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Myanmar Ceramic |
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Ceramic sites in Myanmar Out of the places where ceramic wares are made, I will mention them in order of maximum to minimum production;- 1. Kyauk Myaung (Shwe Bo Township, Sagaing Division) 2. Twante (Yangon Division) 3. Pyinmana (Mandalay Division) 4. Pathein (Ayearwaddy Division) 5. Bago (Bago Division) 6. Hpapun (Kayin State) 7. Mine Kine and Mauk Mei (Southern Shan State) 8. Mine Pan, Tarpaung and Kokant (orthern Shan State) 9. Zartarbayin (Mon State) Places where they are situated Kyauk Myaung in Shwe Bo Township is the largest one in ceramic production among these centers. Shwe Bo, about 70 miles away from Mandalay is the principal town of the township of its namesake in Sagaing Division. Although we say Kyauk Myaung produces these glazed ceramic wares, the real manufacturing areas are Shwe Khun, Shwe Tike, New Nyein and Malar villages in the vicinity of Kyauk Myaung. These places where ceramic wares are made are situated on the western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, about 87 miles away from Mandlay. Some can be easily reached by taxi from Mandalay through Shwe Bo, where you can have your breakfast or lunch. It takes about three hours to get Kyauk Myaung from Mandalay. Historical Background This glazed ceramic work has handed down from the learned Mons, who once upon a time had entered into Myanmar for political, economical and cultural purposes and reached their zenith in all aspects for a time. King Ah-laung min-taya who had established Kone Baung (Shwe Bo) dynasty after building the town of Shwe Bo had fought with the Mons and captured Inwa (Ava) In A.D (17554), Ah-laung-min-ta-ya defeated the Mons and had they sent to Ma Au Village, six miles away from Kyauk Myaung, where they were made to carry on glazed ceramic work. Three years after, they asked the king's permission to have their ceramic work or pottery work transferred to the present place. Up till now, the learned Mons, who engaged in this work and worship nats to follow their traditional (Mon) customs are still to be found in that village. The clay basic element of ceramics The most basic work is, mixing two types of clay proportionately i.e., red and yellow clay (according to the color, and not to the chemical composition). The yellow one is obtainable from New Nyein Village about one mile west of it; the red one from Malar village two miles west. The clay is carried by bullock carts and Lorries. After pounding the clay finely, the powder is used for shaping various glazed ceramic wares. The process The glazed wares are made on winding machine called potter's wheel by two persons for each piece. The one who leads in shaping works is called the master and the other is called the follower or subordinate. Making pots on the potter's wheel is called throwing. When the wares are glazed and fired in a big kiln, we get various kinds of beautiful glazed or ceramic products which shine brilliantly. The kiln in which the wares are heated or fired measures about 60 feet in length, 15 feet in width and 15 feet in height. The glaze is obtained from Baw Saing mines near Heho, in the Southern Shan State. We use fire woods as fuel to heat up the wares. The fire woods are obtained from the Ayeyarwaddy River, floated down from up river and bamboos (wood) also from the mountain ranges east of the river. Distribution The Ayeyarwaddy River forms the main channel of communication for distribution, because these pots are tightly and tidily tied to from rafts and floated down the river. Some are loaded on to the motor boats or vessels to be taken. The majority of these products are distributed mainly to the Ayeyarwaddy delta regions. The areas are Yangon and Twante in Yangon Division, Hinthada, Nyaungdon, Maubin, Kyaiklat, Pyapon and Bogalay in Ayeyarwaddy Division and Pyay in Bago Divisiion. These glazed wares are also transported down the Ayeyarwaddy by motor boats to Mandalay to be sent to Northern and Southern Shan States and Central Myanmar. They are sent via Monywa by trucks to the places along the Chindwin River in Chin State: by rails to Kachin State and to the areas in Upper Sagaing Division. The glazed ceramic wares are not only used all over our country but also being packed in the containers to be sent by ocean liners to Thailand, Japan, Italy, England and France to be sold as export-go |
