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Myanmar, a Country Where Men Wear Skirts 

Written by Cho Yong-kyung (Author of Unexpected Myanmar)

As soon as you walk out of Yangon International Airport, you'll be greeted with the heat of the tropics and men walking around in skirts. ‘Men wear skirts in Myanmar!’ This rather striking scene would be the moment you feel like you’re really in Myanmar.

   This “skirt” is called longyi, something I've seen in magazines or on TV. I did my own research and asked my friends in Myanmar questions after questions until I found the answer why men would wear such uncomfortable clothes.. 

   To keep a long story short, longyi aren’t as uncomfortable as I thought. In fact, this traditional attire actually prioritizes comfort. I was once invited to a dinner with a minister of Myanmar and after a few drinks, I ended up asking him, “Isn’t it uncomfortable to wear that all the time?” To that, the minister answered that longyi are the most comfortable piece of clothing in the world. To men in Myanmar, longyi are more of an everyday attire, unlike the Korean hanbok, which we only wear on special occasions. Myanmar’s climate is hot and humid all year round, and longyi are better at ventilation than western attire, so it keeps the wearer cool.

   Since when did people in Myanmar wear longyi? Some argue that people started wearing something similar about 2,000 years ago, while others argue that longyi originated in India and are a cultural remnant of mid-19th century British colonization. Anyhow, today, longyi represent the most popular piece of clothing in Myanmar and are worn by everyone, be it the president on official occasions or farmers working on their land. 

   Longyis for men and women differ in shape and the way one wears them. Longyis for men are called pasoe, while those for women are called htamain. All students, from kindergarten to university, wear green longyi. This is presumably related to the 50 years of military rule from 1962 to 2011. 

   I once received a longyi as a gift from an acquaintance in Myanmar. I practiced wearing it a couple of times, but tying the knot that holds it together was very difficult. It only took a couple of steps for the skirt to become undone. That's when I realized that wearing this piece of clothing required a lot of skills and practice. 

   In December, a male friend in Myanmar whom I consider my son is going to get married. Until then, I'll practice tying the knot so that I’ll be able to attend his wedding wearing a longyi. I wonder what his response will be. However, the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic will need to improve for me to be able to do that...

The content of this article may differ from the editorial direction of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.