By Shane Doherty
The Bamar, or Burmans, form the largest ethnic group in Burma. It is estimated that around 65 per cent of the country's population speaks only their language. A Tibeto-Burman people, the Bamar are thought to have first settled in the upper plains of Burma, in the area of the Irrawaddy River, around the 8th or 9th centuries AD, having migrated southward from the eastern Himalayas.
By the middle of the 11th century, the Bamar King Anawratha had established hegemony over the other people in the area, and the first Bamar empire was created, with Pagan as its capital. This period, between the middle of the eleventh and the end of the thirteenth centuries, is generally considered to have been the "golden age" of Bamar tradition, customs and ideas. Following the decline of Pagan, later capitals were set up at Ava, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mandalay and Toungoo. The reign of King Bayinnaung in the 16th century brought about the second empire. In 1752 King Alaungpaya came to power, founding the last dynasty of the Bamar kings.
Today, the Bamar are largely based in the upper and central plains. They possess a rich culture, which shows several Indian influences, including Pali script (derived from Sanskrit), cosmology, philosophy and statecraft, art, medicine and architecture. Classical forms of drama, dance and music are comparable to those of neighboring Thailand and were reputedly adopted from Thai prisoners during the reign of King Hsinbyushin in the late 18th century. Older, truly indigenous forms also survive. Marionette theatre was the forerunner of live theatre and is considered by many to be the most expressive of all the Bamar arts, although it has currently in decline. Bamar architecture is mostly concentrated in religious structures, which are very common throughout the country.
The Burmans are a strongly Buddhist people. The dominance of Theravada Buddhism was established by King Anawratha during the Pagan era in the 11th century. Over the years however it has been blended with elements of spirit worship, Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism.
Bamar cuisine has rice as the core element. Curry dishes (hin) are common, containing fish, chicken, prawns or mutton. Another popular dish is thouq, a spicy salad made with raw vegetables or fruit and lime, onions, peanuts, chillies and spices. Noodle dishes are also popular.
Traditional dress is still worn by the majority of the Bamar population. Most men wear ankle length longyis (sarongs), even in urban areas. Women favour calf-length longyis, worn with waist-length fitted blouses.
