Literature of Thailand & Myanmar

• Thai Literature


  Dates back to the 13th century, long before Thailand (formerly Siam) came into close contact with Western civilization
• Earliest Thai literature


  Was written in Chinese until the influence of Sanskrit and Pali from India
• Thai literature


  • Essentially religious, consisting of works on Buddhism and Hinduism
  • Thai poetry appeared in the form of songs and lyric poems, narrative poetry, and dance drama
  • Prose was used mainly for recording history and publicizing laws
• New forms, styles, techniques, and subjects were introduced to literature but were almost exclusively written in the Thai language


  Chulalongkorn period (1898-1910)
• Notable Thai writers


  • Kukrit Pramoj
  • Kulap Saipradit (pen name Siburapha)
  • Botan
• Other Thai writers


  • Khamsing Srinawk
  • Pira Sudham
• Modern literature of Thailand


  • Western-style prose drama
  • Children's literature
  • Nonfictional prose
  • Autobiographies
  • Biographies
  • Essays
  • Letters
  • Memoirs
  • Diaries
  • Literary criticisms
• Myanmar literature


  Began as early as the Bagan period in the 11th century and was inscribed on stones called kyauksa which are still in existence
• Early Myanmar literature


  • Yakhaing minthami eigyin (Cradle Song of the Princess Arakan)
  • Maniratanapum (a collections of traditions)
  • Hatthipala Pyo (long poems on the life of Buddha)
• 15th century Myanmar literature


  • Jataka tales told by Buddha to his disciples to answer particular questions
  • War poems composed by monarchs called kagyin
• Myanmar's written prose


  • Works on law
  • Works on history
• Many dramas were written during the 16th to 18th centuries in Myanmar
• The style and form of Myanmar literature evolved when it was influenced by the British in the 19th century
• Written plays for the court in Myanmar were not performed but were meant to be read
• Modern Myanmar literature began

  1930s
• Notable Myanmar authors


  • Dr. Htin Aung (wrote "Burmese Drama and Burmese Folk Tales")
  • U Zhan Kaw (poet and short story writer, wrote the biography "Burma in My Lifetime")
• The first novel in Myanmar was an adaptation of Alexander Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo"