The Burmese Nats and Cultural Politics: The Politico-Cultural Power Relations in the Nat-worship Areas in Myanmar
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to study the history of the belief in nats among the changing political history, history of the important nats, the rituals worshipping nats, and the benefits occurring in the Nat-worship areas; 2) to analyze the roles, fights, the negotiation, and compromise between the rulers and people in the nat-worship areas; and 3) to analyze the reflection of political-cultural power relations and the reflection of cultural democracy in the nat-worship areas. The study applied a qualitative research method by collecting data from documents, observation, and in-depth interview. The obtained data were analyzed and interpreted according to the research conceptual framework. From the study, the following results are found: 1) The belief in nats has always been related to politics in Burmese history as well as many important nats whose history and worship has also been involved with politics. The nat-worship areas also benefit many involved parties. 2) Both the rulers and the people are involved and have roles in the nat-worship areas in which the rulers have always exercised their state power to control the areas in order to establish their power while the people have always negotiated in order to maintain their cultural areas.3) Based on the above-mentioned information, the nat-worship areas are therefore the areas of power relations, in particular, the rulers and the people both take part in negotiating and compromising. As a result, “Discursive hegemonic power” is created, as people take part in which reflects the cultural democracy or “Radical Democracy”.
Article Details
Views and opinions expressed in the articles published by The Journal of MCU Peace Studies, are of responsibility by such authors but not the editors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors.
References
Andaya, B., & Ichii, Y. (1993). Religious Developments in Southeast Asia c. 1500–1800. In N. Tarling (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (508-571). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Anantapark, A. (2013). Myanmar History: The Land of Disharmony. Bangkok: Gypsy Groups.
Barker, C. (2008). Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice. (3rd ed.). London: Sage.
Charoensin-o-larn, C. (2001). Critical Political Science. (2nd ed.). Bangkok: Thammasat University Press.
Charoensin-o-larn, C. (2006). Development Discourse: Power Knowledge Truth Identity and Otherness. (4th ed.). Bangkok: Vibhasa.
De Casparis, J. G., & Mabbett, I. W. (1993). Religion and Popular Beliefs of Southeast Asia before c.1500. In N. Tarling (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (276-340). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
De la Perriere, B. B. ( 1996) . The Burmese Nats: Between Sovereignty and Autochthony. Diogenes, 44/2(174), 45-60.
Gramsci, A. ( 1971) . Selections from the prison notebook. edited by Hoare, Q. and Nowell, S.G. New York: International Publishers.
Harnwong, L. (2019). Religion and Politics in Burma: On Making Buddhism a National Religion, 1948-1962. In Hongsaton P. and Marddent A. (Eds.), Religion and Violence (45-77). Bangkok: Illumination Editions.
Htin, Aung. (1967). A History of Burma. New York: Columbia University Press.
Kaewthep, K. ( 1998) . Mass Media Studies with Critical Theory: Concepts and Research Examples. Bangkok: Printmaking.
Laclau, E., & Mouffe, C. ( 2 0 0 1 ) . Hegemony and Socialist Strategy: towards a Radical Democratic Politics. (2nd ed.). London: Verso.
Mendelson, E. M. ( 1975) . Sangka and State in Burma: A Study of Monastic Sectarianism and Leadership. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Ministry of Information of Myanmar. (2002). Myanmar Facts and Figures. Yangon: Ministry of Information.
Mouffe, C. ( 1984) . Towards a Theoretical Interpretation of ‘New Social Movements’. In S. Hanninen and L. Palden ( Eds.) , Rethinking Marx. New York and Bagnolet: International General/IMMRC.
Niyomtham, W., & Niyomthan, O. (2008). Learning Myanmar Society and Culture. Phitsanulok: Center of Myanmar Study, Faculty of Humanity, Naresuan University.
Santasombat, Y. (2013). Human and Culture. (4th ed.). Bangkok: Thammasat University Press.
Schliesinger, J. (2018). The Cult of the Thirty-Seven Spirits (Nats) in Burma: Merging Animism and Buddhism. Bangkok: Booksmango Incorporated.
Srigate, G. (2021). The Nats Cult and Cultural Politics: Multiculturalism in Urbanizing Mandalay. Journal of Social Sciences, 51(1), 147-168.
Stange, P. (1993). Religious Change in Contemporary Southeast Asia. In N. Tarling (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Southeast Asia (529-584). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Steinberg, D. I. (2012). The Problem of Democracy in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar: Neither Nation-State Nor State-Nation? Southeast Asian Affairs, January 2012, 220-237.
Stevenson, H.C. ( 1 9 4 4 ). Burma Pamphlets No. 6, The Hill Peoples of Burma. New York: Longmans, Green & Co.
Sujchaya, S. (2009). Mon, Ethnic in the Land of Suvarnabhumi. Retrieved June 20, 2019, from http://www.monstudies.com.
Tangsupvattana, A. (1992). Models of Power: A Reflection of Meta – theoretical Controversy. (Master’s Thesis). Department of Government, University of Essex. Colchester.
Taylor, R. H. (2009). The state in Myanmar. Singapore: NUS.
Temple, R. C. ( 1906) . The Thirty-Seven Nat: A Phase of Spirit-Worship Prevailing in Burma. London: W. Griggs.
Than Tun, T. (1983). The Royal Orders of Burma, A.D. 1598-1885. Kyoto: Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University.
Thotsaroth, N. (1997). Nat Belief in Burmese society. Nakhon Pathom: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia.
Win Maung, Y. (2015). Bagan 37 Pagodas and 37 Nats. (translated into English by Tin Thet, Hteik). Mandalay: Cho Cho Myint.
