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The Myanmar people have their own culture since many centuries ago , Buddhism has influence on the daily lives of Myanmar peoples.
The literature, drama, architecture, music, paint, folk dances, sculpture, handicraft, language, cuisine and martial arts of Myanmar are very popular. The Myanmar people are quite different from that of others and they have distinctive characteristics. |
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| Myanmar's early literature was primarily concerned with the Buddhist religion and the Royal Kingdom. |
It originated in Pali and Sanskrit. The poetic, verse and prose forms are highly developed. They provide not only entertainment but also moral guidance and education.
Myanmar people are great readers. You'll realize from the piles of books in the street at every night market. |
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The century old architecture examples of Myanmar can be appreciated in each Buddhist temples, pagodas, shrines, monuments and monasteries.
The architectural style of Myanmar to early part of the twelfth century was considerably influenced by that of Mons. When Myanmar fell under the yoke of British colonialism, Myanmar's architecture almost died except in pagodas and temples. |
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| The classical painting of Myanmar was confined to the interior of Buddhist temples, palaces and book illustrations. Murals decorated chapel interior, usually filling all four walls to ceiling. The scenes of murals mostly consist of the experts from Lord Buddha's life, the suffering of hells, the luxuries of heaven (Natpyay), evils, saints, angels, gods worshiping the Buddha and so on.
It has an indigenous character not totally unlike the figures in Western paintings. The ancient painting of Myanmar were executed in line movement. The illustrations in Myanmar lacquer ware are examples of Myanmar paintings.
The impact of western art in Myanmar artists (U Ba Nyan and U Ba Zaw) who came back from England after a period of study there. But the abstract painting and faddish styles of the West have not caught on Myanmar painting. |
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| The sculpture of Myanmar have been noted their artists skills and abilities since ancient days. They have concentrated mainly in religious statuary particularly Buddha images. Other religious statuary includes demonic and Mythological figures, some human, some hybrids. |
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| The classical Myanmar language is sprinkled with words from Pali, Sanskirt and is influenced by Theravada Buddhism. It belongs to the Tibeto-Chinese group. It has an alphabet of 33 consonants and 12 vowels that combine to form syllabic sound. Modern Myanmar language is simple and colloquial.
The sounds are combined with different tones to fashion a melodious complex language and it can be made shortening and extending to the sound abruptly. There are different ways of using "I" or "You" to illustrate intimacy, age, rank and relationship. There are also different nouns and verbs for different classes i.e. ecclesiastics, royalty and layman.
In the country, over 80% of the people speak Myanmar, the national language while the rest including Shans, Kachins, Kayins, Mons and others have a language of their own, Myanmar language is the official language of the country. English is the lingua franca between the Myanmar people and the foreigners. |
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| Myanmar hand-making skills have won popular admiration both at home and abroad. They are numerous and vary from place to place in kind, style and specialties. Amongst the wide variety several handicrafts such as hand-weaving silk, hand-weaving cotton, woodcarving, ivory carving, bronze ware, silverware, lacquer ware, parasol, jewelry, etc.: are justifiably famed for Myanmar people and Myanmar Naing-Ngan. Weaving has long been a traditional rural craft and royal craft. |
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The outstanding products of intricate weaving with wavy or twisted pattern of silk is known as the "Acheik". It is suitable for ladies' cocktail dresses, evening gowns as well as for general decoration such as curtain, chair cover, pillow cover, cushion cover, bow ties, scarves, blouses, and so on. |
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| Myanmar cotton fabrics products of hand looms, very often of quiet artistic designs are still manufactured in rural townships and are on sale on the market. These cotton fabrics are suitable for making blankets, different kinds of shirts, towels, handkerchiefs, shopping bags, luncheon sets and so on. |
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The most exquisite craftsmanship will be seen in Myanmar carvings, especially in teak. The wood carving furniture made Myanmar is famous in Asia. The most beautifully moulded and proportionate carvings of elephant form are common sight in the shops. It has a long tradition and the most wooden structures are decorated with wood carvings. Some pagodas and monasteries still have this form of decoration. |
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| In our country, Myanmar Naing-Ngan, the artisan occupies a high and honored position. Our cultural expression is generally made through the channel of craftsmanship. Ivory carving is a time-consuming work and the craftsmanship has to work continually for days on and on a piece of ivory to bring out the desired figure. Ivory carving is one of the best souvenirs from Myanmar to take home. |
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It is an ancient industry and dates back to many centuries. Silverware and ceremonial occasions are indivisible, from that time to that day. It was and is the traditional practice (custom) to award royal subjects, outstanding serviceman, and winners of the competition with silver bowls and silver swords. Silver vases and bowls are still used to hold flowers and offering at weddings, earring ceremonies and other postive occasions. |
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| Myanmar lacquer ware is well known all over the world and it is still known as "Yun-Hte" which was firstly introduced from the Yuns of northern Thailand hundreds of years ago. It was learnt that the various compositions and designs of Myanmar lacquer ware originated during the glorious Bagan period. The golden and colored lacquer wares of the Union of Myanmar have attracted world attention since the days of Myanmar kings. |
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| Lacquer ware is made by its raw materials bamboo and lacquer juice in a painstaking process of weaving, coating again and so on; and it is combined with art. The articles of Myanmar lacquer ware are numerous such as drinking cups , tea boxes, betel boxes, powder bowls, flower vases, cigar and cigarette boxes, puff boxes, monk's bowls, palour tables, sweet boxes, sugar bowls, wine cup, lamp stands, tiffin carriers and other ceremonial articles. |
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Myanmar Parasols are called "Pathein Htee" which means Pathein (Bassein) umbrella with their colourful designs. It is manufactured only in Pathein, a delta town of Myanmar. |
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| The union of Myanmar is well known for supplying the world with various precious stones like jade, ruby, and other gems. Since the 11th century, the art of jade engraving has been a very important artistic link between Myanmar and China. The articles for personal adornment in gold and silver with precious stones and the beautifully cut gem stones could be collected at Emporium held by the Myanmar Government annually and biannually. Some articles are sold at private shops. |
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The basketry (with cane and bamboo) and ceramics works of Myanmar people are so popular in the world and their style and quality can be judged at the shops of the market. |
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