Mon State, nestled in the lower region of Myanmar, is a land brimming with a rich and diverse cultural heritage. However, despite this deep well of creativity, much of its present-day artistic and cultural assets remain largely undocumented. Through the Living Places, Living Knowledge Story Map, local artists trained in Creative Assets Mapping contributed their knowledge and explored their communities to record what is at risk.

Within a short period, 18 tangible creative assets were documented, including architecture, traditional crafts, and artworks. These findings reveal both unique stories and pressing challenges. Colonial-era churches and mosques show a blend of Mon, Burmese, and foreign influences, while a historic Christian cemetery has already been lost. Bilu Kyun’s slate tablets, once used by children for learning, are fading due to quarry scarcity and declining demand. Traditional Mon instruments, like the Crocodile Zither and Gong Mon, are rarely heard today, with no institutions preserving them.

All handicraft productions face a shortage of artisans and young successors, while architectural structures and paintings suffer from extreme weather and a lack of preservation support. Political conflict, natural disasters, and the impact of COVID-19 have further accelerated this loss.

The detailed information of each asset can be explored through the Story Map of Mon as well as in dedicated posts.