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Tattooing in Myanmar

March 13, 2024

Tattooing in Burma was a widespread custom practiced by various ethnic groups, including the Bamar, Shan, and Karen, until the 20th century. Tattooing was a distinguishing cultural marker and a symbol of strength, courage and intimidation for Lethwei fighters.[1]

Origins edit

Among the Bamar, the custom of tattooing originates from the Shan people, who believed that tattoos had magical or spiritual connotations, used in a similar manner as amulets and protective charms.[2] This practice coincided with the Shan States' control of Upper Burma from the 14th to 17th centuries, as the Shan, themselves tattooed, introduced this practice to the Bamar.[3]

The Arakanese people who are related to the Bamar did not practice tattooing.[4] Similarly, the Mon people did practice tattooing, but did not tattoo their thighs unlike the Bamar.[5]

However, with the onset of colonial rule in Burma, the practice of tattooing quickly became extinct, particularly in Burmese towns.[3] During the 1930s, tattooing saw a resurgence in popularity among rebels who participated in peasant and millennial uprisings.[6] Men tattooed themselves to provide immunity to bullets and knives.[6] The practice of tattoo is regaining popularity among Burmese youth.[7]

Pigments edit

Burmese tattoo pigments traditionally used diluted red mercury sulphide and soot from an oil lamp.[8] For black pigments, the soot was mixed with the dried gallbladder of fish or cattle in powder form, boiled in water and simmered with the leaves of bitter melon.[8] A product was reduced to paste form and dried until usage.[8] A greenish tinge was produced by dabbing the pierced areas of the skin with leaves of Senna siamea or Brugmansia suaveolens.[8]

Tattooing among men edit

 
Watercolour painting from 1897 by an unknown Burmese artist depicting 19th century "LEK-PWE-THAT THEE" boxing match. All fighters wearing longyi and Htoe Kwin.

Tattooing was a painful procedure that could required extensive use of opium used as a painkiller.[9] A professional tattoo artist (မှင်ကြောင်ဆရာ or ကွင်းဆရာ) used a hnitkwasok, a long two-pronged brass or iron instrument with a 2 inches (51 mm) slit similar to a double-pointed pen, to pierce the skin.[4][9] Completion of the tattoos took from 3 to 6 days.[9] Nearly all Bamar men were tattooed at boyhood (between the ages of 8 and 14),[9] from the waist to the knees.[10] The tattooed patterns were ornamented pastiches of arabesques and animals and legendary creatures, including cats, monkeys, chinthe, among others.[4] For the Bamar, tattooing of the waist, done with black pigment, was done before or soon after temporary ordination into monkhood, a major rite of passage for men.[4] Other parts of the body were tattooed with red pigments.[4] Among the Shan, blue or red pigments were especially popular, as were charms and cabalistic figures similar to yantra tattoos.[9][11]

Htoe Kwin edit

Throughout its history, Htoe Kwin tattooing (ထိုးကွင်း) were deeply rooted in Myanmar's Lethwei culture[12] and masculine identity. From kings to commoners, these tattoos were exemplars of masculine strength and bravery. Htoe Kwin were tattooed to upper parts of the legs and covered the entire leg until just below the knee line.[1] The very painful process was seen as a rite of passage, from boyhood to becoming a man.[13] They would be made of circles or squares filled with cultural imagery drawn inside each circle depending on the region of the bearer.

Tattooing among women edit

 
A tattooed Chin woman, 2009

Southern Chin women were also tattooed on their faces with closely set lines using blue pigments, ostensibly to discourage them from being kidnapped by invaders.[14] Chin women were typically tattooed between the ages of 15 and 20.[15] The practice has quickly disappeared, as it was banned in the 1960s by Burma's socialist regime and it was discouraged by Christian missionaries.[16][17] Mro women also wore tattoos in the form of small marks or stars on the cheek, forehead or breast.[4]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b What is the story behind Dave Leduc's Lethwei tattoos. Budo Dragon. 14 February 2022. from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
  2. ^ Paquette, David (February 2008). "Tattoo not Taboo". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  3. ^ a b Cochrane, Henry Park (1904). Among the Burmans: A Record of Fifteen Years of Work and Its Fruitage. Judson Press.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Gait, Edward Albert (1902). Census of India, 1901. Vol. 12. Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing.
  5. ^ Lieberman, Victor B. (1978). "Ethnic Politics in Eighteenth-Century Burma". Modern Asian Studies. Cambridge University Press. 12 (3): 455–482. doi:10.1017/s0026749x00006235.
  6. ^ a b Tarling, Nicholas (1998). Nations and States in Southeast Asia. Cambridge University Press. p. 110. ISBN 9780521625647.
  7. ^ Maung, Manny (24 June 2013). "Inked for life". Myanmar Times. from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Thanegi. "Tattoo Traditions in Myanmar". Enchanting Myanmar. from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e The Baptist Missionary Magazine. Vol. 51–52. American Baptist Foreign Mission Society. 1871. pp. 107–108.
  10. ^ Balfour, Edward (1885). The Encyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia. Vol. 2. Harvard University. p. 291.
  11. ^ Scott, James George (1910). The Burman: his life and notions. Macmillan and Co. pp. 39–47.
  12. ^ BURMESE TATTOOS "HTOE KWIN" မြန်မာ့တက်တူး. Jonny Says. 10 August 2021. from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  13. ^ Burmese Lethwei tattoos – Htoe Kwin. Lethwei World. 6 August 2022. from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  14. ^ White, Herbert Thirkell (2011). Burma. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107600676.
  15. ^ Myo Myo. "A symbol of Chin identity fades away". Myanmar Times. from the original on 14 February 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  16. ^ "Tattooed Chin women lure tourists to remote region". Myanmar Times. 25 April 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  17. ^ Nyein Ei Ei Htwe (17 November 2013). "Chin tattoos: a fading tradition". Myanmar Times. from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.

March 13, 2024
tattooing, myanmar, tattooing, burma, widespread, custom, practiced, various, ethnic, groups, including, bamar, shan, karen, until, 20th, century, tattooing, distinguishing, cultural, marker, symbol, strength, courage, intimidation, lethwei, fighters, contents. Tattooing in Burma was a widespread custom practiced by various ethnic groups including the Bamar Shan and Karen until the 20th century Tattooing was a distinguishing cultural marker and a symbol of strength courage and intimidation for Lethwei fighters 1 Contents 1 Origins 1 1 Pigments 2 Tattooing among men 2 1 Htoe Kwin 3 Tattooing among women 4 See also 5 ReferencesOrigins editAmong the Bamar the custom of tattooing originates from the Shan people who believed that tattoos had magical or spiritual connotations used in a similar manner as amulets and protective charms 2 This practice coincided with the Shan States control of Upper Burma from the 14th to 17th centuries as the Shan themselves tattooed introduced this practice to the Bamar 3 The Arakanese people who are related to the Bamar did not practice tattooing 4 Similarly the Mon people did practice tattooing but did not tattoo their thighs unlike the Bamar 5 However with the onset of colonial rule in Burma the practice of tattooing quickly became extinct particularly in Burmese towns 3 During the 1930s tattooing saw a resurgence in popularity among rebels who participated in peasant and millennial uprisings 6 Men tattooed themselves to provide immunity to bullets and knives 6 The practice of tattoo is regaining popularity among Burmese youth 7 Pigments edit Burmese tattoo pigments traditionally used diluted red mercury sulphide and soot from an oil lamp 8 For black pigments the soot was mixed with the dried gallbladder of fish or cattle in powder form boiled in water and simmered with the leaves of bitter melon 8 A product was reduced to paste form and dried until usage 8 A greenish tinge was produced by dabbing the pierced areas of the skin with leaves of Senna siamea or Brugmansia suaveolens 8 Tattooing among men edit nbsp Watercolour painting from 1897 by an unknown Burmese artist depicting 19th century LEK PWE THAT THEE boxing match All fighters wearing longyi and Htoe Kwin Tattooing was a painful procedure that could required extensive use of opium used as a painkiller 9 A professional tattoo artist မ င က င ဆရ or က င ဆရ used a hnitkwasok a long two pronged brass or iron instrument with a 2 inches 51 mm slit similar to a double pointed pen to pierce the skin 4 9 Completion of the tattoos took from 3 to 6 days 9 Nearly all Bamar men were tattooed at boyhood between the ages of 8 and 14 9 from the waist to the knees 10 The tattooed patterns were ornamented pastiches of arabesques and animals and legendary creatures including cats monkeys chinthe among others 4 For the Bamar tattooing of the waist done with black pigment was done before or soon after temporary ordination into monkhood a major rite of passage for men 4 Other parts of the body were tattooed with red pigments 4 Among the Shan blue or red pigments were especially popular as were charms and cabalistic figures similar to yantra tattoos 9 11 Htoe Kwin edit Throughout its history Htoe Kwin tattooing ထ က င were deeply rooted in Myanmar s Lethwei culture 12 and masculine identity From kings to commoners these tattoos were exemplars of masculine strength and bravery Htoe Kwin were tattooed to upper parts of the legs and covered the entire leg until just below the knee line 1 The very painful process was seen as a rite of passage from boyhood to becoming a man 13 They would be made of circles or squares filled with cultural imagery drawn inside each circle depending on the region of the bearer Tattooing among women edit nbsp A tattooed Chin woman 2009Southern Chin women were also tattooed on their faces with closely set lines using blue pigments ostensibly to discourage them from being kidnapped by invaders 14 Chin women were typically tattooed between the ages of 15 and 20 15 The practice has quickly disappeared as it was banned in the 1960s by Burma s socialist regime and it was discouraged by Christian missionaries 16 17 Mro women also wore tattoos in the form of small marks or stars on the cheek forehead or breast 4 See also editYantra tattooing Culture of Burma nbsp Myanmar portalReferences edit a b What is the story behind Dave Leduc s Lethwei tattoos Budo Dragon 14 February 2022 Archived from the original on 5 September 2022 Retrieved 5 September 2022 Paquette David February 2008 Tattoo not Taboo The Irrawaddy Retrieved 27 September 2013 a b Cochrane Henry Park 1904 Among the Burmans A Record of Fifteen Years of Work and Its Fruitage Judson Press a b c d e f Gait Edward Albert 1902 Census of India 1901 Vol 12 Office of the Superintendent of Government Printing Lieberman Victor B 1978 Ethnic Politics in Eighteenth Century Burma Modern Asian Studies Cambridge University Press 12 3 455 482 doi 10 1017 s0026749x00006235 a b Tarling Nicholas 1998 Nations and States in Southeast Asia Cambridge University Press p 110 ISBN 9780521625647 Maung Manny 24 June 2013 Inked for life Myanmar Times Archived from the original on 10 June 2015 Retrieved 27 September 2013 a b c d Thanegi Tattoo Traditions in Myanmar Enchanting Myanmar Archived from the original on 24 September 2015 Retrieved 27 September 2013 a b c d e The Baptist Missionary Magazine Vol 51 52 American Baptist Foreign Mission Society 1871 pp 107 108 Balfour Edward 1885 The Encyclopaedia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia Vol 2 Harvard University p 291 Scott James George 1910 The Burman his life and notions Macmillan and Co pp 39 47 BURMESE TATTOOS HTOE KWIN မ န မ တက တ Jonny Says 10 August 2021 Archived from the original on 5 September 2022 Retrieved 5 September 2022 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a website ignored help Burmese Lethwei tattoos Htoe Kwin Lethwei World 6 August 2022 Archived from the original on 5 September 2022 Retrieved 5 September 2022 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a website ignored help White Herbert Thirkell 2011 Burma Cambridge University Press ISBN 9781107600676 Myo Myo A symbol of Chin identity fades away Myanmar Times Archived from the original on 14 February 2013 Retrieved 27 September 2013 Tattooed Chin women lure tourists to remote region Myanmar Times 25 April 2011 Archived from the original on 8 October 2013 Retrieved 27 September 2013 Nyein Ei Ei Htwe 17 November 2013 Chin tattoos a fading tradition Myanmar Times Archived from the original on 2 July 2015 Retrieved 1 July 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tattooing in Myanmar amp oldid 1212634451, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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