緬甸原始的宗教，是對自然現象的崇拜，即是萬物有靈信仰，例如動物、植物，以及天、地、空、風、雨、山、川等，都各有職司的神靈，而加以祭拜，總稱為「納特」。古代驃族人、緬族人、孟族人等，都有納特崇拜，其地位、作用、性質各不相同。納特神靈可多達一百多種以上，其中有名的 37 個納特，有些是國王、英雄、祖先，也有些是令人懼怕的鬼神，成為個人、家族、村寨、城市、寺院與國家的守護神。在佛教傳入之時，依然與之共存，成為緬甸信仰的特色之一。

中文語音導覽

Before Buddhism, people in ancient Burma practiced animistic folk religion, which emphasized the existence of a spirit in all things. All natural phenomena--animals, plants, and heaven, earth, air, wind, rain, mountains, rivers, and so on--were believed to have their own deities (called “Nat”). In ancient times, the Pyu, Bamar and Mon people all worshipped Nat, which varied in status, function and nature. There are has more than 100 kinds of Nat: there are 37 which are particularly well-known, including kings, heroes, ancestors, and the fearful ghosts, which became the guardians of the families, villages, cities, monasteries and states. When Buddhism was introduced, it coexisted and absorbed influence from local animistic folk religion and Nat, contributing to the uniqueness of Burmese faith.

English Audio Guide