Long before the time of Buddha, the Khmer people built beautiful temples in remote mountain retreats. One of these, the Temple of Loa-Tsun, honored the god Song-Hyo and the goddess Tusn-Kyan-Kse.

Priests and monks dedicated their lives to worshipping the goddess symbolized by a golden statue with sapphire eyes.

One hundred pure white cats lived with the priests. It was believed that after death, a priest returned to the temple as one of the white cats. These cats, therefore, were honored and beloved guests. One of the cats, Sinh, was the devoted companion of a very old priest, Mun-Ha, whose golden beard was said to have been braided by the god Song-Hyo himself.

One night when Hun-Ha was praying before the golden goddess, Thai raiders attacked the temple and the old priest was killed. Immediately, Sinh leapt upon the body of his master, faced the statue, gazed into the sapphire eyes, and silently appealed to the goddess who governed the transmutation of souls. As the priest's soul entered Sinh, the white hair of the cat's body became golden, like the old priest's beard, and its eyes became sapphire blue like those of the goddess. Sinh's face, tail and legs turned brown like the earth except where the feet rested on the slain priest, there they remained white, denoting purity.

Sinh's transformation inspired the other priests to drive the raiders away. Seven days later, Sinh died and carried into paradise the soul of Mun-Ha. The next morning all the other white temple cats had undergone the same transformation as Sinh. Since then the priests have guarded their secret golden cats believing them to have custody of the souls of priests.

The legend ends with this maxim: "Woe to he who brings the end of one of these marvelous beasts, even if he didn't mean to. He will surely suffer the most cruel torments until the soul he upset has been appeased."

About the Birman

(With Thanks to Bret and the National Birman Fanciers)
Copyright 1996 National Birman Fanciers. All Rights Reserved.

The Birman of today is a medium to large color pointed and mitted cat with a long, stocky body and a sweet expression. The head is large and strong with a Roman nose and a good chin. The Birman's ears are medium in size, as wide as they are tall and placed as high on the head as they are to the side. The breed enjoys a silky, semi-long coat that generally is not prone to matting. All Birmans have almost round, wide set blue eyes.

The Birman now comes in an array of colors and patterns including seal, blue, chocolate, lilac and red factor points, and solid and tabby point patterns. At this time, the Cat Fancier's Association recognises solid pointed Birmans in seal, blue, chocolate and lilac.

The Birman has white gloves on all four feet and white "laces" or "gauntlets" on the back hocks. The white gloves should go across the front feet in an even line and be symmetrical.

On the back feet, the gloves should also cover the foot and then extend up the back of the hock, ending in a point. Often too much or too little white on the feet is the only difference between a show cat and a pet.

Birmans are sweet tempered and social. They tend to get along with other pets and with children. They are playful, but not overly energetic. Birmans have sweet voices and are not overly vocal.

Birmans are a slow maturing breed. The Birman will generally achieve maturity at about 18 months, but may not reach its full size until the age of three.

Because of its sweet nature it is easy to handle, quick to learn and makes an ideal house pet.

CFA Birman Profile
CFA Birman Standard
TICA Birman Standard

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©Copyright 1996-1998, Gayle Hunter
Other copyrights held by their respective owners.
Created: 9/15/96 Updated: 8/12/98