Myanmar (BurMA) The Golden Land

1. September 14, 2007 6:00 pm – 6:45 pm Krannert , RM G20 Myanmar (BurMA) The Golden Land PISA Presentation

2. MYANMAR(BURMA) THE GOLDEN LAND Presented by: Aung Kyi San Compiled by : Kyaw Min Tun, Aung Kyi San, Ei Ei Phyu, and Sandar Kyaw

3. 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))

4. 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 % )

5. Eight Major Nationalities of Burma Eight Major Nationalities of Burma Kachin Kayah Kayin Chin Bamar Mon Rakhine Shan

6. Religions Buddhism Christianity Muslims Hindus Animism

7. 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)

8. 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) • Military Junta (1989-present) • Head – Senior General Than Shwe (State Peace and Development Council - SPDC) • (Ranked number 6 in the world’s worst dictator list (2007) compiled by Parade Magazine of USA, an improvement from last year’s (2006) list when he was number 3.  • Opposition Leader: Aung San Suu Kyi ( National League for Democracy – NLD) Aung San Suu Kyi (The Lady) Than Shwe (The Dictator)

9. 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

10. Yangon (Green City of Grace) Attractions ……. (Shwedagon Pagoda) Golden Umbrella Close up view of Diamond Bud Golden Resting Place structure

11. 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

12. Yangon (Green City of Grace) Attractions…. China Town

13. Yangon (Green City of Grace) Attractions…. Night Scene

14. 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.

15. Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital) Constructions and Some Ministry Buildings

16. Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital) Residential and Ministry Buildings

17. Aung San Suu Kyi General Aung San U Thant • Father of Burmese Army • Hero of Burma Independence from British • Third General-Secretary • of United Nations • Nobel Peace Laureate,1991 • Leader of Burmese Pro-Democracy Movement Great People of Burma! Great People of Burma!

18. General Aung San • 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 People’s 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.

19. Burmese Bank Notes Issued in Honor of General Aung San

20. Aung San Suu Kyi • 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 Burma’s 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.

21. 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.

22. Burmese Traditional Arts Pan Pei Pan Tein Pan Yan Pan Tawt Pan Tin

23. Burmese Traditional Arts Pan Pu Pan Ta Mawt Pan Chee Pan Put Pan Yun

24. Burmese Traditional Orchestra Cymbals Oboes Series of gongs Timing bells Brass gongs circle Short Drums Fipple-flutes

25. Burmese Traditional Orchestra Drum circle Main Drum

26. Interesting Myanmar Culture Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

27. Interesting Myanmar Culture Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

28. Interesting Myanmar Culture Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)

29. Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

30. Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

31. Interesting Myanmar Culture Longyi (Burmese Sarong)

32. Interesting Myanmar Culture Burmese Country Style

33. Myanmar Food

34. Myanmar Food Spicy fried fish Fried Dried Fish Fried Crabs Water Cress with Garlic Egg Curry Chicken Curry Beef Curry

35. Myanmar Food A Must for Burmese People !!! Pork Mon-hin-ga >> Spicy Noodle with Catfish

36. 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

37. 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

38. Throwing Water Traditionally At Old Times At Modern Times

39. Water Throwing These Days ThinGyan for Youngsters

40. Flower of the Festival “Padauk” (Pterocarpus soyauxii)

41. http://www.timetraveler-book.com/mig/

42. Yangon Mayor’s Pavilion Burmese New Year Dance

43. Burmese New Year Dance

44. Time for Good Deeds • 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.

45. New Year Day • 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.