salwe
{{Italic title}}
{{for|the Polish chess player|Gersz Salwe}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=October 2024}}
File:-Mindon Min-2.JPG's shirt]]
Salwe ({{langx|my|စလွယ်}}, {{IPA|my|səlwɛ̀|}}) are issues for Burmese orders. A salwe is a shoulder-belt formed with metal chains, normally fashioned in gold or silver, which are fastened in four places, in shields or bosses, and worn over the shoulder like an officer's sash.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}}
The Burmese monarchy used the salwe was purely secular, as it was used to recognize merit and service to the state.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}}
Etymology and origins
The Burmese language word salwe {{lang|my|စလွယ်}} is a corruption of the Hindi term janeu (जनेऊ).{{sfn|MLC|1993}} Janeu (also known as upanayana) in Hindi, refers to a sacred investiture or Brahminical cord found in the higher castes of Hindu society.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=135}}
It is of ancient Burmese origin.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}} The salwe is referenced in the Salwedin Sadan (Book of the Order), a Burmese text that states the number of salwe cords that members of each of the four Hindu varnas wore:
Usage
File:National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka - National costume of Burma - Mandalay, Burma.jpg
The number of strands or threads indicate rank in the order.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}} The salwe was worn as a symbol of high character, to maintain the purity of character of one's family or caste.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}}
During the Konbaung Dynasty, high-ranking ministers with immunity from various forms of execution (thetdawshay) also wore salwe of 18 strands.{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}} The following is a list of Konbaung-era grades and corresponding number of salwe strands conferred:
| class=wikitable | |
| +Grades during the Konbaung dynasty{{sfn|Scott|Hardiman|1900|p=134}}
! Grade !! Number of strands | |
| King | 24 |
| Crown Prince | 21 |
| Shan Sawbwas, Princes of the Blood | 18 |
| Shan Myosas, other Royal Family Members | 15 |
| High-ranking Ministers (Mugyi, Matgyi) | 12 |
| Lower-ranking Ministers (Mulat, Matlat, Mu-nge, Matnge) | 3-9 |
Current usage
The following salwes are currently issued by the Government of Burma:
References
{{commonscat|Salwe}}
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite encyclopedia
| ref = {{harvid|MLC|1993}}
| year=1993
| encyclopedia=Myanmar–English Dictionary
| publisher=Myanmar Language Commission
| url = http://sealang.net/burmese
| isbn=1-881265-47-1
| title=SEAlang Library Burmese Lexicography
}}
- {{cite book |title=Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States |last1=Scott |first1=James George |first2=John Percy |last2=Hardiman |year=1900 |publisher=Government of Burma|volume=2 |location=Rangoon |url=http://google.com/books?id=n7oMAAAAIAAJ}}
{{refend}}
Category:Orders, decorations, and medals of Myanmar
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{{Orders-medals-stub}}