Vanishing Tribes of Burma [Hardcover]

Richard K. Diran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1997

The lush photography of this pictorial study of tribes--many of whom have never been recorded on film--makes it one of the most evocative cultural portraits ever published. As an anthropological study, the 28 tribes of Burma reflect the wide diversity of this nation's races. Richard K. Diran, an American photographer/writer who lives in Thailand, has been visiting and recording the tribes of Burma for the past 15 years. 200 color illustrations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books; First Edition edition (October 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817455590
• ISBN-13: 978-0817455590
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,108,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Coffee Table Book, January 26, 2006

By 

Smallchief - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Vanishing Tribes of Burma (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful large-format book full of photogaphs of members of about thirty different ethnic groups that live in Burma. In addition to hundreds of color photographs of tribesmen and women -- especially women -- dressed in their Sunday best, a 30 page "Ethnological History," gives background on each of the groups and reproduces many black and white photographs from the 1920s. A decent full-page map of Burma locates most of the groups.

I doubt that any country in the world has a more unknown, colorful, and picturesque ethnic mosaic than Burma and this book is a quick and enjoyable way to learn at bit about the non-Burmese people in the country. Many of the groups are also found in India, China, and other Southeast Asian countries.

The criticisms that the photos of clean and colorful costumes distort the present day culture of the tribes are facetious. A picture of a American couple dressed in their wedding finery hardly reflects our day to day life. The day to day costume of the Chin, Karen, and Mon male workers I have encountered throughout SE Asia is blue jeans -- but I wouldn't buy a book of photos of Chin dressed in blue jeans. Enjoy the beautiful pictures and don't get all bent out of shape because the people aren't dressed in their everyday clothes.

Smallchief

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to humanity, March 28, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Vanishing Tribes of Burma (Hardcover)

I really appreciate that Richard Diran went to Burma, and over the course of 15 years made a stunning photographic record of its vanishing tribes. Many of these people are going the way of the do-do bird, and I think Diran has made a valuable contribution to us all with his portraits. I don't think comments on his lifestyle in Bangkok (see other review) have anything to do with the quality of the work in this book.

As someone who is very interested in Southeast Asia's minority people, I found Vanishing tribes a beautiful and useful book. I can say there is little to nothing of this quality available on several of the groups included in Diran's collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vanishing People of Incredible Beauty, April 18, 2006

By 

Joanna Daneman (Middletown, DE USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vanishing Tribes of Burma (Paperback)

Having been to Burma (walked there--quite an adventure) I can say that Richard Diran's book captures the natural beauty of the local tribes people in their traditional finery. The author photographs and tells about the Akha mountain folk, who wear "Mammy Yocum" headresses lined with hammered coins but are guardians of the ecology of the forest, the tribes relate more to the Chinese (Yao) and the astonishingly beringed Karen (were the rings a way to prevent bride-snatching?) Many of the peoples are also found in northern Thailand (Akha, the Lisu, reputed to make delightful spouses, and the Yao.) He discusses the varied culture and customs. We had a great time meeting many of these tribal people in Northern Thailand and I wish I could go back and visit Burma again and explore more of the remote areas. It is indeed the "Land of Regrets" --you can't go without wanting to return. This book feeds my memories and makes me want to hike the steaming hills once again. What a place. What a book.