Myanmar Makes Archaeological Research To Prove Origin Of Myanmar
Bernama, 07 July 2010

Myanmar archaeological experts have been making research in cooperation with international primate experts, to prove the proposal titled “The origin of Myanmar is Myanmar”, reported China’s Xinhua news agency on Wednesday.

These experts have been working together yearly to find out the fossilised remains of Pontaung primates in Pontaung rock layers.

Doing archaeological research on the Myanmar history from the origin of the race to date through the prehistoric period and Pyu period, Myanmar claimed that it has been able to discover the origin of Myanmar people who were born and who migrated from one place to another in the Myanmar soil along with the Myanmar civilisation.

The findings of the primates on the Stone Age, the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, gained from the archaeological research in Meiktila and Yamethin districts in Mandalay division over the past decade, stood some evidences for the Bronze Age and the Iron Age, as well as for the Myanmar culture and history, according to research report.

Mon Cultural Anthropologist Passes Away
The Irrawady, 21 June 2010

Dr. Nai Pan Hla, one of Burma’s most famous cultural anthropologists who spent his career researching and writing on Mon literature, culture and script, passed away in Rangoon on Friday at the age of 87.

Nai Pan Hla was born in 1923 in Kawkareik Township, Karen State. He received his Bachelors of Science and Ph.D from Pacific Western University in America. In 1953, he became an official of Mon literature and culture at the Archaeological Department of Burma’s Ministry of Culture in Rangoon, where he spent 40 years working for the department. Well known in Burma as a researcher, Nai Pan Hla wrote a paper about the history of Southeast Asia and wrote many books about his ethnic Mon.

Vietnam and Myanmar boost ties in culture, archaeology
Nhan Dan, 16 April 2010

Myanmar Culture Minister Khin Aung Myint has proposed that Vietnam and Myanmar exchange theatre groups and promote archaeological co-operation.

The visit minister made the proposal at a meeting with the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh in Hanoi on April 15.

Minister Myint said that his country also has caves like the ones in Ha Long Bay where many of the country’s important relics were unearthed.

Myanmar hopes to assist Vietnam in archaeology and explore its national historical culture, said the minister, adding that he hoped Vietnam will set up a team of archaeologists to work with Myanmar’s experts.

photo credit: edbrambley

Pagodas in the dust
The Star, 06 February 2010

Little is known of the origins of Bagan, although legend has it that it grew out of a coming together of 19 villages. Its history had little significance until King Anawrahta (1044-1077) ascended the throne.

A fearsome warrior, he conquered the Mon kingdom of Thaton in the south and brought back to his capital the deposed King Manuha together with his vast entourage of architects, artists, artisans, craftsmen of every description and monks who knew the Pali scripture of Theravada Buddhism.

From hereon, the conqueror became the conquered. The monks shaped many aspects of life through their teachings. From them, the Myanmar people received their alphabet, religion and scriptures.

It also marked the beginning of a period of spectacular architectural and artistic pursuits lasting for at least 290 years. This saw a city and its surroundings engulfed with thousands of splendid monuments of all shapes and sizes, their inner walls covered with beautiful frescoes.

In Bagan, donors work to save a rare wooden gem
The Myanmar Times, 25 October 2009

Renovation work on a wooden building in Bagan believed to be as much as 250 years old is nearing completion, according to one of the organisers of the project.

Dr Aung Ko Ko, principal of No 1 Basic Education High School in Dagon township, told The Myanmar Times he and two friends have raised K30 million from well-wishers to renovate the building, after receiving permission to do so from the Department of Archaeology, under the Ministry of Culture.

However, the group requires an additional K10 million to complete the reconstruction of two platforms at the site, he said.

Preserving the Priceless
18 October 2009

It was a red letter day for the villagers of Ban Ta Kan in Chiang Mai’s San Pa Tong district, who gathered in groups as they waited for their royal guest, HRH Princess Siribha Chudhabhorn.

The afternoon sun did nothing to deter the jubilant villagers, most of whom were clad in colourful ethnic Yawng and Lue costumes as a welcoming gesture for the arriving princess.

With a royal visit, their dreams of having a museum at the Viang Ta Kan historical site would come closer to becoming a reality. That day, the princess was scheduled to give a press conference on the museum project and other cultural activities to promote the historical site in Viang Ta Kan, which is about 35km from Muang Chiang Mai.

Archaeological evidence suggests that Viang Ta Kan was a major satellite town, east of the ancient Hariphunchai kingdom. It appeared as “Viang Panna Ta Kan” in Tamnan Muang Chiang Mai (History of Chiang Mai) where legendary King Meng Rai (1261 to 1311) planted Bodhi trees.

photo credit: col.hou

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Asian Art History Roundtable
Public Art and the Shwedagon in the 19-20th century (Dr Elizabeth Moore)
Date: Tuesday, 29 Sep 2009
Time: 4 – 5.30pm
Venue: ARI Seminar Room, Tower Block Level 10, National University of Singapore @ BTC

The visuality of Myanmar is distinct from the rest of mainland Southeast Asia for the Shwedagon and countless other stupas create public spaces for meditation, teaching, artistic patronage and socialization. As three-dimensional religious forms, the pagoda compounds (parawun) are a vital part of the landscape. The presentation examines the Shwedagon parawun in two contexts: the colonial occupation of 1853 and the construction of the Karaweik Palace on the Kandawgyi or ‘great royal lake’ of the Shwedagon in 1973. The 1853 occupation brought British control of the sacred pagoda traditionally dating to the time of the Buddha Gotama, with pilgrims admitted only on festival days. The Karaweik Palace was designed by the leading sculptor of the time, built by the Ministry of Construction and inaugurated on October 31, 1973. Facing to the Shwedagon, the Karaweik Palace is a pair of golden birds modeled on a mythical bird of the celestial realms known for its beautiful song. The birds, 82 metres (270 feet) long, weigh some 20,000 tons. They rest on pontoons, created to provide a showcase of the ’10 traditional arts’ of Myanmar and a public space for all the people.

Aerial views of the Shwedagon and the Kandawgyi from the World War II Williams-Hunt Collection are also included in the presentation, part of a research project on the role of landscape in the making and sustaining of cultural identity in times of transition. This focuses on two periods of change: (1)from the Yunnan-oriented Bronze-iron Age culture (circa 600 BCE-300 CE) to the brick walls and seasonal lakes of the early Buddhist period (circa 200-800 CE), and (2) the incorporation of European techniques within pagoda arts and the formation of new donor networks following 1885 to the ongoing patronage of the traditional arts since Independence.

More details and registration here.

photo credit: antwerpenR

Myanmar To Use Night Bazaar In Ancient City To Attract Tourists
Bernama, 27 August 2009

The Myanmar Hoteliers Association ( MHA) will add night bazaar in the ancient city of Bagan during this year to attract more world travellers to the tourist site and provide a nice shopping place for them, sources with the MHA said on Thursday.

Quoting the sources, China’s Xinhua news agency said that the move will be implemented in coming travel season starting October.

In the 2-hour night bazaar, which scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the shops will display local art products, such as lacquer ware, bamboo works and beautiful local made cloth, food stuff, ancient handicrafts and gifts.

There are four hotel zones in Bagan made up of 91 hotels, motels and inns which have been upgraded to serve visitors, it added.