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Mon State

The third state in terms of population in the 1980s was Mon State. Its center was Moulmein, the third largest city in Burma and once the British administrative center in the first half of the nineteenth century. To the east was Karen State, and many Karens lived on both sides of that border. There were also many Burmans included in Mon State, just as there were many Mons in Pegu Division. The total area is 4,747 square miles. Mawlamyaing is its capital and it is a beautiful sea-port town at the mouth of the Thanlwin River. The Thanlwin , the Gyain and the Attran Rivers serve as a back-bone to Mawlamyaing. Majority of population in this State are Mon. Some Mons also live in the sourthern part of the Kayin State and areas around Bago town.

Historically, the Mons established kingdoms with capitals at Thaton and Pegu, the latter not part of the present state. Mons are one of the earliest inhabitants of Myanmar. Excavation of an old Mon town in Mon State are housed among other artifacts, some figuring of thousands in both sitting and standing postures belonging to 6th and 7th Century AD. Rivalry between Burmans and Mons (sometimes referred to as Talaings) has been a major factor in the dynamics of Burmese history, and bitter memories remain of the final destruction of the capital at Pegu by King Alaungpaya in 1757. The long struggle between the Mons and the Burmans was so destructive of life and property that many Mons migrated into Thailand for safety.

Certainly, relationships with Burmans were not improved when Mons helped the British in the Anglo-Burmese wars, and tensions from such historical events continued to surface in modern group relations. Although the Mon language is not akin to Burmese, the Mon religion is Theravada Buddhism, and tradition in Burma assigns to the Mon form of Buddhism a strong role in keeping all Burmans close to orthodoxy. Mon contributions to the arts, architecture, and literature of Burma are also legendary and can be particularly noted at Pagan. Interspersed with Burmans since the eighteenth century, many Mons have lost their language and some of their customs, becoming more and more like their neighbors, except that Mon nationalists retain a sense of identity. In the early 1980s Mon State was still not open to foreign visitors owing to the smuggling problems and various Mon-Karen independence movements.

Mons live in houses built high above the ground. Gardening and folk culture are their main means of livelihood. They have their own letter, language and literature and their culture is of high standard. Among the famous pagodas in Mon State are Kyaikhtiyo Zeydi which is renowned as one of the Wonders of the World and Kyaikpawlaw Hmeshin image, Shwesaryan Myathabeik and Alantayar Pagodas are well-known. Besides Kyaikhami Pagoda and Setse sea beach are the centres of attraction for the pilgrims and tourists for veneration and recreation.

The annual Pagoda festival of Kyaikhtiyo attracts thousands of worshippers, hikers and mountaineers. Also recovered are two figures , one thing is three stringed harp, other striking the musical timers. One thousand figurings named Gantawa is artistically well the portion. Base upon such archaeological evidences, Mon Dance styles are recaptured. Mons adore Brahminy duck as sacred bird. Mon State is metaphorically called Hansawady 'the land of Hansa birds'. Mon especially perform Hansa dance.