Orders, decorations, and medals of Myanmar


This article describes the religious, military and civil orders, decorations and medals of the Union of Myanmar.

Religious honorary orders

Before and after Myanmar's independence, governments presented two religious orders, Abhidhaja Mahā Rattha Guru and Agga Maha Pandita, to distinguished Theravada Buddhist monks. In 1953, the government set up a committee of venerable monks and a committee of individuals to award. The group set four qualifications for the Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru order and five qualifications for Agga Maha Pandita order.
On 24 October 1991, the State Law and Order Restoration Council issued provision No. and extended 20 religious orders. And provision No. enacted to confer the title of Tipitakadhara Dhammabhandagarika.
The above 23 degrees divided into seven categories were announced and presented annually on Independence Day. Although the original qualifications for religious orders were excellent, some of the qualifications for distinguished venerable monks and outstanding individuals were needed to be updated with the times. Due to such circumstances, the qualifications of each relevant religious order have been revised and amended by order No. dated 17 June 2015.

Modern-day military and civil honorary orders

The State Peace and Development Council has enacted the provision No. 48/2009 dated 17 December 2009 to award honorary orders and medals to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to build nation. The following are the individuals who are eligible for honorary orders and medals:
  1. People who are working hard to build nation;
  2. Leaders, diplomats and individuals from foreign countries who are striving for friendly cooperation with the State;
  3. Peoples who have sacrificed their lives to protect national responsibilities and policy;
  4. Individuals who make significant efforts in line with community peace and rule of law, political, economic and social development for nation;
  5. People who can be world class creatives in the science, arts and other fields;
  6. Persons with excellent knowledge in literature and fine arts;

    Types of honorary orders and medals

There are three types of honorary orders and medals in the Union of Myanmar.
  • Thingaha Orders, there are two groups; Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha and PyidaungSu Sithu Thingaha
  • Medals, they are divided into Military Gallantry Medals and Outstanding Performance Medals
  • Badges, they are divided into Military Gallantry Badges and Outstanding Performance Badges

    Thingaha orders

There are two groups for awarding individuals who have done great work for the country.
1. Thiri Thudhamma Thingaha
Military Distinguished Gallantry Medals are as follows:
Outstanding Performance Medals are as follows:
  • Thiri Pyanchi Medal
  • Zayya Kyawhtin Medal
  • Wunna Kyawhtin Medal
  • Alinkar Kyawswa Medal
  • Theikpa Kyawswa Medal

    Badges

1. Military Gallantry and Outstanding Performance Badges
1.1 Military Gallantry Badges
  • AungSan Badge
  • ThihaBala Badge
  • Hero Record Badge
    1.2. Military Outstanding Performance Badges
  • Myanmar Military Service ThinGaHa Badge
  • Outstanding Military Service Badge
  • Pyithu TharKaung Badge
  • State Military Service Badge
  • Thwarting Foreign Enemy Badge
  • People's Militia Combat Badge
    2. Myanmar Police Force Gallantry and Outstanding Performance Badges
2.1 Myanmar Police Force Gallantry Badges
  • Ye Thiha Bagde
  • Ye Thura Bagde
  • Ye Bala Badge
    2.2. Myanmar Police Force Outstanding Performance Badges
  • Ye Thurein Badge
  • Ye Kyawswa Badge
  • Ye Kyawthu Badge
  • Outstanding Police Service Badge
  • State Police Service Badge
  • Myanmar Police Force Joint Combat Badge
    3. Public Service Outstanding Performance Badges
  • Outstanding Public Service Badge
  • Public Service Badge
  • Rule of Law and Order Badge
  • Peace and Development Badge
On December 10, 2012, provision amendment added new categories of medals in the Medals for Outstanding Performance. They were:
  • Excellent Performance in Arts
  • Excellent Performance in Science
  • Excellent Performance in Medical Field
  • Excellent Performance in Technology
On December 5, 2014, the President of Union of Republic of Myanmar issued the order No.74/2014 to create and add new categories of the Medals for Outstanding Performance in Administrative, Social, Economy and Subjects fields. They were:
  • Excellent Performance in Administrative Field
  • Excellent Performance in Social Field
  • Excellent Performance in Agricultural Economy Field
  • Excellent Performance in Industrial Economy Field
  • Excellent Performance in Commerce Economy Field
  • Excellent Performance in Service Economy Field
  • Excellent Performance in Science
  • Excellent Performance in Arts
  • Excellent Performance in Medical Field
  • Excellent Performance in Technology
  • Excellent Performance in Fine Arts
  • Excellent Performance in Literary

    Detail and description of medals

Independence Mawgunwin Award

This award was for participation in both military and civil struggles of Burma's independence. This award is granted for service in three different periods:
  1. 8 January to 26 July 1942
  2. 27 July 1942 to 26 March 1945
  3. 27 March to 15 August 1945
Participants in all three periods were awarded the first class, participants in only two periods received the second class and participants in only in one period were awarded the third class. The provision of this award can be passed down to direct heirs of the original participant and to be worn, multi-generationally, in this fashion similar to the awards bestowed by ancient Myanmar kings to their loyal subjects. Established in 1953, the last Independence Mawgunwin Award was given on 24 November 1986.

Aung San Thuriya Medal

Instituted in 1948, the Aung San Thuriya medal is the highest recognition for valour and gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the Myanmar Armed Forces of any ranks in any services. This is the highest military award in Myanmar and it is equivalent to British Victoria Cross and German Knight Cross of the Iron Cross.
The decoration is a one and half inch stainless steel stylized sun of sixteen rays. Suspended by an integral straight bar suspender. The name of the recipient name and year of award is engraved on the reverse and the sun was held by two ribbons.
To this day, there have only been six Aung San Thuriya medals has been awarded and only one of the recipients is civilian. The recipients are:
NameRankSerial No.EthnicityUnitAwarding Order No.DateBattlefieldEnemy Forces
Aye ChoMajorBC 5180BurmanNo. 21 Union Military Police BattalionN/A1948Battle of Po Tha Aung GonCommunist Party of Burma
Taik ChunLieutenantBC 7288ChinNo. 1 Chin Rifles BattalionN/A18/04/1949Battle of InseinKaren National Defence Organisation
Hla ThaungPrivate88865BurmanNo. 3 Burma Rifles Battalion10/A Htoo/5029/04/1949Battle of Daik-UKaren National Defence Organisation
Suk Bahadur RaiPrivate01914GurkhaNo. 4 Burma Rifles Battalion14/A Htoo/5105/1950Battle of Tachileik HighwayKuomintang
Saw MyintPrivate60603KarenNo. 1 Karen Rifles Battalion3/A Htoo/5228/06/1951Battle of Yethogyi RoadKaren National Defence Organisation
Saw Ba YiCivilian–Karen–3/A Htoo/5228/06/1951Battle of Yethogyi RoadKaren National Defence Organisation

Thiha Thura Medal

The decoration is a bronze stylized Burmese lion, with the name of the decoration written in Burmese "Thiha Thura" on the scroll below. The ribbon is 1.25 inches, bright red with yellow edges or red with dark green centre stripes.
A total of 47 Thiha Thura Medals has been awarded between 1949 and 2018 January.

Thura Medal

A gold depiction of a stylized rising sun with the central sun in red enamel. The ribbon is 32 mm, bright red with yellow edges and a yellow center stripe.
To date, a total of 547 Thura medals has been awarded. The only woman to be awarded the medal is Ma Chit Po.

History

In the Parliamentary Democracy Period after regaining independence in 1948, the honorary titles and honorary medals in conformity with the independent and sovereign country were created to confer them on the outstanding persons. From 1948 to 1978, the honorary titles and honorary medals conferred on the outstanding persons were as follows:
  1. Independence Mawgunwin Title
  2. Thingaha Honorary Title
  3. # Thudhamma Thingaha
  4. ## Agga Maha Thirithudhamma Title
  5. ## Thadoe Thirithudhamma Title
  6. ## Maha Thirithudhamma Title
  7. # Pyidaungsu Sithu Thingaha
  8. ## Agga Maha Tharaysithu Title
  9. ## Thadoe Maha Tharaysithu Title
  10. ## Maha Tharaysithu Title
  11. ## Tharaysithu Title
  12. ## Sithu Title
  13. Honorary Title for Gallantry
  14. Honorary Titles for Outstanding Performance
  15. # Thiri Pyanchi Title
  16. # Wunna Kyawhtin Title
  17. # Alinka Kyawswa Title
  18. # Theikpa Kyawswa Title
  19. # Zeya Kyawhtin Title
  20. Medals for Gallantry
  21. # Aung San Thuriya
  22. # Thiha Thura
  23. # Thura
  24. # Aung San Medal
  25. # Thiha Bala Medal
  26. # Gallantry Medal
  27. # Pyidaungsu Gold Medal
  28. # Pyidaungsu Silver Medal
  29. # Good Military Service Medal
  30. # State Good Military Service Medal
  31. # Good Police Service Medal
  32. Medals for Outstanding Performances
In 1978, the Burma Socialist Programme Party issued new provisions on honorary titles and honorary medals in conformity with the Socialist System to amend the honorary titles and honorary medals awarded in the Parliamentary Democracy Period. According to new provision, the titles and medals were conferred on those who forged the Socialism, on those who made the utmost efforts for the improvement of the socialist economic system, and on those who made the ultimate sacrifice in safeguarding the nation. The honorary titles and medals awarded from 1978 to 1988 were as follows:
  1. Independence Mawgunwin Medal
  2. Honorary Title
  3. # Tagun Group
  4. ## Aung San Tagun Title
  5. ## Pyidaungsu Tagun Title
  6. ## Tagun Title
  7. # Zarni Group
  8. ## Lanzin Zarni Title
  9. ## Pyidaungsu Zarni Title
  10. ## Zarni Title
  11. # Naingngan Gonyi Title
  12. Honorary Titles for Gallantry
  13. # Aung San Thuriya Title
  14. # Thiha Thura Title
  15. # Thura Title
  16. Honorary Titles for Outstanding Performance
  17. Medals for Gallantry
  18. # Aung San Medal
  19. # Thiha Bala Medal
  20. # Gallantry Medal
  21. # Ye Thiha Medal
  22. # Ye Thura Medal
  23. # Ye Bala Medal
  24. Medals for Outstanding Performance
  25. # All-round Excellent Performance in Socialist Economy
  26. # Excellent Performance in Agricultural Field
  27. # Excellent Performance in Industrial Field
  28. # All-round Excellent Performance in Socialist Democracy
  29. # Excellent Performance in Administrative Field
  30. # Excellent Performance in Social Field
  31. # Ayaydawpon Medal
  32. # Independence Organizing Medal
  33. # Medal of Freedom
  34. # Good Military Service Medal
  35. # Good Public Medal
  36. # Medal for those who made sacrifices
  37. # State Military Service Medal
  38. # Medal for Combating Foreign Enemy
  39. # People's Militia Combat Medal
  40. # Ye Thurein Medal
  41. # Ye Kyawswa Medal
  42. # Ye Kyawthu Medal
  43. # Good Police Service Medal
  44. # State Police Service Medal
  45. # Police Joint Combat Medal
  46. # Public Good Service Medal
  47. # Public Service Medal
  48. # Rule of Law and Order Medal
The honorary titles and medals awarded from 1988 to 2009 were the same as those awarded from 1978 to 1988. There were no changes in honorary titles and medals, and most were awarded in accordance with the system practiced during the period of Burma Socialist Programme Party.