4 - Burmese Historiography: The Source, Nature and Development of Burmese Chronicles

Summary

Introduction: Purpose and Approach

The purpose of this paper is to give a short survey of Burmese chronicles. The approach I have in mind is to trace the source of the chronicles, state the different types, give a brief descriptive account of each, and comment on its subject matter with illustrations whenever called for.

These chronicles form part of Burmese literature. Apart from inscriptions on stone dating back to the twelfth century, the earliest Burmese literature was scratched with a stylus on palm leaves or written with steatite pencil on folded papers. The earliest example of this literature to survive until modern times is a poem dated AD 1455. The two major contributory factors in the origin and development of this literature were Buddhism and Burmese kings.

Burma has been for eight or nine centuries the stronghold of the Ceylon or Conservative School of Buddhism. It has already to its credit, wherever it has been established, the dissemination of education not only in the religious language, Pali, but also in the language of the country. The prime object of this education is to inculcate knowledge of the religion and to preserve its purity. Buddhist tradition, strictly speaking, regards the enquiry into reality as a waste of time. Buddha's teaching is mainly concerned with showing the way to Salvation. Buddhism in Burma, as in other countries, is, however, syncretic: it is tinged with Hinduism, from which it was developed, and animism, which the Burmese people embraced before they became Buddhists.

The king of Burma was the defender of the Faith. The order of monks welcomed his support and he would hardly have maintained his position in the country except as a professed Buddhist. The authors of the literature were Buddhist monks or men who had spent long years of study in the monastery or Court ladies. Literature looked to the Court for appreciation and patronage. Its predominant qualities were, therefore, puritanism of thought and courtly refinement of language. This “book” literature flourished under the auspices of the kings or provincial governors until the downfall of the Burmese monarchy in 1886.