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Brass spiral ornaments for women  (Cat.# s 8-55 and 8-56).

East Burma Collection

Body

The Chin Hills of southwestern Myanmar border India to the north and west and Bangladesh to the south. With altitudes of 5,000 to 8,000 feet, the region is rugged and remote. The Chin people are speakers of a Tibeto-Burman language. Their ancestors probably moved into the region from Southern China, though the timing and details are not clear. In the late 1880s, the British arrived in the Chin Hills and established a fort at Hakha. British colonial rule lasted until Burmese independence in 1948. The Chin are predominantly Christian as a result of late 19th and early 20th century missionary activities by the American Baptist Mission.

The objects and photographs shown here were donated to the museum by the family of Dr. Erik Hjalmar East. Born in Sweden in 1866, East joined his brother in Kansas City in 1885. After relocating to Portland, Oregon, he decided to become a Baptist missionary. He attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, then the University of Kentucky Medical School. Upon earning his MD in 1901, he became the first medical missionary at Fort Hakha.

In 1908, ill health forced East’s wife Emily and their three sons, born in Burma, to return to the U.S. In late 1910, heart problems led East himself to leave Burma for good, and he became a successful physician in Portland, Oregon. He died in 1939.

Dr. East, who published numerous medical journal articles on the causes of and cure for goiter, treated thousands of Chin patients over the years. The Baptists prohibited important Chin cultural practices, making their missionary efforts less well received, but Dr. East and his wife introduced Western-style education, contributing to literacy and helping to improve health and hygiene. The pair also designed and helped to build a twenty-bed hospital facility at Fort Hakha.

The items shown here are a sample from this important collection. They chronicle a time of profound cultural change at the turn of the twentieth century, when modern Myanmar was just beginning to westernize.

Research by Malinda Stafford Blustain with contributions by Alison Carter. Object photography by Steve Wilkinson. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History.

Further reading:

Vervest, Wim
2014   The Lost Dictionary: A History of the Chin People, the Newland Family and the American Baptist Chin Mission. Vivid Publishing, Fremantle, AU.

Strait, Chester U.
2014   The Chin People: A Selective History and Anthropology of the Chin People. Xlibris LLC, Bloomington, IN.

Image Gallery
Image
Dr. East

MNCH Image 12-1444 Dr. Erik Hjalmar East.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1444
Dr. Erik Hjalmar East.

Image
Emily East and the three sons born in Burma.

MNCH Image 12-1702 Emily East and the three sons born in Burma (from L to R, Allan Wallace, Kenneth Hjalmar, and Paul Warren). Three daughters were born in Portland, Oregon.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1702
Emily East and the three sons born in Burma (from L to R, Allan Wallace, Kenneth Hjalmar, and Paul Warren). Three daughters were born in Portland, Oregon.

Image
Hakha government station, early 1900s ( MNCH Image 12-1432)

MNCH Image 12-1432 Hakha government station, early 1900s.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1432
Hakha government station, early 1900s.

Image
Baptism of the first seven Chin people on February 1, 1906  (MNCH Image 12-1227).

MNCH Image 12-1227 Baptism of the first seven Chin people on February 1, 1906.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1227
Baptism of the first seven Chin people on February 1, 1906.

Image
First Christian Wedding, of  Za Lian (groom) and Tlung Nuam (bride), May 23, 1910

MNCH Image 12-1234 First Christian Wedding, of Za Lian (groom) and Tlung Nuam (bride), May 23, 1910.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1234
First Christian Wedding, of Za Lian (groom) and Tlung Nuam (bride), May 23, 1910.

Image
Dr. East examines a man with goiter

MNCH Image 12-1504 Dr. East examines a man with goiter.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1504
Dr. East examines a man with goiter.

Image
Chin men and women assembled at a pond

MNCH Image 12-1459 Chin men and women assembled at a pond. Man at lower left holds book, probably psalms or bible.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1459
Chin men and women assembled at a pond.
Man at lower left holds book, probably psalms or bible.

Image
Chin man and woman in traditional dress

MNCH Image 12-1254 Chin man and woman in traditional dress.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1254
Chin man and woman in traditional dress.

Image
Planting (MNCH image  #12-1243)

MNCH Image 12-1243 Planting. Crops were rice, corn, millet, beans, potatoes, and cucumbers.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1243
Planting.
Crops were rice, corn, millet, beans, potatoes, and cucumbers.

Image
Hoe  (Cat. # 8-10).

Cat. #8-10 Hoe. 63 cm (handle), 23 cm (blade)                                                                                                                                                

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-10
Hoe.
63 cm (handle), 23 cm (blade)                                                                                                                                                

Image
Cast figurines from the early 20th century

Cat. #8-1316 Cast metal figurines like this one were made in Burma during the early 20th century for the European and the United States tourist trade. 9.5 cm tall x 3 cm wide x  2 cm deep

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-1316
Cast metal figurines like this one were made in Burma during the early 20th century for the European and the United States tourist trade.
9.5 cm tall x 3 cm wide x  2 cm deep

Image
Cast metal figurines from the early 20th century, back side

Cat. #8-1316 View two. Cast metal figurines like this one were made in Burma during the early 20th century for the European and the United States tourist trade. 9.5 cm tall x 3 cm wide x 2 cm deep

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-1316
View two.
Cast metal figurines like this one were made in Burma during the early 20th century for the European and the United States tourist trade.
9.5 cm tall x 3 cm wide x 2 cm deep

Image
Hand woven bag (Cat. #8-51)

Cat. #8-1316 Hand-woven bag, similar to the one carried by the cast figurine shown separately. 29 cm wide x 19.5 cm tall (without handle)

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-1316
Hand-woven bag, similar to the one carried by the cast figurine shown separately.
29 cm wide x 19.5 cm tall (without handle)

Image
Woman smoking water pipe (MNCH Image 12-1455)

MNCH Image 12-1455 Woman smoking water pipe. Nicotine-infused water from the reservoir was traditionally sipped (without swallowing) by men.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1455
Woman smoking water pipe. Nicotine-infused water from the reservoir was traditionally sipped (without swallowing) by men.

Image
Nicotine horns

Cat. #8-94, top, and  #8-93, bottom Nicotine horns, made and used by Chin men for sipping nicotine water. 25.5 cm long x 4.5 cm max. diameter (8-94), 24 cm long x 5.5 cm max. diameter (8-93)

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-94, top, and  #8-93, bottom
Nicotine horns, made and used by Chin men for sipping nicotine water.
25.5 cm long x 4.5 cm max. diameter (8-94), 24 cm long x 5.5 cm max. diameter (8-93)

Image
Woman with hair pin

MNCH Image 12-1246 Woman with heavy brass hairpin. Wealthy women wore large brass hairpins on festive occasions.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1246
Woman with heavy brass hairpin.
Wealthy women wore large brass hairpins on festive occasions.

Image
Woman's heavy brass hairpin

Cat. #8-72 Woman’s heavy brass hairpin (“hruk khual”). 20.5 cm long x 5.5 cm wide x 2 cm thick

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-72
Woman’s heavy brass hairpin (“hruk khual”).
20.5 cm long x 5.5 cm wide x 2 cm thick

Image
Brass spiral ornaments for women  (Cat.# s 8-55 and 8-56).

L to R: Cat. #8-55 and #8-56 Brass spiral ornaments for women. 6 cm long x 7.5 cm diameter (8-55), 6 cm long x 7.5 cm diameter (8-56)

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

L to R: Cat. #8-55 and #8-56
Brass spiral ornaments for women.
6 cm long x 7.5 cm diameter (8-55), 6 cm long x 7.5 cm diameter (8-56)

Image
Woman with brass arm ornaments (MNCH Image 12-1673)

MNCH Image 12-1673 Woman with brass arm ornaments.  

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1673
Woman with brass arm ornaments.
 

Image
Spinning wheel (Cat.#  8-54).

Cat. #8-54 Spinning wheel. Silk or cotton was spun into fine yarn on a spinning wheel and then dyed with indigo (blue), turmeric (yellow), a mixture of the two (green), and dried berries (red). 36 cm tall x 36 cm wide

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-54
Spinning wheel.
Silk or cotton was spun into fine yarn on a spinning wheel and then dyed with indigo (blue), turmeric (yellow), a mixture of the two (green), and dried berries (red).
36 cm tall x 36 cm wide

Image
Woman with skein of dyed yarn and traditional water pipe

MNCH Image 12-1237 Woman with skein of dyed yarn and traditional water pipe.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1237
Woman with skein of dyed yarn and traditional water pipe.

Image
Cloth was woven on a simple loom that controlled warp tension with a strap fastened around the weaver’s hips

MNCH Image 12-1665 Cloth was woven on a loom that controlled warp tension with a strap fastened around the weaver’s hips.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1665
Cloth was woven on a loom that controlled warp tension with a strap fastened around the weaver’s hips.

Image
Woman’s hand-woven blouse (Cat.#  8-40).

Cat. #8-40 Woman’s hand-woven blouse. 51 cm x 35 cm

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-40
Woman’s hand-woven blouse.
51 cm x 35 cm

Image
Men with rifles (MNCH Image #12-1716).

MNCH Image 12-1716 Men with rifles. A gun was an important male status symbol. Since few were available, men made their own by carving a wooden stock and rolling flattened corrugated roofing to form the barrel.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1716
Men with rifles.
A gun was an important male status symbol. Since few were available, men made their own by carving a wooden stock and rolling flattened corrugated roofing to form the barrel.

Image
Miniature flintlock rifle of native manufacture. (Cat. #8-29)

Cat. #8-29 Miniature flintlock rifle of native manufacture. 57 cm long x 6.5 cm wide x 4.5 cm thick

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-29
Miniature flintlock rifle of native manufacture.
57 cm long x 6.5 cm wide x 4.5 cm thick

Image
Powder horn (Cat.# 8-32)

Cat. #8-32 Powder horn. Made by Chin men for use with muzzle-loading firearms. 43 cm long x 7.5 cm max. diameter

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-32
Powder horn.
Made by Chin men for use with muzzle-loading firearms.
43 cm long x 7.5 cm max. diameter

Image
Bamboo pellet bow  (Cat.# 8-13)

Cat. #8-13 Bamboo pellet bow. 108 cm long x 2.3 cm wide x 1 cm thick

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-13
Bamboo pellet bow.
108 cm long x 2.3 cm wide x 1 cm thick

Image
Bow pellets and pellet container (Cat.# 8-14)

Cat. #8-14 Bow pellets and pellet container. 15 cm long x 10.5 cm high x 6 cm deep, cord ca. 60 cm long

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-14
Bow pellets and pellet container.
15 cm long x 10.5 cm high x 6 cm deep, cord ca. 60 cm long

Image
Group of men with rifles and shields  (MNCH Image 12-1595)

MNCH Image 12-1595 Group of Chin men with rifles and shields.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1595
Group of Chin men with rifles and shields.

Image
Hide shield (Cat .# 8-33)

Cat. #8-33 Hide shield. These shields were believed to deflect bullets. 62 cm tall x 48 cm wide x 6 cm thick at center

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-33
Hide shield.
These shields were believed to deflect bullets.
62 cm tall x 48 cm wide x 6 cm thick at center

Image
8-16  “Sacrificial knife” and woven bamboo sheath (Cat. # 8-16)

Cat. #8-16 Sacrificial knife and woven bamboo sheath. These distinct and costly knives were among items used by men in animal sacrifices. 39 cm long x 7 cm wide (sheath), 39 cm long x 7 cm wide (knife)

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-16
Sacrificial knife and woven bamboo sheath.
These distinct and costly knives were among items used by men in animal sacrifices.
39 cm long x 7 cm wide (sheath), 39 cm long x 7 cm wide (knife)

Image
Rain coat and hat (MNCH Image 12-1493)

MNCH Image 12-1493 Rain coat and hat. The layers of long, flat grass in the coat protect the wearer, yet permit great freedom of movement.

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

MNCH Image 12-1493
Rain coat and hat.
The layers of long, flat grass in the coat protect the wearer, yet permit great freedom of movement.

Image
Rain hat exterior

Cat. #8-95 Rain hat exterior. This rain hat has woven bamboo top and bottom that “sandwich” broad leaf layers. 71 cm diameter x ca. 18 cm tall

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-95
Rain hat exterior.
This rain hat has woven bamboo top and bottom that “sandwich” broad leaf layers.
71 cm diameter x ca. 18 cm tall

Image
Rain hat interior

Cat. #8-95 Rain hat interior. This rain hat has woven bamboo top and bottom that “sandwich” broad leaf layers. 71 cm diameter x ca. 18 cm tall

Gallery Caption (Only for Collections Gallery Images)

Cat. #8-95
Rain hat interior.
This rain hat has woven bamboo top and bottom that “sandwich” broad leaf layers.
71 cm diameter x ca. 18 cm tall

Collections Galleries

Bird, snake, lizards, and fish, Yirrkalla, Arnhem Land 30.5" x 17.75", Cat. No. 6-36
Aboriginal Australian Bark Paintings
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Ammonite Fossils
Cebus sp. Capuchin
University of Oregon Comparative Primate Collection
7-38
Tapa Cloth
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus - 37.54 x 27.98 mm
Birds' Eggs
Bighorn sheep, anterior view of different specimen
Vertebrate Skulls
See all collections galleries

Collections Access

The Museum encourages the use of its collections for research, educational, and artistic purposes, through loans, exhibits, tours, class visits, and hosting visiting researchers.

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