MYANMARBURMA THE GOLDEN LAND

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September 14, 2007 600 pm 645 pm Krannert ,
RM G20
Myanmar (BurMA) The Golden Land
PISA Presentation
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MYANMAR(BURMA) THE GOLDEN LAND
Presented by Aung Kyi
San
Compiled by Kyaw Min Tun, Aung Kyi San, Ei Ei
Phyu, and Sandar Kyaw
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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))

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• 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 )

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Eight Major Nationalities of Burma
Eight Major Nationalities of Burma
Kachin
Kayah
Kayin
Chin
Bamar
Mon
Rakhine
Shan
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Religions
Buddhism
Christianity
Muslims
Hindus
Animism
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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)

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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 worlds worst dictator
  list (2007) compiled by Parade Magazine of
  USA, an improvement from last years (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)
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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

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

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Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions. China Town
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Yangon (Green City of Grace)
Attractions. Night Scene
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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.

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Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital)
Constructions and Some Ministry Buildings
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Nay Pyi Daw (New Capital)
Residential and Ministry Buildings
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Great People of Burma!
Great People of Burma!
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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 Peoples 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.

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

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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.

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Burmese Traditional Arts
Pan Pei
Pan Tein
Pan Yan
Pan Tawt
Pan Tin
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Burmese Traditional Arts
Pan Pu
Pan Ta Mawt
Pan Chee
Pan Put
Pan Yun
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Burmese Traditional Orchestra
Cymbals
Oboes
Timing bells
Series of gongs
Brass gongs circle
Short Drums
Fipple-flutes
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Burmese Traditional Orchestra
Drum circle
Main Drum
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Thanakha (Burmese Make-up)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Longyi (Burmese Sarong)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Longyi (Burmese Sarong)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Longyi (Burmese Sarong)
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Interesting Myanmar Culture
Burmese Country Style
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Myanmar Food
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Myanmar Food
Spicy fried fish
Fried Dried Fish
Fried Crabs
Water Cress with Garlic
Chicken Curry
Beef Curry
Egg Curry
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Myanmar Food
A Must for Burmese People !!!
Pork
Mon-hin-ga gtgt Spicy Noodle with Catfish
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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

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BURMESE NEW YEAR FESTIVALThingyan 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

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Throwing Water Traditionally
At Old Times
At Modern Times
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Water Throwing These Days
ThinGyan for Youngsters
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Flower of the Festival Padauk (Pterocarpus
soyauxii)
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http//www.timetraveler-book.com/mig/
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Burmese New Year Dance
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Burmese New Year Dance
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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.

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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.