Bamar of Myanmar
Ethnicity
The term "Bamar" refers to the largest and culturally dominant ethnic group of Myanmar. The Bamar migrated from Tibet more than 1,000 years ago. The term "Burmese" refers to the language and culture of the Bamar, as well as to the other citizens of Myanmar.
Population
About 60 percent of the population of Myanmar is Bamar (about 30 million), while the remaining population is divided into five main minority groups (Shan, Karen, Kachin, Rakhine and Chin). There are also many small groups like the Lahu, Wa, Akha and Lisu. Altogether, there are about 150 distinct people groups in Myanmar.
Location
The central plain formed by the Irrawaddy River and the Salween River is the traditional home of the Bamar.
Language
The language that the Bamar speak is called Burmese, a part of the Tibeto-Burmese language family and a sub-family of Sino-Tibetan.
Livelihood
Wet-rice cultivation dominates agricultural activity. In the hill country, slash-and-burn farming is still practiced. Cotton, maize, peanuts, onions and other crops are produced. There is an active fishing industry in Burmese waters. Dried shrimp and fish are important components in the diet. Logging, especially for teak, is an important export industry. Mining of rubies and the export of jade are successful industries. Among Burmese handicrafts, lacquerware is distinctive. Wood carving, stone sculpturing, and brass casting are local industries. There is a small livestock industry, some jute processing, and tin mining. The economy, however, remains overwhelmingly agricultural. After the present government seized power in 1962, they closed the country to foreign residents in 1964. Since then, the economy has gone from bad to worse.
Religion
Buddhism is a pervading force in Bamar society. Almost all Bamar (more than 95 percent) are Buddhist. Supplementary to the Buddhist worldview are belief systems involved with crisis management, prediction and divination. Spirits ("nats") are the most important of these systems. These spirits are mainly malevolent and must be propitiated at stated times and places to avoid harm and evil. Many Buddhist pagodas are either built on the site of older nat shrines, or else the nat shrines are incorporated into the Buddhist structure.
Openness to Christianity
Burmese-style Buddhism is a relatively tolerant religion, and the Myanmar constitution guarantees freedom of religion. For many years the Burmese church has been allowed to grow without serious opposition, especially among the originally animist tribal minority groups. However, since the military took over in 1962, no new building permission for new church buildings has been granted. Converts to Christianity often find themselves under pressure from their community and local authorities to turn back to Buddhism.
The majority of Bamar (as well as the hill tribes) have had vigorous missions activity directed toward them in the past. Despite the efforts of many dedicated missionaries, the gospel never had a significant impact on these people.
All Protestant missions were expelled from Burma in 1964, yet the church in Myanmar has continued to grow and become a strong missionary-sending body, despite the limitations and isolations. The most growth has been among ethnic minorities. Today, the majority of the Kachin, Mara, Rawang, Lisu, Lahu, Lushai, the northern Chin and 40 percent of the Karen are Christian. Missionaries from various ethnic minority churches have spread the gospel to many unreached peoples throughout the mountain fringes of the country.
Pray that ethnic minorities may continue to reach out to other unreached peoples and to the Bamar majority. It is not easy for tribal believers to witness to the Bamar because of the years of mistrust, nor is it easy for the politically dominant Bamar to receive the gospel from them without prejudice. Pray for conversions among this staunchly Buddhist people. Less than one percent of Bamar are Christian.