My theme this year is Burma AKA Myanmar. I used to live in Laos, so this was a return to Southeast Asia that I looked forward to. I spent a little over three weeks exploring this country, learning a bit about its culture: its history, religion, and language. I thought others might enjoy some of what I learned and see some of what I saw.
Nuns’ Robes are a Brilliant Pink |
There are about 30,000 Nuns in modern Burma. They’re called Sila-Rhan meaning “owners of virtue.” While all male Buddists become either novice monks when they’re children or monks when they are adults, not all females are compelled to enter the monastery, even for a brief period.
On this day, I was in a market and the Nuns came through singing with their begging bowls. I contributed 50Kyat (pronounced CHAT) to their bowl and snapped a picture. I wish I had the singing to share. It was a beautiful chant.
Burma is all about Color, Even in Nun Robes |
Young Nun Shopping |
Answer to M
T 1. Mandalay was the last royal capital in Burma. (When the British took over Burma, they exiled King Thibaw and Queen Supayalat. There would never be another royal capital in Burma after November 1885.)
T 2. Mandaly was occupied by the Japanese for three years following a heavy air assault on the city. (The Japanese destroyed over half of the homes in Mandalay and sent people fleeing into the countryside. The conquerors remained in control from 1941 to 1945.)
NOW what do you know about nuns in Burma?
T/F 1. All women in Burma are required to become nuns and follow the tradition of what is called the bhikkhunis.
T/F 2. Nuns have an equal status with monks.
Answers tomorrow.
Joyce says
What an interesting theme! I know pretty much nothing about nuns in Burma, except for what I've read here today : ) Thanks for stopping by my blog…enjoy writing your way through the rest of the alphabet!
Shah Wharton says
Who says pink is for girls! ๐
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Scribbles From Jenn says
The robes are lovely. Is that how they make their money? I wish I could hear their singing, too. I wonder if it's on YouTube?
Scribbles From Jenn – Visiting from the A to Z Challenge
Deepti Agarwal says
Beautiful click.. Serene Nuns in Pinks
Tammy Theriault says
I always thought monks and nuns were mysteriously cool
Clarabelle Rant says
I love all the color! Pink is the color of love, so it seems really appropriate for nuns ๐
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ClarabelleRant
Yvonne Ventresca says
Love the pink robes!
Yvonne
Susan Oloier says
I wish you had it to share, too. I love the vibrant colors.
Donna McDine says
Incredibly beautiful robes! Wow 30,000 nuns! T/F 2 – is false
Julie Flanders says
I love the pink robes.
Birgit says
Why am I thinking of Sinead O'Connor?? ๐ Well I got 50% again but learning allot. The colours are beautiful even if it is pink. I would say False to the first but true to the 2nd. Let's see if I get this right:)
Lynda R Young says
I heard a Buddhist chant in a temple in South Korea once. It was truly amazing.
AJ Lauer says
Love their robes ๐ I knew some very special Catholic nuns in high school. Sr. Bernadone took in my prom dress for me!
J.H. Moncrieff says
Very pretty robes. I'd say true to the first question and false to the second.
ivy walker says
Sisters of providence. ..a western order of course…wore a very light pink in hospitals and such.
Lisa says
I love the pink! I will hazard a guess and say F to the first and the second questions… Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com Cool your husband is a pilot!
A Tarkabarka Hรถlgy says
I have seen some Catholic nuns in pink in Rome before. It is a nice color among all the black and white ๐
@TarkabarkaHolgy from
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Patricia Lynne says
That was interesting. I love the fact they wear pink.
emilia.m says
made me think and google "pink nuns" – because I knew there are catholic nuns wearing pink ๐ they are called Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration ๐
Matthew MacNish says
Pink Nuns? Love it!
klahanie says
Hey Lee!
I read your post and I read all the comments. Your posts, when I can actually get here, are of great interest to me. Such a fascinating life you've had.
Perhaps neither answer is correct aka nun of the above….
With that, I shall chant my way out of here…..
Your intermittent, yet weirdly loyal, starstuckest fan!
Gary
C. Lee McKenzie says
I've read all the comments this morning again, and I'm pleased that the posts are still interesting to my visitors. I wish I could reply to each comment, but again let me say, I read them all and if you've turned on your email response, I often reply there. Happy Thursday, USA. Not sure where others are, but Happy Any Day rest of the world.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
False and false. I like the pick robes but not so much the shaved heads.
Pink is an attitude says
I love their robes and the pics are amazing. Your blog challenge is like an encyclopedia come to life.
Sunday Visitor says
Studying in a convent school, nuns had a constant presence in my life. Nice to see nuns from other places. Pretty pictures.
David P. King says
Nuns in Burma? I never would have guessed. ๐
Hilary Melton-Butcher says
Hi Lee – I love the colours of their robes … I think you said that not all nuns have to go into a monastery … but I'm sure they don't have equal status with the monks …
But the photos are delightful .. showing us a little of daily life .. cheers Hilary
blogoratti says
What lovely photos!
Jennifer Hawes says
That is very interesting. Pink nuns! And the singing ๐
Tyrean Martinson says
Wow! That is so interesting. I feel like I'm just soaking in story possibilities with every one of your posts, C. Lee. Thanks for sharing the details of your journeys. ๐ And, I love the colors, too. ๐
nashvillecats2 says
Most enjoyable to read …and educating.
Yvonne.
Chrys Fey says
I love that they are wearing pink and that color is celebrated there. If only nuns here could wear fun colors like that.
Tyrean Martinson says
My mom went back to nursing school when I was in high school so she could get re-certified, and the nuns she met all wore regular clothes except for special days – and then, their habits were made of of all colors, not just black and white. I think it depends on the order.
emilia.m says
http://diocesecc.org/pictures/Offices/Consecrated%20Life/Sister%20Servants%20of%20the%20Holy%20Spirit%20of%20Perpetual%20Adoration1.JPG
sorry, hope the link will somehow work – there are chistian/catholic nuns wearing pink too ๐
Cathrina Constantine says
Sounds lovely, and I can almost hear their sweet chanting…
Karen Mortensen says
That was interesting. I love that their robes were pink.
Natasha Duncan-Drake says
Those are very pink, a much happier colour than your average western nun's habit ๐ Does the pink signify anything in particular?
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)
Sarah Foster says
I love that their robes are pink! All of the colors in your photos are incredible.
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
I guess they all have to shave their heads, huh?