A Review Of Studies On Myanmar In The 20th Century

Myanmar is the largest country in the Indo-China Peninsula. It is a neighbor of China, and is a special civilization in the middle of Chinese civilization and the Indian civilization which is keep opening and relatively independent with its splendid culture. Internationally, especially for the text in English as the carrier of the Burmese historical research, is early started and fruitful.So far, the research work of the English academic circle involves its breadth of the field and the depth of the discussion has made significant progress, as well as the quantity and quality of the work results are impressive.Chinese scholars have long translated and introduced Burmese history research of foreign. Some scholars have done long time follow-up study on Burmese history research of foreign, but this kind of studies most are scattered.This article has used the method of literature research, statistics and comparative study to cleared up the research result and reviewed important debate of Burmese history done by English academic circle in the20th century, include its general history, dynastic history and specialized history.Through the research, we found that the Burmese history research done by English academic circle in the20th century has the following characteristics:Firstly, it started late but conform to the modern academic norms. The Burmese history research done by English academic circle is started from the19th century and matured in the20th century. Although started late, the research of Burmese history in the modern sense starts from the English academic circles.Secondly, the geographical distribution of The Burmese history research done by English academic circle is both decentralized and agminated. In other words, the research work is world-wide and at the same time it has developed better in some areas and countries.Thirdly, the research includes all of the content of Burmese history and important breakthroughs were made in regularity research. Including general history, dynastic history and specialized history, and many other fields has made considerable achievements, and after the middle of the20th century, the English academic circle have payed more attention to the studies of the law of historical development of Burma.Fourthly, The diversity of the researchers and the strengthen of the speaking right of the ethnic Burmese scholars. In the20th century, the group of the ethnic Burmese scholars who have accepted the western education was go from weakness to strength. Than Tun, Htin Aung, Mya Sein, Michael Aung-Thwin and other renowned scholars have published a large number of historical study writings in English. Compared with western scholars, the ethnic Burmese scholars have a certain advantage in the aspect of language and they became the new force of the research of Burmese history.