Objectives

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to

• Understand the Ethic group and history of Myanmar

• Know about the history and food culture of Myanmar
• Describe the common characteristics culture/cuisine Myanmar
• Discuss the common beliefs and tradition in Myanmar

MYANMAR

Traditionally in Myanmar culture, women demand a high level of respect. However,

following several decades of male -dominated rule under the military regime, this status
has been undermined
somewhat. Now the country is
free and democratic, women
are regaining their former
influence and taking important
roles in government. Just look
at the success of the Nobel
Peace Prize winner Aung San
Suu Kyi.

The roles of men and women

tend to be less defined and
equal in Burma when it comes
to family life. Both work in the
fields with men doing the
heavier tasks and women doing things such as weaving. In fact, inside the house, men
also cook and take care of children as well as the women. Compare this liberal and equal
view of gender roles to places such as India, where society is male dominated. Even
compared to more open countries in South East Asia, women tend to have more rights in
Myanmar.

Family life is a major part of the culture and heritage of Myanmar. People tend to live
near each other in the village and are very close and supportive. Children who go off to
work in larger cities tend to return home on a regular basis, a trait similar to nearby
countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.

Religion and traditional beliefs in Myanmar

Theravada Buddhism, a more conservative branch of the religion, is practised

by more than 90% of the population. This became the official state religion under
the Kingdom of Pagan in 1044. Theravada Buddhism and the Burmese language
developed and grew in popularity and influence during this era.

You’ll notice that masses of locals regularly visit the temple or pagoda and make
offerings to the various shrines and images of Buddha. This is a major part of the culture
and religion in Myanmar. The conservative Buddhist way of life that’s engrained into the
Burmese identity dictates the life and modern day culture of Myanmar.

You can find thousands of golden pagodas throughout Myanmar with the most famous
being the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. Religious areas are kept very clean and you
need to remove your shoes to enter. Strict dress codes apply and all tourists need to
respect it.

Culture –arts & architecture in Myanmar

The styles of architecture are a major part of

Myanmar traditional culture. You can see this in the
design of pagodas and temples. Most styles that you
see today have their roots in the adoption of
Theravada Buddhism as the major religion in the 11th
century. In fact, the Kingdom of Pagan commissioned
the construction of thousands of religious buildings
and temples of varying sizes in the relatively small
area of modern Bagan. You can also see the
exquisite carvings in the wooden monasteries, which
is very typical of Burma. Traditional architecture has
strong religious undertones.

Another characteristic is the use of gold plating. Even in the most remote places
where a stupa proudly ascends into the sky, you’ll see its exterior
surface covered in gold plating. The Hti, or the upside down umbrella on the top of a
stupa, is another traditional architectural characteristic of Myanmar. This is said to be one
of the most important parts of the pagoda itself and is usually decorated with diamonds
and precious stones. A 75-carat diamond sits happily on the top of the Hti on the
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

The British colonial buildings in Yangon also deserve to be mentioned, too. Under the
British rule, a number of buildings were built with styles of architecture typical of their
empire. The decades of restrictive military rule practically halted development of the former
capital. Many buildings remain intact making it the largest collection of colonial buildings in
Southeast Asia.

The arts in Myanmar are also strongly aligned with their conservative Buddhist way of
life. Paintings and sculptures showing the life and teachings of Gautama are common,
especially in the ancient temples of Bagan. This was once painted or carved directly into
the stone. When paper was introduced to the country, the art and paintings related to
religious beliefs became more elaborate and expressive. Traditional dress in Myanmar

The longyi is the most common type of traditional dress that’s

worn on a regular basis. This is a large cloth that resembles a
sarong that’s worn by both men and women. Males tie the front in
a knot that hangs out whereas the ladies tuck it into the side. The
only things that differ between the genders are the patterns and
how it’s worn. A typical masculine longyi has a simple checked pattern on a dark coloured
cloth whereas feminine ones are more colourful.

You’ll see pretty much everyone in Myanmar wearing this on a daily basis, which is often
accompanied by sandals or flip-flops. Even people heading to the office or a more formal
and professional environment opt for a longyi with a shirt. In Myanmar, a longyi is a suitable
item of clothing for pretty much every occasion.

Traditional clothing for formal occasions such as national events and wedding are
slightly different. Men wear a longchy that’s similar to a longyi with a formal shirt. Women,
on the other hand, have a thummy. This is quite similar to the traditional clothes worn in
Thailand.

Traditional food in Myanmar

Myanmar Food – Laphet Thoke
Food varies considerably depending on what part of the country you’re visiting and which
ethnic groups are dominant.
There are 135 different ethnic
groups in Myanmar who have
their own styles of cooking
and food preparation. And the
country shares a border with
three major cuisines in the
region including Indian, Thai,
and Chinese. For this reason,
there tends to be a wide
variety of meals available for
visitors and a special eclectic
combination.

More specifically and in align with Asian culture, rice is the main staple. This is often
served as plain, white rice along with a fish or meat main and a side of vegetables. Fish
plays a huge role in the local dishes and it’s quite common for meals to be served with a
fish sauce. Other popular dishes include noodles are either fried or part of a soup. Locals
also eat curry on a regular basis.

One of the dishes that tourists tend to sample is the tealeaf salad. This consists of
shredded tea leaves that are mixed with cabbage and served with nuts, peas, and
tomatoes. People will eat this as a snack or as a side with rice. You should be able to find
this on sale in pretty much all parts of the country as it’s a favourite of many locals.
Traditional celebrations and festivals in Myanmar

One of the largest festivals that present Burmese customs at their very best is
Thingyan. This is the New Year that’s celebrated in April and is characterised by the entire
country taking part in a huge water fight. Anyone who’s travelled to Thailand and
experienced Songkran will know what this event is all about.
 The Burmese New Year follows the lunar calendar and the dates are slightly different
each year. Celebrations usually begin after a day of observing strict Buddhist practices and
making offerings during daylight hours on the first day. This is then followed by four days of
partying, drinking, and spraying water at each other.

Phaung Daw U is another large festival that’s held at Inle Lake. Four large golden
images of Buddha are paraded around the lake on boats with people coming from all
around the country to attend and give their respects. This ties in strongly with the
conservative Buddhism Myanmar beliefs that are dominant around the country.

The Festival of Light (known locally as Thadingyut) begins soon after Phaung Daw U.
Locals light candles, lamps, and lanterns and use them as decorations in religious
buildings to celebrate the return of Buddha back to earth. Both are great festivals to attend
to get more of an idea into the local way of life and culture.