17 November
If one asks you what is the value of Myanmar, Myanmar fine arts are what one should point out. It is true that Myanmar citizens should keep up with the advancement in the 21st century, at the same time, it does not mean that we should be oblivious to the identity of Myanmar. Myanmar Arts “ Panbe (blacksmith), Pantain ( Gold and Silver Smith), Pantin (Bronze Casting), Pantaut( Stucco relief ), Panyan (masonry), Panbu( Woodcarving), Pantamault ( Stone Carving), Panpoot (turnery), Panchi ( Art of Painting), Panyun ( Lac-querware) are to Myanmar ancestors’ credit since they have been flourished through the dynasties. In Pyu era, the excavated ossuary, the statue, the sculpture, Baw baw Kyi pagoda are the evidences of the existences of these arts. Then, with the prominence of Buddhism in the reign of King Anawyahtar and Kyansitthar, when the Bagan architects initiated to build the pagodas, temples, fane and many-tiered, Myanmar’s traditional arts had expanded.
The art of blacksmith (Panbe) is the tempering of iron in the furnace to make the items like scissors, hammer, knife, hatchet, mattock and the weapons like sword, armour, etc. The art of gold and silver smith ( Pantain) is making items of gold and silver. Gold wares are the accessories like ear-drops, necklace, finger-ring, ear-ring, bracelet and silverware are drinking bowls, receptacle bowls, shield and belt.
In every golden pagoda, there have the bells which are put to mark and share the donor’s good deeds. There, a large gong, small triangular brass gong are the items of the art of Pantin. The reason why Bagan stands out magnificently as a tourist attraction is due to the Bagan artisans’ floral designs like the creation of curled leaves and the marvelous statues of lion and dragon which are designed with stucco. This is how the art Pantaut( Stucco Relief ) is a credit to Myanmar. The art of Panyan is constructing the buildings using bricks, cement. It is undeniable that Myanmar wood sculptures, stone sculptures, which are the art of Panbu are famous and exquisite. Pantamault is the art of creating Bud-dha images and other items like mortar, pestle.
Panpoot ( Turnery) is the art of creating the intricate and de-tailed shapes from wood, thus it produces the well-shaped contain-ers, tables, and chairs. Bagan’s Panyun art can definitely draw the foreigners’ attention as the betel box, the bowls to offer the monks, the trays, the cups, which are painted with the intricate figures are exquisite.
Let these Myanmar Arts sustain as a great pride and honour of Myanmar.
By May Thu Htay
2nd year Honours Student,
English Specialization,
University of Yangon
