This paper examines how Christianity became a central component of Kachin ethnic identity in Myanmar, tracing its development from the arrival of American Baptist missionaries in the late nineteenth century to the post-2021 coup period. It argues that Christian faith did not merely transform spiritual life but also reshaped language, education, political consciousness, and collective identity. In the early period (late nineteenth century–1962), missionaries introduced literacy and schooling, and the translation of the Bible into Jinghpaw fostered a shared ethnic consciousness among diverse Kachin subgroups. During the military regime (1962–1994), the rise of Burmanization and the promotion of Buddhism as the national religion pushed Christianity into a more explicitly political role, strengthening its function as a boundary of resistance and a cultural refuge. The ceasefire era (1994–2011) brought relative stability but also internal tensions, as Christian institutions—particularly the Kachin Baptist Convention—came under criticism for their political silence amid growing inequality and social challenges. Since 2011, renewed conflict and the 2021 coup have intensified debates over the political responsibilities of churches, especially among diaspora youth. Drawing on historical analysis, literature, and interviews conducted by the author, the paper argues that Christianity among the Kachin is not only a religion but a dynamic political and cultural force that has continually evolved in response to changing state pressures and generational perspectives.

Authors:
Ja Seng Hkawn, National Chengchi University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Ja Seng Hkawn is a master’s student at NCCU studying Asia-Pacific politics. Her interests include ethnic identity, religion, and Southeast Asian Politics. Her current project examines the formation of contemporary Kachin Christian identity.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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