{"id":1731,"date":"2025-07-11T05:05:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T05:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/?p=1731"},"modified":"2025-07-11T05:31:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T05:31:02","slug":"from-archers-to-guardians-the-kaman-muslims-of-mandalay-and-the-legacy-of-phayar-gyi-masjid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myanmarmuslim.news\/en\/2025\/07\/11\/from-archers-to-guardians-the-kaman-muslims-of-mandalay-and-the-legacy-of-phayar-gyi-masjid\/","title":{"rendered":"From Archers to Guardians: The Kaman Muslims of Mandalay and the Legacy of Phayar Gyi Masjid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ancestral Roots: The Kaman Identity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Kaman (or Kamein)<\/strong> people, a recognized ethnic group of Myanmar, are indigenous Muslims of Rakhine State<\/strong>, distinct from other Muslim populations in the country. The word Kaman<\/em>, derived from Persian meaning \u201cbow\u201d<\/strong>, reflects their historical role as archers<\/strong> in the Rakhine Royal Army<\/strong>. During the conquest of Arakan in 1784<\/strong>, King Bodawpaya<\/strong> not only brought back the sacred Mahamuni Image<\/strong> to Amarapura but also relocated over 30,000 artisans and scholars<\/strong>, among them Kaman Muslims<\/strong> \u2014 stone carvers, craftsmen, royal guards, and soldiers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their legacy took root in Amarapura<\/strong>, and later Mandalay<\/strong>, as they served the monarchy and preserved their identity across centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Founding of Shwe Phone Shein Ward<\/strong><\/strong> (Phayar Gyi Masjid)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Originally stationed to serve as porters and guards<\/strong> of the Mahamuni Buddha Image, the Kaman were first settled near Kan Ywar (Gain Ywar)<\/strong>. Over time, their religious devotion and royal duty earned them new land allocations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"This<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When U Shwe O<\/strong>, a respected Kaman leader, explained to King Bodawpaya that his community needed to pray five times daily \u2014 and were making long journeys to Amarapura to fulfill this \u2014 the king responded with both empathy and respect. He granted a plot of land just north of the Mahamuni Pagoda<\/strong>, in present-day Shwebohnshein Ward<\/strong>, to build a mosque near their post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thus was born the Phayar Gyi Masjid<\/strong>, meaning “Mosque of the Great Image,” a name bestowed by the king himself<\/strong> in recognition of the mosque\u2019s proximity to the pagoda and the royal guards\u2019 sacred duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This mosque predates Mandalay City itself by 74 years<\/strong> and stands today as one of the oldest mosques in Upper Myanmar<\/strong>, with a legacy that spans over 238 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Architectural Heritage and Centuries of Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The current brick structure of the mosque was completed in 1924<\/strong>, replacing earlier versions made of bamboo and wood. Now, as it nears its centennial anniversary<\/strong>, its solid colonial-era brickwork<\/strong>, decorative floor tiles (tarazo)<\/strong>, and deep adjoining Wozu Lake<\/strong> remain testaments to the community\u2019s historical presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The lake beside the mosque is believed to be the deepest among Mandalay\u2019s mosque-adjacent lakes<\/strong>, at more than five cubits<\/strong> (approx. 7.5 feet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During its heyday, the mosque was surrounded by a vibrant Kaman Muslim community \u2014 descendants of royal guards and artisans<\/strong> \u2014 many of whom continued to live around the mosque for generations, marrying within the community and returning for major religious events even after moving elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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War, Fire, Earth Quake and Reconstruction<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The mosque survived two major fires<\/strong> during the reign of King Thibaw<\/strong> (1879\u20131884), and remarkably escaped destruction during World War II<\/strong>. In 1921<\/strong>, the current mosque\u2019s foundation was laid, and it was completed in 1924<\/strong>. Its 100th anniversary is now just around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these trials, the mosque endured \u2014 a symbol of faith and identity through centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Displacement and Erasure (1989\u20131998)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the 1988 uprising and subsequent military takeover, the Peace and Development Council<\/strong> issued orders in May 1989<\/strong> to forcibly relocate<\/strong> the Kaman community from Shwebohnshein. They were moved to the newly designated Aung Pinle New Town<\/strong> \u2014 which in reality was just flood-prone rice fields<\/strong>, without roads, electricity, or water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resettled Kaman had to build their lives from scratch: clearing brush, digging drains, building roads, and creating a livable space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1998<\/strong>, the authorities made a further attempt to demolish the Phayar Gyi Mosque<\/strong> itself. Bulldozers were mobilized under the order of Major Moe Paw<\/strong> (\u1017\u102d\u102f\u101c\u103a\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038 \u1019\u102d\u102f\u1038\u1015\u1031\u102b\u103a <\/strong>), the township secretary. But thanks to the efforts of U Ba Tin {\u1018\u102f\u101b\u102c\u1038\u1000\u103c\u102e\u1038\u1017\u101c\u102e\u1002\u1031\u102b\u1015\u1000\u1021\u1016\u103d\u1032\u1037 \u1025\u1000\u1039\u1000\u100b\u1039\u100c \u1026\u1038\u1018\u1010\u1004\u103a(\u1021\u1031\u101d\u1019\u103a\u1038)<\/strong>},<\/strong> Ko Myo Win Aung<\/strong>, and members of the mosque committee \u2014 and by the grace of Allah \u2014 the demolition was halted, and the mosque was spared<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tragically, during the 1989\u20131990 citizenship card scrutiny<\/strong>, many Kaman were stripped of their ethnic designation. They were reclassified as \u201cBamar\u201d by race<\/strong> and \u201cIslam\u201d by religion<\/strong>, erasing their Kaman identity<\/strong> from official records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today: A Call to Remember<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Only a few families still remain near Phayar Gyi Masjid<\/strong>. The Friday congregation has thinned. Many descendants have moved away. But the mosque remains \u2014 silent, sturdy, and sacred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a call to the younger generation of Myanmar Muslims<\/strong>, especially those of Kaman descent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cReclaim your heritage. Return to your roots. Remember the mosque built by your ancestors who carried the Mahamuni Image and served the kings of Myanmar with dignity and faith. Let Phayar Gyi Masjid echo once more with prayers and footsteps.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Location<\/strong>: Shwebohnshein Ward, Mandalay
Established<\/strong>: 1784 (earliest form)
Current Structure Completed<\/strong>: 1924
Historical Role<\/strong>: Royal Guard Mosque of Mahamuni Pagoda
Ethnic Community<\/strong>: Kaman Muslims (indigenous Burmese citizens)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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With gratitude to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n