This is a picture I took in Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar.

 

When we walking around Shwedagon Pagoda, I found some interesting things there. Both of Myanmar and Japan share the same religion: Buddhism, but there are some cultural differences between two of them. For example, when we enter Shwedagon Pagoda, we have to take off our shoes and socks, and women have to wear Longyi. On the other hands, when we go to Japanese temple, there are no strict dress codes like we cannot wear short pants and so on. In addition, I also found that the Buddhist people check the dates of their birthdays. And there are the place to pray for the Buddha based on their birthday.

 

During our visiting Shwedagon Pagoda Myanmar participants told me a lot of stories about there. I am going to show one of these those I met New Value in there. That is Myanmar people toll the bell made from bronze in Shwedagon Pagoda.

As talking about the bell, there are 10 types of artworks including flower in Shwedagon Pagoda. In addition, they toll the bell three times. This is a way of giving affection to all other living things that is even including spirits. And they toll the bell in the same time with the Myanmar words that A Mya A Mya A Mya and Thar Du Thar Du Thar Du.

A Mya is the words that the people who share the good things. Good things means donate money, pulling the water to Buddha. So Myanmar people say A Mya three times during they toll the bell. And Thar Du is the words for the people who received the good things with the sound of tolling bell.