DOCSLIB.ORG

10. the Muslims of Burma by Moshe Yegar

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
10. the Muslims of Burma by Moshe Yegar I ■เพ■■เ s CHR] F TEN RE f H E DES 'SODASXEN-INSTI ■ DER. 0NIVER^lSA<r HEIDELBERG f'iv' . I . ! • ’-■ ■ IIII HI ■ - 1 i M d S b l'E YEGAR If i A Study of a Minority Grouo SCHRIFTENREIHE DES St)DASIEN-INSTITUTS DER UNIVERSITAT HEIDELBERG Herausgegeben vom Siidasien-Institut der บทiversitat Heidelberg MOSHE YEGAR The Muslims of Burma A Study of a Minority Group 1972 OTTO HARRASSOWITZ - WIESBADEN THE MUSLIMS OF BURMA A Study of a Minority Group by MOSHE YEGAR 1972 OTTO HARR AS SO WITZ - WIESBADEN © Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1972 Alle Rechte vorbehalten Photographische und photomechanische Wiedergaben nur mit ausdriicklicher Genehmigung des Verlages Gesamtherstellung: Hessische Druckerei GmbH, Darmstadt Printed in Germany ISB N 3 447 01357 5 To Edna CONTENTS A bbreviations......................................................................................................................VIII In tro d u c tio n ...................................................................................................................... Acknowledgm ents............................................................................................................. ^ I. Muslims in Burma in the Days of the Kings The Beginnings of Muslim Settlement in the Irrawaddy V a lle y .......................1 Muslim Settlement in A r a k a n ..................................................................................... Why Burma Did Not Become Muslim ................................................................... II. Muslims in Burma During British Rule Immigration from In d ia ................................................................................................. 29 Organizations of Muslim Immigrants from I n d ia ..................................................4° Organizations of Burmese M uslims............................................................................ 57 The Burma Moslem S o ciety ..................................................................................... 57 The General Council of Burma Moslem Associations....................................65 The Renaissance M ov em ent..................................................................................... 65 The Japanese O ccu pation .............................................................................................. 68 III. Muslims in Burma Since Independence Structural Changes in the Muslim Community...................................................... 71 The General Council of Burman Moslem Associations....................................72 The Burma Muslim C o n g re s s .................................................................................75 The Burma Muslim Organization............................................................................ 82 The Indian Muslims after World War I I ...............................................................86 Religious A ctivities....................................................................................................... 89 The Arakanese M uslim s...................................................................................................95 IV. Conclusion Major Aspects of Muslim Community Life.......................................................... 107 Appendices A. How Many Muslims Are There in B urm a?......................................................115 B. Legislation on Islamic Subjects............................................................................ 122 C. Various Documents of the General Council of Burman Moslem A ssociations................................................................................................................ 129 D. Muslim Press ............................................................................................................ 130 E. Persons Interviewed .............................................................................................. 131 F. Burma Newspapers Consulted ........................................................................... 133 B ibliography.........................................................................................................................137 Indices Personal N a m e s............................................................................................................145 Geographical N am es....................................................................................................147 Institutions...................................................................................................................... 149 G r o u p s ...........................................................................................................................151 ABBREVIATIONS AFPFL Anti-Fascist Peoples' Freedom League BMC Burma Muslim Congress BMO Burma Muslim Organization BMS Burma Moslem Society GCBMA General Council of Burma Moslem Associations JBRS Journal oj the Burma Research Society MFA Mayu Frontier Administration NUF National United Front . RUMSA Rangoon University Muslim Students Association TUCB Trade Union Council of Burma VIII INTRODUCTION In June, I960, I was sent to Burma to serve as a Second Secretary at the Embassy of Israel in Rangoon. Permission was granted me by the Hebrew University, Jeru­ salem, to submit a thesis on the subject “Muslims in Burma” for my M. A. degree. The history of the Muslim community in Burma has not yet been properly studied. Nor has any member of that community yet bothered to collect the written material that does exist or to obtain oral, eye-witness reports from those who took part in the various activities of the community during the period of British rule and since Burma obtained her independence. The present study is an attempt to deal with the Muslim community in Burma from the eleventh century up until the year 1962. My main purpose was, first of all, to reconstruct the chronological history of the community and to follow the main trends that characterized that community. I was, however, handicapped by the scarcity of available sources. The major sources for the history of the Muslims in the days of the Burmese kings are the writings of European travelers, of emissaries to the court of Burma, and of missionaries, as well as several general history books on Burma, India and Southeast Asia, scattered throughout which were to be found facts and comments on the Muslim community. I also made use of a series of articles on the Arakan Muslims which appeared in the monthly Guardian published in Rangoon by a daily newspaper of the same name. Articles and studies on specific and detailed subjects relating to the period of the kings were found in the Journal oj the Burma Research Society and in publications of Muslim schools and associations in Burma. Particular significance is to be attributed to a two-part article by Siddiq Khan, pub­ lished in Islamic Culture, Hyderabad (see bibliography). His was the first attempt and as far as I know, the only one so far, to deal with the beginnings of the Muslim community in Burma. Important material is included also in several unpublished works, especially in the lecture which Col. Ba Shin delivered in Delhi in 1961. Other works are mentioned in the bibliography. The richest sources and the most varied ones are those dealing with British rule in Burma. In addition to reports of travelers and the memoirs and recollections of British administrative officials and newspapers, there is a mine of information in official publications of the British government: The Gazetteers of the districts of Burma, census reports, and the reports of the various enquiry committees that the British frequently sent to all their colonies. Various publications and documents - annual reports, magazines, unpublished letters, and other papers - in the possession of some individuals in Rangoon which were placed at my disposal made it possible for me to reconstruct the history and activities of Muslim organizations in the period between the two world wars and since the independence of Burma. I was unsuccessful in obtaining several original documents bearing upon the important Muslim organization that held the annual Education Conferences between the World Wars. I have tried to reconstruct the missing data from other sources and from oral reports. IX Introduction On developments within the Muslim community in the period following World War II, there are available several official government publications, many articles and informative newspaper articles, and especially the publications of the Muslim organizations and their institutions, their annual reports, yearbooks of educational institutions, and the like. Here, too, I filled in the missing links with personal com­ munications from Muslims and non-Muslims. WTierever possible, I verified the information gathered; some of the people interviewed supplemented their conver­ sations with memoranda prepared especially for me. In dealing with the postwar period I concentrated mainly on the political issues, not only because the availability of source material imposed it upon me but also because political issues were the main concern of the Muslim community at that time. In an attempt to become more clearly acquainted with my subject of research, I visited as frequently as possible Muslim mosques, schools, cemetaries, and the Muslim Hospital in Rangoon, and I participated in Muslim functions of all kinds both in Rangoon and up country in the area around Mandalay and the Shan states. I found hospitality and courtesy wherever I went. At times I draw
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nimatullahi Sufism and Deccan Bahmani Sultanate
    Volume : 4 | Issue : 6 | June 2015 ISSN - 2250-1991 Research Paper Commerce Nimatullahi Sufism and Deccan Bahmani Sultanate Seyed Mohammad Ph.D. in Sufism and Islamic Mysticism University of Religions and Hadi Torabi Denominations, Qom, Iran The presentresearch paper is aimed to determine the relationship between the Nimatullahi Shiite Sufi dervishes and Bahmani Shiite Sultanate of Deccan which undoubtedly is one of the key factors help to explain the spread of Sufism followed by growth of Shi’ism in South India and in Indian sub-continent. This relationship wasmutual andin addition to Sufism, the Bahmani Sultanate has also benefited from it. Furthermore, the researcher made effortto determine and to discuss the influential factors on this relation and its fruitful results. Moreover, a brief reference to the history of Muslims in India which ABSTRACT seems necessary is presented. KEYWORDS Nimatullahi Sufism, Deccan Bahmani Sultanate, Shiite Muslim, India Introduction: are attributable the presence of Iranian Ascetics in Kalkot and Islamic culture has entered in two ways and in different eras Kollam Ports. (Battuta 575) However, one of the major and in the Indian subcontinent. One of them was the gradual ar- important factors that influence the development of Sufism in rival of the Muslims aroundeighth century in the region and the subcontinent was the Shiite rule of Bahmani Sultanate in perhaps the Muslim merchants came from southern and west- Deccan which is discussed briefly in this research paper. ern Coast of Malabar and Cambaya Bay in India who spread Islamic culture in Gujarat and the Deccan regions and they can Discussion: be considered asthe pioneers of this movement.
    [Show full text]
  • An Abode of Islam Under a Hindu King: Circuitous Imagination of Kingdoms Among Muslims of Sixteenth-Century Malabar
    JIOWSJournal of Indian Ocean World Studies An Abode of Islam under a Hindu King: Circuitous Imagination of Kingdoms among Muslims of Sixteenth-Century Malabar Mahmood Kooria To cite this article: Kooria, Mahmood. “An Abode of Islam Under a Hindu King: Circuitous Imagination of Kingdoms among Muslims of Sixteenth-Century Malabar.” Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies, 1 (2017), pp. 89-109. More information about the Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies can be found at: jiows.mcgill.ca © Mahmood Kooria. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Li- cense CC BY NC SA, which permits users to share, use, and remix the material provide they give proper attribu- tion, the use is non-commercial, and any remixes/transformations of the work are shared under the same license as the original. Journal of Indian Ocean World Studies, 1 (2017), pp. 89-109. © Mahmood Kooria, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 | 89 An Abode of Islam under a Hindu King: Circuitous Imagination of Kingdoms among Muslims of Sixteenth-Century Malabar Mahmood Kooria* Leiden University, Netherlands ABSTRACT When Vasco da Gama asked the Zamorin (ruler) of Calicut to expel from his domains all Muslims hailing from Cairo and the Red Sea, the Zamorin rejected it, saying that they were living in his kingdom “as natives, not foreigners.” This was a marker of reciprocal understanding between Muslims and Zamorins. When war broke out with the Portuguese, Muslim intellectuals in the region wrote treatises and delivered sermons in order to mobilize their community in support of the Zamorins.
    [Show full text]
  • African Diaspora in Medieval Deccan: a Historical Analysis from 14Th to 17Th Century Dr
    International Journal of Research in Social Sciences Vol. 10 Issue 10, October 2020 ISSN: 2249-2496 Impact Factor: 7.081 Journal Homepage: http://www.ijmra.us, Email: [email protected] Double-Blind Peer Reviewed Refereed Open Access International Journal - Included in the International Serial Directories Indexed & Listed at: Ulrich's Periodicals Directory ©, U.S.A., Open J-Gate as well as in Cabell’s Directories of Publishing Opportunities, U.S.A African Diaspora in Medieval Deccan: A Historical Analysis from 14th to 17th century Dr. Surendra Kumar, Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Delhi This Paper was Presented in International Conference organized by Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts(IGNCA), New Delhi on Oct 15, 2014 The African Diaspora in Medieval Deccan offers a new insight about space, political culture, ethnogenesis and Military Labour Market in History of India as well as it provides a new understanding of medieval India from perspective of regional History. This paper traces History of African Diaspora in Medieval Deccan from 14 to 17 century. Tracing issues of Migration in Medieval Deccan, it examines processes of ethnogenesis in African Diaspora and analyses role of space and political culture in shaping contours of ethnogenesis in Medieval Deccan. Further, the paper analyses dimensions of Military Labour market in Medieval Deccan in determining participation of African Diaspora and its impact on evolution of politics in Medieval Deccan. Although, the presence of African Diaspora in the Indian subcontinent has been dated since 10th century onwards, particularly participation in politics from Delhi Sultanate to Bengal is very well documented in primary sources of Ibn Battuta, Muhammad Qasim Ferishta, Jahangir and Others.
    [Show full text]
  • Islam in Myanmar – Research Notes Imtiyaz Yusuf
    82 Islam in Myanmar – Research Notes Imtiyaz Yusuf Myanmar is a non-secular Buddhist majority country. The Theravada Buddhists and Christians are the two main religious communities groups in Myanmar with the Muslims being the third, enumerated population of Burma tells that, Buddhists make up 89.8 percent of the population, Christians 6.3 percent and Muslims 2.3 percent. The Burmese Muslim community is largely a community of traders and ulama who are economically well but with poor levels of human resources development in the professional fields of education, science, engineering, medicine, technology and business management. Yet, there are several prominent law specialists among them. As a hard and a difficult country, Myanmar was born out of the ashes of the murder of its integrationist freedom fighter leader General Aung San, the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, he was assassinated on 19 July 1947 a few months before the independence of Burma on 4 January 1948. His legacy of seeking integration and the legacy of violence associated with his murder alludes Myanmar until today. In its 69 years of existence, Myanmar is dominated politically by the Bamar Buddhist majority which espouses a Bamar racist interpretation of Buddhism. The Bamar and other 135 distinct ethnic groups are officially grouped into following eight “major national ethnic races” viz., Bamar; Chin; Kachin; Kayin; Kayah; Mon; Rakhine and Shan who are recognized the original natives of the country of Myanmar. Others are classified as outsiders or illegal immigrants as in the case of the Rohingya Muslims. The Muslims in Myanmar are divided into 4 groups: 1) The India Muslims known as Chulias, Kaka and Pathans were brought by the British colonizers to administer the colony.
    [Show full text]
  • Migration from Bengal to Arakan During British Rule 1826–1948 Derek Tonkin
    Occasional Paper Series Migration from Bengal to Arakan during British Rule 1826–1948 Derek Tonkin Migration from Bengal to Arakan during British Rule 1826–1948 Derek Tonkin 2019 Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher Brussels This and other publications in TOAEP’s Occasional Paper Series may be openly accessed and downloaded through the web site http://toaep.org, which uses Persistent URLs for all publications it makes available (such PURLs will not be changed). This publication was first published on 6 December 2019. © Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher, 2019 All rights are reserved. You may read, print or download this publication or any part of it from http://www.toaep.org/ for personal use, but you may not in any way charge for its use by others, directly or by reproducing it, storing it in a retrieval system, transmitting it, or utilising it in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, in whole or in part, without the prior permis- sion in writing of the copyright holder. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the copyright holder. You must not circulate this publication in any other cover and you must impose the same condition on any ac- quirer. You must not make this publication or any part of it available on the Internet by any other URL than that on http://www.toaep.org/, without permission of the publisher. ISBN: 978-82-8348-150-1. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 2 2. Setting the Scene: The 1911, 1921 and 1931 Censuses of British Burma ............................
    [Show full text]
  • Thai-Burmese Warfare During the Sixteenth Century and the Growth of the First Toungoo Empire1
    Thai-Burmese warfare during the sixteenth century 69 THAI-BURMESE WARFARE DURING THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY AND THE GROWTH OF THE FIRST TOUNGOO EMPIRE1 Pamaree Surakiat Abstract A new historical interpretation of the pre-modern relations between Thailand and Burma is proposed here by analyzing these relations within the wider historical context of the formation of mainland Southeast Asian states. The focus is on how Thai- Burmese warfare during the sixteenth century was connected to the growth and development of the first Toungoo empire. An attempt is made to answer the questions: how and why sixteenth century Thai-Burmese warfare is distinguished from previous warfare, and which fundamental factors and conditions made possible the invasion of Ayutthaya by the first Toungoo empire. Introduction As neighbouring countries, Thailand and Burma not only share a long border but also have a profoundly interrelated history. During the first Toungoo empire in the mid-sixteenth century and during the early Konbaung empire from the mid-eighteenth to early nineteenth centuries, the two major kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia waged wars against each other numerous times. This warfare was very important to the growth and development of both kingdoms and to other mainland Southeast Asian polities as well. 1 This article is a revision of the presentations in the 18th IAHA Conference, Academia Sinica (December 2004, Taipei) and The Golden Jubilee International Conference (January 2005, Yangon). A great debt of gratitude is owed to Dr. Sunait Chutintaranond, Professor John Okell, Sarah Rooney, Dr. Michael W. Charney, Saya U Myint Thein, Dr. Dhiravat na Pombejra and Professor Michael Smithies.
    [Show full text]
  • Statelessness in Myanmar
    Statelessness in Myanmar Country Position Paper May 2019 Country Position Paper: Statelessness in Myanmar CONTENTS Summary of main issues ..................................................................................................................... 3 Relevant population data ................................................................................................................... 4 Rohingya population data .................................................................................................................. 4 Myanmar’s Citizenship law ................................................................................................................. 5 Racial Discrimination ............................................................................................................................... 6 Arbitrary deprivation of nationality ....................................................................................................... 7 The revocation of citizenship.................................................................................................................. 7 Failure to prevent childhood statelessness.......................................................................................... 7 Lack of naturalisation provisions ........................................................................................................... 8 Civil registration and documentation practices .............................................................................. 8 Lack of Access and Barriers
    [Show full text]
  • An Outline of the Arakanese Rule in Southeast Bengal During 16Th and 17Th Century AD
    An Outline of the Arakanese Rule in Southeast Bengal During 16th and 17th Century AD * U Bodhinyana Arakan had been an independent kingdom for over four millennium and its relations with Bengal was very intimate, specially Chittagong, the southeastern part of Bangladesh, which derived its name in consequence of the victory over local chieftain by King Chula Taing Chandra of Arakan in 953 AD1. The subordination of Chittagong to Arakan is corresponded to the absence of supremacy of other royal claimants over the region. The statement of the Arakanese chroniclers may, however, be taken as a proof of the Arakanese lordship over southeast Bengal. Arakan, “in fact, a continuation of the Chittagong plain,”2 was neither purely a Burmese (Myanmar) nor an Indian territory till the 18th century AD the land that has been called Arakan by the foreigners is known to its own people Rakhaing-pray and call themselves Rakhaing-tha. The word rakkha means guardian, pray means land and tha meaning son. Hence, Rakhaing-pray and Rakhaing-tha means ‘land of the guardian’ and ‘son of the guardian’. The Bengali on the other hand refer them as Magh, the word adopted in the 17th century, to mean it with degrading appellation. Neither the Arakanese nor any other Mongoloid brethren ever speak or write of themselves as “Magh” as it has been alien to them. The European travelers and chroniclers refer them as ‘Recon, Rakan, Arracan, Aracao, Orrakan, Arrakan, Arakan’. In colloquial Chittagong dialect, the country is called ‘Rohang and Roshang’. All these various forms are closely related to the original one ‘Rakhaing’ (or Rakhine)3.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Southeast Asia
    ARTHUR AHISTORYOF COTTERELL SOUTHEAST AHISTORYOF ASIA SOUTHE A HISTORY OF OF HISTORY About the Author A History of Southeast Asia is a sweeping and wide-ranging SOUTHEAST Arthur Cotterell was formerly principal of Kingston narration of the history of Southeast Asia told through historical College, London. He has lived and travelled widely anecdotes and events. in Asia and Southeast Asia, and has devoted ASIA much of his life to writing on the region. In 1980, Superbly supported by over 200 illustrations, photographs and he published !e First Emperor of China, whose maps, this authoritative yet engagingly written volume tells the account of Qin Shi Huangdi’s remarkable reign was history of the region from earliest recorded times until today, translated into seven languages. Among his recent covering present-day Myanmar, !ailand, Cambodia, Laos, AS books are Western Power in Asia: Its Slow Rise and Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia Swift Fall 1415–1999, and Asia: A Concise History, and East Timor. T A published in 2011, the "rst ever coverage of the entire continent. “Arthur Cotterell writes in a most entertaining way by putting a human face on the history of Asia. Far too often, “Arthur Cotterell writes in a most entertaining history books are dry and boring and it is refreshing SIA way by putting a human face on the history of Asia.” to come across one which is so full of life. - to be changed” – Peter Church, OAM, author of A Short History of South East Asia, on Arthur Cotterell – Professor Bruce Lockhart
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix Appendix
    APPENDIX APPENDIX DYNASTIC LISTS, WITH GOVERNORS AND GOVERNORS-GENERAL Burma and Arakan: A. Rulers of Pagan before 1044 B. The Pagan dynasty, 1044-1287 C. Myinsaing and Pinya, 1298-1364 D. Sagaing, 1315-64 E. Ava, 1364-1555 F. The Toungoo dynasty, 1486-1752 G. The Alaungpaya or Konbaung dynasty, 1752- 1885 H. Mon rulers of Hanthawaddy (Pegu) I. Arakan Cambodia: A. Funan B. Chenla C. The Angkor monarchy D. The post-Angkor period Champa: A. Linyi B. Champa Indonesia and Malaya: A. Java, Pre-Muslim period B. Java, Muslim period C. Malacca D. Acheh (Achin) E. Governors-General of the Netherlands East Indies Tai Dynasties: A. Sukhot'ai B. Ayut'ia C. Bangkok D. Muong Swa E. Lang Chang F. Vien Chang (Vientiane) G. Luang Prabang 954 APPENDIX 955 Vietnam: A. The Hong-Bang, 2879-258 B.c. B. The Thuc, 257-208 B.C. C. The Trieu, 207-I I I B.C. D. The Earlier Li, A.D. 544-602 E. The Ngo, 939-54 F. The Dinh, 968-79 G. The Earlier Le, 980-I009 H. The Later Li, I009-I225 I. The Tran, 1225-I400 J. The Ho, I400-I407 K. The restored Tran, I407-I8 L. The Later Le, I4I8-I8o4 M. The Mac, I527-I677 N. The Trinh, I539-I787 0. The Tay-Son, I778-I8o2 P. The Nguyen Q. Governors and governors-general of French Indo­ China APPENDIX DYNASTIC LISTS BURMA AND ARAKAN A. RULERS OF PAGAN BEFORE IOH (According to the Burmese chronicles) dat~ of accusion 1. Pyusawti 167 2. Timinyi, son of I 242 3· Yimminpaik, son of 2 299 4· Paikthili, son of 3 .
    [Show full text]
  • Modern Slavery Prevention and Responses in Myanmar: an Evidence Map
    EMERGING EVIDENCE REPORT 4 MODERN SLAVERY PREVENTION AND RESPONSES IN MYANMAR: AN EVIDENCE MAP Raudah Mohd Yunus, Pauline Oosterhoff, Charity Jensen, Nicola Pocock and Francis Somerwell November 2020 ABOUT THIS REPORT This Emerging Evidence Report describes the availability of evidence on modern slavery interventions in Myanmar presented in the interactive Evidence Map and Rapid Evidence Assessment on modern slavery in Myanmar. This report uses the same methodology and complements the Evidence Map and Rapid Evidence Assessment on modern slavery in South Asia. The Evidence Map provides an outline of where evidence is concentrated and where it is missing by mapping out existing and ongoing impact evaluations and observational studies exploring different types of modern slavery interventions and outcomes for specific target populations (survivors, employers, landlords, service providers, criminal justice officials) and at different levels (individual, community, state). It also identifies key ‘gaps’ in evidence. Both the Evidence Map and this report foremost target the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and its partners in the CLARISSA research programme to support evidence-informed policymaking on innovations to reduce the worst forms of child labour. We hope that it is also useful to academics and practitioners working to address modern slavery, or in the intervention areas and locations described. Authors Myanmar. Children are employed in various forms Raudah Mohd Yunus (Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia); of hazardous work in this large township. For further Pauline Oosterhoff (Institute of Development Studies, research on hazardous labour present in this township, Sussex, UK); Charity Jensen (Independent consultant, see CLARISSA Emerging Evidence Report 2. Edinburgh, UK); Nicola Pocock (London School of Hygiene Photographer (all photos): © Pauline Oosterhoff.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ancient City of Thagara: Cultural and Social Change in the Buddhist
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by SOAS Research Online 1 Dawei Buddhist culture: a hybrid borderland Myanmar Historical Research Journal (21) June 2011, pp.1-62 Elizabeth Moore 1 Dawei is both hybrid and borderland, its Buddhist culture a stylistic and territorial puzzle. Far from the ‗heartland‘ yet passed from one major polity to another over the centuries, its pagodas and monasteries provided a physical and aesthetic means to asserted distance and accommodate ‗other‘. Some objects and ideas were imported; others grafted the new onto local forms to produce hybrid styles, while others are uniquely local.2 Is Dawei culture similarity or a new unification of the cultural diversity of Pyu, Bagan, Sri Lanka, Sukhothai and Ayutthaya? This report argues the contrary, that Dawei resilience in the face of continual threats sustained a local cultural personality that has survived until the present. The question is addressed by first classifying the sites of Dawei into four cultural zones and then discussing the extraordinary range of artefacts from these zones by material.3 This is preceded by a chronological summary to illustrate the often turbulent history and local chronicles. Figure 1. Glazed wares from Sin Seik,circa 15-17th century CE, paintings by Myint Aung, Ministry of Culture, June 2010. Dawei urban and cultural significance The earliest illustration of the process of accommodation and separation described above can be seen in the ‗Dawei Pyu‘ of the first millennium CE. 4 The majority of these come from the large site of Thagara5 [/tha ga ra/] founded in 754 CE (116 ME), with the only text source being the Dawei chronicles.
    [Show full text]