Photograph of a group of Buddhist monks or pongyis at Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar), taken by Willoughby Wallace Hooper in 1886.

“Their dress is a yellow robe which they wrap round the body; it is usually thrown over the left shoulder. The head, which is shaven, is always uncovered, and they carry in their hand a fan made from a Palmyra leaf to be used as a protection from the sun. A Phoongyee [pongyi] is a Buddhist monk; he is not a priest, rightly so called, though he performs religious ceremonies, instructs others in religious matters and teaches the young; he can leave the order if he pleases and be readmitted at any time; he lives on charity, and is supposed to lead a life of self-denial and devotion, in fact he professes to keep the law of Buddha, as laid down by Gautama, in so perfect a manner as will gradually lead him to that perfection which will qualify him for, and entitle him to, the state of Seighan, viz., entire and absolute annihilation or absorption into the Divine essence…The old man in the picture, with the others around him in respectful attitudes, is the head Phoogyee in Mandalay; he is seated in the doorway of the Golden Kyoung built for him by Soopy-a-lat at a cost of 5 lakhs of rupees.”

Photograph of a group of Buddhist monks or pongyis at Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar), taken by Willoughby Wallace Hooper in 1886.