Burmese design through drawings

226 Pages·1993·15.935 MB·English

by  Aye Myint

U AYE MTCINT
BURMESE DESIGN
r m t O U G J I DRAWINGS
Edited by Sone Simatrang
Translated by U THANOE
SILPAKORN UNIVERSITY
Bangkok,Thailand
THE TOYOTA FOUNDATION
Tokyo Japan
hi
First Publishing : April 1993
First Run : 1,000 issues
All right reserved
Silpakorn University 1993
ISBN ‘>74-600-53 1-6
Published by Silpakorn University
with the Financial Support of The Toyota Foundation
Photographs : Sone Simatrang
Book Designer : Sone Simatrang
Color Plates : 71 Film Limited Partnership,Bangkok 10500
Printer’s : Siam I'ong Kit Press Limited Partnership,Bangkok 10 I it'
IV
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements, VII
The Toyota Foundation Managing Director’s Foreword ,
VIII
The President of Silpakorn University’s Foreword , IX
Editor's Note, X
PART ONF
A Cultural History ol Burma, 2
PART TWO
Reproducing traditional Burmese designs seen and studies, 10
One Design from Potsherds, 20
/’wo Kanout 'he Burmese Floral Design, 54
Three Animals and Birds, 94
Four Designs in Pagodas and other buildings, 1 36
Five Dress Styles, 156
Six Textile Designs, 182,
Sc veil Miscellaneous, 192
Glossary, 208
A Note on; Romanization, 212
Ch ronology and Historical Sites (old capitals) in Burma, 212
Selected Bibliography, 213
The Author, 214
«
This hook is dedicated to
Mr.Chark Siripanich
ihc former dean ot
Decorative Arts Faculty
Silpakorn University
Bangkok,Thailand.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements, VII
The Toyota Foundation Managing Director's Foreword 1 . VIII
The President of Silpakorn University’s Foreword , IX
Editor’s Note, X
PART ONI
A Cultural History oi Burma, 2
PART TWO
Reproducing traditional Burmese designs seen and studies, 10
One Design from Potsherds, 20
/ tv<> Kanout the Burmese Moral Design, 54
Ihree Animals and Birds, 94
/our Designs in Pagodas and other buildings, 1 36
Five Dress Styles, 156
Six Textile Designs, 182
Seven Miscellaneous, 192
Glossary, 208
A Note on Romanization, 212
Chronology and Historical Sites (old capitals) in Burma, 212
Selected Bibliography, 213
The Author, 214
I
This book is dedicated to
Mr.Chark Siripanich
the former dean ol
Decorative Arts Faculty
Silpakorn University
Bangkok,Thailand.
it
\ I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Hundreds of people have helped me in mv years of research and in
collecting ancient works ol art. My thanks are due to.
11 Khin Mating iBank), artist U Kywe Lei (artist), Ven U Tli'awbhita
(Shweikaingtha), U Pyinnyá. (Taungleilon Monastery, Amarapura), U
Dhammasami (Leitha Monastery, Salei), Major Ba Shin (Historical
Commission), l ! Htwei Sein (Pagan), artist and engineer U I in Ei
(ex-principal, school of Lacquerware, Pugam), U Bokei (ex-research
officer, Pug"m), Ko Neimyo (Mr. Noel Singer), artist Dr. Than lltun
(Professor of History), U VVun (Min Thuwun, poet and scholar), Li
Maung Mating Tin (M/\, Burmese Commission), U Htun Yi (Scholar
of old literature), Dr. Kyaw Htin (ex-director, Home Industries), L; Hla
Htun Hpyu (adviser, Weaving), U Min Naing (director, Ministry of
Culture), U'Kvaw Nyein (sculpture instructor), L' Win Maung (artist-
sculptor, 1. ampawali), U Sein Myint (artist, Mandalay), Daw Tin Hla
(ex-director, Ministry of Culture), U Kyaw Sein (Amarapura) custodian.
Archaeology Department, Li Myint Thein (drawing master, weav ing),
U Khin Maung Lei (Nanthon-yatana, Mandalay) goldspiith, Daw Htwei
Kyin (Acheit weaver), 17 Aung Kyiy (Maung Hseiyo) art instructor,
\rt school, Rangoon, Li Myint Htun (schol ar), Ko Khin Maung Win
art instructor (Lacquer School, Pagan), U Htei Ko (Mandalay)^ and
many other persons who have helped me in various ways on mv study
tours as well as the Archaeological Department, and the Architecture
Department (Rangoon Institute of Technology).
I must also thank the Toyota Foundation and the persons who
have assisted me in bringing out this book : Asst. Professor Sonc
Simatrang, Faculty of Decorativ e Arts, Silpakorn University, Bangkok,
Mr. Kofat, Maung Swam Yiy, Maung Thaya, U Hi Ko, U Htun Wei
(Yankin Films) and Maung Tha Noe, who has translated mv work
into English.
U AYE MYINT
The Toyota Foundation Managing Director’s
foreword
On behalf of the- Toyota f oundation, I should like to congratulate
U Aye Myint on the publication of his Burmese Design I ¡uouyji
Drawing. This book, published in I hailand, is the fruit of a joint
international project funded by the Foundation and involving the
cooperation of Thai and Burmese specialists.
i be idea ot publishing this opiicction ot traditional Burmese
designs goes back more than five yeaiTS to WHS, w hen Ka. ue 1 w amoto,
then the program1 officer ot the Foundation's International I )ivision,
visited Burma during one of her regular trips to Southeast Asian
countries- In Rangoon sin- was introduced to she architecf ural designer
I Aye Myint. He showed her £t Collection oi traditional Burmese
elesigns he had copied over a period of several years and expressed
his strong desire to publish the drawings in order to make Burma’s
artistic heritage better known both to the Burmese people and to students
lit Burmese art overseas.
Iw amoto was eager to help U Aye Mint realize his' eiream.
Unfortunately, the Foundation’s International Division, w he h awards
grants tor projects aimed at preserving and revitalizing the indigemuis
cultures of Southeast Asia, had been unable to award grants 'to
researchers in Burma for v arious reasons. If, however, the work could
be published in Thailand, the Foundation vvpuld be able to offer grant
assistance.'Traveling on to Thailand, Iw asnoto discussed the possibility
of publication in that country with Associate Professor Anuvit
Charernsupkul of the Faculty of Architecture anti Assistant i'rofessor
Sone Simatrang ot the Facullv ot Decorative Arts at Silpakorn Univ ersity,
t pon s!inlying the drawings, the two Thai scholars praised ihe collection
as both a systematic presentation of the development ot Burmese art
styles and techniques and a fine example of U Aye* Mv nit’s artisitc
skill. 1 hey offered to do whatever they could to facilitate the- publication
of his work in book form in Thailand.
Burmese Design Through Drawing thus represents the successful
outcome of international collaboration. The international iharacter
of the book is underscored by the fact that Professor hull )h no of
Osaka University of Foreign Studies, an aul hority on Bui mese history
and culture, has contrilnitcel a background essay, “A 1 uh ural f iistoi y
of Bin nn'i.”
Joint international projects often take a relatively long lime to
reach fruition because ed administrative1 complexities and the need tei
establish mutual understanding among the members of tin project
team, who represent differing cultural and social traditions, V\ c deeply
appreciate- the hard work of all those involved in the project aiul a re
honored to have had the i>pportunity to assist in making the publication
of this important work possible.
It is our heartfelt hope ¡hat this book will deepen understanding
ot Burma’s magnificent art among people in Burma itself ,->nd around
the vveH'ld,
Fheleo Yamaguchi
Managing Director
The /(>>(>ta hoiuulaiion
VIII
The President of Silpakorn University’s
Foreword
I would like to express my appreciation for Mr. U Aye Myint’s good
intention and laborious work; he has dedicated over thirty years
studying the Burmese design through drawings. The sources of infor­
mation obtained for the research are taken from archaeological sites
£ **
throughout Burma, the research is presented to the public in term
of port (olio of drawings, about 762 pieces in number. It is an important
and valuable academic study which deserves to be presented all over
the world intellectual society.
I trust that Mr. U Aye Myint's research represents the intellectual
work of the Burmese; it is not only showing the dignity of the nation
but also revealing the truth that Burma is one of the sources of world
civilization. The research is not only for the pride of the researcher
but also that of his homeland-Burma.
Mr. Aye Myint had sent a request to have his book published by (he
Toyota Foundation in Japan or in Thailand, due to the limit of
marketing and financial support in. printing in his country. The
Toyota Foundation, which has a policy to support the international
cooperation among researchers and educational institutes in Asian
countries, and also has a goal to develop a better relationship and
cooperation in academic affairs, has donated a financial support to
publish Mr. Aye Myint’s work-the original script. As the Toyota
Foundation and Silpakorn University have a very long cooperation,
the university is very grateful to he asked as a publisher. 'The script
is permitted by the author-Mr. Aye Myint.
On behalf of Silpakorn University it is our great pleasure in having
the honor from the Toyota Foundation and Mr. Aye Myint to have
the book published and will be later presented to the public.
In this special occasion, I would like to express my sincere thanks
to the Toyota Foundation and to Assistant Professor Sone Simatrang,
Department of Applied Arts, Faculty of Decorative Arts; the editor,
w ho h as devoted his valuable time to edit this book.
“i Associate Professor Khaisri . Sri-aroon
The Preshlcnt of Silpakorn University
IX