The stone inscription is the oldest form of Burmese literature; the date of the

earliest extant specimen is 1113. During the next 250 years, more than 500 dedicatory inscriptions
similar in pattern but more developed in style were engraved on stone. Many of these inscriptions
contain eloquent prayers and poems composed by royal ladies. Later inscriptions from the 14th to
the 19th century were in a similar vein. Imaginative literature scratched on a palm leaf with a stylus
or written on folded paper in steatite pencil originated under the auspices of Buddhist monarchs in
Myanmar and flourished from the 14th century until after printing became prevalent in the 19th
century. The authors were Buddhist monks, monastery-trained courtiers, and a few court poets.

The literature of Burma (or Myanmar) spans over a millennium. Burmese literature was historically

influenced by Indian and Thai cultures, as seen in many works, such as the Ramayana. The
Burmese language, unlike other Southeast Asian languages (e.g. Thai, Khmer), adopted words
primarily from Pāli rather than from Sanskrit. In addition, Burmese literature tends to reflect local
folklore and culture.
Burmese literature has historically been a very important aspect of Burmese life steeped in the
Pali Canon of Buddhism. Traditionally, Burmese children were educated by monks in monasteries
in towns and villages. During British colonial rule, instruction was formalized and unified, and often
bilingual, in both English and Burmese known as Anglo-Vernacular. Burmese literature played a
key role in disseminating nationalism among the Burmese during the colonial era, with writers such
as Thakin Kodaw Hmaing, an outspoken critic of British colonialism in Burma.
Beginning soon after self-rule, government censorship in Burma has been heavy, stifling literary
expression. The earliest forms of Burmese literature were on stone engravings
called kyauksa (Burmese) for memorials or for special occasions such as the building of a temple or
a monastery. Later, palm leaves called peisa were used as paper, which resulted in the rounded
forms of the Burmese alphabet. During the Bagan Dynasty, King Anawrahta adopted Theravada
Buddhism as the state religion, and brought many Pali texts from Ceylon. These texts were
translated, but Pali remained the literary medium of the Burmese kingdom. Furthermore, Pali
influenced Burmese language in structure, because of literal translations of Pali text called nissaya.
The earliest works of Burmese literature date from the Bagan dynasty. They include proses
recording monarchical merit acts and poetic works, the earliest of which was Yakhaing minthami
eigyin (Cradle Song of the Princess of Arakan), dated to 1455.[2] During the Bagan and Inwa
dynasties, two primary types of literature flourished, mawgun  and eigyin, and pyo , religious works
generally derived from the Jataka tales.[2]
Non-fiction and religious works prevailed during this period although kagyin , a war poem by a
monarch, was an early form of this genre in history.[3]
As literature grew more liberal and secular, poetry became the most popular form of literature in
Burma. The flexibility of the Burmese language, because of its monosyllabic and tonal nature, and
its lack of many consonantal finals allowed poetry to utilise various rhyming schemes. By the 15th
century, four primary genres of poetry had emerged, namely pyo(poems based on the Jataka
Tales, linka ( metaphysical and religious poems), mawgun (historical verses written as a hybrid of
epic and ode), and eigyin (lullabies of the royal family). Courtiers also perfected the myittaza, a long
prose letter.
Buddhist monks were also influential in developing Burmese literature. Shin Aggathammadi
rendered in verse the Jataka stories. During this time, Shin Maha Thilawuntha (1453–1520) wrote a
chronicle on the history of Buddhism. A contemporary of his, Shin Ottama Gyaw, was famous for
his epic verses called tawla that revelled in the natural beauty of the seasons, forests and travel.
Yawei Shin Htwe, a maid of honour, wrote another form of poetry called aingyin on the 55 styles of
hairdressing.[4]
After the conquest of Siam by the Toungoo Dynasty, Thailand became a Burmese colony. This
conquest incorporated many Thai elements into Burmese literature. Most evident were
the yadu or yatu , an emotional and philosophic verse and the yagan, which imitated the themes of
the yadu genre, which was more emotionally involved, could be inspired by mood, place, incident,
and often addressed to sweethearts and wives. Famous writers of yadu include Nawade I (1545–
1600) and Prince Natshinnaung (1578–1619).[2]Some parts of Laos and Cambodia also became
Burmese colonies during Second Burmese Empire and thereby influenced Burmese literature.
In the areas of law, there were two major types of literature, which appeared prior to the 13th
century, and shauk-htone, which were compilations of brief accounts of historic cases and events in
simple narrative to serve as guides and legal precedents for rulers.[2]
As the Konbaung Dynasty emerged in the 18th century, the Third Burmese Empire was founded.
This era has been dubbed the "Golden Age of Literature". After a second conquest
of Ayutthaya (Thailand), many spoils of war were brought to the Burmese court.
The Ramayana was introduced and was adapted in Burmese. In addition, the Ramayana inspired
romantic poems, which became popular literary sojourns among the royal class. Burmese literature
during this period was therefore modelled after the Ramayana, and dramatic plays were patronized
by the Burmese court.[5] The Burmese adapted Thai verses and created four new classical verses,
called: taydat , laygyo , dwaygyo  and bawle .