1830 - 1883
The only known photograph of the Yaw Atwinwun U Po Hlaing
room Canada
people Yaw Atwinwun
This photograph of U Po Hlaing was taken by Dr. Clement Williams, a British representative in Mandalay who became a good friend of King Mindon and his inner circle. The photograph was recently made public by the heirs to Dr. Williams’ estate.
U Po Hlaing (1830-1883) was a leading reformist at the courts of King Mindon and King Thibaw. He was fluent in Sanskrit, Pali, and Burmese and wrote many important works on Buddhism, governance, mathematics, and other subjects. He was also placed in charge of several key modernization projects, including the importation of Western technology, the setting up of industrial factories, establishing a telegraph system, and creating a Burmese Morse Code and the country's first currency.
One of U Po Hlaing's most important works was the Rajadhammasangaha, a sweeping treatise on kingship, arguing in essence for an end to tyranny and for a kind of constitutional monarchy. U Po Hlaing was once placed under house arrest for the crime of drinking beer. During this period, he wrote another well-known treatise entitled "A Taste of Freedom", which examined different world philosophies.
U Po Hlaing was born into a noble family and held many high offices, including the office of Atwinwun (Minister of the Inner Court). His title when he died was Thado Mingyi Minhla Mahamingaung Thihathu. He was also the myosa of Yaw.
Credit: Royal Ontario Museum, gift of David Strachey.
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