History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo

Shan people and their culture 29
Behavior
Some behaviors are considered rude and some are polite in Shan culture.
Rude
Polite
Shouting to parents and elders.
Speak softly and respectfully to parents and
elders.
Calling parents by their names.
Calling parents “Father” and “Mother” without
e.g. John, Mary,
their names.
Response to others’ call with disrespectful voice Response to others’ call with respectful voice
“What”
“Yes” anMj
Call the people not by name.
Call the people by name.
e.g. “Hey Guy”
e.g. Hey John!
Do not call the people by position.
Call the people by their position.
e.g. John, Mary
e.g Uncle John, Aunty Mary
Touching the head of the elderly people Ask for permission before touching the head of
elderly people
Touching the turban of the elders
Ask the permission before touching
Hitting the head
Avoid hitting head
Eating food before parents or elders have started Wait until the parents or elders have started
eating
eating or unless parents and elders give
permission to eat first
Sitting before parents and elders have seated Wait until parents or elder have seated or unless
parents or elders give permission to sit first
Passing in front of the parents or elders without Bend the body low and pass slowly in front of
bending the body low
the parents and elders
Giving thing with one hand
Giving thing with both hands
Receiving thing with one hand
Receiving thing with both hands
Shank hand with one hand
Shan hand with both hands
Pointing things with foot
Never use foot to point the thing
Putting foot on the table before others
Never put the foot on the table before others
Putting foot at the level of head of the others Never put the foot at the same level of the other
Not taking off the shoes or sandals before
entering the house
Cutting nail inside the house in front of the
others
Putting Holy Book on the ground
Sitting or stepping over the Holy Book
Stepping over other people
people’s head
Please take off your shoes or sandals before
entering the house unless the host has given
permission to do so.
Avoid cutting nail inside the house in front of
others.
Keep the Holy Book on higher place
Never sit on or step over the Holy Book
Avoid stepping over the other people. Ask
permission before doing it.
Religion
Shan adopted Buddhism since AD 71. Later Shan have adopted Theravada Buddhism from Burmans.
Theravada is one of the eighteen Nikāya schools that formed early in the history of Buddhism. These
developed in India during the century subsequent to the death of the Buddha. Almost all Shan are
Buddhists. That is why they use to say, “Shan are Buddhist.” They believe that right thinking, ritual