Orders, decorations, and medals of Myanmar


This article considers the military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Burma.

Military

Independence Mawgunwin Title (First, Second and Third Classes)

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 the ancient Myanmar kings to their loyal subjects. It was established in 1953 and the last Independence Mawgunwin Title was awarded on 24 November 1986.

Aung San Thuriya

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 6 Aung San Thuriya medals has been awarded and only one of the recipient 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

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 46 Thiha Thura Medals has been awarded between 1949 and 2003.

Thura

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 517 Thura medals has been awarded.

Civil awards

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 provision 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 utmost efforts for improvement of the Socialist economic system and on those who made sacrifice of lives 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 as same as from period of 1978 to 1988. There were no changes in honorary titles and medals and most were awarded in accord with the system practised in the period of Burma Socialist Programme Party.
In 2001, State Peace and Development Council added new categories of medals in the Medals for Outstanding Performance. They were:-
In December 2009, State Peace and Development Council issued the new provision on honorary tiles and honorary medals. The following are the current 16 honorary titles and 22 honorary medals and classes are awarded:-
  1. Thingaha Title
  2. #Thudama Thingaha
  3. ##Agga Maha Thiri Thudama Title
  4. ##Thadoe Thiri Thudama Title
  5. ##Maha Thiri Thudama Title
  6. #Pyidaungsu Sithu Thingaha
  7. ##Agga Maha Tharay Sithu Title
  8. ##Thadoe Maha Tharay Sithu Title
  9. ##Maha Tharay Sithu Title
  10. ##Tharay Sithu Title
  11. ##Sithu Title
  12. Gallantry Title
  13. #Aung San Thuriya Title
  14. #Thiha Thura Title
  15. #Thura Title
  16. Title for Outstanding Performance
  17. #Thiri Pyanchi Title
  18. #Zeya Kyawhtin Title
  19. #Wunna Kyawhtin Title
  20. #Alinka Kyawswa Title
  21. #Theikpa Kyawswa Title
  22. Gallantry Medal
  23. #Aung San Medal
  24. #Thiha Bala Medal
  25. #Gallantry Medal
  26. #Ye Thiha Medal
  27. #Ye Thura Medal
  28. #Ye Bala Medal
  29. Medal for Outstanding Performance
  30. #Myanmar Military Service Thingaha Medal
  31. #Good Military Service Medal
  32. #Good Public Medal
  33. #State Military Service Medal
  34. #Medal for Thwarting Foreign Enemy
  35. #People’s Militia Combat Medal
  36. #Ye Thurein Medal
  37. #Ye Kyawswa Medal
  38. #Ye Kyaw Thu Medal
  39. #Good Police Service Medal
  40. #State Police Service Medal
  41. #Myanmar Joint Police Combat Medal
  42. #Good Public Service Medal
  43. #Public Service Medal
  44. #Rule of Law and Order Medal
  45. #State Peace Medal
In December 5, 2014,the President of Union of Republic of Myanmar issued the order of creation and addition of new categories of the Medals for Outstanding Performance in Administrative, Social, Economy and Subjects fields. They are:-