zan, Nu Mra. 2016. "Museums in Myanmar: Brief History and Actual

Perspectives." Springer. Retrieved from
<https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-981-10-0886-3.pdf>
23 October 2022.

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Thank you!

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