INSCRIPTIONS OF PAGAN, PINYA AND AVA

The inscriptions translated in the present volume were collected by the late Dr Forchhammer, Government Archaeologist, since 1886, at Pagan, Pinya and Ava, the ancient capitals of Burma. They were edited by Taw Sein Ko, who for some time acted as assistant to the learned Archaeologist. Five of the inscriptions being in taking have not yet been deciphered for want of competent assistance. The volume was made over in 1892 to Taw Sein Ko for translation during his term of leave in England. The oldest inscription in the present collection bears date 446 B.E., corresponding with A.D. 1084. The language of this and several other inscriptions of the same and the following century is considerably archaic and palaeographical peculiarities are numerous. There is sufficient material in this collection to trace the evolution of the Burmese alphabet from the eleventh century down to the present time. Many of these inscriptions are the outcome of the impetus given to religion and letters by Anawrata’s conquest of Thaton in the eleventh century. Anawrata took with him captive to Pagan the Talaing King Manuha and family, and a large number of his subjects and dedicated them all as pagoda slaves. Most of the inscriptions are religiousthey contain grants of land and slaves to pagodas, caves and monasteries. The boundaries of the grants are, in the majority of cases, imperfectly defined, and many of them have since reverted to the State.