Myanmar Historiography in the Pre-colonial Period

Mo Mo  Thant,

Myanmar Historiography in the Pre-colonial Period

Discipline: History

Abstract:

Historiography is the writing of history, and obviously, there could be several motives that prompt a writer to produce a work of history. In Myanmar, historiography starts with the writing style of royal autographed so-called Rajavamsa that explained only a chronology in the 16th century. The Chronicles described the continuous registers of events in order of time and events around the Myanmar kings. The prose chronicles are called in Myanmar, Yazawin (in Pali) or Chronicle of kings. Chronicles can be analyzed that there are many reasons and objectives for writing this historical record. This style of historiography flourished under the auspices of the kings or provincial governors until the downfall of the Myanmar monarchy in 1886. The 19th century, which marked the highest stage of development in writing Chronicles, was an age of official chroniclers. The compilers were very scholarly and learned; hence, one of the great merits of the chronicles lies in their literary qualities. In my paper, I would like to explore the transformation of the style of historiography in the Burmese language and the presence of an outstanding local Chronicle.

References:

Kala U, Great Chronicle , Vol. I, Yangon, Yarpyae Press, 2006. Mahavamsa , The Great Chronicle of Ceylon, translated by Wilhelm Geiger, London, the Pali Text Society, 1912.
Maung Maung Tin, The Great Chronicle of Konbaung Dynasty, Vol. I, Fourth Edition, Yangon, Universities Historical Research Center, 2004.
Tet Htoot, U “The Nature of the Myanmar Chronicles”, in Historians of South East Asia, ed. D.G.E. Hall, London, Oxford University Press, 1962.
Than Tun, Political Conditions in Pagan Period, Yangon, Yonkyichat Press, 2004.
Thaw Kaung, “Two Compilers of Myanmar History and their Chronicles” Myanmar Historical Commission[Golden Jubilee] Conference Proceedings, part 1. Yangon: MHC, 2005.
Victor Lieberman, “How Reliable Is U Kala’s Myanmar Chronicle?, Some New Comparisons”, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies , Vol. 17, No. 2, September 1986, Cambridge University Press.
Yi Yi Dr ‘’ A Bibliographical essay on the Myanmar sources for the history of the Konbaung Period, 1752-1885’’ Bulletin of the Myanmar Historical Commission, Vol. III, 1963.