The Timeless Rhythms of Burmese Village Life

“The head of the village monastery virtually becomes the head of the village.” Maha Gandayone Sayadaw U Janaka

In many ways, the timeless rhythms of Burmese village life have changed little over the centuries. In Through the Looking Glass, the American monk Bhikkhu Cintita observed this timeless quality in village homes in 2013, writing: “Almost all houses in Burma are basically wicker baskets, thin but rigid structures of bamboo and straw with thatched roofs, simple holes for doors and windows, sometimes with a wooden flap but no glass, and an outhouse in the back.” In many villages, life still flows according to the seasons and revolves around farming. Today, about three-quarters of Myanmar’s population is rural, much of which is concentrated along the country’s many rivers, where agriculture the obvious main livelihood due to the very fertile soil. Similar to rural cultures the world over, it tends to be more “conservative” and religious in rural Myanmar than in its more urban counterparts.

Burmese Time

In this excerpt from the book, we pick up an entry from our "Burmese Days" chapter. Following is a short excerpt:
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Burmese also have a special way of marking time in rural areas, which was common to use before the introduction of time-keeping pieces:

· Lin Kyet Tun Chain: “the rooster crows at dawn time” (daybreak)

· Nay Htan Ta Phyar: “the sun reaches the top of the toddy palm time” (about 9 am)

· Soon Khan Pyan Chain: “the monks come back from alms round time” (about 10:30 am)

· Yay Khat Sin Chain: “the girls collect water time” (around three pm)

· Nwar Yine Thwin Chain: “the cattle return from the pasture time” (around five pm)

· Nyi Ako Ma Thi Ta Thi A Chain: “it-is-difficult-to-know-if-one-is-friend-or-foe time” (dusk)

· Thu nge eight sate: “children are put to bed time” (around seven pm)

· Thet Kyee gaung Cha: “when the elder puts his head to bed time” (around eight pm)

· Lubyo(or Kalathar) pyan chain: “when the bachelors return home” (around midnight)

Time durations are similar marked, with htamin oh ta kha khet meaning the time needed to boil rice (30 minutes) and kun a yar nyet, meaning the time needed to chew a quid of betel.

Two Burmese pilgrims outside Botataung Pagoda on Yangon River