Product Description

Antique Burmese Story Book 2

Material: Inner bark of the mulberry tree, paint, metal covers
Style: Burma
Size:  Height 19 cm, Width 87 cm
Order Number: MHSTABSB12

There are drawings on both sides.

Burmese folding books date back to the 11th century. They are called parabaik. They are strips of paper, made from the inner bark of the mulberry tree (Morus indica), up to 12 metres in length, folded like a concertina or accordion. The paper was made in the Shan States and is soft and fibrous and does not tear easily.

Red is from cinnabar. In Buddhism, red symbolises wisdom, dignity, fortune and virtue.

They are concerned with the magical religious systems of the Tai people of the Shan States of Burma and Lan Na (northern Thailand) and give information about Tai cosmology and cosmic power in drawings, diagrams and text. There are illustrations of spirits, spells in secret codes and syllables.  Similar designs are found on clothes and tattoos. Some of the meanings are no longer known. Temple murals inspire some of the drawings.

The  Shan and  Lan Na people are Theravada Buddhists and include aspects of Hinduism and spirit religion.

Before the early 20th century most people could not read or write unless they went to a monastic school and that was only for males. Buddhist monks and expert laymen made the manuscripts.

Many parabaik books have not survived because they have deteriorated with humidity and age.

Early – mid 20th century.

Please ask for the price (or make an offer).