Myitkyina
Encyclopedia
Myitkyina is the capital city
of Kachin State
in Myanmar
(Burma), located 1480 kilometres (919.6 mi) from Yangon
, and 785 kilometres (487.8 mi) from Mandalay
. In Burmese
it means "near the big river", and in fact "Myitkyina" lies on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River
, just below 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from Myit-son (Burmese for confluence
) of its two headstreams (the Mali
and N'mai
rivers). It is the northernmost river port
and railway terminus in Myanmar.
and Burma since ancient times.
American Baptist missionary George J. Geis
and his wife arrived in Myitkyina in the late 1890s and in 1900 requested permission to build a misison there.
In August 1944 during World War II
, Myitkyina fell to the Allied forces under General Joseph Stilwell
after a prolonged siege
and heavy fighting between Nationalist Chinese divisions, the Chindits
, and Merrill's Marauders
of the Northern Combat Area Command
and the besieged elements of the 33rd Imperial Japanese Army
under General Masaki Honda. The town was strategically important not only because of its rail and water links to the rest of Burma, but also because it was on the planned route of the Ledo Road
.
As the capital of the state, it has government offices, and a greater population than other cities in the state. The city has a population of approximately 150,000, with a mix of Kachin, Shan
, Bamar
peoples and some Chinese
and Indians
. Fragrant rice
produced near Myitkyina, called khat cho, is considered the best in Myanmar.
The Kachin language
is the common language among the Kachin, but Burmese is the national language and everyone can speak Burmese. It has two big markets. The city is home to Myitkyina University
, a teachers college, a nurses training school, and a computer
college, and various Christian
theological seminaries and colleges affiliated with several seminaries in the U.S.
and Asia
, notably Kachin Theological College-Nawng Nan.
Major religions are Theravada Buddhism and Baptist Christianity, but other religions such as animism
, Hinduism
and Islam
are also practised. Foreigners are now free to visit Myitkyina without prior government permission.
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Kachin State
Kachin State
Kachin State , is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. It lies between north latitude 23° 27' and 28° 25' longitude 96° 0' and 98° 44'. The area of Kachin State is . The capital of the...
in Myanmar
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....
(Burma), located 1480 kilometres (919.6 mi) from Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, and 785 kilometres (487.8 mi) from Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
. In 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...
it means "near the big river", and in fact "Myitkyina" lies on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River
Ayeyarwady River
The Irrawaddy River or Ayeyarwady River is a river that flows from north to south through Burma . It is the country's largest river and most important commercial waterway. Originating from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers, it flows relatively straight North-South before emptying through...
, just below 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) from Myit-son (Burmese for confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
) of its two headstreams (the Mali
Mali River
The Mali River is a river that originates in northern Burma. It flows approximately 320 km, when it meets with the N'Mai River and forms the Ayeyarwady River. Construction of the Myitsone Dam has begun at this confluence....
and N'mai
N'Mai River
The N'Mai River or May Kha River is a river in northern Myanmar .The N'Mai, runs parallel to the Mali River, and has its source in the Himalaya glaciers of Northern Myanmar at about 28° north latitude. It is not navigable because of strong currents...
rivers). It is the northernmost river port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
and railway terminus in Myanmar.
History
Myitkyina has been a important trading town between ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Burma since ancient times.
American Baptist missionary George J. Geis
George J. Geis
The Reverend George J. Geis was an American Baptist minister and anthropologist of German descent, best known for his missionary work in northeastern Burma...
and his wife arrived in Myitkyina in the late 1890s and in 1900 requested permission to build a misison there.
In August 1944 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Myitkyina fell to the Allied forces under General Joseph Stilwell
Joseph Stilwell
General Joseph Warren Stilwell was a United States Army four-star General known for service in the China Burma India Theater. His caustic personality was reflected in the nickname "Vinegar Joe"...
after a prolonged siege
Siege
A siege is a military blockade of a city or fortress with the intent of conquering by attrition or assault. The term derives from sedere, Latin for "to sit". Generally speaking, siege warfare is a form of constant, low intensity conflict characterized by one party holding a strong, static...
and heavy fighting between Nationalist Chinese divisions, the Chindits
Chindits
The Chindits were a British India "Special Force" that served in Burma and India in 1943 and 1944 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines...
, and Merrill's Marauders
Merrill's Marauders
Merrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
of the Northern Combat Area Command
Northern Combat Area Command
The Northern Combat Area Command or NCAC was a mainly Sino-American formation that held the northern end of the Allied front in Burma during World War II. For much of its existence it was commanded by the acerbic General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, and controlled by his staff...
and the besieged elements of the 33rd Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
under General Masaki Honda. The town was strategically important not only because of its rail and water links to the rest of Burma, but also because it was on the planned route of the Ledo Road
Ledo Road
The Ledo Road was built during World War II so that the Western Allies could supply the Chinese as an alternative to the Burma Road which had been cut by the Japanese in 1942. It was renamed the Stilwell Road in early 1945 at the suggestion of Chiang Kai-shek...
.
As the capital of the state, it has government offices, and a greater population than other cities in the state. The city has a population of approximately 150,000, with a mix of Kachin, Shan
Shan
The Shan are a Tai ethnic group of Southeast Asia. The Shan live primarily in the Shan State of Burma , but also inhabit parts of Mandalay Division, Kachin State, and Kayin State, and in adjacent regions of China and Thailand...
, Bamar
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...
peoples and some Chinese
Burmese Chinese
The Burmese Chinese or Chinese Burmese are a group of overseas Chinese born or raised in Burma . Although the Chinese officially make up three percent of the population, the actual figure is believed to be much higher...
and Indians
Burmese Indians
Burmese Indians are a group of people of Indian subcontinental ethnicity who live in Myanmar . While Indians have lived in Burma for many centuries, most of the ancestors of the current Burmese Indian community emigrated to Burma from the start of British rule in the mid 19th century to the...
. Fragrant rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
produced near Myitkyina, called khat cho, is considered the best in Myanmar.
The Kachin language
Jingpho language
The Jingpho language or Kachin language is a Tibeto-Burman language mainly spoken in Kachin State, Burma and Yunnan Province, China...
is the common language among the Kachin, but Burmese is the national language and everyone can speak Burmese. It has two big markets. The city is home to Myitkyina University
Myitkyina University
Myitkyina University is a university in northern Myitkyina, Myanmar. In August 2010 the university was the centre of controversy as the principal was said to have slapped a female clerk....
, a teachers college, a nurses training school, and a computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
college, and various Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
theological seminaries and colleges affiliated with several seminaries in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, notably Kachin Theological College-Nawng Nan.
Major religions are Theravada Buddhism and Baptist Christianity, but other religions such as animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
, Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
are also practised. Foreigners are now free to visit Myitkyina without prior government permission.
Education
- Technological University, MyitkyinaTechnological University, MyitkyinaThe university is located in Kachin State, Myitkyina City, Myanmar.In 1997, September 1st, upgrade the high school to the Government Technical Institute level and then in 2nd October 1999, becoming the Government Technological Colleges level...
- Computer University, MyitkyinaComputer University, MyitkyinaThe Computer University, Myitkyina is situated in No. 21/23 between ZawJun and Taryoe street in the Shansu quarter, in Myitkyina, capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar...
- Myitkyina UniversityMyitkyina UniversityMyitkyina University is a university in northern Myitkyina, Myanmar. In August 2010 the university was the centre of controversy as the principal was said to have slapped a female clerk....
- Myitkyina Education College
External links
- Satellite Map of Myitkyina from Google Map
- Kachin State map Asterism
- http://www.kachinstate.com
- http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0834638.html