MYTHOLOGIES OF MON TRIBE

The Mon (Mon: ဂကူမန်;(Thai Mon=ဂကူမည်); Burmese: မွန်လူမျိုး‌, pronounced [mʊ̀ɰ̃ lù mjó]; Thai: มอญ, pronounced [mɔ̄ːn] listen (help·info)) are an ethnic group who inhabit Lower Myanmar‘s Mon State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Tanintharyi Region, Bago Region, the Irrawaddy Delta, and several areas in Thailand (mostly in Pathum Thani province, Phra Pradaeng and Nong Ya Plong). The native language is Mon, which belongs to the Monic branch of the Austroasiatic language family and shares a common origin with the Nyah Kur language, which is spoken by the people of the same name that live in Northeastern Thailand. A number of languages in Mainland Southeast Asia are influenced by the Mon language, which is also in turn influenced by those languages. The Mon were one of the earliest to reside in Southeast Asia, and were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Mainland Southeast Asia. The civilizations founded by the Mon were some of the earliest in Thailand as well as Myanmar and Laos. The Mon are regarded as a large exporter of Southeast Asian culture. Historically, many cities in Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos today, including Yangon, Bangkok, and Vientiane were founded either by the Mon people or Mon rulers. Nowadays, the Mon are a major ethnic group in Myanmar and a minor ethnic group in Thailand. The Mons from Myanmar are called Burmese Mon or Myanmar Mon. The Mons from Thailand are referred as Thai Raman or Thai Mon. The Mon dialects of Thailand and Myanmar are mutually intelligible.

A major tourist attraction in Kanchanaburi is the Mon Tribal Village. The Mon are an ethnic group originally from Mongolia, living mostly in the middle of Myanmar, and along the southern border with Thailand. They are the earliest people to reside in Southeast Asia, bringing civilization to central and northern Thailand and central Laos more than 1200 years ago. Over time they were pushed out of these countries, residing only in the north of Thailand and south of Burma. The Mon culture and script has been of major influence on the Burmese culture. The Lanna culture also shares similarities. The culture includes many special instruments such as the Kyam, a crocodile shaped xylophone and the Saung harp. These instruments, and others, are played as background music for the traditional dances. Currently, there are only 1 to 5 million Mon people left. Only around one third of them speak the Mon language and follow the traditions and culture of the Mon.

Mon, also spelled Mun, Burmese Talaing, people are primarily live in Mon State, the Southern part of Myanmar and borders with Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region and Kayan State. The Mon are one of the first people in the southeast Asia and the earliest one to settle in Myanmar. They founded an empire, and introduced both writing and Buddhism into Burma. The Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand. The Mon culture is credited as a major source of influence on the dominant Myanmar culture. Their estimated population is around 8 million. They are always proud of their traditions and culture which is very rich and ancient. Mon people are divided into three sub-groups such as Mon Nya, Mon Tang and Mon Teh.  Religion is very important to the Mon. Majority of Mon people are Theravada Buddhists and much of the culture is influenced by Buddhism.  Mon people speak Mon language and cultivate their traditions. The Mon have lived in village settlements from the last three or four hundred years. Their houses are similar to Thai homes, except that they are always situated east and west. They are rectangular, wood-framed houses raised above ground on poles. The walls and floors are made of woven bamboo mats, and the roofs are made of thatch. The wealthier Mon may live in homes with plank walls and floors. There is a verandah in front and a kitchen at the back of the house. A monastery is located in each village.

In about 600 A.D, the Champa of Vietnam, sacked Funan and brought it under vassalage. This turn of events allowed the “Mon” of Thailand to break away from Funanese vassalage and establish their own kingdoms. The most important of these Mon kingdoms was Dvaravati, which dates from approximately the 6th to the 11th century A.D. It was centered at the Chao Phraya River valley in modern-day Thailand, with Nakhon Pathom as the capital. The Mon were rarely politically dominant, but rather, almost continually under the shadow of their stronger neighbors. Dvaravati was prevented by geo-political barriers from establishing close political ties with other Mon states to the west in southern Myanmar (Burma), and with the Mon state in northern Thailand. Consequently, Dvaravati experienced political domination by neighboring peoples on at least three separate occasions: in the 10th century, the Burmese conquered the Mon state of Thaton, which was west of the Tenasserim Yoma; from 1100 A.D. to the 1300 A.D, the Khmer (in Cambodia) arose in the east and re-established their Empire; and finally, in the late 13th century, when Dvaravati was absorbed by the current inhabitants of Thailand – the Mongol Thai’s.

Mon, also spelled Mun, Burmese Talaing, people are primarily live in Mon State, the Southern part of Myanmar and borders with Bago Region, Tanintharyi Region and Kayan State.  The Mon are one of the first people in the southeast Asia and the earliest one to settle in Myanmar. They founded an empire, and introduced both writing and Buddhism into Burma. The Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar and Thailand. The Mon culture is credited as a major source of influence on the dominant Myanmar culture. Their estimated population is around 8 million.  They are always proud of their traditions and culture which is very rich and ancient.

While the Mon people make up only 2% of the country’s population, their influence has a significant impact on the culture of the Burmese people. The Mon people brought Buddhism to Myanmar centuries ago, but their contribution to Burmese culture is not limited to religion alone. The famous snack Htamanè (glutinous rice mixed with toasted sesame seeds, peanuts, coconut shavings, and fried ginger) and the New Year staple Thingyan rice are Mon in origin. The Mon people also introduced traditional children’s games, which UNESCO has granted the intangible cultural heritage recognition. Bago, the capital of Mon State, is home to several fascinating landmarks, including the Kanbawzathadi Palace, Shwethalyaung Buddha, Maha Kalyani Sima, Kyaik Pun Paya, Shwemawdaw Pagoda, and Snake Pagoda.  Go on a river cruise in the Irrawaddy Delta, and discover idyllic riverside villages, markets, and temples, as well as the abundant birdlife.  At the Death Railway Museum in Mawlamyine, learn about the horrific story of the 100,000 laborers who died building the tracks that connected Thailand and Myanmar during World War II.

The Mon are the earliest known inhabitants of lower Burma. They founded an empire, and introduced both writing and Buddhism into Burma. In the year 573, two Mon brothers, Prince Samala and Prince Wimala, founded the Mon kingdom Hongsavatoi at the present site of modern Pegu. This kingdom flourished in peace and prosperity for several centuries until it was occupied by the Burman dynasty. In 1757, the Burma ruler U Aungzeya invaded and devastated the Mon kingdom, killing tens of thousands of Mon, including learned Mon priests, pregnant women, and children. Over 3,000 priests were massacred by the victorious Burmans in the capital city alone. Thousands more priests were killed in the countryside. The surviving priests fled to Thailand, and Burman priests took over the monasteries. Most of the Mon literature, written on palm leaves, was destroyed by the Burmans. Use of the Mon language was forbidden, and Burman became the medium of instruction. Mon people were persecuted, oppressed, and enslaved, and countless people were burned in holocausts, like the Jews before the Nazis. Mon properties and possessions were looted and burned throughout Burma. Mons fled further south into Burma’s Tenasserim Division and east into Thailand. Unfortunately, the oppression of the Mon people has persisted to the present day.

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