THE LITERATURE OF MYANMAR

The literature of Myanmar, formerly Burma, has a long history. The Mayazedi inscription (A.D. 113) is
the earliest extant specimen of Burmese literature. It narrates the dedication of the Golden Buddha by a
prince and the gift of slave-villages to the image, ending with a prayer for the donor and his friends. Over a
thousand such dedicatory inscriptions were set up in the next 700 years, containing eloquent poems and
prayers of poetic merit.
In the fifteenth century up to the nineteenth century, palm leaf (scratched with a stylus) and folded-
paper literature became common. Such works were filled with Buddhist piety and courtly refinement of
language. The authors were monks, educated courtiers, and court poetesses. Prose works during works during
this period were few, mostly Buddhist scriptures and chronicles of kings. Poetry was varied: there were
historical ballads, panegyric odes, the pyo ( Buddhist story in verse), and the ya-du (poems of love or
nature).The writers also used the “mixed style” or prose and poetry together. Examples of this are the Yagan,
a serio-comic epic, and the Myil-Ta-Za, a letter of an abbot to the king.
Modern Fiction began with the novel. An example is Tet-Pon-gyn, a classical novel.
With the founding of the University of Rangoon in 1920 came an increase in output of Burmese
literature. Foreign literature, especially English works, was transplanted. With independence in 1948, Burmese
has gradually replaced English as the medium of instruction, and literature has become nationalistic.
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Brief Information about Myanmar
Myanmar is widely known by its previous name Burma.
A European country ruled Myanmar immediately prior to independence in 1948 is Briatain.
Myanmar’s total area is around the same as Texas it is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia and the 40th
largest in the world.
Hkakabo Razi is around 6000 meters high. It is located in Kachin state which is in the higher parts of Myanmar
Myanmar produces 90% of rubies
“Syinbyu” is a ceremony where young boys enter a monastery. They stay there for around one week. The boy family will
give donations and the whole township will help celebrate the ceremony. Girls have ear-piercing ceremonies.
“The New Light of Myanmar” is a nationalized newspaper that features the military, government practices
and military officials. It is the longest running circulated newspaper in Myanmar.
Myanmars New year is in April It is also the time to celebrate the Independence Festival which is the most
famous and active festival in Myanmar.
Cantonese is largely related language in Myanmar but the official language of Myanmar is Burmese.
Myanmar’s dominant religion is Buddhism. Theravada Shinbyu is the Burmese name for the ceremony, Young
buddhist boys around the age of 12 enter a monastery.
Myanmar has around 3 state-run newspapers and “The New Light of Myanmar” is the newspaper that
discussed most about the military and government .It is the longest running circulated newspaper in
Myanmar.
1824-1826 was the first Anglo Burmese War.
In 1937 Burma was separated to India
January 4, 1948 Burma become independent and Ne Win was the dictator of Burma In 1962-1988.
The capital of Myanmar is Naypyidaw.
The currency of Myanmar is Kyat.
Aung San Suu Kyi won the Noble Prize for Peace in 1991.