12 - Riddles

Summary

Obscurity, which is the hallmark of riddles, will intrude insidiously into our discussion unless we first define what we mean by a riddle. This is particularly necessary because of the different cultural backgrounds of the Burmese and English languages. It is therefore prudent to state at the outset the Burmese conception of a riddle.

The Burmese equivalent is sagahta, literally meaning “sense of the word”, which, it should be understood, is only a constituent part of the expression sagahta hpwet-te, meaning “sense of the word is concealed”. This term corresponds semantically to “riddle” only in the first of the two definitions given in the Oxford English Dictionary: 1) question, statement, description designed or serving to test the ingenuity of hearers in divining its answer or meaning or reference; and 2) puzzling or mysterious fact, thing or person.

In this paper, the word “riddle” will be used only in the sense of the first definition in the Oxford English Dictionary.

There are many features in Burmese covered by the second or derivative definition. They include enigma, logogriph, rebus, chronogram and mnemonic, to mention only a few. For the sake of convenience, they may all be categorized as cryptograms. These will be excluded here, and a brief disquisition on them will explain the reasons for their exclusion.

Cryptograms and riddles share one common area of mental activity: they are instruments for the cultivation of wit and of intellectual capacities. They do not, however, share a common field in subject matter or direction of purpose.

The subjects of cryptograms are concerned with the attainment of power, and are based on works on astrology, alchemy, medicine, necromancy and kindred sciences. They range from learned medical or alchemical treatises to the dating of a serious book of poetry; from the composition of a chronicle recording the dates of accession, regnal years, and the death of a king, and the founding of a city to important royal messages – one of which unfortunately led to the Burmese invasion of Thailand; and from prophetic sayings (like oracles) to auspicious and inauspicious dates for marriage, and so on. There is also a poetical work in cryptogram, about a journey made by its author.