Welcome to Myanmar

     Now the country of Myanmar is situated between China and India. But the people living in Myanmar ware mostly migrated from other places. The origional native people living around this region were call Australoid. There are two type of Australoid people, one living inland ( Austroasiatic ) and one living around sea ( Austronesian ). But when Austroasiatic ( now Mon  people ) migrated in lower part of the Myanmar, Austronesian had to move down to the sea and islands. They can be seen as Salon or Mokeng people near Mergui Archchipelago and as Negrito in Adaman Island until now. So Mon people had influence over southern part of Myanmar until 11th century when the king of Bagan attacked their capital , Thaton.
  Before that time, some Mongoloid ( Tibeto-Burman ) people migrated from north to south. The origion of those people were between north-west of China  and north-east of Tibet and called Chi-an. First they work as shephard and stay away from China.They made very good quality pottries. But when China get powerful and attacked them ( sacrificed them ), they moved south through icy mountains and west to survive. Some moved to the south right into Myanmar and settle as Chin, Kadu, Pyu and That ( Rakhine ) people. Pyu people set up civilized kingdoms since 2nd century B.C. The most famous capital is Sri Ksetra ( presently Pyay ). But this kingdom was attacked and was destroyed in 832 A.D by the Nan-chao. Other famous old cities built by Pyu are Vishinu and Hanlin.They were built during 2nd to 4th centuries.
   Some Tibeto-Burman move to Nan-chao ( Yunan ) and served for the king.But at the end of 8th century,they also move down to Myanmar from east and they are called Bamar.
  At 9th century, Mon people were all around the country and doing plantation with irrigation system. But when Bamar people settled there, they integrated and Bamar people learned plantation, literature,religion from Mon people. At 11th century, Bamar people together with Mon and Pyu, built the kingdom of Bagan and its empire spread almost all over the country.The first Myanmar Empire was founded in early 11th century by King Anawrahta of Bagan who unified the country through his strong leadership . The Empire with its capital at Bagan lasted until the end of 13th century with the invasion of the Mongols.  The Second Myanmar Empire with its capital in Bago  was founded in mid - 16th century by King Bayinnaung. The third and the last Myanmar Empire was founded by King Alaungpaya in 1752. In the 19th Century, during the peak period of colonialism, Myanmar was annexed in three stages by the British after three Anglo-Myanmar Wars in 1824, 1852 and 1885. During the SecondWirld War, Myanmar was occupied by the Japanese for nearly three years until the Allied Forces' reoccupation in 1945. Myanmar became a sovereign independent state on January 4, 1948. Currently, Myanmar is ruled by military government since 1988 and people are waiting for changes.

CULTURE

Myanmar lies between two great civilization, India and China, but it has developed its own distinctive culture. Buddhism has a great influence on the daily lives of the Myanmar people. The people have preserved the traditions of close family ties, respect for elders and simple native dress. While tolerance and contentment are the characteristics of the people,,Myanmar hospitality is legendary.

LANGUAGE

RELIGION

Perdominantly a Buddhist country with about 80 percent of the people believe Theravada Buddhism. There are also Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some animists. A lot of people believe spirits ( Nat ) eventhough they are Buddhists.