History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Analysis 231
22. Language and Literature
Past
Bixby said in 1861, “In the Shan country, little or nothing could be done without the Shan
language.” 107 on May 8, 1862, “I have kept up the study of both Shan and Burmese during the year
and have now nearly ready for the press two tracts in the Shan language.” 108 and in 1868, “Cushing
learned Shan with his ear, eyes, lips and action without learning Burmese. Rev. Case said in 1883, “My
time has been largely employed during the year in study of the Shan language.” 109 It’s important to
know Shan language in order to communicate with them effectively. Shan language is completely
different from other languages. They have their own literature. Rev. Bixby, Rev. Cushing and other
missionaries took Shan language as a vital knowledge they needed before reaching the Shan.
Immediately Bixby put an effort to print tracts in Shan language. Later Cushing became the expert in
Shan and translated Shan Bible and published Shan dictionary. Bixby said on November 12, 1862,
“These refugees (Shan) many of them can read Burmese far better than their own language though in
speaking they use Shan. I regard this as most favorable to the work of evangelizing the Shan in
Burmese for we have not only the entire Scriptures but also many other useful books (in Burmese),
which we could not expect to have in Shan for many years nor without very great expense. Furthermore
Burmese preachers can be used to advantage. Then a previous knowledge of this language to a
considerable extent has enabled me to work successfully from the beginning of the mission instead of
spending several years in before entering upon the work of preaching.” “The number of Shan who can
read Burmese is comparatively small and they are found mostly in SaoPha towns. The number of Shan
who can speak and understand Burmese is, of course, much larger than of those who can read.” 110
Many Shan can speak Burmese language well because Shan States were under Burman King for
327 years after the last Shan Kingdom was overthrown by Burman King in AD 1560 until British
annexed the Shan States in 1887. Bixby was advocating using Burmese to evangelize the Shan in
Toungoo because those Shan refugees understood Burmese well and the Bible was already available in
Burmese language. He thought of using Burmese preachers in reaching the Shan. A need of Shan
language in Shan missions is real. Many Shan are nationalistic and patriotic. They always want to keep
their identity and nationality. They are proud to be called “Shan.” Early in the year 1882 in Toungoo,
the Shan withdrew from the first “Burman-Shan Church” and formed a Shan Church by themselves.
They felt more comfortable to use their own language. Shan language and literature were widely used
among tribal groups in Shan States. It was reported in KengTung in 1906 that the children from the hill
tribes in school learned to read Shan literature easily and well. The pupils in school came from six
different tribes but the examinations were conducted in Shan, which was the common language for all
in KengTung. The hill tribes did not have their literature before missionaries invented one for them. But
Shan have their own literature and writing for more than one thousand years.
Dr. Henderson reported in 1896, “The general outlook of the field is very encouraging. Our
bazaar congregations are only about one-fourth or one-fifth as large as at first but this is not
surprising. It is due to two causes; first the novelty has worn off and their curiosity is largely satisfied;
second our services are entirely carried on in broken Shan a fact that we realize more and more as we
learn enough of the language to know the mistakes.” Mr. Sowards said in 1954, “Effective Christian
work in the Shan State required knowledge of more than one language. Burmese was not used very
much out in the villages. An effective Christian worker should be able to speak at least two or three of
the languages of the area in which he was stationed.” 111 It’s true. Almost all hill tribes can speak Shan
and Shan also can speak other languages. There are many different racial groups in Shan States. The
107 Letter From Mr. Bixby, June 28, 1861. Toungoo.
108 Letter From Mr. Bixby, May 8, 1862, Toungoo.
109 54th Annual Report, July, 1868, American Baptist Missionary Union
110 Letter From Mr. Bixby, Nov. 12, 1862, Toungoo.
111 A Study of Baptist Work in the Shan States, By E.E. Sowards, 1954, Burma Baptist Mission, Rangoon.