The dedicatory inscriptions of Pagan are the only contemporary texts for the kingdom of Narapatisithu (reigning 1174 to 1211). They record the king's foundations, above all the Dhammayazika pagoda of 1196 to 1198 with its relics from Lanka, the gifts of land, slaves and cattle by the royal family and the great ministers, the prices of land and the names of villages, which let the economy and the officers of the kingdom in 1200 be reconstructed in detail. Tun Nyein's 1899 volume gives English translations of the main royal records; Luce and Pe Maung Tin's portfolios give facsimiles of every dated stone in order, and Portfolio 1 covers the years around 1200. Duroiselle's 1921 list is the chronological index. The inscriptions do not narrate wars or politics; the Burmese chronicles supply that from later tradition.
About this source
- Title
- The Old Burmese inscriptions of Pagan
- Author
- Various (the Pagan kings, queens, ministers and donors), edited by Tun Nyein, Taw Sein Ko, G. H. Luce and Pe Maung Tin
- Written
- inscriptions of the 11th to 14th centuries; editions 1899 and 1933 to 1956
- Language
- Old Burmese, with some Pali and Mon; Tun Nyein gives English translations, Luce and Pe Maung Tin give rubbings and Burmese texts
- Covers
- about 1100 to 1400; Portfolio 1 of Inscriptions of Burma covers 1131 to 1237
- Kind
- Inscriptions
G. H. Luce, Old Burma, Early Pagan, 3 vols (1969 to 1970) is the modern synthesis and is not freely online. Many of the stones were recut in the 18th century, so the readings of dates must be checked against the originals in the portfolios. Arakan and the Shan valleys have no inscriptions of 1200 at all.
Where to read it
Editions
- Tun Nyein (ed. and tr.), Inscriptions of Pagan, Pinya and Ava: translation with notes (Rangoon, 1899), English
- G. H. Luce and Pe Maung Tin (eds.), Inscriptions of Burma, 5 portfolios of rubbings (Rangoon University, 1933 to 1956); single searchable file, unofficial scan, copyright status unclear (in copyright; not linked) (not freely online)
- C. Duroiselle, A List of Inscriptions found in Burma, part 1: the inscriptions arranged in the order of their dates (Rangoon, 1921)