Min Thu Wun
Encyclopedia
Min Thu Wun was a Mon
- Burmese
poet
, writer
and scholar who helped launch a new age literary movement called Hkit san (Testing the Times) in Burma
.
Wun at Kungyangon in Mon state
in 1909, he started writing poems at the age of 20 for Rangoon College (later Rangoon University) magazine. It was in university that he, along with the other students of Professor Pe Maung Tin
- Theippan Maung Wa
and Zawgyi
, pioneered the Hkit san style of short stories and poems, published in the university magazine, and Ganda Lawka (World of Books) magazine which he edited, under the tutelage of J S Furnivall, founder of the Burma Research Society
. The year 1934 saw the publication of Hkit san pon byin (Experimental Tales) - a collection of short stories to test the readers' reaction, written by Zawgyi, Min Thu Wun and Theippan Maung Wa among others. The writing was distinct and novel in style using shorter sentences and moving away from the traditional literary vocabulary.
In 1935 Min Thu Wun received his master's degree
in Burmese literature. He went to study at Oxford University, and achieved a bachelor's degree
in literature in 1939.
Whilst Theippan Maung Wa was famous for his prose, Min Thu Wun and Zawgyi were best known for their portrayal of the daily lives of ordinary people and for their appreciation of nature in their poems. Zawgyi became the most respected literary critic, and Min Thu Wun the best loved poet.
Min Thu Wun's prolific writings on literature, both classical and modern, in numerous articles were later collected into 3 important books.
Min Thu Wun explained in a book review the nature of "light" and "serious" literature. He went on to create the Burmese version of Braille
for the blind.
He also helped compile Mon
- Burmese
and Pali
- Burmese
dictionaries.
(NLD) Member of Parliament
, although he resigned 8 years later under pressure from the military regime. His work has also been banned from publication. A popular publication called Sapei Gya-ne (Literary Journal) was also blocked in its attempt to dedicate its June 1995 issue to Min Thu Wun. He died on 15 August 2004 at the age of 95.
Mon people
The Mon are an ethnic group from Burma , living mostly in Mon State, Bago Division, the Irrawaddy Delta, and along the southern Thai–Burmese border. One of the earliest peoples to reside in Southeast Asia, the Mon were responsible for the spread of Theravada Buddhism in Burma and Thailand...
- Burmese
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and scholar who helped launch a new age literary movement called Hkit san (Testing the Times) in Burma
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
.
Distinguished career
Born MaungBurmese name
Burmese names lack the serial quality of most modern names. The Burmese people have no customary patronymic or matronymic system and thus there is no surname at all. In Burmese culture, people can change their name at will, often with no government oversight, to reflect a change in the course of...
Wun at Kungyangon in Mon state
Mon State
Mon State is an administrative division of Myanmar. It is sandwiched between Kayin State on the east, the Andaman Sea on the west, Bago Region on the north and Tanintharyi Region on the south, and has a short border with Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province at its south-eastern tip. The land area is...
in 1909, he started writing poems at the age of 20 for Rangoon College (later Rangoon University) magazine. It was in university that he, along with the other students of Professor Pe Maung Tin
Pe Maung Tin
Pe Maung Tin was a scholar of Pali and Buddhism and educator in Myanmar, formerly Burma. Born an Anglican and named Maung Tin at Pauktaw, Insein Township, Rangoon, he was the fifth child of U Pe and Daw Myaing. His grandfather was the first Burmese pastor of Henzada...
- Theippan Maung Wa
Theippan Maung Wa
Theippan Maung Wa , born in Mawlamyaing and real name Sein Tin, was a Burmese writer who pioneered the literary movement of Hkit San that searched for a new style and content in Burmese literature before the Second World War starting with Hkit san pon byin .-Early works:He started writing...
and Zawgyi
Saya Zawgyi
Zawgyi , born in Pyapon, Irrawaddy Division, real name U Thein Han , was a distinguished and leading Burmese poet, author, literary historian, critic, scholar and academic....
, pioneered the Hkit san style of short stories and poems, published in the university magazine, and Ganda Lawka (World of Books) magazine which he edited, under the tutelage of J S Furnivall, founder of the Burma Research Society
Burma Research Society
The Burma Research Society was founded on 29 March 1910 at a meeting held at the Bernard Free Library in Rangoon by J S Furnivall, J A Stewart, Gordon H Luce and Pe Maung Tin....
. The year 1934 saw the publication of Hkit san pon byin (Experimental Tales) - a collection of short stories to test the readers' reaction, written by Zawgyi, Min Thu Wun and Theippan Maung Wa among others. The writing was distinct and novel in style using shorter sentences and moving away from the traditional literary vocabulary.
In 1935 Min Thu Wun received his master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Burmese literature. He went to study at Oxford University, and achieved a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in literature in 1939.
Whilst Theippan Maung Wa was famous for his prose, Min Thu Wun and Zawgyi were best known for their portrayal of the daily lives of ordinary people and for their appreciation of nature in their poems. Zawgyi became the most respected literary critic, and Min Thu Wun the best loved poet.
Publications
- Nursery Songs for Maung Khway - 13 songs in Burmese with music and English translations by Gordon H LuceGordon H LuceGordon Hannington Luce was a colonial scholar in Burma. He was born on 20 January 1889 and died on 3 May 1979. His outstanding library containing books, manuscripts, maps and photographs - The Luce Collection - was acquired by the National Library of Australia in 1980, as part of its major research...
of 60 years ago were reprinted in 2002. - Stories for Children - his translation of 26 stories for children from around the world from 1955 to 1961 were also collected into a book in 1965.
Min Thu Wun's prolific writings on literature, both classical and modern, in numerous articles were later collected into 3 important books.
- Pan hnin pinzi - The Tree Trunk and the Blooms (1965)
- Myanma sa Myanma hmu - Burmese Life and Letters (1965)
- Pyinma ngokto - The Tough Tree Stump (1968)
Min Thu Wun explained in a book review the nature of "light" and "serious" literature. He went on to create the Burmese version of Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
for the blind.
He also helped compile Mon
Mon language
The Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
- Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
and Pali
Páli
- External links :* *...
- Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
dictionaries.
Politics
In 1990 he was elected as a National League for DemocracyNational League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
(NLD) Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, although he resigned 8 years later under pressure from the military regime. His work has also been banned from publication. A popular publication called Sapei Gya-ne (Literary Journal) was also blocked in its attempt to dedicate its June 1995 issue to Min Thu Wun. He died on 15 August 2004 at the age of 95.
External links
- Rose (1932) p38, The Pyima Stump, (1949) p41 Poems translated by Dragan Janikovic
- Let's Go A-gathering Thabye Plums Poems translated by Hla Myo Nwe
- Poems by Min Thu Wun English translation by Dr Maung Maung Nyo
- Sayagyi Min Thu Wun Centenary old photos in Burma DigestBurma DigestThe Burma Digest is a weekly bilingual online journal, published by the Democracy for Burma Alliance, a web-based campaign group set up by Burmese refugees and human rights activists worldwide. It features articles written both in English and Burmese....
- Myanmar sa Myanmar hmu (Burmese Literature and Culture) Min Thu Wun, in Burmese, Scribd
- NLD party youth marked Min Thu Wun 100 Year Anniversary MoeMaKa Radio & Multimedia