VlIl CONTENTS

Kry to prommtiatiou 88

BUfmtSt texts 90

Suggrstionsfor jilflh Trading IO Abbtviations u~d ill the ttxt 108

VariollS tOllfU S 109

Preface

This docs nOt purport to be an exhaustive colk c tion of Burmese prollerb1 It is intended to provide 3 selection of them which can ill ustrlte Burmese proverbial wisdom They have therefore been arnnged loosely under ftve headings covering mws charactershyistics behaviour rdations with others and the world he lives in Each of these five sections is introduced by an explanatory Ilote and the general Introduction will I hope help the reader apprecishyate the meaning and implications of the proverbs

The preparation of such a work in English presents many complex problems the most formidable being the translation of 13urmcse rhymed sayings into idiomatic English prose capturing the ~pirit of de original without sacrificing the sense dC two languages are entircly diffcrent in structure and culttlral backshyground

Mr H F Searle co-editor of the new Durmtst-Englislt Dictiollary encouraged me in the compibtion of this book read the manuscript and gave me wise counsel But for his unstintcd help the work might not have been completed 1 un greatl y indebted to John Murray for invaluablc suggestions and critishycisms and also deeply grateful to Mrs M St-arle who spent many long sessions with me translating French veo ions of DurmeS( proverbs as I have mentioned in the Introduction U T in Maung of the BBC read the manuscript and put forward several suggestions I have accepted gratefully many cogent comments by Mr J Okcll who tC2d the proofs

l dedicate this book to my two mentors and fricllCis Mr C W Dunn and Mr H F Searle who have inspired me in ill my scholistic pursuits

U l A PH

ox

Introduction

gt( itographicaJ and historio factors-political physicI economic and human-all have bearing on the birth o f J3urmesc proverbs

Dunna has common frontiers with India on the west 2nd with China (through Ymman) on the north and north-lt3st-two great nations which have con tributcd no small measure ofculture Illd civilintion to the world To the ctSt lies T h2ibnd and to the south Malaya and the Indian Ocean which has been the highway for merchants from the West since before the 5th century AD

The chief physical features of Durma arc the thickly wooded mountains ill the no rthern region and high wooded plateaux md hills in the cast md sollth-el5t the plains in the centre imcrslaquotcd by hiU ridges the Arakan Yomu tile Pegu Yomu md the Shan platemx and the valleys of the three main rivers-the Irrawaddy (with its tributary the Chindwin) the Sit tltU1g and the Salwcm- which have served as means of conununication from north to south since the dawn of history And in the south arc the fi3t areas of [he Irrawlddy delta

The clim3[e of Bunna is mostly tropical From May unti l October there is a regubr md heavy runamplI for the rest of the year there is hardly any rlIin The central part of llurma is known as the Dry Zone for here tile ninfall is very light III the hottcst months the temperature in the southern and central pam of the

0country n1ay be over 100 Fahrenheit while in D ecember J all uary and February the temperature may fall to 600 in the south md becom e progressively less in the Jlorth

These physical and cl imatic conditions Me mainly responsible for the distribution of both 3griCUltura1 md natuf21 products and lisa of the peoples throughout Burma Dunna h3S for as long 2S

we know been primarily m agricultural country R jce cultivltcd in wet areas as well IS in the Dry Zone by means of irrigation

2 3 INTRODUCTION

tops the list of agricultural products ScSoJIllUml groundnurs cotton maize bons tobacco and sugar-ane arc the other chief products all ofwhich cxccpt stlgar-anc are grown on a rcllIivdy large 5CIlc in d rier areas Rubber WIS introduced comparHivcly late 1n addition Burma has been endowed with llcuraJ IeshySOurCC1 such as mineral oil wolfnm tin silver rubies jade and teak forests which lIe mostly found in the Pegu Yomas and the south-castcrn pms of Burma Most of these cxporublc commodities pass through Rangoon the principal pOrt 1lld capical of the country

The indigenous races of Burm3 which arc of Mongoloid stock faJl imo thrtt main groups the Tibeto-Bunrun the M OIlshy

Khmer 2nd the T h2i-Chincsc The fim group is represented by the llurmcsc proper (concentrated cspcciaUy in the Irrawaddy villcy) Araanesc (along the western coastal strip) Tavoyans and Mergucsc (in the valleys of Tenasserim) the Nagas Chills and Kachins and many other tribes in the mountainous regions of the north The representatives of the second group arc the Man (in the Irrawaddy ddta and the Thalon md Amherst districts) the Wa (between the Shan States and YUlU1all) and Palaung (in Northern Shan States) whilst the third group includes the Shans Karcus (in Tenasserim KIf ClUU and the lrrawaddy ddta) and Taungthu (chieAy in the Shan States) There re several thousand domiciled Indians and Chinese sottcred all over Burma

H)lirieal StItIIg

Politicilly the history ofBmma down to the last decade of thc 19th century can he summed up as the southward advance of Burmans and the unification of the country at the beginning of elch dynasty by powerful Burman kings w hose control was bter ended by misnlie or invasiom from neighbouring countries The numg of Durma was periodically interrupted by the

1 Scsune annual Iler~us [fopical and lu~ropiClI plant with seeds wedu food and yielding m OU llSt-d for cooking or in silid QED

INTRODU CTION

struggles for suprcnucy between the Durmans and the TeprcshySCIlUtiVes of the other two groups-the Mon and the Slun Twice the kingdom ofBunna came to an end through external invasion 3mi ct2SCd for ltlbout 60 years to exist as an independent country the first conquest was by the Tar-un in tile 13th century anc the second by the British in the 19th century

W aves of migration from Central Asia had been going on for thousands of years before the Burnuns dcsccndc-d to the plains probably in the mid-9th century Here they came into COlltaCf with the Pym now almost extinct md the Mons who had already attained a high level of civilization In the 11th century King Atuwrahta (1044-77) welded into one kingdom a group of formerly independent states and ruled them from his COIpitai city of Pagan GudualJy he (xtendcd his sovereignty down to Tcrusscrim in the south and Thlton the capiul city of the Mon kingdom in tbe dclu area to Arlbn in the west and over the hills east of the Sittang The city of Pagan today one of the fantous ruined cities of south-east Asia succumbed to the onshyslaught of the Mongols in 1287 llurm3 rhen split lip into small principalities During the next three gcneratiom Upper liurJ1ltI formed part of the Shan hegemony with separate capitals at Sagaing ill3 and MyillS3ing (all a few miles from Mancbhy) while the Mons at Pegu (north of Rangoon) held SUZCr2illty over Lawlr BurIna

In 136S the Ava dynasty was founded with its capital at Ava (south-west of Mandalay) The kin~ of trus dynasty devoted much energy to upholding Buddhism and to encouraging Burmese literature at the same time they tried to prevent the domination ofthe Sham and attemplcd to conquer the Mon kingdom Later two kings of the T oungco dynasty Tabinshwehci (I ~i3J-So) and Uayilluaung (ISSe-SI) lt Toungoo and afterwards at Pegu

I C H Luce SUtes mat the Burnuns dcscrodtd m 1tIUSt into the pUins of K)lukse sometime after AD 85 JBRS vol XUI pt i p 80 ([Or a list ofabbrtviltiOllS alld the full ritles of worlu refemd to sec pp 108-10)

INTRODUCTION4

re-cstablisncd unity which lasted till AD 1750 The Mon s then tried to wrcst power again and spread their control over the Dry Zone but they lost their gains as well as their independence for good when Alaungpaya (r7Sz60) Chief ofShwcbo (north of MamWay) reunited the whole of Burnu The opening of the 19th century saw the kingdom of Burma reach its widest extent it included the whole of modem Burma together with Manipur and part of ASSam f or astfologietl reasous or political expediency the kings of the Alaungpaya dYIlUlY established thcir capitals at A~ Amarapuf2 md finally at Mandalay

Three successive wars w ith the British in 1824 1852 lIld 188S Jed to the British annexation of Arabn and Tel1asserim the delta region known as the Pcgu Division and fi nllly of the rcst of the kingdom

After the Second W orld War of 1939-45 during which the country WlS occupied by tbe Jap2nCSC from 1942 to 1945 Burma regained her indcpendo lcc on 4 j 3Iluary 1948 She did not revert to the old monarchical type ofgovemment but chose instead to become the R epublic of the U nion of Burma which is at present IlUde up oLDurnu proper the Shall State the Kachin State the Karenni (or Ka)2h) State the Karen State and the Special Division of the C hins

Cultllral Setting

Culturally Durma owes a considerable debt to its neighbours especially to India and Ceylon Doth fo rllls of Buddhism the MnniiyJua (Greater Vehicle) rnd The-ravada (Teaching of rhe Elders) whicllcame front India were in existence in Burmt from the sth ccnrury AD 1ncrnvifda Buddhism 3Ccording to the Burmese chroniclers gained predominancc over the Mahayand tfter the conquest of Thtton by Anawrahta in JOH 1 And the TIt fdviiJa together with its scriptures in Pali introduced

1 So ur this claim Iw not been supported by my arcllICological or epigraphical evidcnCl

INTRODUCTION s ofliciilly through the Mons from Ceylon uplifted the Burnum to a pime above their kjndred raccs One concrete example will suffice Durmans borrowed the Mon alphabet and reduced their lmguage to writing some time in the early J2th century Evangelical Z(~al to study and propagate Buddhism in their own language was the chief reason for this achievement Of the members of the Tibeto-Burnun sub-family only the Tibeuns and the Bunnam can lay claim to a script of thcjr OWIl

Burmese Ius a vast amount of literature in epigraphs on palm-leaves and folded paper and in printed books The epigraphical literature of over one thousand inscriptions dedicato ry in nature dignified in style with many allusions to incidents from Buddhist scriptures and stories began in tbe early 12th century The palm-leaf and folded paper liter-mIre of an imaginative type came into being under the auspices ofBuddhist Ulonudu and Rourished from the J sth century until printing became prevalent in the 19th century Its contributors were Buddhist monks or ex-monks (and also some court pocresscs) and its notable features were Buddhist piety and courtly rcfin~ man of language There was a prepondcrancc of verse over prose The verse litcrature consists of translations or adaptations of the Jitaka (Buddhas Dirth Stories) historical ballads pane-shygyric odes in prust of kings and love and nature poems a well as epistlcs letters and drama in mixcd style of verse and prose Prose literature Wa relatively Sfll tU in amount It comprises translations or adaptations of 13nddhist scriptures and stories chiefly the ] atnkn DiJcIIIopiiJa AlIokatiJii Milinaa Ponho Loka Hili I chronicles Uld legal precedents the last being based mainly on Sanskrit law books The printed li terlture which appeared in

1 All this BuddhiSt literlnlfc is wrincn in Pai and all of it hlS been translated into Bunncsc The laaka afe the H 7 Dirth Stories of Gouma BuddlJl DhammaptTda Arthllkathci I[e Stories similu to thosect in the Jaaka Milinda PaiiiUl are the questions of King Milinda w d TAhI Nfti or Wortlly Wisdom is tn cthiCOlI treatisc milch studied by DUrlne1C DddhUu

6 I NT RODUCTI ON

the 19th ccnrury covers such works as pylf-za (dt3l1latizcd vershysions of Duddhist or non-Buddhist stories)l novels et$Il and short Storics_

Durmms arc almost exclusively Buddhists and Buddhism is inextriClbly oowld lip with a Durnuns life The lessons he learns from tbe monks from his parents from Burmese books and even ampom sugc plays influence a 13urmans thoug hts speech 2nd aCtions To most Burman Buddhism mC2llS kanna 1 reshyincarnation lI1d niono Karma can be summed up as a doctrine of as you sow so shall you rcap and good or evil consequences accompany a person (rom one existence to another R cillUfshymltion will go a ll as long as men have desires greed lust selfishshyness and attchmcnt The object in life w hich is full o f misery is to 3ttailll1irvmJo where consciousness of self ceases This em be lchicvcd by good living on the positive side by uking refuge in Buddha DIamml1 (the law) and Sallgha (the Order) by 2cquiring mcrit through charitable gifts by pious conduct and meditation on the negative side by abstaining froIn committing sim undcrulcing not to kill not to stea1 not to commit lIly sexu21 crime not to tclllicsmd not to drink intoxicating liquor Burmans arc aware that Buddha is not 2 God He is a [cOlcher His tachings arc ol philosophy of life which his disciples the monks pr2ctise md impart to thcir followers 111e monks ue celibate md own no property They live in monasteries we2r saffron-colourcd rohcs go round tbe village or quarter to beg food once a d3y and blve their meals before nooll Most Burmese Buddhists treat their puents with the reverence 2ccordcd to Buddha Dhamma and Sangha 3

Many ilurm21lS combine Buddhism with ~mism Propitiashytion of lUll (celestial beings Olnd tcrrcsuia1spirits) is still carried on

1 For the origin and development ofpyll-Zilt sec Htin Aungs Burmts~ Dratl and Hla Pes Kcmmara Pya Zaf

t Sec also krmll under tile sccrion heackd 11te World This TrUd together with Parents and Teaehen tre uUla lly refcmd to

as The Five Wonhy Objects

I NTR O D UC TI ON 7

These people tike renlgc in Buddhism for the sake of the world herQ(ter while they propiwte and sometimes try to placate the Iwt for the sake of the present world They a1so believe in the survival of the spirits of the dead The numerous rdigious Wi6ccs and snuU nat-shrines all over Burma belf testimony to this dua1 faith

A Burman is a1so a firm believer in magic and ostrology He often resom to ffiog1cal practices such loS being tauooed and swallowing pills to achitVe the power of invuLtcubility and other supcrnarural accomplishments Astrology hu been known and made usc of probably by the Manipuri Brahmans at least ~ince the 13th centuryl It has played a very important part in the lifc of thc people 2S a means of fofetd ling the future or of tryiug 10 avert impending danger or calamity

The syncretic beliefs of Dun nans in Buddhism animism magic and astrology have unnttcsted themselves in many way5 Onc is the Burmans attitude towards the white e1ephOlnt To them a white e1ephltlt is a compoWld ofdivine and ~cred beings The Buddha himself was reirumuted as a white dcphmt in lllIIY existences a white elephant is l1so one of the seven requisites of a universal monarch and the presence of this sacred allimal brings prosperity md raiu to a country suffering from drought Besiclcs it possesses transccndental power It was lIacura for the Blumcse kings to take pride in the number of these sacred auiJu21s they possessed and they were eager to assume the title of Lord of one (or more) White Eleplunts History lus mmy accounts of Burmese monarchs waging wars against other St2tes for their possession The English saying Thats a White Elephant could not h2ve origiJll t~d in Burma It is derived from Siam wbere the original White Elephant was llso regarded as sacred md was nuintained accordingly It was

I Astrology is mentioned in inscriptioru of the 13th-14th eeflturtes See for iruuncc SJP p 155

a Eg Hm YQz bull i i p 364- (War between Durma and Siam in the 16th century)

)IP-II

8 INTR ODUC TION

the custom of the King of Siam whot he wanted to dispose of the services of 2 courtier who had become obnoxious to him to make the counier a rop1 present of a white elephant The recipient was usually ruined by the cOSt of the animals mainshytcnmcc

EcOllomic Background

Burmcsc ptOplc arc esscncia11y 2gricu1rurists Rice-growing by wet or dry cultivation is the chief occupation Ploughing harrowing t raIl5pltnting nd harvesting in orthodox ways was 311d sti ll is the order of the day T he naturll workmatcs and fri ends of the cultivators u c tropical beasts of burden such u water-buffaloes and attIc to whom they hwc a sentimcnul attachment and yet they look upon them as dumb animals devoid of sensitiveness Among other domcstiettcd allimls c1cphmu and horses arc regarded as the paraphc01alia ofofficials even nowadays and the elephant is accredited w ith intelligence of a high d(gree goats arc often 01 symbol of hunclessncss and dogs 2re hdd to be destitute of any good qual ities or redeeming fea tures

Ther( have always been Durmans who earn thei r living or supplement their inadequate earnings by hunting or fuhing though Dmldhism disapproves of these activitit Dows md arrows aud spears u e the chief w eapons of a hmuer who is often accornpl11ied by dogs or the wild beasts the tiger stands for savagery ilnd ferocity whilst the deer stmds for meekness and mildness the monkey is noted fo r naughtinltSs md the monitor linrd because of its forked tongue l is au embodiment of untruthfulness its appearance is also regarded as an ilI-omcn a sign of poverty Fishing with varions kinds of Ileumd traps goes on in sma1] streams as w ell as in the large rivers of Burma Both the hUll ters and the fishermen in view of their sinful

I C( On SifirM~ ProvnM fi1U1 Uiol1lfillic ExprtssicIIIS p 15 S Ibid p 31

INTRODU CTIO N 9

vOOtlOns occupy the lowest rung in the social bdder of Dudshydhist Burma

There arc in Durma many kinds of manua] worker and 21so ~ rtists and craftsmen To list a few boatman raftsman eartshyrivcr toddy elimber (who taps the juice at the top of tall pl lm trees) and f1rm labourer author poet musician blackshyilluth goldsmith mason sculptor wood arver w eaver and potter

Burmese women especially in rural ares share the burden with their nwn-folk in many w21ks oflife They arc independent tree Illd enjoy equal rights with the men In llurriage a Bunm-se Wife docs not take her husbands name She can alwtys lelve her husband whenever she wishes hut divorce a sociJ stigma is very Il re in Dunna If suchan wtplcasmt course has to be resorted to I he property I wife brought with her when sh e married is hers md any property acquired during the marriage is divided hctwcen her and her husband Much of the ruy-to-day business 1 in tbe hands of the women and they g ive a good account of Ihr lnsclves

SClCial Envircmltlrllt

Many western writen have portrayed the Burmese people as nsy-going and plC3Sure loving They forget however the serious 1lle oftlic life of these people who work arduously on f3rm~ and 0 11 rivers lmdcr exacting conditions Duriug these periods of hard wNk they have scarcely any time to give attention to anything tnher than the task in hand When therefore they have an lPI)Qrtunity to release their pent-up feelings they enjoy thcmshy~Ivcs with spccill fervour forms of amuscmCllt up to the 20th

entury w ere comparatively simple Those that lppcaled most I II 13urmans were pwe (stage puys) dancing lnd music playing musical instrumentS and singing all one hand and on the other gambling (usually at pwr) racing and boxing which they KcncrJly indulged in O1 t t he many fesnv21s and fairs I$l21ly held

L Sec also Women under the section herded Human Charrctcristio

2 3 INTRODUCTION

tops the list of agricultural products ScSoJIllUml groundnurs cotton maize bons tobacco and sugar-ane arc the other chief products all ofwhich cxccpt stlgar-anc are grown on a rcllIivdy large 5CIlc in d rier areas Rubber WIS introduced comparHivcly late 1n addition Burma has been endowed with llcuraJ IeshySOurCC1 such as mineral oil wolfnm tin silver rubies jade and teak forests which lIe mostly found in the Pegu Yomas and the south-castcrn pms of Burma Most of these cxporublc commodities pass through Rangoon the principal pOrt 1lld capical of the country

The indigenous races of Burm3 which arc of Mongoloid stock faJl imo thrtt main groups the Tibeto-Bunrun the M OIlshy

Khmer 2nd the T h2i-Chincsc The fim group is represented by the llurmcsc proper (concentrated cspcciaUy in the Irrawaddy villcy) Araanesc (along the western coastal strip) Tavoyans and Mergucsc (in the valleys of Tenasserim) the Nagas Chills and Kachins and many other tribes in the mountainous regions of the north The representatives of the second group arc the Man (in the Irrawaddy ddta and the Thalon md Amherst districts) the Wa (between the Shan States and YUlU1all) and Palaung (in Northern Shan States) whilst the third group includes the Shans Karcus (in Tenasserim KIf ClUU and the lrrawaddy ddta) and Taungthu (chieAy in the Shan States) There re several thousand domiciled Indians and Chinese sottcred all over Burma

H)lirieal StItIIg

Politicilly the history ofBmma down to the last decade of thc 19th century can he summed up as the southward advance of Burmans and the unification of the country at the beginning of elch dynasty by powerful Burman kings w hose control was bter ended by misnlie or invasiom from neighbouring countries The numg of Durma was periodically interrupted by the

1 Scsune annual Iler~us [fopical and lu~ropiClI plant with seeds wedu food and yielding m OU llSt-d for cooking or in silid QED

INTRODU CTION

struggles for suprcnucy between the Durmans and the TeprcshySCIlUtiVes of the other two groups-the Mon and the Slun Twice the kingdom ofBunna came to an end through external invasion 3mi ct2SCd for ltlbout 60 years to exist as an independent country the first conquest was by the Tar-un in tile 13th century anc the second by the British in the 19th century

W aves of migration from Central Asia had been going on for thousands of years before the Burnuns dcsccndc-d to the plains probably in the mid-9th century Here they came into COlltaCf with the Pym now almost extinct md the Mons who had already attained a high level of civilization In the 11th century King Atuwrahta (1044-77) welded into one kingdom a group of formerly independent states and ruled them from his COIpitai city of Pagan GudualJy he (xtendcd his sovereignty down to Tcrusscrim in the south and Thlton the capiul city of the Mon kingdom in tbe dclu area to Arlbn in the west and over the hills east of the Sittang The city of Pagan today one of the fantous ruined cities of south-east Asia succumbed to the onshyslaught of the Mongols in 1287 llurm3 rhen split lip into small principalities During the next three gcneratiom Upper liurJ1ltI formed part of the Shan hegemony with separate capitals at Sagaing ill3 and MyillS3ing (all a few miles from Mancbhy) while the Mons at Pegu (north of Rangoon) held SUZCr2illty over Lawlr BurIna

In 136S the Ava dynasty was founded with its capital at Ava (south-west of Mandalay) The kin~ of trus dynasty devoted much energy to upholding Buddhism and to encouraging Burmese literature at the same time they tried to prevent the domination ofthe Sham and attemplcd to conquer the Mon kingdom Later two kings of the T oungco dynasty Tabinshwehci (I ~i3J-So) and Uayilluaung (ISSe-SI) lt Toungoo and afterwards at Pegu

I C H Luce SUtes mat the Burnuns dcscrodtd m 1tIUSt into the pUins of K)lukse sometime after AD 85 JBRS vol XUI pt i p 80 ([Or a list ofabbrtviltiOllS alld the full ritles of worlu refemd to sec pp 108-10)

INTRODUCTION4

re-cstablisncd unity which lasted till AD 1750 The Mon s then tried to wrcst power again and spread their control over the Dry Zone but they lost their gains as well as their independence for good when Alaungpaya (r7Sz60) Chief ofShwcbo (north of MamWay) reunited the whole of Burnu The opening of the 19th century saw the kingdom of Burma reach its widest extent it included the whole of modem Burma together with Manipur and part of ASSam f or astfologietl reasous or political expediency the kings of the Alaungpaya dYIlUlY established thcir capitals at A~ Amarapuf2 md finally at Mandalay

Three successive wars w ith the British in 1824 1852 lIld 188S Jed to the British annexation of Arabn and Tel1asserim the delta region known as the Pcgu Division and fi nllly of the rcst of the kingdom

After the Second W orld War of 1939-45 during which the country WlS occupied by tbe Jap2nCSC from 1942 to 1945 Burma regained her indcpendo lcc on 4 j 3Iluary 1948 She did not revert to the old monarchical type ofgovemment but chose instead to become the R epublic of the U nion of Burma which is at present IlUde up oLDurnu proper the Shall State the Kachin State the Karenni (or Ka)2h) State the Karen State and the Special Division of the C hins

Cultllral Setting

Culturally Durma owes a considerable debt to its neighbours especially to India and Ceylon Doth fo rllls of Buddhism the MnniiyJua (Greater Vehicle) rnd The-ravada (Teaching of rhe Elders) whicllcame front India were in existence in Burmt from the sth ccnrury AD 1ncrnvifda Buddhism 3Ccording to the Burmese chroniclers gained predominancc over the Mahayand tfter the conquest of Thtton by Anawrahta in JOH 1 And the TIt fdviiJa together with its scriptures in Pali introduced

1 So ur this claim Iw not been supported by my arcllICological or epigraphical evidcnCl

INTRODUCTION s ofliciilly through the Mons from Ceylon uplifted the Burnum to a pime above their kjndred raccs One concrete example will suffice Durmans borrowed the Mon alphabet and reduced their lmguage to writing some time in the early J2th century Evangelical Z(~al to study and propagate Buddhism in their own language was the chief reason for this achievement Of the members of the Tibeto-Burnun sub-family only the Tibeuns and the Bunnam can lay claim to a script of thcjr OWIl

Burmese Ius a vast amount of literature in epigraphs on palm-leaves and folded paper and in printed books The epigraphical literature of over one thousand inscriptions dedicato ry in nature dignified in style with many allusions to incidents from Buddhist scriptures and stories began in tbe early 12th century The palm-leaf and folded paper liter-mIre of an imaginative type came into being under the auspices ofBuddhist Ulonudu and Rourished from the J sth century until printing became prevalent in the 19th century Its contributors were Buddhist monks or ex-monks (and also some court pocresscs) and its notable features were Buddhist piety and courtly rcfin~ man of language There was a prepondcrancc of verse over prose The verse litcrature consists of translations or adaptations of the Jitaka (Buddhas Dirth Stories) historical ballads pane-shygyric odes in prust of kings and love and nature poems a well as epistlcs letters and drama in mixcd style of verse and prose Prose literature Wa relatively Sfll tU in amount It comprises translations or adaptations of 13nddhist scriptures and stories chiefly the ] atnkn DiJcIIIopiiJa AlIokatiJii Milinaa Ponho Loka Hili I chronicles Uld legal precedents the last being based mainly on Sanskrit law books The printed li terlture which appeared in

1 All this BuddhiSt literlnlfc is wrincn in Pai and all of it hlS been translated into Bunncsc The laaka afe the H 7 Dirth Stories of Gouma BuddlJl DhammaptTda Arthllkathci I[e Stories similu to thosect in the Jaaka Milinda PaiiiUl are the questions of King Milinda w d TAhI Nfti or Wortlly Wisdom is tn cthiCOlI treatisc milch studied by DUrlne1C DddhUu

6 I NT RODUCTI ON

the 19th ccnrury covers such works as pylf-za (dt3l1latizcd vershysions of Duddhist or non-Buddhist stories)l novels et$Il and short Storics_

Durmms arc almost exclusively Buddhists and Buddhism is inextriClbly oowld lip with a Durnuns life The lessons he learns from tbe monks from his parents from Burmese books and even ampom sugc plays influence a 13urmans thoug hts speech 2nd aCtions To most Burman Buddhism mC2llS kanna 1 reshyincarnation lI1d niono Karma can be summed up as a doctrine of as you sow so shall you rcap and good or evil consequences accompany a person (rom one existence to another R cillUfshymltion will go a ll as long as men have desires greed lust selfishshyness and attchmcnt The object in life w hich is full o f misery is to 3ttailll1irvmJo where consciousness of self ceases This em be lchicvcd by good living on the positive side by uking refuge in Buddha DIamml1 (the law) and Sallgha (the Order) by 2cquiring mcrit through charitable gifts by pious conduct and meditation on the negative side by abstaining froIn committing sim undcrulcing not to kill not to stea1 not to commit lIly sexu21 crime not to tclllicsmd not to drink intoxicating liquor Burmans arc aware that Buddha is not 2 God He is a [cOlcher His tachings arc ol philosophy of life which his disciples the monks pr2ctise md impart to thcir followers 111e monks ue celibate md own no property They live in monasteries we2r saffron-colourcd rohcs go round tbe village or quarter to beg food once a d3y and blve their meals before nooll Most Burmese Buddhists treat their puents with the reverence 2ccordcd to Buddha Dhamma and Sangha 3

Many ilurm21lS combine Buddhism with ~mism Propitiashytion of lUll (celestial beings Olnd tcrrcsuia1spirits) is still carried on

1 For the origin and development ofpyll-Zilt sec Htin Aungs Burmts~ Dratl and Hla Pes Kcmmara Pya Zaf

t Sec also krmll under tile sccrion heackd 11te World This TrUd together with Parents and Teaehen tre uUla lly refcmd to

as The Five Wonhy Objects

I NTR O D UC TI ON 7

These people tike renlgc in Buddhism for the sake of the world herQ(ter while they propiwte and sometimes try to placate the Iwt for the sake of the present world They a1so believe in the survival of the spirits of the dead The numerous rdigious Wi6ccs and snuU nat-shrines all over Burma belf testimony to this dua1 faith

A Burman is a1so a firm believer in magic and ostrology He often resom to ffiog1cal practices such loS being tauooed and swallowing pills to achitVe the power of invuLtcubility and other supcrnarural accomplishments Astrology hu been known and made usc of probably by the Manipuri Brahmans at least ~ince the 13th centuryl It has played a very important part in the lifc of thc people 2S a means of fofetd ling the future or of tryiug 10 avert impending danger or calamity

The syncretic beliefs of Dun nans in Buddhism animism magic and astrology have unnttcsted themselves in many way5 Onc is the Burmans attitude towards the white e1ephOlnt To them a white e1ephltlt is a compoWld ofdivine and ~cred beings The Buddha himself was reirumuted as a white dcphmt in lllIIY existences a white elephant is l1so one of the seven requisites of a universal monarch and the presence of this sacred allimal brings prosperity md raiu to a country suffering from drought Besiclcs it possesses transccndental power It was lIacura for the Blumcse kings to take pride in the number of these sacred auiJu21s they possessed and they were eager to assume the title of Lord of one (or more) White Eleplunts History lus mmy accounts of Burmese monarchs waging wars against other St2tes for their possession The English saying Thats a White Elephant could not h2ve origiJll t~d in Burma It is derived from Siam wbere the original White Elephant was llso regarded as sacred md was nuintained accordingly It was

I Astrology is mentioned in inscriptioru of the 13th-14th eeflturtes See for iruuncc SJP p 155

a Eg Hm YQz bull i i p 364- (War between Durma and Siam in the 16th century)

)IP-II

8 INTR ODUC TION

the custom of the King of Siam whot he wanted to dispose of the services of 2 courtier who had become obnoxious to him to make the counier a rop1 present of a white elephant The recipient was usually ruined by the cOSt of the animals mainshytcnmcc

EcOllomic Background

Burmcsc ptOplc arc esscncia11y 2gricu1rurists Rice-growing by wet or dry cultivation is the chief occupation Ploughing harrowing t raIl5pltnting nd harvesting in orthodox ways was 311d sti ll is the order of the day T he naturll workmatcs and fri ends of the cultivators u c tropical beasts of burden such u water-buffaloes and attIc to whom they hwc a sentimcnul attachment and yet they look upon them as dumb animals devoid of sensitiveness Among other domcstiettcd allimls c1cphmu and horses arc regarded as the paraphc01alia ofofficials even nowadays and the elephant is accredited w ith intelligence of a high d(gree goats arc often 01 symbol of hunclessncss and dogs 2re hdd to be destitute of any good qual ities or redeeming fea tures

Ther( have always been Durmans who earn thei r living or supplement their inadequate earnings by hunting or fuhing though Dmldhism disapproves of these activitit Dows md arrows aud spears u e the chief w eapons of a hmuer who is often accornpl11ied by dogs or the wild beasts the tiger stands for savagery ilnd ferocity whilst the deer stmds for meekness and mildness the monkey is noted fo r naughtinltSs md the monitor linrd because of its forked tongue l is au embodiment of untruthfulness its appearance is also regarded as an ilI-omcn a sign of poverty Fishing with varions kinds of Ileumd traps goes on in sma1] streams as w ell as in the large rivers of Burma Both the hUll ters and the fishermen in view of their sinful

I C( On SifirM~ ProvnM fi1U1 Uiol1lfillic ExprtssicIIIS p 15 S Ibid p 31

INTRODU CTIO N 9

vOOtlOns occupy the lowest rung in the social bdder of Dudshydhist Burma

There arc in Durma many kinds of manua] worker and 21so ~ rtists and craftsmen To list a few boatman raftsman eartshyrivcr toddy elimber (who taps the juice at the top of tall pl lm trees) and f1rm labourer author poet musician blackshyilluth goldsmith mason sculptor wood arver w eaver and potter

Burmese women especially in rural ares share the burden with their nwn-folk in many w21ks oflife They arc independent tree Illd enjoy equal rights with the men In llurriage a Bunm-se Wife docs not take her husbands name She can alwtys lelve her husband whenever she wishes hut divorce a sociJ stigma is very Il re in Dunna If suchan wtplcasmt course has to be resorted to I he property I wife brought with her when sh e married is hers md any property acquired during the marriage is divided hctwcen her and her husband Much of the ruy-to-day business 1 in tbe hands of the women and they g ive a good account of Ihr lnsclves

SClCial Envircmltlrllt

Many western writen have portrayed the Burmese people as nsy-going and plC3Sure loving They forget however the serious 1lle oftlic life of these people who work arduously on f3rm~ and 0 11 rivers lmdcr exacting conditions Duriug these periods of hard wNk they have scarcely any time to give attention to anything tnher than the task in hand When therefore they have an lPI)Qrtunity to release their pent-up feelings they enjoy thcmshy~Ivcs with spccill fervour forms of amuscmCllt up to the 20th

entury w ere comparatively simple Those that lppcaled most I II 13urmans were pwe (stage puys) dancing lnd music playing musical instrumentS and singing all one hand and on the other gambling (usually at pwr) racing and boxing which they KcncrJly indulged in O1 t t he many fesnv21s and fairs I$l21ly held

L Sec also Women under the section herded Human Charrctcristio

INTRODUCTION4

re-cstablisncd unity which lasted till AD 1750 The Mon s then tried to wrcst power again and spread their control over the Dry Zone but they lost their gains as well as their independence for good when Alaungpaya (r7Sz60) Chief ofShwcbo (north of MamWay) reunited the whole of Burnu The opening of the 19th century saw the kingdom of Burma reach its widest extent it included the whole of modem Burma together with Manipur and part of ASSam f or astfologietl reasous or political expediency the kings of the Alaungpaya dYIlUlY established thcir capitals at A~ Amarapuf2 md finally at Mandalay

Three successive wars w ith the British in 1824 1852 lIld 188S Jed to the British annexation of Arabn and Tel1asserim the delta region known as the Pcgu Division and fi nllly of the rcst of the kingdom

After the Second W orld War of 1939-45 during which the country WlS occupied by tbe Jap2nCSC from 1942 to 1945 Burma regained her indcpendo lcc on 4 j 3Iluary 1948 She did not revert to the old monarchical type ofgovemment but chose instead to become the R epublic of the U nion of Burma which is at present IlUde up oLDurnu proper the Shall State the Kachin State the Karenni (or Ka)2h) State the Karen State and the Special Division of the C hins

Cultllral Setting

Culturally Durma owes a considerable debt to its neighbours especially to India and Ceylon Doth fo rllls of Buddhism the MnniiyJua (Greater Vehicle) rnd The-ravada (Teaching of rhe Elders) whicllcame front India were in existence in Burmt from the sth ccnrury AD 1ncrnvifda Buddhism 3Ccording to the Burmese chroniclers gained predominancc over the Mahayand tfter the conquest of Thtton by Anawrahta in JOH 1 And the TIt fdviiJa together with its scriptures in Pali introduced

1 So ur this claim Iw not been supported by my arcllICological or epigraphical evidcnCl

INTRODUCTION s ofliciilly through the Mons from Ceylon uplifted the Burnum to a pime above their kjndred raccs One concrete example will suffice Durmans borrowed the Mon alphabet and reduced their lmguage to writing some time in the early J2th century Evangelical Z(~al to study and propagate Buddhism in their own language was the chief reason for this achievement Of the members of the Tibeto-Burnun sub-family only the Tibeuns and the Bunnam can lay claim to a script of thcjr OWIl

Burmese Ius a vast amount of literature in epigraphs on palm-leaves and folded paper and in printed books The epigraphical literature of over one thousand inscriptions dedicato ry in nature dignified in style with many allusions to incidents from Buddhist scriptures and stories began in tbe early 12th century The palm-leaf and folded paper liter-mIre of an imaginative type came into being under the auspices ofBuddhist Ulonudu and Rourished from the J sth century until printing became prevalent in the 19th century Its contributors were Buddhist monks or ex-monks (and also some court pocresscs) and its notable features were Buddhist piety and courtly rcfin~ man of language There was a prepondcrancc of verse over prose The verse litcrature consists of translations or adaptations of the Jitaka (Buddhas Dirth Stories) historical ballads pane-shygyric odes in prust of kings and love and nature poems a well as epistlcs letters and drama in mixcd style of verse and prose Prose literature Wa relatively Sfll tU in amount It comprises translations or adaptations of 13nddhist scriptures and stories chiefly the ] atnkn DiJcIIIopiiJa AlIokatiJii Milinaa Ponho Loka Hili I chronicles Uld legal precedents the last being based mainly on Sanskrit law books The printed li terlture which appeared in

1 All this BuddhiSt literlnlfc is wrincn in Pai and all of it hlS been translated into Bunncsc The laaka afe the H 7 Dirth Stories of Gouma BuddlJl DhammaptTda Arthllkathci I[e Stories similu to thosect in the Jaaka Milinda PaiiiUl are the questions of King Milinda w d TAhI Nfti or Wortlly Wisdom is tn cthiCOlI treatisc milch studied by DUrlne1C DddhUu

6 I NT RODUCTI ON

the 19th ccnrury covers such works as pylf-za (dt3l1latizcd vershysions of Duddhist or non-Buddhist stories)l novels et$Il and short Storics_

Durmms arc almost exclusively Buddhists and Buddhism is inextriClbly oowld lip with a Durnuns life The lessons he learns from tbe monks from his parents from Burmese books and even ampom sugc plays influence a 13urmans thoug hts speech 2nd aCtions To most Burman Buddhism mC2llS kanna 1 reshyincarnation lI1d niono Karma can be summed up as a doctrine of as you sow so shall you rcap and good or evil consequences accompany a person (rom one existence to another R cillUfshymltion will go a ll as long as men have desires greed lust selfishshyness and attchmcnt The object in life w hich is full o f misery is to 3ttailll1irvmJo where consciousness of self ceases This em be lchicvcd by good living on the positive side by uking refuge in Buddha DIamml1 (the law) and Sallgha (the Order) by 2cquiring mcrit through charitable gifts by pious conduct and meditation on the negative side by abstaining froIn committing sim undcrulcing not to kill not to stea1 not to commit lIly sexu21 crime not to tclllicsmd not to drink intoxicating liquor Burmans arc aware that Buddha is not 2 God He is a [cOlcher His tachings arc ol philosophy of life which his disciples the monks pr2ctise md impart to thcir followers 111e monks ue celibate md own no property They live in monasteries we2r saffron-colourcd rohcs go round tbe village or quarter to beg food once a d3y and blve their meals before nooll Most Burmese Buddhists treat their puents with the reverence 2ccordcd to Buddha Dhamma and Sangha 3

Many ilurm21lS combine Buddhism with ~mism Propitiashytion of lUll (celestial beings Olnd tcrrcsuia1spirits) is still carried on

1 For the origin and development ofpyll-Zilt sec Htin Aungs Burmts~ Dratl and Hla Pes Kcmmara Pya Zaf

t Sec also krmll under tile sccrion heackd 11te World This TrUd together with Parents and Teaehen tre uUla lly refcmd to

as The Five Wonhy Objects

I NTR O D UC TI ON 7

These people tike renlgc in Buddhism for the sake of the world herQ(ter while they propiwte and sometimes try to placate the Iwt for the sake of the present world They a1so believe in the survival of the spirits of the dead The numerous rdigious Wi6ccs and snuU nat-shrines all over Burma belf testimony to this dua1 faith

A Burman is a1so a firm believer in magic and ostrology He often resom to ffiog1cal practices such loS being tauooed and swallowing pills to achitVe the power of invuLtcubility and other supcrnarural accomplishments Astrology hu been known and made usc of probably by the Manipuri Brahmans at least ~ince the 13th centuryl It has played a very important part in the lifc of thc people 2S a means of fofetd ling the future or of tryiug 10 avert impending danger or calamity

The syncretic beliefs of Dun nans in Buddhism animism magic and astrology have unnttcsted themselves in many way5 Onc is the Burmans attitude towards the white e1ephOlnt To them a white e1ephltlt is a compoWld ofdivine and ~cred beings The Buddha himself was reirumuted as a white dcphmt in lllIIY existences a white elephant is l1so one of the seven requisites of a universal monarch and the presence of this sacred allimal brings prosperity md raiu to a country suffering from drought Besiclcs it possesses transccndental power It was lIacura for the Blumcse kings to take pride in the number of these sacred auiJu21s they possessed and they were eager to assume the title of Lord of one (or more) White Eleplunts History lus mmy accounts of Burmese monarchs waging wars against other St2tes for their possession The English saying Thats a White Elephant could not h2ve origiJll t~d in Burma It is derived from Siam wbere the original White Elephant was llso regarded as sacred md was nuintained accordingly It was

I Astrology is mentioned in inscriptioru of the 13th-14th eeflturtes See for iruuncc SJP p 155

a Eg Hm YQz bull i i p 364- (War between Durma and Siam in the 16th century)

)IP-II

8 INTR ODUC TION

the custom of the King of Siam whot he wanted to dispose of the services of 2 courtier who had become obnoxious to him to make the counier a rop1 present of a white elephant The recipient was usually ruined by the cOSt of the animals mainshytcnmcc

EcOllomic Background

Burmcsc ptOplc arc esscncia11y 2gricu1rurists Rice-growing by wet or dry cultivation is the chief occupation Ploughing harrowing t raIl5pltnting nd harvesting in orthodox ways was 311d sti ll is the order of the day T he naturll workmatcs and fri ends of the cultivators u c tropical beasts of burden such u water-buffaloes and attIc to whom they hwc a sentimcnul attachment and yet they look upon them as dumb animals devoid of sensitiveness Among other domcstiettcd allimls c1cphmu and horses arc regarded as the paraphc01alia ofofficials even nowadays and the elephant is accredited w ith intelligence of a high d(gree goats arc often 01 symbol of hunclessncss and dogs 2re hdd to be destitute of any good qual ities or redeeming fea tures

Ther( have always been Durmans who earn thei r living or supplement their inadequate earnings by hunting or fuhing though Dmldhism disapproves of these activitit Dows md arrows aud spears u e the chief w eapons of a hmuer who is often accornpl11ied by dogs or the wild beasts the tiger stands for savagery ilnd ferocity whilst the deer stmds for meekness and mildness the monkey is noted fo r naughtinltSs md the monitor linrd because of its forked tongue l is au embodiment of untruthfulness its appearance is also regarded as an ilI-omcn a sign of poverty Fishing with varions kinds of Ileumd traps goes on in sma1] streams as w ell as in the large rivers of Burma Both the hUll ters and the fishermen in view of their sinful

I C( On SifirM~ ProvnM fi1U1 Uiol1lfillic ExprtssicIIIS p 15 S Ibid p 31

INTRODU CTIO N 9

vOOtlOns occupy the lowest rung in the social bdder of Dudshydhist Burma

There arc in Durma many kinds of manua] worker and 21so ~ rtists and craftsmen To list a few boatman raftsman eartshyrivcr toddy elimber (who taps the juice at the top of tall pl lm trees) and f1rm labourer author poet musician blackshyilluth goldsmith mason sculptor wood arver w eaver and potter

Burmese women especially in rural ares share the burden with their nwn-folk in many w21ks oflife They arc independent tree Illd enjoy equal rights with the men In llurriage a Bunm-se Wife docs not take her husbands name She can alwtys lelve her husband whenever she wishes hut divorce a sociJ stigma is very Il re in Dunna If suchan wtplcasmt course has to be resorted to I he property I wife brought with her when sh e married is hers md any property acquired during the marriage is divided hctwcen her and her husband Much of the ruy-to-day business 1 in tbe hands of the women and they g ive a good account of Ihr lnsclves

SClCial Envircmltlrllt

Many western writen have portrayed the Burmese people as nsy-going and plC3Sure loving They forget however the serious 1lle oftlic life of these people who work arduously on f3rm~ and 0 11 rivers lmdcr exacting conditions Duriug these periods of hard wNk they have scarcely any time to give attention to anything tnher than the task in hand When therefore they have an lPI)Qrtunity to release their pent-up feelings they enjoy thcmshy~Ivcs with spccill fervour forms of amuscmCllt up to the 20th

entury w ere comparatively simple Those that lppcaled most I II 13urmans were pwe (stage puys) dancing lnd music playing musical instrumentS and singing all one hand and on the other gambling (usually at pwr) racing and boxing which they KcncrJly indulged in O1 t t he many fesnv21s and fairs I$l21ly held

L Sec also Women under the section herded Human Charrctcristio

6 I NT RODUCTI ON

the 19th ccnrury covers such works as pylf-za (dt3l1latizcd vershysions of Duddhist or non-Buddhist stories)l novels et$Il and short Storics_

Durmms arc almost exclusively Buddhists and Buddhism is inextriClbly oowld lip with a Durnuns life The lessons he learns from tbe monks from his parents from Burmese books and even ampom sugc plays influence a 13urmans thoug hts speech 2nd aCtions To most Burman Buddhism mC2llS kanna 1 reshyincarnation lI1d niono Karma can be summed up as a doctrine of as you sow so shall you rcap and good or evil consequences accompany a person (rom one existence to another R cillUfshymltion will go a ll as long as men have desires greed lust selfishshyness and attchmcnt The object in life w hich is full o f misery is to 3ttailll1irvmJo where consciousness of self ceases This em be lchicvcd by good living on the positive side by uking refuge in Buddha DIamml1 (the law) and Sallgha (the Order) by 2cquiring mcrit through charitable gifts by pious conduct and meditation on the negative side by abstaining froIn committing sim undcrulcing not to kill not to stea1 not to commit lIly sexu21 crime not to tclllicsmd not to drink intoxicating liquor Burmans arc aware that Buddha is not 2 God He is a [cOlcher His tachings arc ol philosophy of life which his disciples the monks pr2ctise md impart to thcir followers 111e monks ue celibate md own no property They live in monasteries we2r saffron-colourcd rohcs go round tbe village or quarter to beg food once a d3y and blve their meals before nooll Most Burmese Buddhists treat their puents with the reverence 2ccordcd to Buddha Dhamma and Sangha 3

Many ilurm21lS combine Buddhism with ~mism Propitiashytion of lUll (celestial beings Olnd tcrrcsuia1spirits) is still carried on

1 For the origin and development ofpyll-Zilt sec Htin Aungs Burmts~ Dratl and Hla Pes Kcmmara Pya Zaf

t Sec also krmll under tile sccrion heackd 11te World This TrUd together with Parents and Teaehen tre uUla lly refcmd to

as The Five Wonhy Objects

I NTR O D UC TI ON 7

These people tike renlgc in Buddhism for the sake of the world herQ(ter while they propiwte and sometimes try to placate the Iwt for the sake of the present world They a1so believe in the survival of the spirits of the dead The numerous rdigious Wi6ccs and snuU nat-shrines all over Burma belf testimony to this dua1 faith

A Burman is a1so a firm believer in magic and ostrology He often resom to ffiog1cal practices such loS being tauooed and swallowing pills to achitVe the power of invuLtcubility and other supcrnarural accomplishments Astrology hu been known and made usc of probably by the Manipuri Brahmans at least ~ince the 13th centuryl It has played a very important part in the lifc of thc people 2S a means of fofetd ling the future or of tryiug 10 avert impending danger or calamity

The syncretic beliefs of Dun nans in Buddhism animism magic and astrology have unnttcsted themselves in many way5 Onc is the Burmans attitude towards the white e1ephOlnt To them a white e1ephltlt is a compoWld ofdivine and ~cred beings The Buddha himself was reirumuted as a white dcphmt in lllIIY existences a white elephant is l1so one of the seven requisites of a universal monarch and the presence of this sacred allimal brings prosperity md raiu to a country suffering from drought Besiclcs it possesses transccndental power It was lIacura for the Blumcse kings to take pride in the number of these sacred auiJu21s they possessed and they were eager to assume the title of Lord of one (or more) White Eleplunts History lus mmy accounts of Burmese monarchs waging wars against other St2tes for their possession The English saying Thats a White Elephant could not h2ve origiJll t~d in Burma It is derived from Siam wbere the original White Elephant was llso regarded as sacred md was nuintained accordingly It was

I Astrology is mentioned in inscriptioru of the 13th-14th eeflturtes See for iruuncc SJP p 155

a Eg Hm YQz bull i i p 364- (War between Durma and Siam in the 16th century)

)IP-II

8 INTR ODUC TION

the custom of the King of Siam whot he wanted to dispose of the services of 2 courtier who had become obnoxious to him to make the counier a rop1 present of a white elephant The recipient was usually ruined by the cOSt of the animals mainshytcnmcc

EcOllomic Background

Burmcsc ptOplc arc esscncia11y 2gricu1rurists Rice-growing by wet or dry cultivation is the chief occupation Ploughing harrowing t raIl5pltnting nd harvesting in orthodox ways was 311d sti ll is the order of the day T he naturll workmatcs and fri ends of the cultivators u c tropical beasts of burden such u water-buffaloes and attIc to whom they hwc a sentimcnul attachment and yet they look upon them as dumb animals devoid of sensitiveness Among other domcstiettcd allimls c1cphmu and horses arc regarded as the paraphc01alia ofofficials even nowadays and the elephant is accredited w ith intelligence of a high d(gree goats arc often 01 symbol of hunclessncss and dogs 2re hdd to be destitute of any good qual ities or redeeming fea tures

Ther( have always been Durmans who earn thei r living or supplement their inadequate earnings by hunting or fuhing though Dmldhism disapproves of these activitit Dows md arrows aud spears u e the chief w eapons of a hmuer who is often accornpl11ied by dogs or the wild beasts the tiger stands for savagery ilnd ferocity whilst the deer stmds for meekness and mildness the monkey is noted fo r naughtinltSs md the monitor linrd because of its forked tongue l is au embodiment of untruthfulness its appearance is also regarded as an ilI-omcn a sign of poverty Fishing with varions kinds of Ileumd traps goes on in sma1] streams as w ell as in the large rivers of Burma Both the hUll ters and the fishermen in view of their sinful

I C( On SifirM~ ProvnM fi1U1 Uiol1lfillic ExprtssicIIIS p 15 S Ibid p 31

INTRODU CTIO N 9

vOOtlOns occupy the lowest rung in the social bdder of Dudshydhist Burma

There arc in Durma many kinds of manua] worker and 21so ~ rtists and craftsmen To list a few boatman raftsman eartshyrivcr toddy elimber (who taps the juice at the top of tall pl lm trees) and f1rm labourer author poet musician blackshyilluth goldsmith mason sculptor wood arver w eaver and potter

Burmese women especially in rural ares share the burden with their nwn-folk in many w21ks oflife They arc independent tree Illd enjoy equal rights with the men In llurriage a Bunm-se Wife docs not take her husbands name She can alwtys lelve her husband whenever she wishes hut divorce a sociJ stigma is very Il re in Dunna If suchan wtplcasmt course has to be resorted to I he property I wife brought with her when sh e married is hers md any property acquired during the marriage is divided hctwcen her and her husband Much of the ruy-to-day business 1 in tbe hands of the women and they g ive a good account of Ihr lnsclves

SClCial Envircmltlrllt

Many western writen have portrayed the Burmese people as nsy-going and plC3Sure loving They forget however the serious 1lle oftlic life of these people who work arduously on f3rm~ and 0 11 rivers lmdcr exacting conditions Duriug these periods of hard wNk they have scarcely any time to give attention to anything tnher than the task in hand When therefore they have an lPI)Qrtunity to release their pent-up feelings they enjoy thcmshy~Ivcs with spccill fervour forms of amuscmCllt up to the 20th

entury w ere comparatively simple Those that lppcaled most I II 13urmans were pwe (stage puys) dancing lnd music playing musical instrumentS and singing all one hand and on the other gambling (usually at pwr) racing and boxing which they KcncrJly indulged in O1 t t he many fesnv21s and fairs I$l21ly held

L Sec also Women under the section herded Human Charrctcristio

8 INTR ODUC TION

the custom of the King of Siam whot he wanted to dispose of the services of 2 courtier who had become obnoxious to him to make the counier a rop1 present of a white elephant The recipient was usually ruined by the cOSt of the animals mainshytcnmcc

EcOllomic Background

Burmcsc ptOplc arc esscncia11y 2gricu1rurists Rice-growing by wet or dry cultivation is the chief occupation Ploughing harrowing t raIl5pltnting nd harvesting in orthodox ways was 311d sti ll is the order of the day T he naturll workmatcs and fri ends of the cultivators u c tropical beasts of burden such u water-buffaloes and attIc to whom they hwc a sentimcnul attachment and yet they look upon them as dumb animals devoid of sensitiveness Among other domcstiettcd allimls c1cphmu and horses arc regarded as the paraphc01alia ofofficials even nowadays and the elephant is accredited w ith intelligence of a high d(gree goats arc often 01 symbol of hunclessncss and dogs 2re hdd to be destitute of any good qual ities or redeeming fea tures

Ther( have always been Durmans who earn thei r living or supplement their inadequate earnings by hunting or fuhing though Dmldhism disapproves of these activitit Dows md arrows aud spears u e the chief w eapons of a hmuer who is often accornpl11ied by dogs or the wild beasts the tiger stands for savagery ilnd ferocity whilst the deer stmds for meekness and mildness the monkey is noted fo r naughtinltSs md the monitor linrd because of its forked tongue l is au embodiment of untruthfulness its appearance is also regarded as an ilI-omcn a sign of poverty Fishing with varions kinds of Ileumd traps goes on in sma1] streams as w ell as in the large rivers of Burma Both the hUll ters and the fishermen in view of their sinful

I C( On SifirM~ ProvnM fi1U1 Uiol1lfillic ExprtssicIIIS p 15 S Ibid p 31

INTRODU CTIO N 9

vOOtlOns occupy the lowest rung in the social bdder of Dudshydhist Burma

There arc in Durma many kinds of manua] worker and 21so ~ rtists and craftsmen To list a few boatman raftsman eartshyrivcr toddy elimber (who taps the juice at the top of tall pl lm trees) and f1rm labourer author poet musician blackshyilluth goldsmith mason sculptor wood arver w eaver and potter

Burmese women especially in rural ares share the burden with their nwn-folk in many w21ks oflife They arc independent tree Illd enjoy equal rights with the men In llurriage a Bunm-se Wife docs not take her husbands name She can alwtys lelve her husband whenever she wishes hut divorce a sociJ stigma is very Il re in Dunna If suchan wtplcasmt course has to be resorted to I he property I wife brought with her when sh e married is hers md any property acquired during the marriage is divided hctwcen her and her husband Much of the ruy-to-day business 1 in tbe hands of the women and they g ive a good account of Ihr lnsclves

SClCial Envircmltlrllt

Many western writen have portrayed the Burmese people as nsy-going and plC3Sure loving They forget however the serious 1lle oftlic life of these people who work arduously on f3rm~ and 0 11 rivers lmdcr exacting conditions Duriug these periods of hard wNk they have scarcely any time to give attention to anything tnher than the task in hand When therefore they have an lPI)Qrtunity to release their pent-up feelings they enjoy thcmshy~Ivcs with spccill fervour forms of amuscmCllt up to the 20th

entury w ere comparatively simple Those that lppcaled most I II 13urmans were pwe (stage puys) dancing lnd music playing musical instrumentS and singing all one hand and on the other gambling (usually at pwr) racing and boxing which they KcncrJly indulged in O1 t t he many fesnv21s and fairs I$l21ly held

L Sec also Women under the section herded Human Charrctcristio

10 INTRODUCTION

at the time of the full moon the period for such pleasures was confined [0 the dry season

Dllrmtst Proverbs

Burmese proverbs (rJgltlbouy means literal ly simibr saying) arc CUOltially similes o r paubleS They 2fC usually introduced in written or spoken bngulIgc by the words like as l11d as it were Similar in meaning to the Arabic word matJJal o r the Malay Ifpall1l1-1m ~ the Burmcsc word also cmbrlccs me idcu inherent in the Chincse words fo r proverb yen elegant or accomplished words and su-yii common sayings and in the Sanskrit word slIbilsita wdl-spokcll words3

SiIIaOott7) arc at leaSt as old as and almost ccrttinly older than the w ri tten i2Jlguagc Ever since Blirmese was firs t pm into writing pcrwps during the ~Iy pan of [he 12th century AD

they have enriched md embellished the li terary as wel1 2S the cvcry-day styles Burmese l iteratllrc~ whcther in prose or verse or in mL(cd style abounds in proverbs thc) formed the m in ingrcdient ofa number ofli tcrary epist1cs submitted [ 0 the kings of Burma by Duddhist monksA Then coo there lre many collections of proverbs the most recent being 711~ Two 71ISatld PrOllebs published ]910 and The Thrce Tu)lsmld ProverbsS published 1956 Many Rurmans still usc these sayings frcqucnt1y whether in formal speech or in cbily conversation

1 The term hu becn taken also to mean word picture or modd $lying

I Sec R4Ci41 Prowrn Introduction pp xv xvii lOp cit pp XV xvi xvii I Sec SIP p 7 Eg KlIndaw M Com and YUlIIU K Eg Sa gab B Wisit Lirik Sngab Wisj PDf SGgab and Wisit

Safab See Sagab An enlarged edition of SaRab

bull Sec for instauce the specxhcs of U Nu the Durmese Prime Minister from 19-47 to 1962 (excrpt for a break in 19056 lnd aglin in l9059-60)

INTROD U CTION II

Dut mlny sayings which have been lcccpted as proverbs do not deserve the name Some arc riddles (S39i1Iha) others arc spoonerisms (~I) aJld a grC4t many are mete similes (~ma) T o sift the proverbs from thcse o ther figures of speech hlS provcd a more formidable 13sk than had ocen expected Like lnlC proverbs many of the pretenders are decked with rhymes and are eouchcd in terse language and many comain allusions to ineid(middotnts from the Jiifaka or from well-known Pali or Sanskrit works and native chronicles o r arc w en from incidcnts of every~ay life The simple tests employed to solve this problem ullsatisf1ctory though they are have been (i) t hat the style of I proverb m ust be epigramlllltie and (ii) chat the intcnrion undcrlying the proverb is ( 0 give advice or warning or to hllld on l piCC of wi5dom

In trying to asccruin whar a proverb is we must look through the proverbs of many cOlmuies of south-a st Asia t hat arc Hljaccnt to Burma and also those of C hinl and Japan As expected we shall notice that ccruin proverbs arc common to two or more of these countries In several inStances some ofthese proverbs arc almost identical both in ideas and itnplicatiom if there arc differences they are in the ehan etcrs llsed in t he provcrbs These simiiaritiC1 call be ascribed to three 0I2in reasons (i) the proverbs have been derivlmiddotd from a common source (ij) one of the countries has borrowed directl y or inshydirectly from mother and (iii) the commies conccmcd have ~imilar attitudes towards certain concepts

Burma as stated earlier is Buddhist land where ~nskrit works such as the Hitopadtsal and the epics arc not IUtknOwn

r he J3urmcse proverb Playing a hup before a bulfalo hls its COuntcqgtlfU in Thai Chineseand Mall except thac tbe Tilai has

I Sec Burmese Riddles by Maung WUII ]BRS oJ XL pt i pp 1- 13middot

I Some of these are g iven in Racial Ptowbs others in Malay Prowbs lnd On Siac~ Provnbs and Idiomalic Expressions

a Good Advicc-a well-known collection of cthiQI tales and f3bJcs

12 I NTRODUC TI ON

fiddle for h2rp the C hinese lute (and ox for the buffalo) and the Mon has zither (and ox for the bufhlO)l This is a Buddhist V2Y of saying C2Sting ports before swine The Thai Malay 2nd J2pancsc proverb The teeth sometimes bite the tongue is applied to urulvoilthblc tiffs between friends or between husband and wife whereas the Burmcsc Husband and wife (are like) the tongue and the teeth obviously refer only to those bctwCCll husband and wife Greed is anathcnu to tbe Buddhists The J3urmC$CJf your desire is great you obuin little has its variults in Chinese He that grasps loses and in Thai With over greedishyness o lles (oerLUlc vutisbes lngratiUldc is another sin T he Burmese proverb Tlking shcJtcr in the shade of a tree and breaking offthe branches i5 echoed in the Lao Dont soil the trees shade that has heCll hospiublc to thce O u karma toO the Dllddhist cotilltrics of Durma China and Thailand have similar conceptions as w itnessed in these following proverbs A man docs not lose his life jf the time at which he is fated to die has not ltrived (Durma) If the end ofrus lipoundc-spm h13 not yet come he shall not die (Th~i) and the Durmese saying One day to die md one day to be born I has its double in the Chincsc There is

a day to be born and a time to die Sanslcrit literature too has given many proverbs to the countries

of south-cast luia Sir Richard Winstcdt bas given a list of proverbs [olUId in Malay Japanese and Afghan which arc derived from the Sanskrit saying He who docs not go out and explore ill the earth is a w ell-frog To thi~ list we Olay add [he Burmese version A frog in (t he puddle of) a buff2los hoofshymark and the Thai A frog in a lotus pond And the Maby proverb You cant strlig hten a dogs biI has a very dose affinity to the Durmese Threading a dogs crooked u ti through a joillt of bamboo Proverbs of many countries warn people in a similar strain to guard Igainst a slip of the tongue The

1 0 Siam~~ Prcwtbs IIJIJ ]Jiomali Expussiotls p 134 Not included in this colkction Milloy Prolltbs pp 2-3

I N TRODUCTIO N [3

Burmese If the body goes through a hole it cm be puUed out if the mouth (tongue) slips it a nnot retraCt iudf the ThaiA slip of the tongue may ausc the loss of ones fortune and the Malay A slip of the tongue may cause the loss of ones fortune I dip of the foot may cause one to fall (from I tree) are but a few of them

It is difficult to say with certlinty whether Similarity between rhe proverbs of twO countries is allc to borrowing or to coincishydencc The proverbs Teaching a monk to reld showing l crocodile how to swim in Burmese and Tcach a crocodile to swim in Thai and Milay meaning teaching a grmdmothcr how to suck eggs is a case in point Bul in a fcw instlJlces such as I he llbwg saying People who come fcom hell arc not afraid ofhot uhts we can say that it is a borrowing from the Bnrmese Alld in the following examples wbere the Bllnnesc isjUlctapo$Cd with thcChinesc-ln a basket it is the binding in a nun ids hisdothcs Iud A mln is cstimated by his clothes and a horse by his $1ddlc Da will not break for a hens cackle it will break only for a locks crow and A bell docs nO[ usually l1U10unce the break of ~bgtmiddot middot and (It is as d ifllcuh to look aft er) one cbughtcr (as Uter) a thousand cattlc and When a daughter h-u grown up she is li ke smuggled salt-the similarity can safely be attributed to u )incidence

There arc also a few Burmese proverbs which arc comparashylively rCCCJlt and they bcar so much resemblance to the English d u t we arc tempted to coruider thlmiddotm as imports To cite a few Silence is worth a t housand pieces (of silver) 1)on t look a gift in the mouth and Because the cats away the mice arc at playl

T his little book is intended to be l oolJOClion of Dunncsc pmvcrbs which reflect different aspects of Dnrme$e life A great uly of them were gleaned from prose works of t he first half

I 1~ JriaII7ol(fbs p 348 bull middot11is is also found in the Thai tg 0 Siamtst PrOIlUbl anJ Idiomatic

I -prssiotlS p 22

14 J NTRODUC TI ON

of the 20th ccnn lry l During the literary rcvivaJ which fonowed the inuoduction of t he printing press to Burma in the 19th century many proverbs were given new currency T he various printed collcctions of proverbs have been consulted and also a manuscript collcction made by Father foIurc a Roman Dtholic missionary with translations and cxplUlations in French From t his latter source u many suitable examples as possible have been taken in order to give a represC1ltative sclcction

As lw been explained all Durmese proverbs arc terse and luvc a rhythm of their own and most of them arc composed with rhymes or jing1c5 JUSt as many English proverbs arc noted fo r allircrltioll so arc the Dunnest (or their rhymcs3 To try to aprucc the terseness md rhythm in translating them into English is a ncar impossibility but to reproduce the rhymes is impossible without sacrificing the sense Consider the following examples-(the rhyming words or sylbbles arc in italics) kypound hma ayo luhnU amyo (With fowls the pWigrec wit h men brceding) ko wuDna kobo Oi (Only the sufferer knows how his bellyaches) )ojiJYv Iv to Uust when he wants to cry yon touch him) and rokhulo ko Ja tlingwago twe (He searched for a woman whose marriage had broken down md he found a woman w ho had left hcr hmband) T hese losses caused by 2 f1i1ure to do justice in translation to the original version arc indecd grcat [or the effectiveness of 2liurmese proverb dcpcnth upon the sound as much OIS on the tersencss of the wording As close a translation as the English idiom pcclll iu has been givcn and w hen rhe meaning or implicltion of 2 proverb is likely to be ambiguous or obscure an explanatory note Jus been added Where possible the corresponding English proverb is shown by inverted commas

1 Sec the Varil1llJ S pp 1000010

t Sec DllrmC5C Proverbs 2 supplellCllt to existing proverbs by Kin MwnS Lat BSOAS vol X pc i pp 31- 51

a Many He in bif1~ry ronnThe Burmese d lyme schemes in the I)roverbs ~laquo not unlike those

found in the Chinese Proverbs see RlJrial Pvrrbs p xlii

I N T RO D UCT I O N 15

Proverbs express the views of men 2bout their fdlow men 2nd abom humall life in its various aspects They have been classified Iherefore under fi ve headings (1 ) Human Characteristics (2) Human Dehaiour (3) Hunun Relationships (4) Ihe World md (5) Man These divisions 2re arbitrary and 2re based 011 conmiddot vell iencc a proverb may have more than Olle implication de~ pending on the circumstances in wh ich it is used However each of these five sections which consist of proverbs embodying similar ideas is in t um divided into sulHcctions Care hOlS been Iken to group together in c2eh sub-seetion proverbs titat have affinities with one another Where possible they have been arranged so as to indiClte the development of their blSic idea

Hman Characteristics

T his section ofBurmese Proverbs tbrows Iigllt on divers humm characteristics breed behaviour speech and physial features 15

indices to the potentialities and stupidities of human nature and deals especially with women who have charutcristics of their own

llmmans beljeve cbat people arc like their progenitors because like begets like This view of heredity and breed plays 2 very important part in sh3ping the life of a llurman It is most app~lllt in matrimonial affairs tnd especially in marriages arranged by the parents of the parties wealth status and other considcratioll5 all have to give way to famiiy breeding The first qucstion asked by the parents about a prospective son- or dmghtcr-in-law is invarilbly Docs he or she come of a good stock or rs t here allY mad person or drunkard or gambler or leper in the family The allcestors of the person conccrned may be tIlccd back fo r seven generations because a gourd plmt wi ll not beu my frui t other than a gourd This practicc is also common among t he Chinese

Ie is easier to go wrong in sizing IIpl person t han in 3SS2ying I

piece ofgold or silvef so S2YSut old ldlge llurnwu have howshyever mmy touchstones by which to testl mans c1uracter One ofthese is his reaction til ldversjty which brings out t he worst or best in a nllll another is his manner ofspeech since they seldom trust a suave person the third is the shape of his foreheadand of his knees and fin ally his outward appearancc is an index to his chaueter Once a man has passed the test he is w orth his weight in gold and will not sink into oblivion since a gelluine ruby will not be seorched iftossed into the fire nor will it sink ifthrown 011shy

to the mud Hunun types annot always be divided so neatly intO the

bull6

H U MAN CHARACTERISTICS 17

worthy and the worthless There is I type whose btent potenshytialities manifest thcnuclvcs only when the right time comes To Iluny Durmaru everyone has a fine prospect before him unless he has proved himself 3D ignoramus There is a consensus of opinion lbout ignorance and the futil e and superfluous actions which result from it Lack of material wealth is preferred to lad of imclligel1ce A fool is mentally blind mentuy deaf and illscluitivc to all the beautiful things Tell him to bring buttcrshymilk and he will ask Shall [bring the jar as well He cannOt read the letter A even if it is written as large as I bnket lbove 111 he is co quote the proverb a buffalo before which it would be futile to playa htrpl Many proverbs portray him as I dunderhead a braggart IJlU an idiot ill combined

Burmese w omen have a sepaute place in this section They wear a skirt only three cubits long whereas a nuns nether garshyIllent is twenty cubits long- In other words a man is a future Uuddhl whilst a woman is not She is d laaeterized as being valli md wanting to preserve her looks or cnhance them when she IS elderly Deatley is however only skin deep since a goodshyI (~king woman devoid of virtues is like a bulIa (lower which is til beauty without fr1grancc Able women Imy Icve theif mark nil IIstory but only at the expense of their domestic duties and woman is likely to min a whole kingdom by her lack ofa sense (If I)roportion She is also painted as an embodiment of wiles of which there are as many as the grains of smd on nine mats Nevertheless the women of Burma luve been praised for their Iuick wit their business sense their skill in houschold manage-

I The Burmese harp today has rhirtlaquon silk strings which ue attached h) a boat-sllaped wooden sound-bo with a long eurvet neck This proverb hu its eountcrp~ttS in Chinese Th~i md Mon Sec the lnn-o-shylu-ion pp II-U

ITlli lercn to the pll-Iuo (nether garment) worn by Burmese men in nlJen days Nowadays men wen the IOIlKyi which is only s1igbtly WidCl

han ~ womans skirt The OtIgyi a cylindrical skirt reaching to the ankle II wonl round the Ups and tucked in at the waist

12 I NTRODUC TI ON

fiddle for h2rp the C hinese lute (and ox for the buffalo) and the Mon has zither (and ox for the bufhlO)l This is a Buddhist V2Y of saying C2Sting ports before swine The Thai Malay 2nd J2pancsc proverb The teeth sometimes bite the tongue is applied to urulvoilthblc tiffs between friends or between husband and wife whereas the Burmcsc Husband and wife (are like) the tongue and the teeth obviously refer only to those bctwCCll husband and wife Greed is anathcnu to tbe Buddhists The J3urmC$CJf your desire is great you obuin little has its variults in Chinese He that grasps loses and in Thai With over greedishyness o lles (oerLUlc vutisbes lngratiUldc is another sin T he Burmese proverb Tlking shcJtcr in the shade of a tree and breaking offthe branches i5 echoed in the Lao Dont soil the trees shade that has heCll hospiublc to thce O u karma toO the Dllddhist cotilltrics of Durma China and Thailand have similar conceptions as w itnessed in these following proverbs A man docs not lose his life jf the time at which he is fated to die has not ltrived (Durma) If the end ofrus lipoundc-spm h13 not yet come he shall not die (Th~i) and the Durmese saying One day to die md one day to be born I has its double in the Chincsc There is

a day to be born and a time to die Sanslcrit literature too has given many proverbs to the countries

of south-cast luia Sir Richard Winstcdt bas given a list of proverbs [olUId in Malay Japanese and Afghan which arc derived from the Sanskrit saying He who docs not go out and explore ill the earth is a w ell-frog To thi~ list we Olay add [he Burmese version A frog in (t he puddle of) a buff2los hoofshymark and the Thai A frog in a lotus pond And the Maby proverb You cant strlig hten a dogs biI has a very dose affinity to the Durmese Threading a dogs crooked u ti through a joillt of bamboo Proverbs of many countries warn people in a similar strain to guard Igainst a slip of the tongue The

1 0 Siam~~ Prcwtbs IIJIJ ]Jiomali Expussiotls p 134 Not included in this colkction Milloy Prolltbs pp 2-3

I N TRODUCTIO N [3

Burmese If the body goes through a hole it cm be puUed out if the mouth (tongue) slips it a nnot retraCt iudf the ThaiA slip of the tongue may ausc the loss of ones fortune and the Malay A slip of the tongue may cause the loss of ones fortune I dip of the foot may cause one to fall (from I tree) are but a few of them

It is difficult to say with certlinty whether Similarity between rhe proverbs of twO countries is allc to borrowing or to coincishydencc The proverbs Teaching a monk to reld showing l crocodile how to swim in Burmese and Tcach a crocodile to swim in Thai and Milay meaning teaching a grmdmothcr how to suck eggs is a case in point Bul in a fcw instlJlces such as I he llbwg saying People who come fcom hell arc not afraid ofhot uhts we can say that it is a borrowing from the Bnrmese Alld in the following examples wbere the Bllnnesc isjUlctapo$Cd with thcChinesc-ln a basket it is the binding in a nun ids hisdothcs Iud A mln is cstimated by his clothes and a horse by his $1ddlc Da will not break for a hens cackle it will break only for a locks crow and A bell docs nO[ usually l1U10unce the break of ~bgtmiddot middot and (It is as d ifllcuh to look aft er) one cbughtcr (as Uter) a thousand cattlc and When a daughter h-u grown up she is li ke smuggled salt-the similarity can safely be attributed to u )incidence

There arc also a few Burmese proverbs which arc comparashylively rCCCJlt and they bcar so much resemblance to the English d u t we arc tempted to coruider thlmiddotm as imports To cite a few Silence is worth a t housand pieces (of silver) 1)on t look a gift in the mouth and Because the cats away the mice arc at playl

T his little book is intended to be l oolJOClion of Dunncsc pmvcrbs which reflect different aspects of Dnrme$e life A great uly of them were gleaned from prose works of t he first half

I 1~ JriaII7ol(fbs p 348 bull middot11is is also found in the Thai tg 0 Siamtst PrOIlUbl anJ Idiomatic

I -prssiotlS p 22

14 J NTRODUC TI ON

of the 20th ccnn lry l During the literary rcvivaJ which fonowed the inuoduction of t he printing press to Burma in the 19th century many proverbs were given new currency T he various printed collcctions of proverbs have been consulted and also a manuscript collcction made by Father foIurc a Roman Dtholic missionary with translations and cxplUlations in French From t his latter source u many suitable examples as possible have been taken in order to give a represC1ltative sclcction

As lw been explained all Durmese proverbs arc terse and luvc a rhythm of their own and most of them arc composed with rhymes or jing1c5 JUSt as many English proverbs arc noted fo r allircrltioll so arc the Dunnest (or their rhymcs3 To try to aprucc the terseness md rhythm in translating them into English is a ncar impossibility but to reproduce the rhymes is impossible without sacrificing the sense Consider the following examples-(the rhyming words or sylbbles arc in italics) kypound hma ayo luhnU amyo (With fowls the pWigrec wit h men brceding) ko wuDna kobo Oi (Only the sufferer knows how his bellyaches) )ojiJYv Iv to Uust when he wants to cry yon touch him) and rokhulo ko Ja tlingwago twe (He searched for a woman whose marriage had broken down md he found a woman w ho had left hcr hmband) T hese losses caused by 2 f1i1ure to do justice in translation to the original version arc indecd grcat [or the effectiveness of 2liurmese proverb dcpcnth upon the sound as much OIS on the tersencss of the wording As close a translation as the English idiom pcclll iu has been givcn and w hen rhe meaning or implicltion of 2 proverb is likely to be ambiguous or obscure an explanatory note Jus been added Where possible the corresponding English proverb is shown by inverted commas

1 Sec the Varil1llJ S pp 1000010

t Sec DllrmC5C Proverbs 2 supplellCllt to existing proverbs by Kin MwnS Lat BSOAS vol X pc i pp 31- 51

a Many He in bif1~ry ronnThe Burmese d lyme schemes in the I)roverbs ~laquo not unlike those

found in the Chinese Proverbs see RlJrial Pvrrbs p xlii

I N T RO D UCT I O N 15

Proverbs express the views of men 2bout their fdlow men 2nd abom humall life in its various aspects They have been classified Iherefore under fi ve headings (1 ) Human Characteristics (2) Human Dehaiour (3) Hunun Relationships (4) Ihe World md (5) Man These divisions 2re arbitrary and 2re based 011 conmiddot vell iencc a proverb may have more than Olle implication de~ pending on the circumstances in wh ich it is used However each of these five sections which consist of proverbs embodying similar ideas is in t um divided into sulHcctions Care hOlS been Iken to group together in c2eh sub-seetion proverbs titat have affinities with one another Where possible they have been arranged so as to indiClte the development of their blSic idea

Hman Characteristics

T his section ofBurmese Proverbs tbrows Iigllt on divers humm characteristics breed behaviour speech and physial features 15

indices to the potentialities and stupidities of human nature and deals especially with women who have charutcristics of their own

llmmans beljeve cbat people arc like their progenitors because like begets like This view of heredity and breed plays 2 very important part in sh3ping the life of a llurman It is most app~lllt in matrimonial affairs tnd especially in marriages arranged by the parents of the parties wealth status and other considcratioll5 all have to give way to famiiy breeding The first qucstion asked by the parents about a prospective son- or dmghtcr-in-law is invarilbly Docs he or she come of a good stock or rs t here allY mad person or drunkard or gambler or leper in the family The allcestors of the person conccrned may be tIlccd back fo r seven generations because a gourd plmt wi ll not beu my frui t other than a gourd This practicc is also common among t he Chinese

Ie is easier to go wrong in sizing IIpl person t han in 3SS2ying I

piece ofgold or silvef so S2YSut old ldlge llurnwu have howshyever mmy touchstones by which to testl mans c1uracter One ofthese is his reaction til ldversjty which brings out t he worst or best in a nllll another is his manner ofspeech since they seldom trust a suave person the third is the shape of his foreheadand of his knees and fin ally his outward appearancc is an index to his chaueter Once a man has passed the test he is w orth his weight in gold and will not sink into oblivion since a gelluine ruby will not be seorched iftossed into the fire nor will it sink ifthrown 011shy

to the mud Hunun types annot always be divided so neatly intO the

bull6

H U MAN CHARACTERISTICS 17

worthy and the worthless There is I type whose btent potenshytialities manifest thcnuclvcs only when the right time comes To Iluny Durmaru everyone has a fine prospect before him unless he has proved himself 3D ignoramus There is a consensus of opinion lbout ignorance and the futil e and superfluous actions which result from it Lack of material wealth is preferred to lad of imclligel1ce A fool is mentally blind mentuy deaf and illscluitivc to all the beautiful things Tell him to bring buttcrshymilk and he will ask Shall [bring the jar as well He cannOt read the letter A even if it is written as large as I bnket lbove 111 he is co quote the proverb a buffalo before which it would be futile to playa htrpl Many proverbs portray him as I dunderhead a braggart IJlU an idiot ill combined

Burmese w omen have a sepaute place in this section They wear a skirt only three cubits long whereas a nuns nether garshyIllent is twenty cubits long- In other words a man is a future Uuddhl whilst a woman is not She is d laaeterized as being valli md wanting to preserve her looks or cnhance them when she IS elderly Deatley is however only skin deep since a goodshyI (~king woman devoid of virtues is like a bulIa (lower which is til beauty without fr1grancc Able women Imy Icve theif mark nil IIstory but only at the expense of their domestic duties and woman is likely to min a whole kingdom by her lack ofa sense (If I)roportion She is also painted as an embodiment of wiles of which there are as many as the grains of smd on nine mats Nevertheless the women of Burma luve been praised for their Iuick wit their business sense their skill in houschold manage-

I The Burmese harp today has rhirtlaquon silk strings which ue attached h) a boat-sllaped wooden sound-bo with a long eurvet neck This proverb hu its eountcrp~ttS in Chinese Th~i md Mon Sec the lnn-o-shylu-ion pp II-U

ITlli lercn to the pll-Iuo (nether garment) worn by Burmese men in nlJen days Nowadays men wen the IOIlKyi which is only s1igbtly WidCl

han ~ womans skirt The OtIgyi a cylindrical skirt reaching to the ankle II wonl round the Ups and tucked in at the waist

14 J NTRODUC TI ON

of the 20th ccnn lry l During the literary rcvivaJ which fonowed the inuoduction of t he printing press to Burma in the 19th century many proverbs were given new currency T he various printed collcctions of proverbs have been consulted and also a manuscript collcction made by Father foIurc a Roman Dtholic missionary with translations and cxplUlations in French From t his latter source u many suitable examples as possible have been taken in order to give a represC1ltative sclcction

As lw been explained all Durmese proverbs arc terse and luvc a rhythm of their own and most of them arc composed with rhymes or jing1c5 JUSt as many English proverbs arc noted fo r allircrltioll so arc the Dunnest (or their rhymcs3 To try to aprucc the terseness md rhythm in translating them into English is a ncar impossibility but to reproduce the rhymes is impossible without sacrificing the sense Consider the following examples-(the rhyming words or sylbbles arc in italics) kypound hma ayo luhnU amyo (With fowls the pWigrec wit h men brceding) ko wuDna kobo Oi (Only the sufferer knows how his bellyaches) )ojiJYv Iv to Uust when he wants to cry yon touch him) and rokhulo ko Ja tlingwago twe (He searched for a woman whose marriage had broken down md he found a woman w ho had left hcr hmband) T hese losses caused by 2 f1i1ure to do justice in translation to the original version arc indecd grcat [or the effectiveness of 2liurmese proverb dcpcnth upon the sound as much OIS on the tersencss of the wording As close a translation as the English idiom pcclll iu has been givcn and w hen rhe meaning or implicltion of 2 proverb is likely to be ambiguous or obscure an explanatory note Jus been added Where possible the corresponding English proverb is shown by inverted commas

1 Sec the Varil1llJ S pp 1000010

t Sec DllrmC5C Proverbs 2 supplellCllt to existing proverbs by Kin MwnS Lat BSOAS vol X pc i pp 31- 51

a Many He in bif1~ry ronnThe Burmese d lyme schemes in the I)roverbs ~laquo not unlike those

found in the Chinese Proverbs see RlJrial Pvrrbs p xlii

I N T RO D UCT I O N 15

Proverbs express the views of men 2bout their fdlow men 2nd abom humall life in its various aspects They have been classified Iherefore under fi ve headings (1 ) Human Characteristics (2) Human Dehaiour (3) Hunun Relationships (4) Ihe World md (5) Man These divisions 2re arbitrary and 2re based 011 conmiddot vell iencc a proverb may have more than Olle implication de~ pending on the circumstances in wh ich it is used However each of these five sections which consist of proverbs embodying similar ideas is in t um divided into sulHcctions Care hOlS been Iken to group together in c2eh sub-seetion proverbs titat have affinities with one another Where possible they have been arranged so as to indiClte the development of their blSic idea

Hman Characteristics

T his section ofBurmese Proverbs tbrows Iigllt on divers humm characteristics breed behaviour speech and physial features 15

indices to the potentialities and stupidities of human nature and deals especially with women who have charutcristics of their own

llmmans beljeve cbat people arc like their progenitors because like begets like This view of heredity and breed plays 2 very important part in sh3ping the life of a llurman It is most app~lllt in matrimonial affairs tnd especially in marriages arranged by the parents of the parties wealth status and other considcratioll5 all have to give way to famiiy breeding The first qucstion asked by the parents about a prospective son- or dmghtcr-in-law is invarilbly Docs he or she come of a good stock or rs t here allY mad person or drunkard or gambler or leper in the family The allcestors of the person conccrned may be tIlccd back fo r seven generations because a gourd plmt wi ll not beu my frui t other than a gourd This practicc is also common among t he Chinese

Ie is easier to go wrong in sizing IIpl person t han in 3SS2ying I

piece ofgold or silvef so S2YSut old ldlge llurnwu have howshyever mmy touchstones by which to testl mans c1uracter One ofthese is his reaction til ldversjty which brings out t he worst or best in a nllll another is his manner ofspeech since they seldom trust a suave person the third is the shape of his foreheadand of his knees and fin ally his outward appearancc is an index to his chaueter Once a man has passed the test he is w orth his weight in gold and will not sink into oblivion since a gelluine ruby will not be seorched iftossed into the fire nor will it sink ifthrown 011shy

to the mud Hunun types annot always be divided so neatly intO the

bull6

H U MAN CHARACTERISTICS 17

worthy and the worthless There is I type whose btent potenshytialities manifest thcnuclvcs only when the right time comes To Iluny Durmaru everyone has a fine prospect before him unless he has proved himself 3D ignoramus There is a consensus of opinion lbout ignorance and the futil e and superfluous actions which result from it Lack of material wealth is preferred to lad of imclligel1ce A fool is mentally blind mentuy deaf and illscluitivc to all the beautiful things Tell him to bring buttcrshymilk and he will ask Shall [bring the jar as well He cannOt read the letter A even if it is written as large as I bnket lbove 111 he is co quote the proverb a buffalo before which it would be futile to playa htrpl Many proverbs portray him as I dunderhead a braggart IJlU an idiot ill combined

Burmese w omen have a sepaute place in this section They wear a skirt only three cubits long whereas a nuns nether garshyIllent is twenty cubits long- In other words a man is a future Uuddhl whilst a woman is not She is d laaeterized as being valli md wanting to preserve her looks or cnhance them when she IS elderly Deatley is however only skin deep since a goodshyI (~king woman devoid of virtues is like a bulIa (lower which is til beauty without fr1grancc Able women Imy Icve theif mark nil IIstory but only at the expense of their domestic duties and woman is likely to min a whole kingdom by her lack ofa sense (If I)roportion She is also painted as an embodiment of wiles of which there are as many as the grains of smd on nine mats Nevertheless the women of Burma luve been praised for their Iuick wit their business sense their skill in houschold manage-

I The Burmese harp today has rhirtlaquon silk strings which ue attached h) a boat-sllaped wooden sound-bo with a long eurvet neck This proverb hu its eountcrp~ttS in Chinese Th~i md Mon Sec the lnn-o-shylu-ion pp II-U

ITlli lercn to the pll-Iuo (nether garment) worn by Burmese men in nlJen days Nowadays men wen the IOIlKyi which is only s1igbtly WidCl

han ~ womans skirt The OtIgyi a cylindrical skirt reaching to the ankle II wonl round the Ups and tucked in at the waist

Hman Characteristics

T his section ofBurmese Proverbs tbrows Iigllt on divers humm characteristics breed behaviour speech and physial features 15

indices to the potentialities and stupidities of human nature and deals especially with women who have charutcristics of their own

llmmans beljeve cbat people arc like their progenitors because like begets like This view of heredity and breed plays 2 very important part in sh3ping the life of a llurman It is most app~lllt in matrimonial affairs tnd especially in marriages arranged by the parents of the parties wealth status and other considcratioll5 all have to give way to famiiy breeding The first qucstion asked by the parents about a prospective son- or dmghtcr-in-law is invarilbly Docs he or she come of a good stock or rs t here allY mad person or drunkard or gambler or leper in the family The allcestors of the person conccrned may be tIlccd back fo r seven generations because a gourd plmt wi ll not beu my frui t other than a gourd This practicc is also common among t he Chinese

Ie is easier to go wrong in sizing IIpl person t han in 3SS2ying I

piece ofgold or silvef so S2YSut old ldlge llurnwu have howshyever mmy touchstones by which to testl mans c1uracter One ofthese is his reaction til ldversjty which brings out t he worst or best in a nllll another is his manner ofspeech since they seldom trust a suave person the third is the shape of his foreheadand of his knees and fin ally his outward appearancc is an index to his chaueter Once a man has passed the test he is w orth his weight in gold and will not sink into oblivion since a gelluine ruby will not be seorched iftossed into the fire nor will it sink ifthrown 011shy

to the mud Hunun types annot always be divided so neatly intO the

bull6

H U MAN CHARACTERISTICS 17

worthy and the worthless There is I type whose btent potenshytialities manifest thcnuclvcs only when the right time comes To Iluny Durmaru everyone has a fine prospect before him unless he has proved himself 3D ignoramus There is a consensus of opinion lbout ignorance and the futil e and superfluous actions which result from it Lack of material wealth is preferred to lad of imclligel1ce A fool is mentally blind mentuy deaf and illscluitivc to all the beautiful things Tell him to bring buttcrshymilk and he will ask Shall [bring the jar as well He cannOt read the letter A even if it is written as large as I bnket lbove 111 he is co quote the proverb a buffalo before which it would be futile to playa htrpl Many proverbs portray him as I dunderhead a braggart IJlU an idiot ill combined

Burmese w omen have a sepaute place in this section They wear a skirt only three cubits long whereas a nuns nether garshyIllent is twenty cubits long- In other words a man is a future Uuddhl whilst a woman is not She is d laaeterized as being valli md wanting to preserve her looks or cnhance them when she IS elderly Deatley is however only skin deep since a goodshyI (~king woman devoid of virtues is like a bulIa (lower which is til beauty without fr1grancc Able women Imy Icve theif mark nil IIstory but only at the expense of their domestic duties and woman is likely to min a whole kingdom by her lack ofa sense (If I)roportion She is also painted as an embodiment of wiles of which there are as many as the grains of smd on nine mats Nevertheless the women of Burma luve been praised for their Iuick wit their business sense their skill in houschold manage-

I The Burmese harp today has rhirtlaquon silk strings which ue attached h) a boat-sllaped wooden sound-bo with a long eurvet neck This proverb hu its eountcrp~ttS in Chinese Th~i md Mon Sec the lnn-o-shylu-ion pp II-U

ITlli lercn to the pll-Iuo (nether garment) worn by Burmese men in nlJen days Nowadays men wen the IOIlKyi which is only s1igbtly WidCl

han ~ womans skirt The OtIgyi a cylindrical skirt reaching to the ankle II wonl round the Ups and tucked in at the waist

18 HUMAN CHARACTElUSTICS

mOlt Thus far credit is givcn to them for men cUlm that w omens achievements lCC limited Women arc not therefore complementary but supplcmelltlry to men This view is rdtccted in the distorting mirror of Burmcsc literature

HEREDITY AND BREED

Witb j owls lIN ptdigrtt with lien hrudiltg II What call you expect from a Illan like that Class counts

Naturally the same beans f rolll the same bin [2 A chip of the old block

Stt up a plaltain it will bear fruits oj its kind Il Only rivers alld streams can disappear wirhollt a trace a people

(annol [4 Likt fat and granJfatlxr alikt 15

Like father like son

MARKS OF CHARACTER

Only wbm bt mutr adversity IviII YOII know )h character [6 DlIlgcr brings out the best in n131l

If you waitt to know his origin lock (t[ his COlldlict 17 Manners makcth man

A IIIralrmoutbtd person bas au IIgly disposition fS Suing tbe baric you know the trtt stting his expression YOI f

know his character (9

MARK S OF CHARACTER 19

When you Stt tbe wattrli1y sum antI root you sbould bt able ~~~ 110 Again this implics that outward appcannce is an index to a

1ll211S character

Tlx mant is the proof of a real lion III 11 a dog its the bridge of the nose ill a cat theforebead ana in a

lIIatl the knte [12shy

Things [0 look for when judging value

Tbe mnk is fix proof of an elephant tbe tlOse oj till

Indian III The noses of Indians are more prominCJ1t than those of

DurIJl1Ils

Tbe soldrring is proof of tbe goldsmith 114 The proof of the pudding is in the cating

Wax will haw tlx quality ofgold [15 lkcswu is used (or testing precious meWs in Burma

A rtal cbilli seven fathoms IInder watef will still tastt bot 116

The w ents of 211 outstanding person can be tcstcd anywhcre

Real ivory willltot be ratelt by insects [17

A rtal ruby cannol sink ill tJx mua lIB A man of rcal merit annot sink into obscurity

tlJl butter is good YOll (an serve it in a pot lid 119

1 fleas bead ofgood medicine is enollgh [20

20 HUMAN CHARACTER1STlCS

Wilh a iHlsktt J

tbt binding with a man bis c10tJtI [21 The 2pptrcl ofr proclaims [he mm Homkt Act J Scene iii

A lazy mall fitS flat on his back a lazy woman slrttchis out her I(t [22

PROSPECTS

Shoots grow 01 a pestle [2)

Applied to a person who hu achieved a success that was never expected of him

The cbickm dertined for the pot bas grown fine SpUfS 124

An app3rcmly iusignilicant person suddenly displaying ability

Stram (oming alit oj tbe (oiJ cooked riet [2S

An tmbe about to blaze glows brightly [26 amptid of a man who gives an indication orms power

Ukt OIltS to Ibt mort you look at if tbt farther ovay it if [27

A remote prospect

FUTILITY

Playig a IJorp brjort a buffalo [28 To cn pearls before swine

Wattr can never be jOfud into a solid bamboo [29 Dmldcrbcad

FUTILITY 2[

He bar not learnt anytbing thougb all tbt palntleaves have bun uftd lip ho Oblong strips cut from palm-I~ves after being smoothed

Iond polished were in general use as w ri ting material until t 50 years ago They arc still uS(d for special purposes such as the preparation ofhoroscopcs

Tbe silk is allured up but Maung Pon never learntd to rlay IIJ( bp [31 ilurmcsc harp-strings lore made of silk and easily broken

You have married off all your daughters yet you havenr got a SOI ill 101ll [p

YOII cant get wlJole rice by pounding bran [33 You ant JlUke I silk purse out ofa sows ctr

Tbollgh you burn acartfi ofcortonwoo YOIl wont get a ham fi of Ix [34

You ant expcct much fro m a person who boo natural Iobility

Iil a pyi of [Jakl1Ut flow IIxt1I bt 1m lb a blif1 ~ [3s A vuiant of the last one Th4lcJIIII (Digllonil) fl owen havc

medicin3l properties Like spinach they boil down to no thing One prj = -h ofa bushel

if you try to sharptn a rotten bamboo it wont take a point [36 cr R otten wood CUlllo t be c rved and mud walls CUUlot

be plastered ChineS( proverb

O(Uillg a well on bigh ground [37 Mjsdircctcd effo rt

IValtrfalling into sand [38 V3in elfon

22 HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Wbtn tht lorrt nl comts bt trits to Jam U up with sand [39

Flippin SUamllttl suds into an tltpbants mouth A drop in the 0CC3ll

TIN mODn shining in tbt bollow of tbt bambM

[40

[41 Buried (alent Applied to someone who shows otfhis sLIl1l1d

ability where they canuot be appreciated

Giving Q good Ireom to a dumb puson [42 C( Like I dumb person dreaming in his sleep Tllai proverb

He cmnot repeat the dream

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT

Wbtn Ibt Jistclst is 1101 known lbtrf is no rtmtdy [43

Iff a forts where tlxre is no hrartUJooJ fbi (Qstofoil plant ul [44 bullAmong the blind I onc-cycd man is king

It may 10k an embryo Buddha to laquonsWtf a blilfalobtrJs qutstion [45 A fool may uk more questjons intJ1 hour th n a wise man

can answer in seven ynfSmiddot A favourirc retort given by those who u e at l loss when confronted with 2 question they annot answer

A stupid act tntails doing th~ lUork tllJict Oller [46

Ask wbtn you dont wow wasb when YOUrt dirty 47

Thost who art unawart walk olltr it tbou who art Qwart lI~artb it Qlld tat it [48

Eyes and N~yes A reward awaits the observ2nt

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT 23

If you dont obserllt YOll wont Stt a all~ ifyou do obstrvt YOII s(( a 1 of aust [49

A jar halffull of wat spaslxs abollt [so c( Still water runs deep

Nt wbo talks isnt strong be whos strong doesnt talk [51 Those who know don t spcak t hose who speak don t know

Tbt blilld man is not afraid ofghosts [52 An ignormt person is reckless of consequences

Nt ridls without knowing wJltbcr its astallioll or a mar~ [53

He glls alollg 011 bis journey bllt ht does not know tbe villages M~ ro~ ~ C( The fool wanders the wise man tflvds

Ignorallct is mort troublesomt IfJan pOlltrly [55 Detter to be a beggar than a fool

Ht is told its a (fallt alld Ix asks What kind of bird it it [56

Told that somtone had bun killtd by a tiJer bt asktd Had bun ill long [57

SUPERFLUITY

Teaching afisblrman how to knot his fit or a hunur bow to spear gamt [58 Terclullg your gundmother to suck eggs

TeaclJing a motlk to read showin~ all alliJator kin the waltr hlsintSI [59

Going to China to sell needles [60 Carrying coals to Newcastle

IIP-(

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24 H UM A N C H ARACTER I STI CS

WOMEN

Buttrtiling an old boult aaorning an old woman witb flowers [61 Mutton dressed 2S luab

Btauty fix jact hIlt in the body grocf and you cannot tXbalut it [62 Beauty is skin-ltlccp

Sbt bas good looks hut no character [63 bullA (lir woman without virtue is like pallid wine

Famous in history but bouubold affairs art tllgItefa [64

If a woman wruk a country it iJ wdl and truly wrakrd [65

Day will not break for a htns cackle it will brtak only for a cocks crow [66 CfbullA hen docs not usually announce the brclk of day

Chinese proverb

A big wallt iIs undtr tbt boat a big mowltdin its IIIlatr tbt Jut [lt57 Womrll will always be subdued by men

HHlllan Behaviour

In this second section we ~ nuny 11(1 varied sides of hunun hchlViour through the lens presented by these proverbs The

rics of pictures which greets our eyes tends to be wlau ractive llS is deliberate the proverbs serve as a warning and stimulate

I d lection 011 hmllan wcakncss~ Mrn is egoistic sclf-opinionatcd self-willed i-ie adveftiscs him shy

I lr1 ikc the seven shameless creatures which cJ1out their names l

elf-satisfied mall like a rogue SttS in another a fault 35 small n J Scslmum seed but in himsdf he docs not see a fault as big as II laquolConm A self-willed person through obstinacy brings his own 11ntruction upon himself The moral is quite c1eu be selfless

SOUle men arc co mparable to a puffed-up frog and they arc HfUll of tbe kind which bash ill t be feRected glory of others I hese peoplc arc like a yokd employed lS a footman grinning

H I f the royal insignia be has to carry were his own nurmans Iqud pom~ity with unusement alld whenever opportunity ~II~ thc) take g reat ple3Slre in pricking the bubble A pompous 1r~1I is often li kened to the dumdcon (in the MalouuJra I(IJJa) with a peJlnyworth of silver round its ned which filled II with vainglory And those who swagger about in the light of Iher peoples achievements arc also described as vultures who

1 11 IIkc golden birds because they arc perching on I golden hill

lIother is the vaingloriou~ extrovert An individual of tbis

t )f the seven crcrturcs the fint is a reptile and dIe rest arc birds They ftmiddot the large crowing lizard or gecko the pied eresu-d cuckoo the 11111 l1Iae spotted OWcI the Ikngll brown fish-owl the Burmese red~

~I ltd ilpwing the common iOfl and the Malay kod bull tokll Nfti Pir Nissayll pp 64- j lhejJlllkll vi pp 17-3

26 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

species is prcpucd to go to any length so long as he can nuke a g rcu impression on adlcr people He is tbe crow in the fable who wears pc2cock fcathers When such a persOIl docs a work of merit such as alms-giving it is Iikdy that he will proclaim from the roof-top that he is the alms-givcr In scdting limdight to S2tisfy his vanity he goes on from pretension to pretension He will live ill a plank house-a dwdlmg that was a sign ofoplllcnce in olden days-while fceding on the dlcapest kind of food namdy roselle leaves1 Vanity goes hand in hand with boastfulshyness and blustering -low often do w e meet a vain peuon whose hig cuk is lacking in weight His boasting and vaullting arc cynically compucd to the booming of a New Ycu s Day CUlllon

Such people arc apt to entertain great expectations and nourish high aspirations without regard to their own worth or ability o r to decorum md propriety The proverbs in the sub-section on Greu Expectltions show these people up as wretched beings trying to reach out for something which is nOt meant for them t hey ~e like a person whose h tld is among the douds crying out for t he moon Their achievements fall far short of their expectations and their further efforts t1SuI Jly end in d iuster lile that of the sparrow which imitated tbe strut of a peacock

The next sub-section on Dopair is a grim warning to those whose aspirations have been frustrltcd In such a plight lta nd driven by despair a man may have recourse to CJ1rellle measures like the Camdas whidl having exhausted all its ideas took to ha iling salt (the occupat ion of the forlorn) Dcsperttion ouy drive a man from had to worse and when he finally r~izc$ that his sicnation cannot deterio rate any further he will in his desperate

I Roselle the lndian sond There are manv varieties but it is the red sorrel that Burmese people nuke = of in tl~cir everyday dishes Doth I~vcs and buds hwe a sour taste

I CaruJtI a mythical bird half mall half bird He is the h ng of birds and die greateSt enemy of the Ntlgtl (scrpcnn) He h usually rep=ntcd as having the head wings blons and beak ofan Qgle alld the body and limbs of a man

HU M AN BEHAVIOUR 27 mood declare I have become a dog and I am not afraid ofexcreshymcnt

Dunnans views on dishonesty and crookedness with thcir concomitant betrayal of trust as seen in the proverbs are most cnliglltcning Honesty is of course the best policy but dishonesty Jhould be forgiven if the end justifies it They bel ieve due fundamental ly 3 man is neither honest nor dishonest it is the Iutstion ofexpediency Veuns moruity that nukes him what he IS After all it is easy to be motl 0 11 pound2000 a ye~ but it is not rlsy to be moral on pound200Dishonesty is therefore m aberration whereas crookedness according to the proverbs 5 a permanent feature which can never be al tered Believers in these provcrbs If course forge t the one saying An error may go on for ever hil t it can he set right in a moment which is somewhat cquivashyI(middotm to Its never toobte to mend These views havc made many it Burman cautiollS He is not (eady to place confidence in his 6ervants o r friends o r in his wife o r even in his children He would quote Mahosadhal the embryo Buddha w ho uid that flnes secret should not be confided to myone 1he secret would be om and one would be betrayed One of the Durmans favourite stories of bctnyal is about a wife offe ring a sword by Ihe handle to the robber (with whom she has faJlell in love) wh ile he was fighting with her husband 1 Such swlaquoping views have led DurllUllS to suspect even their knees

Dishoncsty crookedness and betrayal of trust are no doubt bJd traits ofhuman nature hut ingratitICtc is the worst of all It 11 ten thouS31ld times more lUlbcanb)e than the winccr wind Ilurmllls who insist that he who has had even a glass of water fro m a person mtlst show his gratitude arc shocked to sec an ungrateful film turning 3gainst his beneElctor 11e would itrtainl y liken such a man to a dog an animal of despicable llllure The proverbs in the subsection Once bitten twice shy h lVC been created by men w ho have had bitter experienccs in Iheir lives

1 See the Jatk vi p 192 t Ibid iii pp 14-8

20 HUMAN CHARACTER1STlCS

Wilh a iHlsktt J

tbt binding with a man bis c10tJtI [21 The 2pptrcl ofr proclaims [he mm Homkt Act J Scene iii

A lazy mall fitS flat on his back a lazy woman slrttchis out her I(t [22

PROSPECTS

Shoots grow 01 a pestle [2)

Applied to a person who hu achieved a success that was never expected of him

The cbickm dertined for the pot bas grown fine SpUfS 124

An app3rcmly iusignilicant person suddenly displaying ability

Stram (oming alit oj tbe (oiJ cooked riet [2S

An tmbe about to blaze glows brightly [26 amptid of a man who gives an indication orms power

Ukt OIltS to Ibt mort you look at if tbt farther ovay it if [27

A remote prospect

FUTILITY

Playig a IJorp brjort a buffalo [28 To cn pearls before swine

Wattr can never be jOfud into a solid bamboo [29 Dmldcrbcad

FUTILITY 2[

He bar not learnt anytbing thougb all tbt palntleaves have bun uftd lip ho Oblong strips cut from palm-I~ves after being smoothed

Iond polished were in general use as w ri ting material until t 50 years ago They arc still uS(d for special purposes such as the preparation ofhoroscopcs

Tbe silk is allured up but Maung Pon never learntd to rlay IIJ( bp [31 ilurmcsc harp-strings lore made of silk and easily broken

You have married off all your daughters yet you havenr got a SOI ill 101ll [p

YOII cant get wlJole rice by pounding bran [33 You ant JlUke I silk purse out ofa sows ctr

Tbollgh you burn acartfi ofcortonwoo YOIl wont get a ham fi of Ix [34

You ant expcct much fro m a person who boo natural Iobility

Iil a pyi of [Jakl1Ut flow IIxt1I bt 1m lb a blif1 ~ [3s A vuiant of the last one Th4lcJIIII (Digllonil) fl owen havc

medicin3l properties Like spinach they boil down to no thing One prj = -h ofa bushel

if you try to sharptn a rotten bamboo it wont take a point [36 cr R otten wood CUlllo t be c rved and mud walls CUUlot

be plastered ChineS( proverb

O(Uillg a well on bigh ground [37 Mjsdircctcd effo rt

IValtrfalling into sand [38 V3in elfon

22 HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Wbtn tht lorrt nl comts bt trits to Jam U up with sand [39

Flippin SUamllttl suds into an tltpbants mouth A drop in the 0CC3ll

TIN mODn shining in tbt bollow of tbt bambM

[40

[41 Buried (alent Applied to someone who shows otfhis sLIl1l1d

ability where they canuot be appreciated

Giving Q good Ireom to a dumb puson [42 C( Like I dumb person dreaming in his sleep Tllai proverb

He cmnot repeat the dream

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT

Wbtn Ibt Jistclst is 1101 known lbtrf is no rtmtdy [43

Iff a forts where tlxre is no hrartUJooJ fbi (Qstofoil plant ul [44 bullAmong the blind I onc-cycd man is king

It may 10k an embryo Buddha to laquonsWtf a blilfalobtrJs qutstion [45 A fool may uk more questjons intJ1 hour th n a wise man

can answer in seven ynfSmiddot A favourirc retort given by those who u e at l loss when confronted with 2 question they annot answer

A stupid act tntails doing th~ lUork tllJict Oller [46

Ask wbtn you dont wow wasb when YOUrt dirty 47

Thost who art unawart walk olltr it tbou who art Qwart lI~artb it Qlld tat it [48

Eyes and N~yes A reward awaits the observ2nt

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT 23

If you dont obserllt YOll wont Stt a all~ ifyou do obstrvt YOII s(( a 1 of aust [49

A jar halffull of wat spaslxs abollt [so c( Still water runs deep

Nt wbo talks isnt strong be whos strong doesnt talk [51 Those who know don t spcak t hose who speak don t know

Tbt blilld man is not afraid ofghosts [52 An ignormt person is reckless of consequences

Nt ridls without knowing wJltbcr its astallioll or a mar~ [53

He glls alollg 011 bis journey bllt ht does not know tbe villages M~ ro~ ~ C( The fool wanders the wise man tflvds

Ignorallct is mort troublesomt IfJan pOlltrly [55 Detter to be a beggar than a fool

Ht is told its a (fallt alld Ix asks What kind of bird it it [56

Told that somtone had bun killtd by a tiJer bt asktd Had bun ill long [57

SUPERFLUITY

Teaching afisblrman how to knot his fit or a hunur bow to spear gamt [58 Terclullg your gundmother to suck eggs

TeaclJing a motlk to read showin~ all alliJator kin the waltr hlsintSI [59

Going to China to sell needles [60 Carrying coals to Newcastle

IIP-(

Illinois State University Library

24 H UM A N C H ARACTER I STI CS

WOMEN

Buttrtiling an old boult aaorning an old woman witb flowers [61 Mutton dressed 2S luab

Btauty fix jact hIlt in the body grocf and you cannot tXbalut it [62 Beauty is skin-ltlccp

Sbt bas good looks hut no character [63 bullA (lir woman without virtue is like pallid wine

Famous in history but bouubold affairs art tllgItefa [64

If a woman wruk a country it iJ wdl and truly wrakrd [65

Day will not break for a htns cackle it will brtak only for a cocks crow [66 CfbullA hen docs not usually announce the brclk of day

Chinese proverb

A big wallt iIs undtr tbt boat a big mowltdin its IIIlatr tbt Jut [lt57 Womrll will always be subdued by men

HHlllan Behaviour

In this second section we ~ nuny 11(1 varied sides of hunun hchlViour through the lens presented by these proverbs The

rics of pictures which greets our eyes tends to be wlau ractive llS is deliberate the proverbs serve as a warning and stimulate

I d lection 011 hmllan wcakncss~ Mrn is egoistic sclf-opinionatcd self-willed i-ie adveftiscs him shy

I lr1 ikc the seven shameless creatures which cJ1out their names l

elf-satisfied mall like a rogue SttS in another a fault 35 small n J Scslmum seed but in himsdf he docs not see a fault as big as II laquolConm A self-willed person through obstinacy brings his own 11ntruction upon himself The moral is quite c1eu be selfless

SOUle men arc co mparable to a puffed-up frog and they arc HfUll of tbe kind which bash ill t be feRected glory of others I hese peoplc arc like a yokd employed lS a footman grinning

H I f the royal insignia be has to carry were his own nurmans Iqud pom~ity with unusement alld whenever opportunity ~II~ thc) take g reat ple3Slre in pricking the bubble A pompous 1r~1I is often li kened to the dumdcon (in the MalouuJra I(IJJa) with a peJlnyworth of silver round its ned which filled II with vainglory And those who swagger about in the light of Iher peoples achievements arc also described as vultures who

1 11 IIkc golden birds because they arc perching on I golden hill

lIother is the vaingloriou~ extrovert An individual of tbis

t )f the seven crcrturcs the fint is a reptile and dIe rest arc birds They ftmiddot the large crowing lizard or gecko the pied eresu-d cuckoo the 11111 l1Iae spotted OWcI the Ikngll brown fish-owl the Burmese red~

~I ltd ilpwing the common iOfl and the Malay kod bull tokll Nfti Pir Nissayll pp 64- j lhejJlllkll vi pp 17-3

26 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

species is prcpucd to go to any length so long as he can nuke a g rcu impression on adlcr people He is tbe crow in the fable who wears pc2cock fcathers When such a persOIl docs a work of merit such as alms-giving it is Iikdy that he will proclaim from the roof-top that he is the alms-givcr In scdting limdight to S2tisfy his vanity he goes on from pretension to pretension He will live ill a plank house-a dwdlmg that was a sign ofoplllcnce in olden days-while fceding on the dlcapest kind of food namdy roselle leaves1 Vanity goes hand in hand with boastfulshyness and blustering -low often do w e meet a vain peuon whose hig cuk is lacking in weight His boasting and vaullting arc cynically compucd to the booming of a New Ycu s Day CUlllon

Such people arc apt to entertain great expectations and nourish high aspirations without regard to their own worth or ability o r to decorum md propriety The proverbs in the sub-section on Greu Expectltions show these people up as wretched beings trying to reach out for something which is nOt meant for them t hey ~e like a person whose h tld is among the douds crying out for t he moon Their achievements fall far short of their expectations and their further efforts t1SuI Jly end in d iuster lile that of the sparrow which imitated tbe strut of a peacock

The next sub-section on Dopair is a grim warning to those whose aspirations have been frustrltcd In such a plight lta nd driven by despair a man may have recourse to CJ1rellle measures like the Camdas whidl having exhausted all its ideas took to ha iling salt (the occupat ion of the forlorn) Dcsperttion ouy drive a man from had to worse and when he finally r~izc$ that his sicnation cannot deterio rate any further he will in his desperate

I Roselle the lndian sond There are manv varieties but it is the red sorrel that Burmese people nuke = of in tl~cir everyday dishes Doth I~vcs and buds hwe a sour taste

I CaruJtI a mythical bird half mall half bird He is the h ng of birds and die greateSt enemy of the Ntlgtl (scrpcnn) He h usually rep=ntcd as having the head wings blons and beak ofan Qgle alld the body and limbs of a man

HU M AN BEHAVIOUR 27 mood declare I have become a dog and I am not afraid ofexcreshymcnt

Dunnans views on dishonesty and crookedness with thcir concomitant betrayal of trust as seen in the proverbs are most cnliglltcning Honesty is of course the best policy but dishonesty Jhould be forgiven if the end justifies it They bel ieve due fundamental ly 3 man is neither honest nor dishonest it is the Iutstion ofexpediency Veuns moruity that nukes him what he IS After all it is easy to be motl 0 11 pound2000 a ye~ but it is not rlsy to be moral on pound200Dishonesty is therefore m aberration whereas crookedness according to the proverbs 5 a permanent feature which can never be al tered Believers in these provcrbs If course forge t the one saying An error may go on for ever hil t it can he set right in a moment which is somewhat cquivashyI(middotm to Its never toobte to mend These views havc made many it Burman cautiollS He is not (eady to place confidence in his 6ervants o r friends o r in his wife o r even in his children He would quote Mahosadhal the embryo Buddha w ho uid that flnes secret should not be confided to myone 1he secret would be om and one would be betrayed One of the Durmans favourite stories of bctnyal is about a wife offe ring a sword by Ihe handle to the robber (with whom she has faJlell in love) wh ile he was fighting with her husband 1 Such swlaquoping views have led DurllUllS to suspect even their knees

Dishoncsty crookedness and betrayal of trust are no doubt bJd traits ofhuman nature hut ingratitICtc is the worst of all It 11 ten thouS31ld times more lUlbcanb)e than the winccr wind Ilurmllls who insist that he who has had even a glass of water fro m a person mtlst show his gratitude arc shocked to sec an ungrateful film turning 3gainst his beneElctor 11e would itrtainl y liken such a man to a dog an animal of despicable llllure The proverbs in the subsection Once bitten twice shy h lVC been created by men w ho have had bitter experienccs in Iheir lives

1 See the Jatk vi p 192 t Ibid iii pp 14-8

22 HUMAN CHARACTERISTICS

Wbtn tht lorrt nl comts bt trits to Jam U up with sand [39

Flippin SUamllttl suds into an tltpbants mouth A drop in the 0CC3ll

TIN mODn shining in tbt bollow of tbt bambM

[40

[41 Buried (alent Applied to someone who shows otfhis sLIl1l1d

ability where they canuot be appreciated

Giving Q good Ireom to a dumb puson [42 C( Like I dumb person dreaming in his sleep Tllai proverb

He cmnot repeat the dream

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT

Wbtn Ibt Jistclst is 1101 known lbtrf is no rtmtdy [43

Iff a forts where tlxre is no hrartUJooJ fbi (Qstofoil plant ul [44 bullAmong the blind I onc-cycd man is king

It may 10k an embryo Buddha to laquonsWtf a blilfalobtrJs qutstion [45 A fool may uk more questjons intJ1 hour th n a wise man

can answer in seven ynfSmiddot A favourirc retort given by those who u e at l loss when confronted with 2 question they annot answer

A stupid act tntails doing th~ lUork tllJict Oller [46

Ask wbtn you dont wow wasb when YOUrt dirty 47

Thost who art unawart walk olltr it tbou who art Qwart lI~artb it Qlld tat it [48

Eyes and N~yes A reward awaits the observ2nt

IGNORANCE AND UNENLIGHTENMENT 23

If you dont obserllt YOll wont Stt a all~ ifyou do obstrvt YOII s(( a 1 of aust [49

A jar halffull of wat spaslxs abollt [so c( Still water runs deep

Nt wbo talks isnt strong be whos strong doesnt talk [51 Those who know don t spcak t hose who speak don t know

Tbt blilld man is not afraid ofghosts [52 An ignormt person is reckless of consequences

Nt ridls without knowing wJltbcr its astallioll or a mar~ [53

He glls alollg 011 bis journey bllt ht does not know tbe villages M~ ro~ ~ C( The fool wanders the wise man tflvds

Ignorallct is mort troublesomt IfJan pOlltrly [55 Detter to be a beggar than a fool

Ht is told its a (fallt alld Ix asks What kind of bird it it [56

Told that somtone had bun killtd by a tiJer bt asktd Had bun ill long [57

SUPERFLUITY

Teaching afisblrman how to knot his fit or a hunur bow to spear gamt [58 Terclullg your gundmother to suck eggs

TeaclJing a motlk to read showin~ all alliJator kin the waltr hlsintSI [59

Going to China to sell needles [60 Carrying coals to Newcastle

IIP-(

Illinois State University Library

24 H UM A N C H ARACTER I STI CS

WOMEN

Buttrtiling an old boult aaorning an old woman witb flowers [61 Mutton dressed 2S luab

Btauty fix jact hIlt in the body grocf and you cannot tXbalut it [62 Beauty is skin-ltlccp

Sbt bas good looks hut no character [63 bullA (lir woman without virtue is like pallid wine

Famous in history but bouubold affairs art tllgItefa [64

If a woman wruk a country it iJ wdl and truly wrakrd [65

Day will not break for a htns cackle it will brtak only for a cocks crow [66 CfbullA hen docs not usually announce the brclk of day

Chinese proverb

A big wallt iIs undtr tbt boat a big mowltdin its IIIlatr tbt Jut [lt57 Womrll will always be subdued by men

HHlllan Behaviour

In this second section we ~ nuny 11(1 varied sides of hunun hchlViour through the lens presented by these proverbs The

rics of pictures which greets our eyes tends to be wlau ractive llS is deliberate the proverbs serve as a warning and stimulate

I d lection 011 hmllan wcakncss~ Mrn is egoistic sclf-opinionatcd self-willed i-ie adveftiscs him shy

I lr1 ikc the seven shameless creatures which cJ1out their names l

elf-satisfied mall like a rogue SttS in another a fault 35 small n J Scslmum seed but in himsdf he docs not see a fault as big as II laquolConm A self-willed person through obstinacy brings his own 11ntruction upon himself The moral is quite c1eu be selfless

SOUle men arc co mparable to a puffed-up frog and they arc HfUll of tbe kind which bash ill t be feRected glory of others I hese peoplc arc like a yokd employed lS a footman grinning

H I f the royal insignia be has to carry were his own nurmans Iqud pom~ity with unusement alld whenever opportunity ~II~ thc) take g reat ple3Slre in pricking the bubble A pompous 1r~1I is often li kened to the dumdcon (in the MalouuJra I(IJJa) with a peJlnyworth of silver round its ned which filled II with vainglory And those who swagger about in the light of Iher peoples achievements arc also described as vultures who

1 11 IIkc golden birds because they arc perching on I golden hill

lIother is the vaingloriou~ extrovert An individual of tbis

t )f the seven crcrturcs the fint is a reptile and dIe rest arc birds They ftmiddot the large crowing lizard or gecko the pied eresu-d cuckoo the 11111 l1Iae spotted OWcI the Ikngll brown fish-owl the Burmese red~

~I ltd ilpwing the common iOfl and the Malay kod bull tokll Nfti Pir Nissayll pp 64- j lhejJlllkll vi pp 17-3

26 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

species is prcpucd to go to any length so long as he can nuke a g rcu impression on adlcr people He is tbe crow in the fable who wears pc2cock fcathers When such a persOIl docs a work of merit such as alms-giving it is Iikdy that he will proclaim from the roof-top that he is the alms-givcr In scdting limdight to S2tisfy his vanity he goes on from pretension to pretension He will live ill a plank house-a dwdlmg that was a sign ofoplllcnce in olden days-while fceding on the dlcapest kind of food namdy roselle leaves1 Vanity goes hand in hand with boastfulshyness and blustering -low often do w e meet a vain peuon whose hig cuk is lacking in weight His boasting and vaullting arc cynically compucd to the booming of a New Ycu s Day CUlllon

Such people arc apt to entertain great expectations and nourish high aspirations without regard to their own worth or ability o r to decorum md propriety The proverbs in the sub-section on Greu Expectltions show these people up as wretched beings trying to reach out for something which is nOt meant for them t hey ~e like a person whose h tld is among the douds crying out for t he moon Their achievements fall far short of their expectations and their further efforts t1SuI Jly end in d iuster lile that of the sparrow which imitated tbe strut of a peacock

The next sub-section on Dopair is a grim warning to those whose aspirations have been frustrltcd In such a plight lta nd driven by despair a man may have recourse to CJ1rellle measures like the Camdas whidl having exhausted all its ideas took to ha iling salt (the occupat ion of the forlorn) Dcsperttion ouy drive a man from had to worse and when he finally r~izc$ that his sicnation cannot deterio rate any further he will in his desperate

I Roselle the lndian sond There are manv varieties but it is the red sorrel that Burmese people nuke = of in tl~cir everyday dishes Doth I~vcs and buds hwe a sour taste

I CaruJtI a mythical bird half mall half bird He is the h ng of birds and die greateSt enemy of the Ntlgtl (scrpcnn) He h usually rep=ntcd as having the head wings blons and beak ofan Qgle alld the body and limbs of a man

HU M AN BEHAVIOUR 27 mood declare I have become a dog and I am not afraid ofexcreshymcnt

Dunnans views on dishonesty and crookedness with thcir concomitant betrayal of trust as seen in the proverbs are most cnliglltcning Honesty is of course the best policy but dishonesty Jhould be forgiven if the end justifies it They bel ieve due fundamental ly 3 man is neither honest nor dishonest it is the Iutstion ofexpediency Veuns moruity that nukes him what he IS After all it is easy to be motl 0 11 pound2000 a ye~ but it is not rlsy to be moral on pound200Dishonesty is therefore m aberration whereas crookedness according to the proverbs 5 a permanent feature which can never be al tered Believers in these provcrbs If course forge t the one saying An error may go on for ever hil t it can he set right in a moment which is somewhat cquivashyI(middotm to Its never toobte to mend These views havc made many it Burman cautiollS He is not (eady to place confidence in his 6ervants o r friends o r in his wife o r even in his children He would quote Mahosadhal the embryo Buddha w ho uid that flnes secret should not be confided to myone 1he secret would be om and one would be betrayed One of the Durmans favourite stories of bctnyal is about a wife offe ring a sword by Ihe handle to the robber (with whom she has faJlell in love) wh ile he was fighting with her husband 1 Such swlaquoping views have led DurllUllS to suspect even their knees

Dishoncsty crookedness and betrayal of trust are no doubt bJd traits ofhuman nature hut ingratitICtc is the worst of all It 11 ten thouS31ld times more lUlbcanb)e than the winccr wind Ilurmllls who insist that he who has had even a glass of water fro m a person mtlst show his gratitude arc shocked to sec an ungrateful film turning 3gainst his beneElctor 11e would itrtainl y liken such a man to a dog an animal of despicable llllure The proverbs in the subsection Once bitten twice shy h lVC been created by men w ho have had bitter experienccs in Iheir lives

1 See the Jatk vi p 192 t Ibid iii pp 14-8

24 H UM A N C H ARACTER I STI CS

WOMEN

Buttrtiling an old boult aaorning an old woman witb flowers [61 Mutton dressed 2S luab

Btauty fix jact hIlt in the body grocf and you cannot tXbalut it [62 Beauty is skin-ltlccp

Sbt bas good looks hut no character [63 bullA (lir woman without virtue is like pallid wine

Famous in history but bouubold affairs art tllgItefa [64

If a woman wruk a country it iJ wdl and truly wrakrd [65

Day will not break for a htns cackle it will brtak only for a cocks crow [66 CfbullA hen docs not usually announce the brclk of day

Chinese proverb

A big wallt iIs undtr tbt boat a big mowltdin its IIIlatr tbt Jut [lt57 Womrll will always be subdued by men

HHlllan Behaviour

In this second section we ~ nuny 11(1 varied sides of hunun hchlViour through the lens presented by these proverbs The

rics of pictures which greets our eyes tends to be wlau ractive llS is deliberate the proverbs serve as a warning and stimulate

I d lection 011 hmllan wcakncss~ Mrn is egoistic sclf-opinionatcd self-willed i-ie adveftiscs him shy

I lr1 ikc the seven shameless creatures which cJ1out their names l

elf-satisfied mall like a rogue SttS in another a fault 35 small n J Scslmum seed but in himsdf he docs not see a fault as big as II laquolConm A self-willed person through obstinacy brings his own 11ntruction upon himself The moral is quite c1eu be selfless

SOUle men arc co mparable to a puffed-up frog and they arc HfUll of tbe kind which bash ill t be feRected glory of others I hese peoplc arc like a yokd employed lS a footman grinning

H I f the royal insignia be has to carry were his own nurmans Iqud pom~ity with unusement alld whenever opportunity ~II~ thc) take g reat ple3Slre in pricking the bubble A pompous 1r~1I is often li kened to the dumdcon (in the MalouuJra I(IJJa) with a peJlnyworth of silver round its ned which filled II with vainglory And those who swagger about in the light of Iher peoples achievements arc also described as vultures who

1 11 IIkc golden birds because they arc perching on I golden hill

lIother is the vaingloriou~ extrovert An individual of tbis

t )f the seven crcrturcs the fint is a reptile and dIe rest arc birds They ftmiddot the large crowing lizard or gecko the pied eresu-d cuckoo the 11111 l1Iae spotted OWcI the Ikngll brown fish-owl the Burmese red~

~I ltd ilpwing the common iOfl and the Malay kod bull tokll Nfti Pir Nissayll pp 64- j lhejJlllkll vi pp 17-3

26 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

species is prcpucd to go to any length so long as he can nuke a g rcu impression on adlcr people He is tbe crow in the fable who wears pc2cock fcathers When such a persOIl docs a work of merit such as alms-giving it is Iikdy that he will proclaim from the roof-top that he is the alms-givcr In scdting limdight to S2tisfy his vanity he goes on from pretension to pretension He will live ill a plank house-a dwdlmg that was a sign ofoplllcnce in olden days-while fceding on the dlcapest kind of food namdy roselle leaves1 Vanity goes hand in hand with boastfulshyness and blustering -low often do w e meet a vain peuon whose hig cuk is lacking in weight His boasting and vaullting arc cynically compucd to the booming of a New Ycu s Day CUlllon

Such people arc apt to entertain great expectations and nourish high aspirations without regard to their own worth or ability o r to decorum md propriety The proverbs in the sub-section on Greu Expectltions show these people up as wretched beings trying to reach out for something which is nOt meant for them t hey ~e like a person whose h tld is among the douds crying out for t he moon Their achievements fall far short of their expectations and their further efforts t1SuI Jly end in d iuster lile that of the sparrow which imitated tbe strut of a peacock

The next sub-section on Dopair is a grim warning to those whose aspirations have been frustrltcd In such a plight lta nd driven by despair a man may have recourse to CJ1rellle measures like the Camdas whidl having exhausted all its ideas took to ha iling salt (the occupat ion of the forlorn) Dcsperttion ouy drive a man from had to worse and when he finally r~izc$ that his sicnation cannot deterio rate any further he will in his desperate

I Roselle the lndian sond There are manv varieties but it is the red sorrel that Burmese people nuke = of in tl~cir everyday dishes Doth I~vcs and buds hwe a sour taste

I CaruJtI a mythical bird half mall half bird He is the h ng of birds and die greateSt enemy of the Ntlgtl (scrpcnn) He h usually rep=ntcd as having the head wings blons and beak ofan Qgle alld the body and limbs of a man

HU M AN BEHAVIOUR 27 mood declare I have become a dog and I am not afraid ofexcreshymcnt

Dunnans views on dishonesty and crookedness with thcir concomitant betrayal of trust as seen in the proverbs are most cnliglltcning Honesty is of course the best policy but dishonesty Jhould be forgiven if the end justifies it They bel ieve due fundamental ly 3 man is neither honest nor dishonest it is the Iutstion ofexpediency Veuns moruity that nukes him what he IS After all it is easy to be motl 0 11 pound2000 a ye~ but it is not rlsy to be moral on pound200Dishonesty is therefore m aberration whereas crookedness according to the proverbs 5 a permanent feature which can never be al tered Believers in these provcrbs If course forge t the one saying An error may go on for ever hil t it can he set right in a moment which is somewhat cquivashyI(middotm to Its never toobte to mend These views havc made many it Burman cautiollS He is not (eady to place confidence in his 6ervants o r friends o r in his wife o r even in his children He would quote Mahosadhal the embryo Buddha w ho uid that flnes secret should not be confided to myone 1he secret would be om and one would be betrayed One of the Durmans favourite stories of bctnyal is about a wife offe ring a sword by Ihe handle to the robber (with whom she has faJlell in love) wh ile he was fighting with her husband 1 Such swlaquoping views have led DurllUllS to suspect even their knees

Dishoncsty crookedness and betrayal of trust are no doubt bJd traits ofhuman nature hut ingratitICtc is the worst of all It 11 ten thouS31ld times more lUlbcanb)e than the winccr wind Ilurmllls who insist that he who has had even a glass of water fro m a person mtlst show his gratitude arc shocked to sec an ungrateful film turning 3gainst his beneElctor 11e would itrtainl y liken such a man to a dog an animal of despicable llllure The proverbs in the subsection Once bitten twice shy h lVC been created by men w ho have had bitter experienccs in Iheir lives

1 See the Jatk vi p 192 t Ibid iii pp 14-8

26 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

species is prcpucd to go to any length so long as he can nuke a g rcu impression on adlcr people He is tbe crow in the fable who wears pc2cock fcathers When such a persOIl docs a work of merit such as alms-giving it is Iikdy that he will proclaim from the roof-top that he is the alms-givcr In scdting limdight to S2tisfy his vanity he goes on from pretension to pretension He will live ill a plank house-a dwdlmg that was a sign ofoplllcnce in olden days-while fceding on the dlcapest kind of food namdy roselle leaves1 Vanity goes hand in hand with boastfulshyness and blustering -low often do w e meet a vain peuon whose hig cuk is lacking in weight His boasting and vaullting arc cynically compucd to the booming of a New Ycu s Day CUlllon

Such people arc apt to entertain great expectations and nourish high aspirations without regard to their own worth or ability o r to decorum md propriety The proverbs in the sub-section on Greu Expectltions show these people up as wretched beings trying to reach out for something which is nOt meant for them t hey ~e like a person whose h tld is among the douds crying out for t he moon Their achievements fall far short of their expectations and their further efforts t1SuI Jly end in d iuster lile that of the sparrow which imitated tbe strut of a peacock

The next sub-section on Dopair is a grim warning to those whose aspirations have been frustrltcd In such a plight lta nd driven by despair a man may have recourse to CJ1rellle measures like the Camdas whidl having exhausted all its ideas took to ha iling salt (the occupat ion of the forlorn) Dcsperttion ouy drive a man from had to worse and when he finally r~izc$ that his sicnation cannot deterio rate any further he will in his desperate

I Roselle the lndian sond There are manv varieties but it is the red sorrel that Burmese people nuke = of in tl~cir everyday dishes Doth I~vcs and buds hwe a sour taste

I CaruJtI a mythical bird half mall half bird He is the h ng of birds and die greateSt enemy of the Ntlgtl (scrpcnn) He h usually rep=ntcd as having the head wings blons and beak ofan Qgle alld the body and limbs of a man

HU M AN BEHAVIOUR 27 mood declare I have become a dog and I am not afraid ofexcreshymcnt

Dunnans views on dishonesty and crookedness with thcir concomitant betrayal of trust as seen in the proverbs are most cnliglltcning Honesty is of course the best policy but dishonesty Jhould be forgiven if the end justifies it They bel ieve due fundamental ly 3 man is neither honest nor dishonest it is the Iutstion ofexpediency Veuns moruity that nukes him what he IS After all it is easy to be motl 0 11 pound2000 a ye~ but it is not rlsy to be moral on pound200Dishonesty is therefore m aberration whereas crookedness according to the proverbs 5 a permanent feature which can never be al tered Believers in these provcrbs If course forge t the one saying An error may go on for ever hil t it can he set right in a moment which is somewhat cquivashyI(middotm to Its never toobte to mend These views havc made many it Burman cautiollS He is not (eady to place confidence in his 6ervants o r friends o r in his wife o r even in his children He would quote Mahosadhal the embryo Buddha w ho uid that flnes secret should not be confided to myone 1he secret would be om and one would be betrayed One of the Durmans favourite stories of bctnyal is about a wife offe ring a sword by Ihe handle to the robber (with whom she has faJlell in love) wh ile he was fighting with her husband 1 Such swlaquoping views have led DurllUllS to suspect even their knees

Dishoncsty crookedness and betrayal of trust are no doubt bJd traits ofhuman nature hut ingratitICtc is the worst of all It 11 ten thouS31ld times more lUlbcanb)e than the winccr wind Ilurmllls who insist that he who has had even a glass of water fro m a person mtlst show his gratitude arc shocked to sec an ungrateful film turning 3gainst his beneElctor 11e would itrtainl y liken such a man to a dog an animal of despicable llllure The proverbs in the subsection Once bitten twice shy h lVC been created by men w ho have had bitter experienccs in Iheir lives

1 See the Jatk vi p 192 t Ibid iii pp 14-8

28 H U MA N BEH AVIOU R

I1uce other kinds of humm weakness are also dQ lt w ith in these proverbs rcwiation tim idity and contempt fo r familiae objects RcWilltion amplIs into twO categories One is revenge in kiud A tooth [or 2 tooth The other is spite Unable to be2t the foreigners he phebct on the Arakanescl To the DUCD~ Duddhists paying blck in oncs own coin is not the answer for if enmity is m et with d imity it will merely prolong the strife I They wiUsay IfI worsted him some other person was bound to worst me Forbearance md even humility arc advocated to overshycome this animal-like reaction which stems from anger and spite

The Burmese language has only one word for both timidity and cowardice The meaning is inferred from the context or sitmtion or from both Dun nam maintain that to fcar is human Fear o r timidity never kills a man but slwne often docs Someshytimes timidity has its own advmtagcs it keeps the timid out of trouble On the other hmd cowudicc is derided A coward is held up to ridicule especially when he tries to keep up appearances by tackling a cbngerous fcat There arc many such proverbs Courage is a different matter A brave man though frightened sd dom runs A faint-hcutcd man miSSCS his d u nccs while a brave one attains g rcaroess A rcally nliant man can rou t ten thousaud soldil~rs 3

Fam iliarity it is said breeds eorncmpt but with the Durmans it docs more than tltis Between a smdcnt and his teacher tOO

1 There u e 110 historial rlaquoOrds of Bum lCSC lf1ncd forces wraking their vengemcc 0 11 the UU 2J1CSC people beawc they h~ been dcfcalld by foreign (orca Prob1bly thisis l reference 10 onc ordie instances when iIl-treltrncnt was meted out to the rlkm= by the Burmcsc when they were cn~~ged in war with the British bctwttn 1814-6

1 cr For not by h~tlCd ~ re hatreds ever qucnched here in this world By love rather lre they quenched This is art etcrn~ l Jaw Dhalllm~ptlda Crmrmcary pI I p 174

This is l reference to the incident in which MahoSoldha the embryo Buddhl ingle-handed scored a victory over d ghtecn illming armies Sec lheJilltV4 vi p w6 and fo llowing

H U MAN B E H A VI O UR 29

long a contact is likely to brccd disrespcct on the part of dle student- he may address his teacber as my dea bro ther between a wife and her husband constant compmionship is apt to produce apathy and between friends familiarity o ften lew to one taking advanuge of the other h therefore creates in the pcople concerned a frame ofmind that is made up ofindiffercncc llIItipathy and contempt Hence the proverb W hen together (two people) squabble when apart they yearn for each other Absence docs make the heart fonder

It may )lot be inappropriate to end this section with some note nil o ld age Dnrrn2lu generally look upon m old nun as physicshyIlly wak and mentally set in ideas although there arc some prightly o ld people who arc more dIan a mateh for m1ny a younger 1113n in active life Intellectually an old mLI is regarded 11 a sym bol of w isdom experience and sound j udgement llIogiel l dlough it may sound there arc mm y proverbs which uy He (an old man) ate rice first and He was born fi rst lIuplying that he is lUore learned and mature Most Bunnan Ituddhists arc well acquainted with the exhoru tion Show 1Spccl to a man who is o lder in age higher ill sa tus and g reater I II ~ch icvements

EGO ISM AND SELf-WILL

If dorml Sri his own ilIjallour blt tbt ilI1avour of otlJrrs maku him want to laugh [68

III allotbas rts but in his own (yr b( U ti no Jirt [69

I If praisrs the pickling oj his oum fish [70 1) blow ones OWll u umpct

Ibt sturn vulgar crtatures who 011l10UIIU tlxir own fl omts [71 See p 2S footnote I

30 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Crows tfard no UI but Ilxir Oilln [72

Said of people who Mve concern only for the interests of their kith 2nd kin

Equatt your Jttings with atlxr proplts alld you WOIIt be ilallnrred [73 00 unto others as you would they should do untO you

Stabbtd by OIltS own device [74 Hoist with his own petard

The tiger who (ourts death nJovtS to allother jungle [75 One is responsible for ones own downfall

He IUOIIlrS his own thigh and bongs it with his dbow 76 To wash dirty linen in public

Olliylbt sJifjrrrr knOIllS bow his btlly aclXI [77 No one knows like me wt3rcr where the shoe pinches

REFLECTED GLORY

amp (mrt Mr Suprrllall is tbert Mr Elltfyman pUIS oul sprollts [78

He brtatbts througb somtont rlsts n(m [79 Dress oncsdf with borrowed plumes

He frans on llx wbitr r1rphant and JIIck mgarone [80

Getting advmtagc out of oncs connection with thc gTeal

Brgging jor ria hy sowing tIN drphant [81

Likr a bamtrlm with a pc wortl of silver round its Huk [82 Sec cxplanltion on p 25 A p~ = 1 1600 vis

REflECTED GLORY 31

Chteb shining buauS ofgold tarrings 183

A parrot is golden on agolden trte sillltr on a sillier trte 184 Hc ukcs his colour from his surroundings

OSTENTATION

To (ommand r(Sped from his neighbours be goes to the GOlltrnmenl Olfict [85 In Burma govcmmcnt officials fOfm an upper class

Ht climbs up the pole of tbt marquee to sJ)OW bis ainu gllllg [86

Mr GoOnrBtttu posturing with a )arp without bring abit to play it [87 An impostor

JIt lillts in a plank bouS bllt tats rortUe [88 See cxplanation on p 26

TINgolden mOn4sttry is shining but lbt stoffacb is tHlpty [89 cr Splendid without but empty within ntai provcrb

Applied to people who live ostentatiously

A New Years Day (annan which has no sbd l [90 Blank lmmuninon is fired to annOUllce the beginning of the

Burmese new ycar-often applied 10 a hollow threl l or boast

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

I IJ( beif knrc boll obi it bas no r(gard for fix (Uypots [91 Said of one who mucs an impudcm proposal or ainu lbovc

his station

32 HUMAN BEH A VI OU R

A cotiOIl dflU wants to bt put olotltfiM a silk alit [92 Said ofl person crying to cbim clue someone above him in s~nu is his cqu21

Wtarlg a blur (olton ikin sIN [Tiu to reach Tawilshydeintha [93 Tawadcintha is the second of the six celestial 2hodcs

Ht jilts in fbi husbts but his spirit is in tbt bttvtlls [94 Standing in the gutter IJld looking at the stars

Ht stretcb(s fro m a log towards tbeflower he (atlllot Ttach [95 Often applied to a man who aspires to the h3Jld of a 12dy

above his sUtion

Sparrows who tlnlllatt prtlcoks art likrly ttl brtak a tbigb [96 A wmung to ordinary people not to be tOO ambitious

With a pi of siv ht bids for a slrinl of ps [97

Hi aimrJ at a prinuss and married a bazaar moman [98 He falb far short of his gr~t cxpcctitioJls

Said to hr marrying a oplain slJt manrJ a soHoT [99

If YO II lolu big pactS you [ ttllle b~ spaces [100 Dont lim tOO high lest you cannOt achieve it

A slVollrn jtra an bring Tuin [101

DESPAIR

Whrn tbt Gn rucht bad txhalsud bis jdtas bt boiltd salt [102

He did This as allSt rcroft since extracting salt by evaporating brine is the most laborious and unskilled way of earning a living On Canida see p 26 foo tnote 2

DE SP AIR 33

if you haVt no idrasjoin tlx Forces if you hallt no ju boil bms [103 No s1cill or u1cnt is involved

101 a stetion of gare you smtll ofgarljc Eat two swions 111 nnrll tlx samt [104

bullAs well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb

I I broktn fortbtad cannot bt worst [lOS Things callnOt be worse

Snltont with ringwormfears no j rrcklts [106

[ 111011 Ilirned pig no mort Jears filth [107

T he plight of a desperate person

I FlJat is darkrr than midniglJt [108

HO NE STY AND CROOKEDNESS

I f ull gut IllPPOTts 1II0ral prtcfpts [ 109

An empty sack cumOt stand upright

Imply pockfts tmpty promists [TIO

Ir Jisbontst starllr tbe xmrsl ral Ibfir fill [II I i loncsty is the best policy

INs blll(ck IJas rscaprJ bcjore [ 11 2

It will do it again

Is likr thrtading a dogs crooud tail Ihrough a )oml oj Immooo [11 3

Once a crook always a crook

34 HUMAN BEH AVIOUR

BETRAYAL AND TRUST

Magsols com oul of lbe fiub Save me from my friends

My witnuI ttrtfiu 01 bis behalf Offering a swordhilt fa a thief

A traitor in the camp See explanation on p 27

D Olft rust your Itller trond yoursrlf

[114

[III

[1I6

[II Trust no one

Trusf a siatlt you lou an eyr trust your hilJrtH yOI loIt holh [118

A bttrared trust is a mortal tbrust [Il9 It is olles trusted friend who docs ie

Tix blow on your back revrals tbe bandit [120 Ktrping a viptf in yOlr llJoisl-pockrf [121

INGRATITUDE

Taking shtlur in tlx shadr brroking off tlx brancbts [122

It slups on ItatINr and gnaws fix rdges [123 To bite the hand that feeds it

avuturning tbt piotr afttr fudingfrom it [124

Tbt monkey that 1brought lip tries to scare If [125

He 10Ys balf a lim for the food he has rottll during a lijrtimr [126 Applied to a person who shows his gratitude in a very mean

way

IN GRA TITUDE 3l

If you stand Q thin bullock on its Jeet it will butt YOlf 1127 It show ofingf2titudc to ones rescuer

Turn away and Ix throws a stone [128

RUCflf not a twolegged being lor try to rttrevf a kinls drifting boot [129 You nuy get into t[Quble for your pains By two-legged

being is meant man

All ngratiful ptrson loses his way [1 30

CAUTION

TIJr sparrow was hit by a slOHe btjore I31

The burnt child dreads the firc

lIe you have died you know bow 10 lay out (the corpse) [J 32 Experience is tbe mother of wisdom

RETALIATION AND FORBEARANCE

a break lbe pot I break Ibt bowl [Ill

Tic for tat

YOII bitt my cbrek 1 bite YOllr ear [134

A mOlfst bas eaUn Illy iron bllt a hawk Ixu orrild away YOllr son [1 3l A villager dcpositca five hundred ploughshares with a friend

in the town When he Qme to claim them he was told that they had bee1 eaten by mice Sometime bter the villager took his friends son to bathc bid him in a house 2nd reportcd to thc toWllsman that the boy had been carried off by a hawk Sec the jaroko ii pp 127-9

36 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Unable to bial Ibt Indians he pilchis on Ibt Arakanue [136 See cxplmation on p 28

Srtingfirt to liN granary bUllu$( one Wlnot biat Ibt miu [137 Burn ones house to get rid of the mice

Throwing sad at Ibt meal be cannot tal [1 38 He that cannot make spon should mar none

He will be ruined wbo trier to ruin OfX fS [139

Enmity slwulJ not bt (epaid witb enmity [140 See explanation on p 28

ut tlltnity stop short but 10ve linger on [141

He who Jttks rifuge undtr II IfU may be cmrbrd raftr to taNe rrfugt ImdeT II man [142shyMen are kinder than the 1l3turu forces

TIMIDITY AND COWARDICE

Nervolls II tiger loughs II tIIan shouts aloud [143 Timidity rtlievti one of Ttsponsibility [ 144

One diu oj shame bllt not offear [145 Cltnching bisfist IInder cover oj his nether garment [146

Sec explanatory notc on nether g3rment p 17

Tbr hero appears only when thr liga is drad [147

Only whtn tlx thitf has run away do the tattoo spots shoUl ti)er power [148 Some Burmans believe that tattOO marks have magical

power over enemy attack

TI MIDITY AND COWARDICE 37

lit would like to rib a difficult buffalo but hasnt enough (ourage [r49

TIN black eiepJxJllt dare not look at the rOYdl white ( ftphdnts fau [ISO

People oflow origin have not the courage to mix with those in high position

Faint heart mines tlx clJanu bravery wins a throne [15 1 Wlt heart never won fair lady

COURAGE

OUt can hut faIl to earth or rise to the golden umbrella II52

Nothing venture nothing win Earth signifies death and the golden umbrella kingship

I~ bra da dir or if Ibty d avid btU [153 Cowards die often ltIt is fear not death that slays

IItbougb (owardly bt slow to t1111 [154

I Samari will not allow tIN loiS oj a hair [ ISS Smnari Pai (Ilmarll the Yak or Tibetan ox is portrlyed in

Burmese literlture as ~ animal whieh would nlthcr lay down iulife than lose one hair from its tail

I )lIt (apable man and aforce oj 1m thousand was (tllsbtd I 56 Sec explanatory notc on p 28

FAMILIARITY AND CONTEMPT

YII dupise the master after a fong time at school [1 57 Fllniliamprity breeds contempt

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

30 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Crows tfard no UI but Ilxir Oilln [72

Said of people who Mve concern only for the interests of their kith 2nd kin

Equatt your Jttings with atlxr proplts alld you WOIIt be ilallnrred [73 00 unto others as you would they should do untO you

Stabbtd by OIltS own device [74 Hoist with his own petard

The tiger who (ourts death nJovtS to allother jungle [75 One is responsible for ones own downfall

He IUOIIlrS his own thigh and bongs it with his dbow 76 To wash dirty linen in public

Olliylbt sJifjrrrr knOIllS bow his btlly aclXI [77 No one knows like me wt3rcr where the shoe pinches

REFLECTED GLORY

amp (mrt Mr Suprrllall is tbert Mr Elltfyman pUIS oul sprollts [78

He brtatbts througb somtont rlsts n(m [79 Dress oncsdf with borrowed plumes

He frans on llx wbitr r1rphant and JIIck mgarone [80

Getting advmtagc out of oncs connection with thc gTeal

Brgging jor ria hy sowing tIN drphant [81

Likr a bamtrlm with a pc wortl of silver round its Huk [82 Sec cxplanltion on p 25 A p~ = 1 1600 vis

REflECTED GLORY 31

Chteb shining buauS ofgold tarrings 183

A parrot is golden on agolden trte sillltr on a sillier trte 184 Hc ukcs his colour from his surroundings

OSTENTATION

To (ommand r(Sped from his neighbours be goes to the GOlltrnmenl Olfict [85 In Burma govcmmcnt officials fOfm an upper class

Ht climbs up the pole of tbt marquee to sJ)OW bis ainu gllllg [86

Mr GoOnrBtttu posturing with a )arp without bring abit to play it [87 An impostor

JIt lillts in a plank bouS bllt tats rortUe [88 See cxplanation on p 26

TINgolden mOn4sttry is shining but lbt stoffacb is tHlpty [89 cr Splendid without but empty within ntai provcrb

Applied to people who live ostentatiously

A New Years Day (annan which has no sbd l [90 Blank lmmuninon is fired to annOUllce the beginning of the

Burmese new ycar-often applied 10 a hollow threl l or boast

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

I IJ( beif knrc boll obi it bas no r(gard for fix (Uypots [91 Said of one who mucs an impudcm proposal or ainu lbovc

his station

32 HUMAN BEH A VI OU R

A cotiOIl dflU wants to bt put olotltfiM a silk alit [92 Said ofl person crying to cbim clue someone above him in s~nu is his cqu21

Wtarlg a blur (olton ikin sIN [Tiu to reach Tawilshydeintha [93 Tawadcintha is the second of the six celestial 2hodcs

Ht jilts in fbi husbts but his spirit is in tbt bttvtlls [94 Standing in the gutter IJld looking at the stars

Ht stretcb(s fro m a log towards tbeflower he (atlllot Ttach [95 Often applied to a man who aspires to the h3Jld of a 12dy

above his sUtion

Sparrows who tlnlllatt prtlcoks art likrly ttl brtak a tbigb [96 A wmung to ordinary people not to be tOO ambitious

With a pi of siv ht bids for a slrinl of ps [97

Hi aimrJ at a prinuss and married a bazaar moman [98 He falb far short of his gr~t cxpcctitioJls

Said to hr marrying a oplain slJt manrJ a soHoT [99

If YO II lolu big pactS you [ ttllle b~ spaces [100 Dont lim tOO high lest you cannOt achieve it

A slVollrn jtra an bring Tuin [101

DESPAIR

Whrn tbt Gn rucht bad txhalsud bis jdtas bt boiltd salt [102

He did This as allSt rcroft since extracting salt by evaporating brine is the most laborious and unskilled way of earning a living On Canida see p 26 foo tnote 2

DE SP AIR 33

if you haVt no idrasjoin tlx Forces if you hallt no ju boil bms [103 No s1cill or u1cnt is involved

101 a stetion of gare you smtll ofgarljc Eat two swions 111 nnrll tlx samt [104

bullAs well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb

I I broktn fortbtad cannot bt worst [lOS Things callnOt be worse

Snltont with ringwormfears no j rrcklts [106

[ 111011 Ilirned pig no mort Jears filth [107

T he plight of a desperate person

I FlJat is darkrr than midniglJt [108

HO NE STY AND CROOKEDNESS

I f ull gut IllPPOTts 1II0ral prtcfpts [ 109

An empty sack cumOt stand upright

Imply pockfts tmpty promists [TIO

Ir Jisbontst starllr tbe xmrsl ral Ibfir fill [II I i loncsty is the best policy

INs blll(ck IJas rscaprJ bcjore [ 11 2

It will do it again

Is likr thrtading a dogs crooud tail Ihrough a )oml oj Immooo [11 3

Once a crook always a crook

34 HUMAN BEH AVIOUR

BETRAYAL AND TRUST

Magsols com oul of lbe fiub Save me from my friends

My witnuI ttrtfiu 01 bis behalf Offering a swordhilt fa a thief

A traitor in the camp See explanation on p 27

D Olft rust your Itller trond yoursrlf

[114

[III

[1I6

[II Trust no one

Trusf a siatlt you lou an eyr trust your hilJrtH yOI loIt holh [118

A bttrared trust is a mortal tbrust [Il9 It is olles trusted friend who docs ie

Tix blow on your back revrals tbe bandit [120 Ktrping a viptf in yOlr llJoisl-pockrf [121

INGRATITUDE

Taking shtlur in tlx shadr brroking off tlx brancbts [122

It slups on ItatINr and gnaws fix rdges [123 To bite the hand that feeds it

avuturning tbt piotr afttr fudingfrom it [124

Tbt monkey that 1brought lip tries to scare If [125

He 10Ys balf a lim for the food he has rottll during a lijrtimr [126 Applied to a person who shows his gratitude in a very mean

way

IN GRA TITUDE 3l

If you stand Q thin bullock on its Jeet it will butt YOlf 1127 It show ofingf2titudc to ones rescuer

Turn away and Ix throws a stone [128

RUCflf not a twolegged being lor try to rttrevf a kinls drifting boot [129 You nuy get into t[Quble for your pains By two-legged

being is meant man

All ngratiful ptrson loses his way [1 30

CAUTION

TIJr sparrow was hit by a slOHe btjore I31

The burnt child dreads the firc

lIe you have died you know bow 10 lay out (the corpse) [J 32 Experience is tbe mother of wisdom

RETALIATION AND FORBEARANCE

a break lbe pot I break Ibt bowl [Ill

Tic for tat

YOII bitt my cbrek 1 bite YOllr ear [134

A mOlfst bas eaUn Illy iron bllt a hawk Ixu orrild away YOllr son [1 3l A villager dcpositca five hundred ploughshares with a friend

in the town When he Qme to claim them he was told that they had bee1 eaten by mice Sometime bter the villager took his friends son to bathc bid him in a house 2nd reportcd to thc toWllsman that the boy had been carried off by a hawk Sec the jaroko ii pp 127-9

36 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Unable to bial Ibt Indians he pilchis on Ibt Arakanue [136 See cxplmation on p 28

Srtingfirt to liN granary bUllu$( one Wlnot biat Ibt miu [137 Burn ones house to get rid of the mice

Throwing sad at Ibt meal be cannot tal [1 38 He that cannot make spon should mar none

He will be ruined wbo trier to ruin OfX fS [139

Enmity slwulJ not bt (epaid witb enmity [140 See explanation on p 28

ut tlltnity stop short but 10ve linger on [141

He who Jttks rifuge undtr II IfU may be cmrbrd raftr to taNe rrfugt ImdeT II man [142shyMen are kinder than the 1l3turu forces

TIMIDITY AND COWARDICE

Nervolls II tiger loughs II tIIan shouts aloud [143 Timidity rtlievti one of Ttsponsibility [ 144

One diu oj shame bllt not offear [145 Cltnching bisfist IInder cover oj his nether garment [146

Sec explanatory notc on nether g3rment p 17

Tbr hero appears only when thr liga is drad [147

Only whtn tlx thitf has run away do the tattoo spots shoUl ti)er power [148 Some Burmans believe that tattOO marks have magical

power over enemy attack

TI MIDITY AND COWARDICE 37

lit would like to rib a difficult buffalo but hasnt enough (ourage [r49

TIN black eiepJxJllt dare not look at the rOYdl white ( ftphdnts fau [ISO

People oflow origin have not the courage to mix with those in high position

Faint heart mines tlx clJanu bravery wins a throne [15 1 Wlt heart never won fair lady

COURAGE

OUt can hut faIl to earth or rise to the golden umbrella II52

Nothing venture nothing win Earth signifies death and the golden umbrella kingship

I~ bra da dir or if Ibty d avid btU [153 Cowards die often ltIt is fear not death that slays

IItbougb (owardly bt slow to t1111 [154

I Samari will not allow tIN loiS oj a hair [ ISS Smnari Pai (Ilmarll the Yak or Tibetan ox is portrlyed in

Burmese literlture as ~ animal whieh would nlthcr lay down iulife than lose one hair from its tail

I )lIt (apable man and aforce oj 1m thousand was (tllsbtd I 56 Sec explanatory notc on p 28

FAMILIARITY AND CONTEMPT

YII dupise the master after a fong time at school [1 57 Fllniliamprity breeds contempt

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

32 HUMAN BEH A VI OU R

A cotiOIl dflU wants to bt put olotltfiM a silk alit [92 Said ofl person crying to cbim clue someone above him in s~nu is his cqu21

Wtarlg a blur (olton ikin sIN [Tiu to reach Tawilshydeintha [93 Tawadcintha is the second of the six celestial 2hodcs

Ht jilts in fbi husbts but his spirit is in tbt bttvtlls [94 Standing in the gutter IJld looking at the stars

Ht stretcb(s fro m a log towards tbeflower he (atlllot Ttach [95 Often applied to a man who aspires to the h3Jld of a 12dy

above his sUtion

Sparrows who tlnlllatt prtlcoks art likrly ttl brtak a tbigb [96 A wmung to ordinary people not to be tOO ambitious

With a pi of siv ht bids for a slrinl of ps [97

Hi aimrJ at a prinuss and married a bazaar moman [98 He falb far short of his gr~t cxpcctitioJls

Said to hr marrying a oplain slJt manrJ a soHoT [99

If YO II lolu big pactS you [ ttllle b~ spaces [100 Dont lim tOO high lest you cannOt achieve it

A slVollrn jtra an bring Tuin [101

DESPAIR

Whrn tbt Gn rucht bad txhalsud bis jdtas bt boiltd salt [102

He did This as allSt rcroft since extracting salt by evaporating brine is the most laborious and unskilled way of earning a living On Canida see p 26 foo tnote 2

DE SP AIR 33

if you haVt no idrasjoin tlx Forces if you hallt no ju boil bms [103 No s1cill or u1cnt is involved

101 a stetion of gare you smtll ofgarljc Eat two swions 111 nnrll tlx samt [104

bullAs well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb

I I broktn fortbtad cannot bt worst [lOS Things callnOt be worse

Snltont with ringwormfears no j rrcklts [106

[ 111011 Ilirned pig no mort Jears filth [107

T he plight of a desperate person

I FlJat is darkrr than midniglJt [108

HO NE STY AND CROOKEDNESS

I f ull gut IllPPOTts 1II0ral prtcfpts [ 109

An empty sack cumOt stand upright

Imply pockfts tmpty promists [TIO

Ir Jisbontst starllr tbe xmrsl ral Ibfir fill [II I i loncsty is the best policy

INs blll(ck IJas rscaprJ bcjore [ 11 2

It will do it again

Is likr thrtading a dogs crooud tail Ihrough a )oml oj Immooo [11 3

Once a crook always a crook

34 HUMAN BEH AVIOUR

BETRAYAL AND TRUST

Magsols com oul of lbe fiub Save me from my friends

My witnuI ttrtfiu 01 bis behalf Offering a swordhilt fa a thief

A traitor in the camp See explanation on p 27

D Olft rust your Itller trond yoursrlf

[114

[III

[1I6

[II Trust no one

Trusf a siatlt you lou an eyr trust your hilJrtH yOI loIt holh [118

A bttrared trust is a mortal tbrust [Il9 It is olles trusted friend who docs ie

Tix blow on your back revrals tbe bandit [120 Ktrping a viptf in yOlr llJoisl-pockrf [121

INGRATITUDE

Taking shtlur in tlx shadr brroking off tlx brancbts [122

It slups on ItatINr and gnaws fix rdges [123 To bite the hand that feeds it

avuturning tbt piotr afttr fudingfrom it [124

Tbt monkey that 1brought lip tries to scare If [125

He 10Ys balf a lim for the food he has rottll during a lijrtimr [126 Applied to a person who shows his gratitude in a very mean

way

IN GRA TITUDE 3l

If you stand Q thin bullock on its Jeet it will butt YOlf 1127 It show ofingf2titudc to ones rescuer

Turn away and Ix throws a stone [128

RUCflf not a twolegged being lor try to rttrevf a kinls drifting boot [129 You nuy get into t[Quble for your pains By two-legged

being is meant man

All ngratiful ptrson loses his way [1 30

CAUTION

TIJr sparrow was hit by a slOHe btjore I31

The burnt child dreads the firc

lIe you have died you know bow 10 lay out (the corpse) [J 32 Experience is tbe mother of wisdom

RETALIATION AND FORBEARANCE

a break lbe pot I break Ibt bowl [Ill

Tic for tat

YOII bitt my cbrek 1 bite YOllr ear [134

A mOlfst bas eaUn Illy iron bllt a hawk Ixu orrild away YOllr son [1 3l A villager dcpositca five hundred ploughshares with a friend

in the town When he Qme to claim them he was told that they had bee1 eaten by mice Sometime bter the villager took his friends son to bathc bid him in a house 2nd reportcd to thc toWllsman that the boy had been carried off by a hawk Sec the jaroko ii pp 127-9

36 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Unable to bial Ibt Indians he pilchis on Ibt Arakanue [136 See cxplmation on p 28

Srtingfirt to liN granary bUllu$( one Wlnot biat Ibt miu [137 Burn ones house to get rid of the mice

Throwing sad at Ibt meal be cannot tal [1 38 He that cannot make spon should mar none

He will be ruined wbo trier to ruin OfX fS [139

Enmity slwulJ not bt (epaid witb enmity [140 See explanation on p 28

ut tlltnity stop short but 10ve linger on [141

He who Jttks rifuge undtr II IfU may be cmrbrd raftr to taNe rrfugt ImdeT II man [142shyMen are kinder than the 1l3turu forces

TIMIDITY AND COWARDICE

Nervolls II tiger loughs II tIIan shouts aloud [143 Timidity rtlievti one of Ttsponsibility [ 144

One diu oj shame bllt not offear [145 Cltnching bisfist IInder cover oj his nether garment [146

Sec explanatory notc on nether g3rment p 17

Tbr hero appears only when thr liga is drad [147

Only whtn tlx thitf has run away do the tattoo spots shoUl ti)er power [148 Some Burmans believe that tattOO marks have magical

power over enemy attack

TI MIDITY AND COWARDICE 37

lit would like to rib a difficult buffalo but hasnt enough (ourage [r49

TIN black eiepJxJllt dare not look at the rOYdl white ( ftphdnts fau [ISO

People oflow origin have not the courage to mix with those in high position

Faint heart mines tlx clJanu bravery wins a throne [15 1 Wlt heart never won fair lady

COURAGE

OUt can hut faIl to earth or rise to the golden umbrella II52

Nothing venture nothing win Earth signifies death and the golden umbrella kingship

I~ bra da dir or if Ibty d avid btU [153 Cowards die often ltIt is fear not death that slays

IItbougb (owardly bt slow to t1111 [154

I Samari will not allow tIN loiS oj a hair [ ISS Smnari Pai (Ilmarll the Yak or Tibetan ox is portrlyed in

Burmese literlture as ~ animal whieh would nlthcr lay down iulife than lose one hair from its tail

I )lIt (apable man and aforce oj 1m thousand was (tllsbtd I 56 Sec explanatory notc on p 28

FAMILIARITY AND CONTEMPT

YII dupise the master after a fong time at school [1 57 Fllniliamprity breeds contempt

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

34 HUMAN BEH AVIOUR

BETRAYAL AND TRUST

Magsols com oul of lbe fiub Save me from my friends

My witnuI ttrtfiu 01 bis behalf Offering a swordhilt fa a thief

A traitor in the camp See explanation on p 27

D Olft rust your Itller trond yoursrlf

[114

[III

[1I6

[II Trust no one

Trusf a siatlt you lou an eyr trust your hilJrtH yOI loIt holh [118

A bttrared trust is a mortal tbrust [Il9 It is olles trusted friend who docs ie

Tix blow on your back revrals tbe bandit [120 Ktrping a viptf in yOlr llJoisl-pockrf [121

INGRATITUDE

Taking shtlur in tlx shadr brroking off tlx brancbts [122

It slups on ItatINr and gnaws fix rdges [123 To bite the hand that feeds it

avuturning tbt piotr afttr fudingfrom it [124

Tbt monkey that 1brought lip tries to scare If [125

He 10Ys balf a lim for the food he has rottll during a lijrtimr [126 Applied to a person who shows his gratitude in a very mean

way

IN GRA TITUDE 3l

If you stand Q thin bullock on its Jeet it will butt YOlf 1127 It show ofingf2titudc to ones rescuer

Turn away and Ix throws a stone [128

RUCflf not a twolegged being lor try to rttrevf a kinls drifting boot [129 You nuy get into t[Quble for your pains By two-legged

being is meant man

All ngratiful ptrson loses his way [1 30

CAUTION

TIJr sparrow was hit by a slOHe btjore I31

The burnt child dreads the firc

lIe you have died you know bow 10 lay out (the corpse) [J 32 Experience is tbe mother of wisdom

RETALIATION AND FORBEARANCE

a break lbe pot I break Ibt bowl [Ill

Tic for tat

YOII bitt my cbrek 1 bite YOllr ear [134

A mOlfst bas eaUn Illy iron bllt a hawk Ixu orrild away YOllr son [1 3l A villager dcpositca five hundred ploughshares with a friend

in the town When he Qme to claim them he was told that they had bee1 eaten by mice Sometime bter the villager took his friends son to bathc bid him in a house 2nd reportcd to thc toWllsman that the boy had been carried off by a hawk Sec the jaroko ii pp 127-9

36 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Unable to bial Ibt Indians he pilchis on Ibt Arakanue [136 See cxplmation on p 28

Srtingfirt to liN granary bUllu$( one Wlnot biat Ibt miu [137 Burn ones house to get rid of the mice

Throwing sad at Ibt meal be cannot tal [1 38 He that cannot make spon should mar none

He will be ruined wbo trier to ruin OfX fS [139

Enmity slwulJ not bt (epaid witb enmity [140 See explanation on p 28

ut tlltnity stop short but 10ve linger on [141

He who Jttks rifuge undtr II IfU may be cmrbrd raftr to taNe rrfugt ImdeT II man [142shyMen are kinder than the 1l3turu forces

TIMIDITY AND COWARDICE

Nervolls II tiger loughs II tIIan shouts aloud [143 Timidity rtlievti one of Ttsponsibility [ 144

One diu oj shame bllt not offear [145 Cltnching bisfist IInder cover oj his nether garment [146

Sec explanatory notc on nether g3rment p 17

Tbr hero appears only when thr liga is drad [147

Only whtn tlx thitf has run away do the tattoo spots shoUl ti)er power [148 Some Burmans believe that tattOO marks have magical

power over enemy attack

TI MIDITY AND COWARDICE 37

lit would like to rib a difficult buffalo but hasnt enough (ourage [r49

TIN black eiepJxJllt dare not look at the rOYdl white ( ftphdnts fau [ISO

People oflow origin have not the courage to mix with those in high position

Faint heart mines tlx clJanu bravery wins a throne [15 1 Wlt heart never won fair lady

COURAGE

OUt can hut faIl to earth or rise to the golden umbrella II52

Nothing venture nothing win Earth signifies death and the golden umbrella kingship

I~ bra da dir or if Ibty d avid btU [153 Cowards die often ltIt is fear not death that slays

IItbougb (owardly bt slow to t1111 [154

I Samari will not allow tIN loiS oj a hair [ ISS Smnari Pai (Ilmarll the Yak or Tibetan ox is portrlyed in

Burmese literlture as ~ animal whieh would nlthcr lay down iulife than lose one hair from its tail

I )lIt (apable man and aforce oj 1m thousand was (tllsbtd I 56 Sec explanatory notc on p 28

FAMILIARITY AND CONTEMPT

YII dupise the master after a fong time at school [1 57 Fllniliamprity breeds contempt

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

36 HUMAN BEHAVIOUR

Unable to bial Ibt Indians he pilchis on Ibt Arakanue [136 See cxplmation on p 28

Srtingfirt to liN granary bUllu$( one Wlnot biat Ibt miu [137 Burn ones house to get rid of the mice

Throwing sad at Ibt meal be cannot tal [1 38 He that cannot make spon should mar none

He will be ruined wbo trier to ruin OfX fS [139

Enmity slwulJ not bt (epaid witb enmity [140 See explanation on p 28

ut tlltnity stop short but 10ve linger on [141

He who Jttks rifuge undtr II IfU may be cmrbrd raftr to taNe rrfugt ImdeT II man [142shyMen are kinder than the 1l3turu forces

TIMIDITY AND COWARDICE

Nervolls II tiger loughs II tIIan shouts aloud [143 Timidity rtlievti one of Ttsponsibility [ 144

One diu oj shame bllt not offear [145 Cltnching bisfist IInder cover oj his nether garment [146

Sec explanatory notc on nether g3rment p 17

Tbr hero appears only when thr liga is drad [147

Only whtn tlx thitf has run away do the tattoo spots shoUl ti)er power [148 Some Burmans believe that tattOO marks have magical

power over enemy attack

TI MIDITY AND COWARDICE 37

lit would like to rib a difficult buffalo but hasnt enough (ourage [r49

TIN black eiepJxJllt dare not look at the rOYdl white ( ftphdnts fau [ISO

People oflow origin have not the courage to mix with those in high position

Faint heart mines tlx clJanu bravery wins a throne [15 1 Wlt heart never won fair lady

COURAGE

OUt can hut faIl to earth or rise to the golden umbrella II52

Nothing venture nothing win Earth signifies death and the golden umbrella kingship

I~ bra da dir or if Ibty d avid btU [153 Cowards die often ltIt is fear not death that slays

IItbougb (owardly bt slow to t1111 [154

I Samari will not allow tIN loiS oj a hair [ ISS Smnari Pai (Ilmarll the Yak or Tibetan ox is portrlyed in

Burmese literlture as ~ animal whieh would nlthcr lay down iulife than lose one hair from its tail

I )lIt (apable man and aforce oj 1m thousand was (tllsbtd I 56 Sec explanatory notc on p 28

FAMILIARITY AND CONTEMPT

YII dupise the master after a fong time at school [1 57 Fllniliamprity breeds contempt

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

38 HUM A N BEH A V i OUR

Broadcast a psalm it becomes Q popular song [ 158

Tht man from btll is not ajraiJ of bot tubu [ 159

A villagt ox aMI not fitd on vilagt grass [160 The grass is grccn on the other side of the fence

Fisbtrmtn ignore fix cro(odir [16 1

Stt it OiUH it looks smaller snIll it ottn it losrs its u tnl [162

Mtn ignort a barking dog [ 163 C( Barking dogs sddom bite

If yorl kllow tIN fo u dont buy j shpaste [164 Don t do business with your friends

AGEING

Aliu ((OSt to f tor fix cat when six is too olJ [165

An old dog cannot bt IQugbt to sit up [166 You cant teach an old dog ncw tricks

TIN s(rongtst yeung bull)cc s only as strong QS an old buIock wilh a brokm g [16J

Old buIoeks ate partial 0 laquonatrgrass [168 Sajd of old men who ar c fond of YOlUlg womrn

Let br doclor old and Ibr LIwyrr young [1 6g

An old physiCian and I ymmg lawyer

Human Relationships

T he proverbs in t his section give an insight into situations that Jl)ay nisc between friends relations lovers husbands uld wives and tC3chcrs and their pupils

The two terms mon COllUll0 nly used to describe friendship in Hurm(sc a TC comrade and al1y md companion since youth The t ic between friends is very st rong indeed friends travel in IhI Amc boat they share the same happiness and sorrows and d uy go through thick and thin together Friendship calls for unCicc and fai thfuln ess Those who do nOt conform to these l(q l1 ircmcnrs lfC ampif-weather friends The proverbs arc very hJu h about such fl sc friends Genuine friendship say the Ireverbs Usa demands ffill tual respect sllch as exists between the nw and the crow-phclS3ncl as well 2 $ undcrsWlding md ( Ir rltion for 3 man has many moods

Advice in DUI1llcsc dicbctic poems on t he choice offriends wd hnw to (leal w ith them is nOt SQCcclJurll1C$C parents are a1Wlys rr minding their children of t he type of person to befriend since ~nllJldcsirlble companion can being disrepute to his circle or even t tl IllS comnllUlity The oonbgiousness of bad habits is al so tltssed in proverbs of which the oldest is PI2llt a Khwc-dllUk (Hmer fruit) tree ncar l sweet mango and the mango will ceeshytAutl y lose its flavour Once a friend is found to be false or lUlshyImiddot)iublc 3 Durman is often told not to break off the friendship ~ one breaks off a growing braneh oe a bamboo bm to do it ~rndy

I Crow-pheasant is as its n mc denote a bird which combines the bullhJueteri ~tiCj of a crow and of a phclSltInt Its flight is rem~tbbly slow 11 i seldom far from water It has a distinctive dull booming Cltlll fro m luth it derives its Burmese name bolt Uumlese peopk Sly thu it lifts u voice only when the tide is wMling Sec Birds of Bu rma pp 274-5middot

IIP- D 39

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

HUMAN RELAT I ONS IlI PS40 As with friends so t here arc good relations and bad rclations

fOT the self-seeking relative chere is a saying He trics to estabshylish relationship with a person only w hen the person has goldl The good oncs arc however always ready to come in t ime o f emergency to the aid of their own kith md kin Burmese Buddhists arc awltc of one of the thirty-eight principles of Buddhism Render n sistance to your relativcs And there is no doubt that a tOO literal application of this excellent principle without due rcglud to equity and justice ofccn lerds in Burma to nepotism All through recorded history many woltby and influential Burmans have put this tenet into practicc and it is not rare even today to find a well-to-do Burman supporting l

ho useful of ncar and diuant rdatives H e is a t ree which affords shelter to many travellers

The proverbs on reb tions between the sexe tend to be full of cynicism In the East w hcre social contacts between men and women have not been as fr cc md easy Sthey arc in the W est the spectacle of frequent m eetings between a young man and a girl is likely to Cluse a Rutter in the cirdes within which they move and g ivC5 rise to comments such as Theyre no saints or remarks that slich cont~cts are bound to end in all Uitir or a nurri~ge since the tip of the tongue CllUlot contain itself when sour fruit and ~lt arc placed together Mmy couples therefore follow the proverb Let tbe people know but do not let them set

and have SlXlct rendezvous espccitlly at night M arried life is accepted by Bunnans ~s l bw of tlIture with

wbjch they mmt comply O ld hachelon and spinsters arc eyed with mixed feelings of pity and suspicion Parents fcLr that a daughter of theirs who defies this law of mture not fruiting when it is time to fruit and blossoming w hen it is t ime to blossom may have to pound1ce the consequences she may be left Oil

1The Burmese expression for relative is HSW(-IIJYo (relative-kind) Here there is a pWl on the worw Il1we--myo ~nd sJwe-myo (gold-kind)

J The sight of sour fruit and salt is sure to make a Burlllans mouth water

HUMAN RELATION S HIP S 41

Ihr shelf o r be led astoy or land in an i1J-l1l~tchcd Wilon MII rilges arc of two kinds Some collle about through young luple Failing in love often without the knowledge of their Irents in such cases tbe two lovers would either be married With t he p2ftllts blessing Of if the pareJi ts refused to g ive their I Il SCIl t e1opeUld set l ip a home as husband and wife The other 111lJ is 2ffanged by the older geller-uion Man y BUIInallS believe Ih1a nurriage is brought about bccausc of thl brow-writing1 lwy maintain du[ a person who has the w ritin g on his or ber bww wi ll m arry [be destined person l1ld t hat those who do no t luve the w ri ting will remain wlillarricd

I laving gone so far as t o state rhlt lIllrriages arc tn~de by hrow-writin g the proverbs proceed to explain so me of the IrIOn5 fo r seemingly ill-matched or wllsual un ions and for the I Uf~k-up of marriages A pcrsonlblc man chooses a plain J ane ~ 1m wi fe because he sees in hef ccrt~il1 annetive cUlts Beauty 11 111 t he eye of the bcholda if a Shan trader likes a bullock it is ~mxl-looki ng ulimaI W ith a couple w hose dispLrity in age h t rctt the rcasolls lre two-fold the elder seeks a eo mpmion to I lOll tbe younger olle to depcnd Ilpo n 1 The unusual union Itlrlltiolled above nfcrs to marriages where the chief considcrashy IIS are p rescf vJtion of lineage especially amongst roy21ty 4 ml llf wealth

I middotne UunllOC believe du[ there a~ ml rks on the forche2d of every II ~n and wonun which scttk [heir JlUuimoniai futu~ The idea is I lIIllu In origin Most BurmlIl nuddhists howcvr ascribe a muon to the I Il leeds (kQflHltI) of the parties conccmca Iwnee such expressions for IIImiage as meeting of past deeds joining of plllt deeds etc

bull ~hm people arc notea as being thc best connoisseurs of a ldlt ~ Another proverb mat may exphin 10 older man marrying a much

lIlIlIer gi rl is While the (would-be) wife iJ still in the cradle her IUre) husballd is drcady an ordained monk A nun cannot be IIIIIIICd lImil he narhcs the age oftwemy-onc

1middot1hI origin of [he proverbs on marriage bctwclt11 members of the lI1r fami ly can be tlCld to the aneenors of Buddha O f the nine I1lrmbcn of the family-fivc sisters and four brOthen-lhe fom brothcu

42 43 H UMAN REL ATI ONS H 1PS

Most marriages be tlley arranged or otherwise las t until death T hese have the cssem ial ingredients compatibili ty and affection W here they arc dissolved the ausc an be attributed to illfldclity and this lUlfait hfulncss say the pro verbs is due to a human tcodt-ney to get weary o f S2mcncss and to be attracted by Jlovcl ty She W QlfS the flower when it has 2 sweet scent but discards it when it has 10st its scent He discards the roost fi sh for t he fresh fish If Ilutrimonia discord walks in by the front door h2PPUICS5 w alks out at the back

Another caU$C ofLll unhappy marriage is t he ullion of two spind css persons w ho will never make 3 success of it Such a marriage is usually ab2ndoncd in ckspair

As 1Ill1nu rioo men and women in Burmese society 3bove 3

certain age arc Oll t of pJ l CC widows and widowers divorced wives and imslxUlds arc all advised to remarry

T he proverbs about t he rclations octwCdl husband ami w ife reveal (i) the complementary Illtures of the twO (ii) the husshybands position and his atdtude towards h is w ife and (iii) the w ifes position and her atti tude towards her husband In spite o f unavoidable t iffs between them they realize t hat one is dept lldcnt on the other A Burmese husband is in t heory the mastlr of the house and if he so w ished he could take as mmy wives as the minister Vidhufll the embr yo Buddha I Though polygam y is not illegal it is unfwourably regarded by society in Burma and no t nUJly husbands afe preparoo to be stigmatized 15 the man with a lesser wife On t he w hole a husband is k ind to his wife he docs not follow the proverbial injullction not to sparc a bullock Of a w ife Instead he usually treats her as his sister and addresses her as such He knows that be IIlllSt not neglect or stay away fro lll her fo r Jong-at least not longer than olle mo nth Stay away one month from your wife (she may trmsfer her love to lIlOlher) St1y away fro m a harp three months (you w ill forget how to

married four of the sislers to prCJcrve the lincage This prlcrice though rollowed by some DUfm~ kings is now tlboo ill B n r m A

1 VidlJuu lud one thouslIId wives s C the j dtllwa vi p J 4S

H U M AN R ELAT I ONS lilPS

play it) He also knows the persuasive power of her tongue and he is resolved not to concede too nweh

T Ile w ifes position according to the p roverbs is no t very mviablc In a country w here marriage building a pagoda and getti ng oneself tattooed arc reckoned to be three things wh ich oncc do ne Carolot be undone a wife SCClru to have t he w orst o f both worlds Divorce and ckscrtion always bring discredit to her Nevt rthcless many wives prefer sc~rl[ ion flther t han suffer t he agonies ofliving with a dog-like husband I A divorced wo man 111) with p ropriety marr y a Mmiddotcond time but not a third lime ~ IICC tll3t w ould entail social ostracism- a w oman having Illany fICCS meaning having too mmy husbands or lo vers

A Burruese wife llsually lo ves hono urs and o beys her hmshyhlnd She is h is mother sometimes h is yOtlllgcr sister at other limes and his servmt the rest of the time In [he pool of life she rc-garcls herself as a water lily and her husband as the watt r she wdllook w ell only when the water sustains her T here ue of c~lIIrsc a few proverbs which can be applied to wives who want 1 Isscrt t heir illckpcndcncc But the majo rity of Burmese wives lilok to theit husbands to provide them with the blessings of this r (iSCtJlcc For t hey realize th t in the long run it is their husbands 0111(1 n ot t heir rd atives who arc prepared to share w ith them what they have A good wife is the-refore willing to follow her hu)band fhrough life as the hair knot follows the top-knot or the t hrad follows the nttltUe

T ile ptTcnt-child relationship in Durma is summed up in a pug that for parents The sight o f their child is like 1 d rop of Ilkll elthilanting water on t hem and t heir care stems fio m mother maxim tht the parentsue the children s fLTst teachers r ile parents would always like to hear that theirs arc truc

llIld rcn of good parents and they also ish thcm to attain t he IlIghest rung in life Even with recalcitrant children they show

I Mnrilge in Burma is ~ SO(ial contract and I husbmd or wife can hl(llve Ihe partncrship by leaving his or her partner

-nlis refers to the first coming of the rains lfttr a period of drought

44 45 HUMAN RELATIONS HIPS

grcu tolerance The bond between pucnts and cbildrro is much stronger in Burma than in the W est llunncsc parent like to keep their children in their home IS long 2S they 011 and to shuc their possessions with them They seldom disclaim tbe bad OIlCS A few proverbs there lrc th misrepresent the facts such lS 1 mother will lay down her sons body and stlnd all it when the world is on firc but the fact is that she w ould rather let her son ~tand on her body should such a situation arise

C hildrens love U1d respect fo r t heir parents is a rule rather than an LXccption in Burin Grown-up SOilS and dlUghtcrs repay in thcir parents old age t he care w hich was given to rhcm when they were young They succour t heir parents who arc one of the Five Worthy Objectsl Here it is significant lhat the good lIld the bad are confined to sons The good one is Iikencd to a precious gcm and the bld Ol lC to a foal which wants to m~urc his hoof marks against his sircs As for thc ckugh tcr she is portrayed ~ neithcr good nor bad except tht shc is a sourcc of w orry to her parcnts SUlce they arc afuid that she might marry the wrong nun In roliry however a ruughtcr in Burma makes greater sacrifices than tCll sons to comfort and solace her parents in their o ld age

The tic between parents and children is paralleled by that Ixtwcell teachers and pupils A teacher is revered and obeyed he is also one of the Five Vonhy O bjectsl and as stich his fame mually spreds without Illy advertisclllelU He is relied on by his pupils for knowk-dge and the tochnique of its application u well as for moral guidance It is Illtllrll therefore to expect that he will get credit for his pupil s achicvelllcnt~ and blUllC for his pupils failure bllt such is the way of the world that in many cascs praise goes to the plpil aJll criticism to the tcacher

T his faith in thd r teacher born of respect and uncritical acceptance of his pronouncements has made pupils in Burm2 meek and humble They feci the to disown or denounce thcir tcacher would be unpardonable and they are obsessed by such

I Sec tllC Introduction p 6 footllotc 3

I-lUM AN RELATIONSHIPS

~lori C$ IS that of3 nun whose palate W2S picrced by a spear o r of the Inm who WJS stonedl whcll they wished to disown or vic wit Ii their teacher Such tradi tions st ill persist in Burma

FRIENDSHIP AND ASSOCIATIO N

Ridillg ill tl)t Sa int boat going on tbe somt joum~y [I70

grtlm ill oppilltss olld trotbIt alike [171 For better or worse

IVlltn it is scaret sbart it wIJrn it is pltntifill lokI your jill [72

Share and share alike

GoJ limrs br shartS bad timrs bt shltlls [173 Fair-weather friend

NMa-yan fish bt treats as joint fare nga-khu fisb be IVOl [

shorr [74 N~a-yall is a eOltlrsc fish md IIga-klm an 2ppctising fish

( ~row pbtasant respects crow and crow rtsptclJ (fInv Ibiosonf 1175

Slt-c cxpl2natory note on cro w-phClSant p 39

I A young man who had w~tchW a heron throwillg lip fish and C2teh_ 1111 them in iu beak practised tlu art with a spear He gained mastery of Jli~ tcchnillie and gave m elChibition before the killg When he YOU ltd who li~ te-2(her had been he replied rh3t III learnt it unaided At

1 lIex( performance tlie- spear pierced his pailltc bull While the embryo n uddha was a coun mll$icim he b ught 1I pupil

I Ius all he kneW Lncr the pupil w~ll illg to omt hi teachcr from hi JI challenged him to a conteSt in the presence o f the king The contest 1M held the pupil was defeated and stoned to death by the enraged Juwd Sec the jillllkll ii p 176

46 HUMAN RELAT I ONS HIP S

Sugarcone is Sluul alway man only JOllletimts [176

A mall has many moods

The onion by itsrlf was all right with (hiIliu it Jot a pounding [m T hese condiments arc polUulcd in a mortar to mtkc a curry

dish

Tlx wbole boat is putrid becoflst of a single carp [1 78 Carp is a fish which goes stale quickly and COJltuninatcs the

rest of a cacho The whole communitys reputation suffers because of one Illcombers misdeed

MallY crows bad to ptrs) bW1J(U of ant crow (179 One dly a crow dropped filth on the kings chapbin who

thereu pon harboured hatred against all crows Sometime btcr the kings clcphutt-st21ls caught fire and lS a result many elephants w(rc badly burnt When tb e chapbill was consulted he said the cure fo r burns was crows ()t Many crows were lccordingly slaughtered for their fat See the Jiitaka i pp 300-1

Ntar a fisherman alit is a fisbtrman ntar a hrmtr a Jlmltr [ [SO

A man is knowJl by the company he keeps

Ox to ox ravia to 1I0Vct [IS[

Krrp ind(~o and maUer tOlplNr tbt maddtr will smtll of imfigo [1S2 ]hd habits arc contagious

Virlrt alld morality kup similar compaly [ 183 Dird$ of3 fcather Jock together

FRIENDSlIlP AND ASSOCIATION 4 7

Minds togrtlNr b(ldits apart [184 Have dealings with a person but keep yourself away from

him

If 101lg ptrsist if slxlrt wt offmiddot [1S5 Associate with an c-vell-tempered penon have no thing to do

with a short-tem pered one

If tfx cattlt art scatUrtd tbt tgrr uizu tlxm [ IS6

Unity is strength

RELATIVES

Nt (QlIs IJtr outll ollly wbetl ber CllCunbtr fruits [1S7

A rtal friettd is a relatillt a dis you likt is afrast [ IS8

A good friend is my nearest rdativc

III timt of Ust family is but [IS9 Blood is thicker than water

Wbtn tIN sisltr prospers tbt brollNr rides high wbm 1M brotJxr prosptrs tlx sister is in tbe kilcbm [[90

A good tru can lodgt Itn tbollsand birds [191

INEVITABILITY

P(lt a~ailHt pof tbt pots will tOllcb ropu togtl)tr tbt ropts will tallgle 192 Constant contaCt between a boy and a girllClds to love

44 45 HUMAN RELATIONS HIPS

grcu tolerance The bond between pucnts and cbildrro is much stronger in Burma than in the W est llunncsc parent like to keep their children in their home IS long 2S they 011 and to shuc their possessions with them They seldom disclaim tbe bad OIlCS A few proverbs there lrc th misrepresent the facts such lS 1 mother will lay down her sons body and stlnd all it when the world is on firc but the fact is that she w ould rather let her son ~tand on her body should such a situation arise

C hildrens love U1d respect fo r t heir parents is a rule rather than an LXccption in Burin Grown-up SOilS and dlUghtcrs repay in thcir parents old age t he care w hich was given to rhcm when they were young They succour t heir parents who arc one of the Five Worthy Objectsl Here it is significant lhat the good lIld the bad are confined to sons The good one is Iikencd to a precious gcm and the bld Ol lC to a foal which wants to m~urc his hoof marks against his sircs As for thc ckugh tcr she is portrayed ~ neithcr good nor bad except tht shc is a sourcc of w orry to her parcnts SUlce they arc afuid that she might marry the wrong nun In roliry however a ruughtcr in Burma makes greater sacrifices than tCll sons to comfort and solace her parents in their o ld age

The tic between parents and children is paralleled by that Ixtwcell teachers and pupils A teacher is revered and obeyed he is also one of the Five Vonhy O bjectsl and as stich his fame mually spreds without Illy advertisclllelU He is relied on by his pupils for knowk-dge and the tochnique of its application u well as for moral guidance It is Illtllrll therefore to expect that he will get credit for his pupil s achicvelllcnt~ and blUllC for his pupils failure bllt such is the way of the world that in many cascs praise goes to the plpil aJll criticism to the tcacher

T his faith in thd r teacher born of respect and uncritical acceptance of his pronouncements has made pupils in Burm2 meek and humble They feci the to disown or denounce thcir tcacher would be unpardonable and they are obsessed by such

I Sec tllC Introduction p 6 footllotc 3

I-lUM AN RELATIONSHIPS

~lori C$ IS that of3 nun whose palate W2S picrced by a spear o r of the Inm who WJS stonedl whcll they wished to disown or vic wit Ii their teacher Such tradi tions st ill persist in Burma

FRIENDSHIP AND ASSOCIATIO N

Ridillg ill tl)t Sa int boat going on tbe somt joum~y [I70

grtlm ill oppilltss olld trotbIt alike [171 For better or worse

IVlltn it is scaret sbart it wIJrn it is pltntifill lokI your jill [72

Share and share alike

GoJ limrs br shartS bad timrs bt shltlls [173 Fair-weather friend

NMa-yan fish bt treats as joint fare nga-khu fisb be IVOl [

shorr [74 N~a-yall is a eOltlrsc fish md IIga-klm an 2ppctising fish

( ~row pbtasant respects crow and crow rtsptclJ (fInv Ibiosonf 1175

Slt-c cxpl2natory note on cro w-phClSant p 39

I A young man who had w~tchW a heron throwillg lip fish and C2teh_ 1111 them in iu beak practised tlu art with a spear He gained mastery of Jli~ tcchnillie and gave m elChibition before the killg When he YOU ltd who li~ te-2(her had been he replied rh3t III learnt it unaided At

1 lIex( performance tlie- spear pierced his pailltc bull While the embryo n uddha was a coun mll$icim he b ught 1I pupil

I Ius all he kneW Lncr the pupil w~ll illg to omt hi teachcr from hi JI challenged him to a conteSt in the presence o f the king The contest 1M held the pupil was defeated and stoned to death by the enraged Juwd Sec the jillllkll ii p 176

46 HUMAN RELAT I ONS HIP S

Sugarcone is Sluul alway man only JOllletimts [176

A mall has many moods

The onion by itsrlf was all right with (hiIliu it Jot a pounding [m T hese condiments arc polUulcd in a mortar to mtkc a curry

dish

Tlx wbole boat is putrid becoflst of a single carp [1 78 Carp is a fish which goes stale quickly and COJltuninatcs the

rest of a cacho The whole communitys reputation suffers because of one Illcombers misdeed

MallY crows bad to ptrs) bW1J(U of ant crow (179 One dly a crow dropped filth on the kings chapbin who

thereu pon harboured hatred against all crows Sometime btcr the kings clcphutt-st21ls caught fire and lS a result many elephants w(rc badly burnt When tb e chapbill was consulted he said the cure fo r burns was crows ()t Many crows were lccordingly slaughtered for their fat See the Jiitaka i pp 300-1

Ntar a fisherman alit is a fisbtrman ntar a hrmtr a Jlmltr [ [SO

A man is knowJl by the company he keeps

Ox to ox ravia to 1I0Vct [IS[

Krrp ind(~o and maUer tOlplNr tbt maddtr will smtll of imfigo [1S2 ]hd habits arc contagious

Virlrt alld morality kup similar compaly [ 183 Dird$ of3 fcather Jock together

FRIENDSlIlP AND ASSOCIATION 4 7

Minds togrtlNr b(ldits apart [184 Have dealings with a person but keep yourself away from

him

If 101lg ptrsist if slxlrt wt offmiddot [1S5 Associate with an c-vell-tempered penon have no thing to do

with a short-tem pered one

If tfx cattlt art scatUrtd tbt tgrr uizu tlxm [ IS6

Unity is strength

RELATIVES

Nt (QlIs IJtr outll ollly wbetl ber CllCunbtr fruits [1S7

A rtal friettd is a relatillt a dis you likt is afrast [ IS8

A good friend is my nearest rdativc

III timt of Ust family is but [IS9 Blood is thicker than water

Wbtn tIN sisltr prospers tbt brollNr rides high wbm 1M brotJxr prosptrs tlx sister is in tbe kilcbm [[90

A good tru can lodgt Itn tbollsand birds [191

INEVITABILITY

P(lt a~ailHt pof tbt pots will tOllcb ropu togtl)tr tbt ropts will tallgle 192 Constant contaCt between a boy and a girllClds to love

46 HUMAN RELAT I ONS HIP S

Sugarcone is Sluul alway man only JOllletimts [176

A mall has many moods

The onion by itsrlf was all right with (hiIliu it Jot a pounding [m T hese condiments arc polUulcd in a mortar to mtkc a curry

dish

Tlx wbole boat is putrid becoflst of a single carp [1 78 Carp is a fish which goes stale quickly and COJltuninatcs the

rest of a cacho The whole communitys reputation suffers because of one Illcombers misdeed

MallY crows bad to ptrs) bW1J(U of ant crow (179 One dly a crow dropped filth on the kings chapbin who

thereu pon harboured hatred against all crows Sometime btcr the kings clcphutt-st21ls caught fire and lS a result many elephants w(rc badly burnt When tb e chapbill was consulted he said the cure fo r burns was crows ()t Many crows were lccordingly slaughtered for their fat See the Jiitaka i pp 300-1

Ntar a fisherman alit is a fisbtrman ntar a hrmtr a Jlmltr [ [SO

A man is knowJl by the company he keeps

Ox to ox ravia to 1I0Vct [IS[

Krrp ind(~o and maUer tOlplNr tbt maddtr will smtll of imfigo [1S2 ]hd habits arc contagious

Virlrt alld morality kup similar compaly [ 183 Dird$ of3 fcather Jock together

FRIENDSlIlP AND ASSOCIATION 4 7

Minds togrtlNr b(ldits apart [184 Have dealings with a person but keep yourself away from

him

If 101lg ptrsist if slxlrt wt offmiddot [1S5 Associate with an c-vell-tempered penon have no thing to do

with a short-tem pered one

If tfx cattlt art scatUrtd tbt tgrr uizu tlxm [ IS6

Unity is strength

RELATIVES

Nt (QlIs IJtr outll ollly wbetl ber CllCunbtr fruits [1S7

A rtal friettd is a relatillt a dis you likt is afrast [ IS8

A good friend is my nearest rdativc

III timt of Ust family is but [IS9 Blood is thicker than water

Wbtn tIN sisltr prospers tbt brollNr rides high wbm 1M brotJxr prosptrs tlx sister is in tbe kilcbm [[90

A good tru can lodgt Itn tbollsand birds [191

INEVITABILITY

P(lt a~ailHt pof tbt pots will tOllcb ropu togtl)tr tbt ropts will tallgle 192 Constant contaCt between a boy and a girllClds to love

48

bull HUMAN R ELATIONSHIPS

PIau sour f ruit and salt wgttbtr the tip of fiJi 10ngU( cannot (ontaj iUtlf [193

Two people of opposite sex C2lUlOt hdp lttrxting Olle

another

MARRIAGE

Fruit ill Quffmll bloHM in spring [194 He that Ilurrics bte marries ill

Tbt brow writilJ gets aroflnd tbi villagrs [195 Marriage is destiny Sec the explanatory no te p 4J

A bullock h handsome if a Shan likes it a brd is a palace if you fancy it 196 llemty is ill the eye of the beholder The Shan people are

gro t a ttle-Fmciers

Take afancy to a toJJypaltn leaf to you its afairy [197

Marry the person one fancies

Young Moul L to bt carried old enough to deptnd pOII [198

See the explanation p 41

If it is to bt spent let it go into ones own pocket [199 A justifi cation fo r marrying a rich relative

Take cover among rtIations you are ItCllre marry a relalivt YOIl (Ire blesud [200 Advising l union between rdltives fo r socurity and preshy

scrvltiOIl oflinelge See the expianatiOJ1 p 41

Like minds Imppy f or lift IlIIlike milds always out of mind [201

MARRIAGE 49

-IJ rgrt not Jar a (m tllry YOlltbs bdolJrJ jorget bundrtd ctnturiu youtbs (ompollion

IJ ot jor a

0 First love

At tIl right of fresh firh away go tbt art [2OJ

S2id of unfaithfill wife or husband

Hot ill thefront rooms not (00 in till back [204shyStrlill in matrimony affects children as well as domcslic Stlf(

Guuts only come to a bappy 1)(1115( [205

Happy Jtmosphcrc in t he house

Ho(king a bamboo with a blunt knife [206 Said of two weaklings marrying one mothcr

A Jxlrt-lippeJ couple blowing up thrjire (207

A tru falls plant anotber [208 A favourite saying with widowers and widows who w ant to

re_marry

MARRIED LIFE

(Likt) tOtlgUt and leeth [209 Tills arc inevitable bctwC(n husband and w ife

C rass depmds on f)( islaJd t)( islalld 011 the grass [210 Interdependen t

Take a wife fbi cat mllst dit [2II The husband kills the cat to show his wife Ius mettle

50 IIUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

Do not spart a bfllJock or a wife [212 bullA spanicl I woman a walnut teee tbe more they arc beaten

the better they be

TIJ( wax hcrams IVX its away from thefife [213

Advice not to leave ones wife for Jong

Hard to know what to rat hard to know flIbrrt to ktrp a wif [214 The dilemma of a j ealous husiwld

If you [alit your wife praise ber only wbrn she is draa [215

After rayillg it mallY tilllts s)( prevails [2]6 She Sets her way by nagging

Side witL a lIIomOIl side witb foolishness [21 7

If th thor fall thlt lraf i pimd if thlt lraff all (b lraf if pirmd 1218 Heads I Will tails YOLL lose The wom of both worlds The

plight of a w ife

Lou (If oods is one Jay spoiled loss of a bliSbolll is a ruined lif [219

D ont bat a doglf a JlfsbatlfJ [220

Time times tiN 1II0llk bas cwnted monastrry tbree tima fbi woman ber husband l221

They are ostraciud by the pllblie

Only at bigh wat~r is tbe waftr-lily at ill best [222 The wife position depends lpon her husbandmiddots

A handful frolll a good friend a basktt frol1l a rich relativtshybut from a good busband a bappy lift l223

PARENT AND CHILD 51

PARENT AND CHILD

Parcnts are tIJe first tachers (of tbe childrtll) [224

Bad chilJrln Blame the partnts [225

TINd like to see him riding an elephant SIImmneltcl by horus 1I0t trampltd by elephants and kicktd by horsts l226

lJiuard Dilly bad baskets and Pllllnt(S nol bad sons and elallgburs [227

fIIi tb tht Ulorld 4re a mother will lay ber SOli dOUln and stanel 011 his boely l228

I Vben ill agollY a 1II0tber will tven dtlly beillg related to ber SOIl [229

A heifer is 1I0t attached to her calf l230

A mothcr is lIot attached to her fIrSt child

IIIIMI faa lih ava (hltfirst hild [23 I

Tbt IIIOJllb reJlleJUbtrs and calls him SOli tiN money paid brands him ~slQvt 2J2

If YO II lisltn to your parmts words you (all boil slabs of iroll alld stOltJ and tINy will btcome soft [233

Fttdillg is ruiprocQud by fttding tftlding by Ifnding [234 C hildren should repay their debt to their parents in the latters

old age

Ollt mortby son olle vaillable gelll [23 l

lloth are difficult to get

It ill a thousalld motbers bears suel SOilS [236

52 HUM AN R E LATION SHIPS

A foalllul1slITillJ his booj llarks a~ainsl hii sires [237 Slid of 3 son w ho defies his father

If possible be IlJimlJ Jig for treasure on hi j atbt j or btad [23 8 Unfilial conduce

The care of Oll t dougbtrT equals tbal of tholsand (attfe [239

A lIIotINTUS son is afish in low Waler [240

T EACH ER AND TAUGHT

A real laster Herds no flogstaj] [24 I Good wine nceds no bush

EV(II rooslillgfispostt rolif for a teathers guidaIJce [242

A bad pupil Blollle 11)( ttadxr [243

Praise gotf to tbr pllpil dttracioll to 1m maftfT [244

T reat a pllpil kindly bt will break your Ixart [245

Becallse be vied with bi ttarbtr be bad bricks tbrown at him [246 Sec footnote 2 p 45

The pupilf skill if Irrr than hif martes [247 bull A vari3tion of the above

Try to furpoff YOllr tracher YOII become mad try to surpau YOlr pony you become giddy [248

The World

The world hasm omnipresent fo rce cal led karma) which preshy Upposcs a belief in rcincanutioll KanrUl li terally meaning d~L-ds is indcfmablc but can be described as the sum tou l of the J(tions that make up ones life o r the accumulation of merits and llclI1criu in past existences a5 wcll as in the present existence All Ilmmcse Buddhists believe in it and it pervades tll the aspects of a lIurnlCSCBuddhists life The popular concepts of this word arc vJr ied md a 13urman acts or behaves in the light of his own lIuc1ersunding of it_

Ccnerilly speaking there are two nuin schools the first accepts Ildrma ~ the arbiter of lifc It is cquated to fate md the attitude l ~l Yards it is o lle of resignation_ The protagonists of this school kcl that mey are mere children in the lu nd of karm a which ctermincs their life or death meir w ealth or poverty thcir hl-l lth or sickness and their happiness o r sorrow and that its I( wards and punishments CUlliot be foretold Kctfma therefore is 1 supreme and unpreltlicublc autho rity since one an sec a n Ull

Lirrying on his shouldcr a spear but not karma (good or bad luck) n us ecruinly soumis like Micawbc -rism but it is manishyjC$ted in many a Dunruns not infrequent remark Its karma what something Ius gone amiss or in his behaviour when f emingly he is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best

T he second school ma inw l15 that k4lf m41 is what we nuke of It If it mC2JlS deeds then deeds can be modified by the doer rhd r views 1$ expOlmded in several proverbs are Rely not Ielyon your karma do not risk yoursdfby lu ving a blind failh 111 karma accept it but plaee not yourself at its mercy exercise your intelligence as well as your assiduity in battling lgainst thc vicissitudes of life

I Sec the Introduction p 6 Sl

54 55 THE WORLD

The vicissirudcs of life- prosperity and poverty sucass and failure ampmc and obscurity as laquohoed in the proverbs arc the inevitable laws of life None of these has l permanent control Over men Since karma has a hand a mm may be rich one day md poor the ncxt Neither will the gtell be perching fo r ever 011 the tap na rwill the lowly one be always struggling at the bottom every dog has his day rliJurc is as much a phase as success Many Bmmaus console themsclves in their hour of dire distress with the fate of Mahosadha the embryo Buddha who temporarily lost his status ofa Minister and had to carn his livingl3 a potter 1

This philosophy of lUutlbility has made most Burmanswhat they arc contented carefree and proud

The presence of karma is fdt by Burmam in every sphere of their lives The world is full of unexpected and inexplicable phenomcrut and incidents One is coincidence which can be at once pleOisallt or lmpleaslllt Many of the proverbs about it have one important moral D ont trust circumstantial evidence the arrival of a person may coincide with the disappearancc of OIl

bullock but it a n all the same be it mere forntitolls accident Further it person nuy score a great success in an undertaking but it an equally be a fluke

O ther such phenomena and incidents arc those w hich OIfford delight or canse disillusionment and disappoinnnent The proshyverbs poignantly iJl nnratc that the world is 3 bed of rosC$ as well as of thorns Who is more dcLighted than the thief who is ppointcd to the trusteeship of 01 ttcasury-rhough in a few ~s he himsclfbeome a reformed character and rose to a high ~]lk To counter-~bnce this there arc instances in which a man who has been holding someone in high esteem finds Ollt that that person has feet of clay or in which a person revering something that he thought was a p1g0da discovers that it is only all ant hm when he sees it monitor lizards running out of it

I See the jiIlaluJ ui p 186

2 See Hm Y~ i p laquo0

S Sec explvution ofmonitor lizard in the Introduction p 8

THE WORLD

The rest of such imponderables l re inCOllgruitirs pl rldoxC5 tlntoward incidents dilemmas 3ud qUlndariC5 T he prowrbs lbout these luve 13unncsc wit md humour lnd many of them arc tther caustic lncongmitics arc chicAy fmmd in absurd re-la tions lIusguidcd or mistaken actiollS and ill-assorted clements A man has to pl y more for the accessories thall for the m1ill item he lucks up his nether gUlllellt (01 prcparltion that is meant for a smnuous usk) to catch a wink1c and usd css thi11 gs arc often perceived among valuable objects To the Burmans as to t1~ British it is paradoxical to put the cart before the horse or to lOl11lt olles chickens before they an hatched but one thing that r~ pecllliar to the Dunnam is that a SOil can lll-V c r be older th an Iris futher that is l father is assumed to be more knowledgeable thall his son because he ate the ricc bcfor~ his son did (thlt is he n older and wiser)

The world is topsy-turvy that is what dle proverbs say UnshyCo)ward incidents and the least explCtC(l things h1ppen to people A Xcson desiring merit pours water on a sacred ballY1l1 trecl and LS put instead to the job of carrying the dnulls (a form of Iullishmcnt in olden d3YS) On the other h3nd somc Olle breaks lie branch ofa sacred oonym trct and he getsl pot of gold This Yllical saying has given birth to lIlany which though popllbrly 11 1Cd arc not taken seriously A few of these Ire Drillk ing Ilcpror will lead to Nimiilla (Immorttlity) and Elting opium will win the love of ones wife

The world is not only imperfect but also talualizing as well as ~Kgravating T hete arc many OCC3sions on which people have Ixen placed on the horns of a dilelllnu or ill a qUUldrry alld in many insulccs they simply 611 bctweeJl twO stools A man who hy chance gets hold of a tigers ra il has an lUlI~llviable choice of two unbvomabl c councs--cithcr to let it go or hold 0 11 Anshyflher m31l like the one who illS a piCC( of juicy meat tillt is

L Danyan trees l fC locka UpOII as m eed by DnrlnCoC Duddhists becawe the last Duddha atuillro enlightcnuullt under a b3nym tree (Ficus rtfigiosa)

11-pound

50 IIUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

Do not spart a bfllJock or a wife [212 bullA spanicl I woman a walnut teee tbe more they arc beaten

the better they be

TIJ( wax hcrams IVX its away from thefife [213

Advice not to leave ones wife for Jong

Hard to know what to rat hard to know flIbrrt to ktrp a wif [214 The dilemma of a j ealous husiwld

If you [alit your wife praise ber only wbrn she is draa [215

After rayillg it mallY tilllts s)( prevails [2]6 She Sets her way by nagging

Side witL a lIIomOIl side witb foolishness [21 7

If th thor fall thlt lraf i pimd if thlt lraff all (b lraf if pirmd 1218 Heads I Will tails YOLL lose The wom of both worlds The

plight of a w ife

Lou (If oods is one Jay spoiled loss of a bliSbolll is a ruined lif [219

D ont bat a doglf a JlfsbatlfJ [220

Time times tiN 1II0llk bas cwnted monastrry tbree tima fbi woman ber husband l221

They are ostraciud by the pllblie

Only at bigh wat~r is tbe waftr-lily at ill best [222 The wife position depends lpon her husbandmiddots

A handful frolll a good friend a basktt frol1l a rich relativtshybut from a good busband a bappy lift l223

PARENT AND CHILD 51

PARENT AND CHILD

Parcnts are tIJe first tachers (of tbe childrtll) [224

Bad chilJrln Blame the partnts [225

TINd like to see him riding an elephant SIImmneltcl by horus 1I0t trampltd by elephants and kicktd by horsts l226

lJiuard Dilly bad baskets and Pllllnt(S nol bad sons and elallgburs [227

fIIi tb tht Ulorld 4re a mother will lay ber SOli dOUln and stanel 011 his boely l228

I Vben ill agollY a 1II0tber will tven dtlly beillg related to ber SOIl [229

A heifer is 1I0t attached to her calf l230

A mothcr is lIot attached to her fIrSt child

IIIIMI faa lih ava (hltfirst hild [23 I

Tbt IIIOJllb reJlleJUbtrs and calls him SOli tiN money paid brands him ~slQvt 2J2

If YO II lisltn to your parmts words you (all boil slabs of iroll alld stOltJ and tINy will btcome soft [233

Fttdillg is ruiprocQud by fttding tftlding by Ifnding [234 C hildren should repay their debt to their parents in the latters

old age

Ollt mortby son olle vaillable gelll [23 l

lloth are difficult to get

It ill a thousalld motbers bears suel SOilS [236

52 HUM AN R E LATION SHIPS

A foalllul1slITillJ his booj llarks a~ainsl hii sires [237 Slid of 3 son w ho defies his father

If possible be IlJimlJ Jig for treasure on hi j atbt j or btad [23 8 Unfilial conduce

The care of Oll t dougbtrT equals tbal of tholsand (attfe [239

A lIIotINTUS son is afish in low Waler [240

T EACH ER AND TAUGHT

A real laster Herds no flogstaj] [24 I Good wine nceds no bush

EV(II rooslillgfispostt rolif for a teathers guidaIJce [242

A bad pupil Blollle 11)( ttadxr [243

Praise gotf to tbr pllpil dttracioll to 1m maftfT [244

T reat a pllpil kindly bt will break your Ixart [245

Becallse be vied with bi ttarbtr be bad bricks tbrown at him [246 Sec footnote 2 p 45

The pupilf skill if Irrr than hif martes [247 bull A vari3tion of the above

Try to furpoff YOllr tracher YOII become mad try to surpau YOlr pony you become giddy [248

The World

The world hasm omnipresent fo rce cal led karma) which preshy Upposcs a belief in rcincanutioll KanrUl li terally meaning d~L-ds is indcfmablc but can be described as the sum tou l of the J(tions that make up ones life o r the accumulation of merits and llclI1criu in past existences a5 wcll as in the present existence All Ilmmcse Buddhists believe in it and it pervades tll the aspects of a lIurnlCSCBuddhists life The popular concepts of this word arc vJr ied md a 13urman acts or behaves in the light of his own lIuc1ersunding of it_

Ccnerilly speaking there are two nuin schools the first accepts Ildrma ~ the arbiter of lifc It is cquated to fate md the attitude l ~l Yards it is o lle of resignation_ The protagonists of this school kcl that mey are mere children in the lu nd of karm a which ctermincs their life or death meir w ealth or poverty thcir hl-l lth or sickness and their happiness o r sorrow and that its I( wards and punishments CUlliot be foretold Kctfma therefore is 1 supreme and unpreltlicublc autho rity since one an sec a n Ull

Lirrying on his shouldcr a spear but not karma (good or bad luck) n us ecruinly soumis like Micawbc -rism but it is manishyjC$ted in many a Dunruns not infrequent remark Its karma what something Ius gone amiss or in his behaviour when f emingly he is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best

T he second school ma inw l15 that k4lf m41 is what we nuke of It If it mC2JlS deeds then deeds can be modified by the doer rhd r views 1$ expOlmded in several proverbs are Rely not Ielyon your karma do not risk yoursdfby lu ving a blind failh 111 karma accept it but plaee not yourself at its mercy exercise your intelligence as well as your assiduity in battling lgainst thc vicissitudes of life

I Sec the Introduction p 6 Sl

54 55 THE WORLD

The vicissirudcs of life- prosperity and poverty sucass and failure ampmc and obscurity as laquohoed in the proverbs arc the inevitable laws of life None of these has l permanent control Over men Since karma has a hand a mm may be rich one day md poor the ncxt Neither will the gtell be perching fo r ever 011 the tap na rwill the lowly one be always struggling at the bottom every dog has his day rliJurc is as much a phase as success Many Bmmaus console themsclves in their hour of dire distress with the fate of Mahosadha the embryo Buddha who temporarily lost his status ofa Minister and had to carn his livingl3 a potter 1

This philosophy of lUutlbility has made most Burmanswhat they arc contented carefree and proud

The presence of karma is fdt by Burmam in every sphere of their lives The world is full of unexpected and inexplicable phenomcrut and incidents One is coincidence which can be at once pleOisallt or lmpleaslllt Many of the proverbs about it have one important moral D ont trust circumstantial evidence the arrival of a person may coincide with the disappearancc of OIl

bullock but it a n all the same be it mere forntitolls accident Further it person nuy score a great success in an undertaking but it an equally be a fluke

O ther such phenomena and incidents arc those w hich OIfford delight or canse disillusionment and disappoinnnent The proshyverbs poignantly iJl nnratc that the world is 3 bed of rosC$ as well as of thorns Who is more dcLighted than the thief who is ppointcd to the trusteeship of 01 ttcasury-rhough in a few ~s he himsclfbeome a reformed character and rose to a high ~]lk To counter-~bnce this there arc instances in which a man who has been holding someone in high esteem finds Ollt that that person has feet of clay or in which a person revering something that he thought was a p1g0da discovers that it is only all ant hm when he sees it monitor lizards running out of it

I See the jiIlaluJ ui p 186

2 See Hm Y~ i p laquo0

S Sec explvution ofmonitor lizard in the Introduction p 8

THE WORLD

The rest of such imponderables l re inCOllgruitirs pl rldoxC5 tlntoward incidents dilemmas 3ud qUlndariC5 T he prowrbs lbout these luve 13unncsc wit md humour lnd many of them arc tther caustic lncongmitics arc chicAy fmmd in absurd re-la tions lIusguidcd or mistaken actiollS and ill-assorted clements A man has to pl y more for the accessories thall for the m1ill item he lucks up his nether gUlllellt (01 prcparltion that is meant for a smnuous usk) to catch a wink1c and usd css thi11 gs arc often perceived among valuable objects To the Burmans as to t1~ British it is paradoxical to put the cart before the horse or to lOl11lt olles chickens before they an hatched but one thing that r~ pecllliar to the Dunnam is that a SOil can lll-V c r be older th an Iris futher that is l father is assumed to be more knowledgeable thall his son because he ate the ricc bcfor~ his son did (thlt is he n older and wiser)

The world is topsy-turvy that is what dle proverbs say UnshyCo)ward incidents and the least explCtC(l things h1ppen to people A Xcson desiring merit pours water on a sacred ballY1l1 trecl and LS put instead to the job of carrying the dnulls (a form of Iullishmcnt in olden d3YS) On the other h3nd somc Olle breaks lie branch ofa sacred oonym trct and he getsl pot of gold This Yllical saying has given birth to lIlany which though popllbrly 11 1Cd arc not taken seriously A few of these Ire Drillk ing Ilcpror will lead to Nimiilla (Immorttlity) and Elting opium will win the love of ones wife

The world is not only imperfect but also talualizing as well as ~Kgravating T hete arc many OCC3sions on which people have Ixen placed on the horns of a dilelllnu or ill a qUUldrry alld in many insulccs they simply 611 bctweeJl twO stools A man who hy chance gets hold of a tigers ra il has an lUlI~llviable choice of two unbvomabl c councs--cithcr to let it go or hold 0 11 Anshyflher m31l like the one who illS a piCC( of juicy meat tillt is

L Danyan trees l fC locka UpOII as m eed by DnrlnCoC Duddhists becawe the last Duddha atuillro enlightcnuullt under a b3nym tree (Ficus rtfigiosa)

11-pound

52 HUM AN R E LATION SHIPS

A foalllul1slITillJ his booj llarks a~ainsl hii sires [237 Slid of 3 son w ho defies his father

If possible be IlJimlJ Jig for treasure on hi j atbt j or btad [23 8 Unfilial conduce

The care of Oll t dougbtrT equals tbal of tholsand (attfe [239

A lIIotINTUS son is afish in low Waler [240

T EACH ER AND TAUGHT

A real laster Herds no flogstaj] [24 I Good wine nceds no bush

EV(II rooslillgfispostt rolif for a teathers guidaIJce [242

A bad pupil Blollle 11)( ttadxr [243

Praise gotf to tbr pllpil dttracioll to 1m maftfT [244

T reat a pllpil kindly bt will break your Ixart [245

Becallse be vied with bi ttarbtr be bad bricks tbrown at him [246 Sec footnote 2 p 45

The pupilf skill if Irrr than hif martes [247 bull A vari3tion of the above

Try to furpoff YOllr tracher YOII become mad try to surpau YOlr pony you become giddy [248

The World

The world hasm omnipresent fo rce cal led karma) which preshy Upposcs a belief in rcincanutioll KanrUl li terally meaning d~L-ds is indcfmablc but can be described as the sum tou l of the J(tions that make up ones life o r the accumulation of merits and llclI1criu in past existences a5 wcll as in the present existence All Ilmmcse Buddhists believe in it and it pervades tll the aspects of a lIurnlCSCBuddhists life The popular concepts of this word arc vJr ied md a 13urman acts or behaves in the light of his own lIuc1ersunding of it_

Ccnerilly speaking there are two nuin schools the first accepts Ildrma ~ the arbiter of lifc It is cquated to fate md the attitude l ~l Yards it is o lle of resignation_ The protagonists of this school kcl that mey are mere children in the lu nd of karm a which ctermincs their life or death meir w ealth or poverty thcir hl-l lth or sickness and their happiness o r sorrow and that its I( wards and punishments CUlliot be foretold Kctfma therefore is 1 supreme and unpreltlicublc autho rity since one an sec a n Ull

Lirrying on his shouldcr a spear but not karma (good or bad luck) n us ecruinly soumis like Micawbc -rism but it is manishyjC$ted in many a Dunruns not infrequent remark Its karma what something Ius gone amiss or in his behaviour when f emingly he is preparing for the worst and hoping for the best

T he second school ma inw l15 that k4lf m41 is what we nuke of It If it mC2JlS deeds then deeds can be modified by the doer rhd r views 1$ expOlmded in several proverbs are Rely not Ielyon your karma do not risk yoursdfby lu ving a blind failh 111 karma accept it but plaee not yourself at its mercy exercise your intelligence as well as your assiduity in battling lgainst thc vicissitudes of life

I Sec the Introduction p 6 Sl

54 55 THE WORLD

The vicissirudcs of life- prosperity and poverty sucass and failure ampmc and obscurity as laquohoed in the proverbs arc the inevitable laws of life None of these has l permanent control Over men Since karma has a hand a mm may be rich one day md poor the ncxt Neither will the gtell be perching fo r ever 011 the tap na rwill the lowly one be always struggling at the bottom every dog has his day rliJurc is as much a phase as success Many Bmmaus console themsclves in their hour of dire distress with the fate of Mahosadha the embryo Buddha who temporarily lost his status ofa Minister and had to carn his livingl3 a potter 1

This philosophy of lUutlbility has made most Burmanswhat they arc contented carefree and proud

The presence of karma is fdt by Burmam in every sphere of their lives The world is full of unexpected and inexplicable phenomcrut and incidents One is coincidence which can be at once pleOisallt or lmpleaslllt Many of the proverbs about it have one important moral D ont trust circumstantial evidence the arrival of a person may coincide with the disappearancc of OIl

bullock but it a n all the same be it mere forntitolls accident Further it person nuy score a great success in an undertaking but it an equally be a fluke

O ther such phenomena and incidents arc those w hich OIfford delight or canse disillusionment and disappoinnnent The proshyverbs poignantly iJl nnratc that the world is 3 bed of rosC$ as well as of thorns Who is more dcLighted than the thief who is ppointcd to the trusteeship of 01 ttcasury-rhough in a few ~s he himsclfbeome a reformed character and rose to a high ~]lk To counter-~bnce this there arc instances in which a man who has been holding someone in high esteem finds Ollt that that person has feet of clay or in which a person revering something that he thought was a p1g0da discovers that it is only all ant hm when he sees it monitor lizards running out of it

I See the jiIlaluJ ui p 186

2 See Hm Y~ i p laquo0

S Sec explvution ofmonitor lizard in the Introduction p 8

THE WORLD

The rest of such imponderables l re inCOllgruitirs pl rldoxC5 tlntoward incidents dilemmas 3ud qUlndariC5 T he prowrbs lbout these luve 13unncsc wit md humour lnd many of them arc tther caustic lncongmitics arc chicAy fmmd in absurd re-la tions lIusguidcd or mistaken actiollS and ill-assorted clements A man has to pl y more for the accessories thall for the m1ill item he lucks up his nether gUlllellt (01 prcparltion that is meant for a smnuous usk) to catch a wink1c and usd css thi11 gs arc often perceived among valuable objects To the Burmans as to t1~ British it is paradoxical to put the cart before the horse or to lOl11lt olles chickens before they an hatched but one thing that r~ pecllliar to the Dunnam is that a SOil can lll-V c r be older th an Iris futher that is l father is assumed to be more knowledgeable thall his son because he ate the ricc bcfor~ his son did (thlt is he n older and wiser)

The world is topsy-turvy that is what dle proverbs say UnshyCo)ward incidents and the least explCtC(l things h1ppen to people A Xcson desiring merit pours water on a sacred ballY1l1 trecl and LS put instead to the job of carrying the dnulls (a form of Iullishmcnt in olden d3YS) On the other h3nd somc Olle breaks lie branch ofa sacred oonym trct and he getsl pot of gold This Yllical saying has given birth to lIlany which though popllbrly 11 1Cd arc not taken seriously A few of these Ire Drillk ing Ilcpror will lead to Nimiilla (Immorttlity) and Elting opium will win the love of ones wife

The world is not only imperfect but also talualizing as well as ~Kgravating T hete arc many OCC3sions on which people have Ixen placed on the horns of a dilelllnu or ill a qUUldrry alld in many insulccs they simply 611 bctweeJl twO stools A man who hy chance gets hold of a tigers ra il has an lUlI~llviable choice of two unbvomabl c councs--cithcr to let it go or hold 0 11 Anshyflher m31l like the one who illS a piCC( of juicy meat tillt is

L Danyan trees l fC locka UpOII as m eed by DnrlnCoC Duddhists becawe the last Duddha atuillro enlightcnuullt under a b3nym tree (Ficus rtfigiosa)

11-pound

54 55 THE WORLD

The vicissirudcs of life- prosperity and poverty sucass and failure ampmc and obscurity as laquohoed in the proverbs arc the inevitable laws of life None of these has l permanent control Over men Since karma has a hand a mm may be rich one day md poor the ncxt Neither will the gtell be perching fo r ever 011 the tap na rwill the lowly one be always struggling at the bottom every dog has his day rliJurc is as much a phase as success Many Bmmaus console themsclves in their hour of dire distress with the fate of Mahosadha the embryo Buddha who temporarily lost his status ofa Minister and had to carn his livingl3 a potter 1

This philosophy of lUutlbility has made most Burmanswhat they arc contented carefree and proud

The presence of karma is fdt by Burmam in every sphere of their lives The world is full of unexpected and inexplicable phenomcrut and incidents One is coincidence which can be at once pleOisallt or lmpleaslllt Many of the proverbs about it have one important moral D ont trust circumstantial evidence the arrival of a person may coincide with the disappearancc of OIl

bullock but it a n all the same be it mere forntitolls accident Further it person nuy score a great success in an undertaking but it an equally be a fluke

O ther such phenomena and incidents arc those w hich OIfford delight or canse disillusionment and disappoinnnent The proshyverbs poignantly iJl nnratc that the world is 3 bed of rosC$ as well as of thorns Who is more dcLighted than the thief who is ppointcd to the trusteeship of 01 ttcasury-rhough in a few ~s he himsclfbeome a reformed character and rose to a high ~]lk To counter-~bnce this there arc instances in which a man who has been holding someone in high esteem finds Ollt that that person has feet of clay or in which a person revering something that he thought was a p1g0da discovers that it is only all ant hm when he sees it monitor lizards running out of it

I See the jiIlaluJ ui p 186

2 See Hm Y~ i p laquo0

S Sec explvution ofmonitor lizard in the Introduction p 8

THE WORLD

The rest of such imponderables l re inCOllgruitirs pl rldoxC5 tlntoward incidents dilemmas 3ud qUlndariC5 T he prowrbs lbout these luve 13unncsc wit md humour lnd many of them arc tther caustic lncongmitics arc chicAy fmmd in absurd re-la tions lIusguidcd or mistaken actiollS and ill-assorted clements A man has to pl y more for the accessories thall for the m1ill item he lucks up his nether gUlllellt (01 prcparltion that is meant for a smnuous usk) to catch a wink1c and usd css thi11 gs arc often perceived among valuable objects To the Burmans as to t1~ British it is paradoxical to put the cart before the horse or to lOl11lt olles chickens before they an hatched but one thing that r~ pecllliar to the Dunnam is that a SOil can lll-V c r be older th an Iris futher that is l father is assumed to be more knowledgeable thall his son because he ate the ricc bcfor~ his son did (thlt is he n older and wiser)

The world is topsy-turvy that is what dle proverbs say UnshyCo)ward incidents and the least explCtC(l things h1ppen to people A Xcson desiring merit pours water on a sacred ballY1l1 trecl and LS put instead to the job of carrying the dnulls (a form of Iullishmcnt in olden d3YS) On the other h3nd somc Olle breaks lie branch ofa sacred oonym trct and he getsl pot of gold This Yllical saying has given birth to lIlany which though popllbrly 11 1Cd arc not taken seriously A few of these Ire Drillk ing Ilcpror will lead to Nimiilla (Immorttlity) and Elting opium will win the love of ones wife

The world is not only imperfect but also talualizing as well as ~Kgravating T hete arc many OCC3sions on which people have Ixen placed on the horns of a dilelllnu or ill a qUUldrry alld in many insulccs they simply 611 bctweeJl twO stools A man who hy chance gets hold of a tigers ra il has an lUlI~llviable choice of two unbvomabl c councs--cithcr to let it go or hold 0 11 Anshyflher m31l like the one who illS a piCC( of juicy meat tillt is

L Danyan trees l fC locka UpOII as m eed by DnrlnCoC Duddhists becawe the last Duddha atuillro enlightcnuullt under a b3nym tree (Ficus rtfigiosa)

11-pound

56 57 THE WORLD

covered with grit willluvc to study anxiollsly to avoid a disshyagrcoblc outcOme Equally unhappy is me Illall who tries [ 0

catch twO 6sh and loses both Aggravation is of twO kinds one makes the people wone off

and the other adds insu1t to injury People who arc disutisficd with their life often yearn for a change expecting m improveshyment When it comes more often than not it brings contrary results which they h2VC not bargained for The proverb The old monk clouted the monastery boys only Ollce but the new monk clouts them twice iJJumatcs not on1y tltis point but also it gives insight into the mind of a llurmm he is suspicious of the new order The saying hlS been used every time a new ruler or government has turned out to be worse than the old oll e In some cases a perSOIl in pcrillooks fo r help from the quarter where he expected to get it but the would-be rescuer proves to he more dangerolls than the peril There are Illany provcrbs to show that misfontUlc never comcs singly and that fortune smiles On the favoured and frowns upon the unlucky Many Dmmcse lludshydhists accept these mischances with equanimity as their lot while others blune the world for Sllch inequities

The proverbs have so far projected 2Jl image of the world ill an unfavourable light it has more faults than virtues Nevertheshyless those headed The Diter Bit prove that the world seldom leiS the unscrupulous and immoral go scot free A biter is U5wlly bitten in the end A Sl1lMt individwl is bound to meet his match ultimately Karma whether taken in the sense of a dynamic or a static force scenu to have a hand in aU the alfairs of the world

KARMA

KARMA

Karma is tlx mother alld karma is [hi Jalblr Z49 Karma is supreme

A lIIan dots not lose his life if the time at tvhicb he is faud to die bas flOt arrived [Z50 lIe that is born to be hanged shallncver be drowned

He will be poor lJOoever intelligent IN may be if ht has tlO

karma [ZSI

If the gale of karma blows a 1IIOlllltaill of rock will be blown away [252

Whereller be Jamsel of i1110rtulle gou there the rain follows [253

One CUUlot CSCOlpc ones karma

When circutntanccs arefallourable water willjlow IIpbill [254

Tlx fi1lf1re price Ivill befixeJ in IIxJlftflrt Itll it at tIN current prjet [255 Let the future look after itself

Tbt mouth cbiselltd by a divine being and not by a buman heing [25 6

If a mortlr made by human hands gets rice from time to time a hunun mouth made by divine power is worthy of a regular supply of fooo

A lucky tiger While its running itjnJs a Jeer [257

At he pr0ptr lime the tbin ox will Icick [258

Wait and sec (

58 TII5 WORLD

5awkr Mcame king without aspiring to it [259 Sawkc a d istaut relative was compclJcd by circunutal1CCS [0

accep t the throne when the king died Sec Hm Yaz i PmiddotWmiddot

A worthless mall blames his karma [ 60 bullA bul w orkma n blames his tools

Do no tftaJ on a Ixap of thorns btCQIlIt you have faith in your kamn [261

WJJt fe thert art bold tigers about you art not justified in blaming yor fait [62 D on t take urUlcccSsary risks by relying too much 011 your

karma

Karma watcher over your property yOlr intelligtnce walChes OVir YOII lif [263

VICI SSITUDES

Somtimts poorl sOltlttimtS rich [264

Strong currents one moment slack water the ltxt [65 Hard time an d e3sy time

Tx top of a pinnacle now firt wood soon [266

First lbt hart was ahead and then the hound [67 One day tbt stump s bightr next Jay its tlx grars [ 68

Every dog has h is day

J will wait nsd the bush amI sbarptn my horns [ 69 Ill strike when my tum comes

VICl SSlTUD5 S 59

Waiting in the sun for tbe swelt to (ome [270 There is no summer without wintt~r

COINCIDEN CE

jllJt as you arrilled my bullock aisopptarrd [271

Jllst as tlx palmnut f ell the crow Itrpptd Oil it [272

Jllst wlxn Ix wants to cry you tau him [273 Gi vc him a pretext for doing what he wants to do

A blina fowl came lipan tbe rierpot [274 ItS l Auke

Jllst when tbe eggplant is tbin tlt kllift is blunt [275 Said of a diffte ult situation which arises just w hcn one is

powerless to ckal with it When 1Il egg- plant shrivels its skin beconles very to ugh and cannOt easily be cm

DELIGHT

A tbirsty man falls into a wtll [276

Sending to Toungoo aperson who is f ond of betdnut [2n Fate gives a helping hand TOlUlgOO a [OWl in Burm3

abounds in betel-nut palms

Dropping tlx Cula tortoise in tlx water [278 A council of ministers discu5-SCd the sevcrest form of plUlishshy

mcnt which could be imposed lIpon the Cuia con oise and at the suggestion of a stupid minister it was dropped into the river Yamuna See che l iiaka vi p 83

Lttting an alligator loose in lbe waler [279

61 60 TIl E WORLD

To 1X)(d an old JOJ on a lroJb [280

As YOII art jaud to (at (henry) bus swarm in your biard [281

Appoillting a thief 10 a lrUJlttsbip tmploying a witch to roast meat [282 He 5CU the (ox to keep the geese

Going with Q pocka1 and pami to a ploct whfrc tbat art tb itVfJ [283

He uarcbts for a WOHOII wba bas bun aivorud atd hi finh a woman who has divorced IJer husband 284

DISILLUSIONMENT

J IJav~ worn pinchbeck mistaking it for gold [285 A man fmds Out that a person he had been holding in high

esteem hls (ect of day

Thinking that it was a relic of tbe BIddha we pllt it on a stand and worsbipped it Only when it UfOS actually on the stand did we realize that it lVas a kaJcin seed [286 Knl~jn seed isl Mollica bean

SUPpoJinl that it war Q pagoda I adored it only when a monilor lizard ran Oflt did 1 TfaZ( that it IVas an tint

hill 1287 bull

f lOUt him (my doughltT) in marria~f thinking that bt was a chcttyar only at dOWl1 did I realize that Ix was a lor brothe [288

Both the rllyar and thc lay-brother have shaven hcads lJIltL wear white clothes but wllyars arc bankers ampom South India and lay-brothers arc mendicants

DIS ILLUSIONMENT

Jllst as 1 Wtl$ praising Illy claugbttrs discretion out she comt ridtQcoeJehorSt on the wooden spoon [289

She let her parent down

He was all right while bt was sitting only wbtn Ix Iot up did I realjze bt WIZS lame (290 I-Ie showed himsdfup by doing something t1l t he ollght not

to

Why Ix claims to bt tbe consecrator of the fivtStorira lIIonos[ery in jact )(j merdy a tOllt for the monk from there [29T

INCONGRUITY

Tbe price of th book (good) is great tboll tb price of th elphant [292

The accessories cost morc Ihan the l1lain itelll

A pc of erit a viss af hell (sill) [293

On lit and viss sec No 8z

As tbe chickn was ill Ix (onwited 411 astrologer and IIDI told ta sacrifice a bllffalo [294

Using all irol bar to crack a boilrJ ro [295

To break a butterfl y on the wheel

Attacbing a mousts rars to a hog [296

Ill-matched

A monk bas no concern witb a comb [297

Bccause hc has a shwcn head

62 THE WORLD

The loinclotb is tucked up where there aft no buttocks [298 Du-king up the wrong trec

He cbeps at ont piau and it is cut at anotber 299

TIN bank at NyaunJ U colJapsrd and tbt (OW at Sompanago Jol a broke back [lOO

Said of people who a fC affected by events flf removed from them

San Pa (a ilion) claims to have been shoved aboul by the crowd allbough he bas 01 bt 10 Ibt public bov [lOI

A lame ttlan trying to climb toddy palms is Oftt df pIau []02

An incompetent penon takin g 011 a fOfmidahlc task

Putting goods 011 the royal barge []03 T he foyal barge was all enormous bOlt of $[Itc in which the

king IlslIllly lIIade his j OlinIcys 011 [he river

Gilding and bedecking with gellls the ovftlbri(ki r304

When diamonds are being sold the wbaccdstalk merchant is in Ibt way Worthless people meddling ill serious business

[l05

The lame alonJ

dog gets in the way of a good sImI as it runs [l06

Rat droppings mixed with riuojJerings Useless stuff among valuable objects

[lO

His mOflth says Buddha Buddha bllt his band acts contrarj wi [l08 A fake

Travellilfg by raft and yet tbirsty [309

INCONCRUITY 6l

Goint to plougb and forgetting tbt oule ll10

TiN desire to 1011gb is stronger than tbe dtsire to wetp [311 A misfortune that arou$I$ bughtcr uthcr than sympathy

PARADOX

Tht SOli is ont month older tbon his fotbt [JI A SOil is trying to be ckvcrcr than his f1thcr

Tbt Ixmow sticks out in front of the brillock [JIJ Often Solid to impertincnt young pcople

The monkey chasing the owner of a hillsidefarm [l) 4 fox chases hounds

TlJe tbiif cries Man Mall lJI5 He Jot 10 btd asl yel fall asleep firsl [l16

Tht frog that h roarted last is cooked first [l17

Sbe was born last yel sbe wants to bt called Miss First [3 I 8 Said of people who act out of their turn

Btore be buomts proficimt ill tht goldsmiths art bt learns bow 100Itai JoiJ ll19 J Ie tries to walk before he can cnwlmiddot

He has strticheJ his legs brfore he~I sat down [l20

Searching for a lillie before bt gets tIN bare [J21 Putting the cart before the horse

Wanting to return to tbe seCflar life before YOII ave bUll initiated (into the Order) [J22

64 TH E WORLD

YOllt mOlltb is already sticky btfore you bave tbe cbo1lu to t01ft tbt I OUp r323

Counting ones chich-ns before they arc hatched

Yearningor his Qllnt rather tball bis mother [J24

He who bar 110 pa-llSo says Sit so (IXlt you do not show YO Ig lJ25 The pot calling the kettle black See note 011 plJ-n$O p 17

The homman wi asks for help from the pltdtslrian [)26

You humbly apologize to him ollIy after you bavt slapped his head lJ27 Apology after insult

Looking flY a pupil be finds a teacher [)28

Lookingfat agood blanki be fomld a phlan lree [J29 A very coarse cloth is obtained from the bArk of phaan

trecs

He waf at Meza without having been exiled [330 Meza vlS 2 penal settlement in n ordl Burma

UNTOW ARD IN C IDENTS

Defirillg benefit I pollred banyanwater but caught fix joh cf (orrying tbe drumf [331 Applied to the penalty brought 011 oneself from hc1ping

others

His tlJigb waf broken because bt planted a bodhi tree [332 Th e Bodhi is a sacred banyan trcc Sec the explanatory note

011 the Sicrt(1 banyan tree p 55

UNTOWAUD I NC ID ENTS 65

He st~lmd a pot of gold because Ix broke (the brallch of) a ($0lt1) banyan 1m [JJJ

Brrolst he wanted to btcome ajrbomt be bad tiN figure of a (al tattootd on him but tbi ink ntertly added to bis weiJbt (334 Said of something which is more of a liability Ib~t an usct

Wanting to have delectable food J joiled on orcbestra but bad to pay five upres bUQlIst I troJ on an oxJe [335

ExpdSitlJ in the Sflll a perfon 1lJ)() likes to be eMI [336

BectuSt tlx wild ox tossed him be arrived on tilt hllsh [337 Blessi ng in disguise

DILEMMA AND QUANDARY

Like Ollt who by clMnee Wf taken hoJ of a tigers tailafraid eitlm to hold 011 or to let go [338 Between the devil and the deep SC2 Cf He who ridcs 2

tiger cant dismount Chinese proverb

Padaingjmit if squf(zed ill the hami pricks you if eaten~ maw you mad [JJ9 To be on the horns of a dilemma

If you pUfh fonvard you mete tlx yokf ifYOll draw backwarar you hil fht crofsheam of llx (arl [340

Af to eatil1g it welI it if (overed with grit bllt Of to tbrowinJ it away well it it rich and IUfdouf l34l

1 bave 110 money to pay (the debt) and 110 land to abscond to [342

Whtl1 I work for l1Iy living tlx raiM are scanty wben 1 fteal (at y living the dog bark [J4J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

58 TII5 WORLD

5awkr Mcame king without aspiring to it [259 Sawkc a d istaut relative was compclJcd by circunutal1CCS [0

accep t the throne when the king died Sec Hm Yaz i PmiddotWmiddot

A worthless mall blames his karma [ 60 bullA bul w orkma n blames his tools

Do no tftaJ on a Ixap of thorns btCQIlIt you have faith in your kamn [261

WJJt fe thert art bold tigers about you art not justified in blaming yor fait [62 D on t take urUlcccSsary risks by relying too much 011 your

karma

Karma watcher over your property yOlr intelligtnce walChes OVir YOII lif [263

VICI SSITUDES

Somtimts poorl sOltlttimtS rich [264

Strong currents one moment slack water the ltxt [65 Hard time an d e3sy time

Tx top of a pinnacle now firt wood soon [266

First lbt hart was ahead and then the hound [67 One day tbt stump s bightr next Jay its tlx grars [ 68

Every dog has h is day

J will wait nsd the bush amI sbarptn my horns [ 69 Ill strike when my tum comes

VICl SSlTUD5 S 59

Waiting in the sun for tbe swelt to (ome [270 There is no summer without wintt~r

COINCIDEN CE

jllJt as you arrilled my bullock aisopptarrd [271

Jllst as tlx palmnut f ell the crow Itrpptd Oil it [272

Jllst wlxn Ix wants to cry you tau him [273 Gi vc him a pretext for doing what he wants to do

A blina fowl came lipan tbe rierpot [274 ItS l Auke

Jllst when tbe eggplant is tbin tlt kllift is blunt [275 Said of a diffte ult situation which arises just w hcn one is

powerless to ckal with it When 1Il egg- plant shrivels its skin beconles very to ugh and cannOt easily be cm

DELIGHT

A tbirsty man falls into a wtll [276

Sending to Toungoo aperson who is f ond of betdnut [2n Fate gives a helping hand TOlUlgOO a [OWl in Burm3

abounds in betel-nut palms

Dropping tlx Cula tortoise in tlx water [278 A council of ministers discu5-SCd the sevcrest form of plUlishshy

mcnt which could be imposed lIpon the Cuia con oise and at the suggestion of a stupid minister it was dropped into the river Yamuna See che l iiaka vi p 83

Lttting an alligator loose in lbe waler [279

61 60 TIl E WORLD

To 1X)(d an old JOJ on a lroJb [280

As YOII art jaud to (at (henry) bus swarm in your biard [281

Appoillting a thief 10 a lrUJlttsbip tmploying a witch to roast meat [282 He 5CU the (ox to keep the geese

Going with Q pocka1 and pami to a ploct whfrc tbat art tb itVfJ [283

He uarcbts for a WOHOII wba bas bun aivorud atd hi finh a woman who has divorced IJer husband 284

DISILLUSIONMENT

J IJav~ worn pinchbeck mistaking it for gold [285 A man fmds Out that a person he had been holding in high

esteem hls (ect of day

Thinking that it was a relic of tbe BIddha we pllt it on a stand and worsbipped it Only when it UfOS actually on the stand did we realize that it lVas a kaJcin seed [286 Knl~jn seed isl Mollica bean

SUPpoJinl that it war Q pagoda I adored it only when a monilor lizard ran Oflt did 1 TfaZ( that it IVas an tint

hill 1287 bull

f lOUt him (my doughltT) in marria~f thinking that bt was a chcttyar only at dOWl1 did I realize that Ix was a lor brothe [288

Both the rllyar and thc lay-brother have shaven hcads lJIltL wear white clothes but wllyars arc bankers ampom South India and lay-brothers arc mendicants

DIS ILLUSIONMENT

Jllst as 1 Wtl$ praising Illy claugbttrs discretion out she comt ridtQcoeJehorSt on the wooden spoon [289

She let her parent down

He was all right while bt was sitting only wbtn Ix Iot up did I realjze bt WIZS lame (290 I-Ie showed himsdfup by doing something t1l t he ollght not

to

Why Ix claims to bt tbe consecrator of the fivtStorira lIIonos[ery in jact )(j merdy a tOllt for the monk from there [29T

INCONGRUITY

Tbe price of th book (good) is great tboll tb price of th elphant [292

The accessories cost morc Ihan the l1lain itelll

A pc of erit a viss af hell (sill) [293

On lit and viss sec No 8z

As tbe chickn was ill Ix (onwited 411 astrologer and IIDI told ta sacrifice a bllffalo [294

Using all irol bar to crack a boilrJ ro [295

To break a butterfl y on the wheel

Attacbing a mousts rars to a hog [296

Ill-matched

A monk bas no concern witb a comb [297

Bccause hc has a shwcn head

62 THE WORLD

The loinclotb is tucked up where there aft no buttocks [298 Du-king up the wrong trec

He cbeps at ont piau and it is cut at anotber 299

TIN bank at NyaunJ U colJapsrd and tbt (OW at Sompanago Jol a broke back [lOO

Said of people who a fC affected by events flf removed from them

San Pa (a ilion) claims to have been shoved aboul by the crowd allbough he bas 01 bt 10 Ibt public bov [lOI

A lame ttlan trying to climb toddy palms is Oftt df pIau []02

An incompetent penon takin g 011 a fOfmidahlc task

Putting goods 011 the royal barge []03 T he foyal barge was all enormous bOlt of $[Itc in which the

king IlslIllly lIIade his j OlinIcys 011 [he river

Gilding and bedecking with gellls the ovftlbri(ki r304

When diamonds are being sold the wbaccdstalk merchant is in Ibt way Worthless people meddling ill serious business

[l05

The lame alonJ

dog gets in the way of a good sImI as it runs [l06

Rat droppings mixed with riuojJerings Useless stuff among valuable objects

[lO

His mOflth says Buddha Buddha bllt his band acts contrarj wi [l08 A fake

Travellilfg by raft and yet tbirsty [309

INCONCRUITY 6l

Goint to plougb and forgetting tbt oule ll10

TiN desire to 1011gb is stronger than tbe dtsire to wetp [311 A misfortune that arou$I$ bughtcr uthcr than sympathy

PARADOX

Tht SOli is ont month older tbon his fotbt [JI A SOil is trying to be ckvcrcr than his f1thcr

Tbt Ixmow sticks out in front of the brillock [JIJ Often Solid to impertincnt young pcople

The monkey chasing the owner of a hillsidefarm [l) 4 fox chases hounds

TlJe tbiif cries Man Mall lJI5 He Jot 10 btd asl yel fall asleep firsl [l16

Tht frog that h roarted last is cooked first [l17

Sbe was born last yel sbe wants to bt called Miss First [3 I 8 Said of people who act out of their turn

Btore be buomts proficimt ill tht goldsmiths art bt learns bow 100Itai JoiJ ll19 J Ie tries to walk before he can cnwlmiddot

He has strticheJ his legs brfore he~I sat down [l20

Searching for a lillie before bt gets tIN bare [J21 Putting the cart before the horse

Wanting to return to tbe seCflar life before YOII ave bUll initiated (into the Order) [J22

64 TH E WORLD

YOllt mOlltb is already sticky btfore you bave tbe cbo1lu to t01ft tbt I OUp r323

Counting ones chich-ns before they arc hatched

Yearningor his Qllnt rather tball bis mother [J24

He who bar 110 pa-llSo says Sit so (IXlt you do not show YO Ig lJ25 The pot calling the kettle black See note 011 plJ-n$O p 17

The homman wi asks for help from the pltdtslrian [)26

You humbly apologize to him ollIy after you bavt slapped his head lJ27 Apology after insult

Looking flY a pupil be finds a teacher [)28

Lookingfat agood blanki be fomld a phlan lree [J29 A very coarse cloth is obtained from the bArk of phaan

trecs

He waf at Meza without having been exiled [330 Meza vlS 2 penal settlement in n ordl Burma

UNTOW ARD IN C IDENTS

Defirillg benefit I pollred banyanwater but caught fix joh cf (orrying tbe drumf [331 Applied to the penalty brought 011 oneself from hc1ping

others

His tlJigb waf broken because bt planted a bodhi tree [332 Th e Bodhi is a sacred banyan trcc Sec the explanatory note

011 the Sicrt(1 banyan tree p 55

UNTOWAUD I NC ID ENTS 65

He st~lmd a pot of gold because Ix broke (the brallch of) a ($0lt1) banyan 1m [JJJ

Brrolst he wanted to btcome ajrbomt be bad tiN figure of a (al tattootd on him but tbi ink ntertly added to bis weiJbt (334 Said of something which is more of a liability Ib~t an usct

Wanting to have delectable food J joiled on orcbestra but bad to pay five upres bUQlIst I troJ on an oxJe [335

ExpdSitlJ in the Sflll a perfon 1lJ)() likes to be eMI [336

BectuSt tlx wild ox tossed him be arrived on tilt hllsh [337 Blessi ng in disguise

DILEMMA AND QUANDARY

Like Ollt who by clMnee Wf taken hoJ of a tigers tailafraid eitlm to hold 011 or to let go [338 Between the devil and the deep SC2 Cf He who ridcs 2

tiger cant dismount Chinese proverb

Padaingjmit if squf(zed ill the hami pricks you if eaten~ maw you mad [JJ9 To be on the horns of a dilemma

If you pUfh fonvard you mete tlx yokf ifYOll draw backwarar you hil fht crofsheam of llx (arl [340

Af to eatil1g it welI it if (overed with grit bllt Of to tbrowinJ it away well it it rich and IUfdouf l34l

1 bave 110 money to pay (the debt) and 110 land to abscond to [342

Whtl1 I work for l1Iy living tlx raiM are scanty wben 1 fteal (at y living the dog bark [J4J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

61 60 TIl E WORLD

To 1X)(d an old JOJ on a lroJb [280

As YOII art jaud to (at (henry) bus swarm in your biard [281

Appoillting a thief 10 a lrUJlttsbip tmploying a witch to roast meat [282 He 5CU the (ox to keep the geese

Going with Q pocka1 and pami to a ploct whfrc tbat art tb itVfJ [283

He uarcbts for a WOHOII wba bas bun aivorud atd hi finh a woman who has divorced IJer husband 284

DISILLUSIONMENT

J IJav~ worn pinchbeck mistaking it for gold [285 A man fmds Out that a person he had been holding in high

esteem hls (ect of day

Thinking that it was a relic of tbe BIddha we pllt it on a stand and worsbipped it Only when it UfOS actually on the stand did we realize that it lVas a kaJcin seed [286 Knl~jn seed isl Mollica bean

SUPpoJinl that it war Q pagoda I adored it only when a monilor lizard ran Oflt did 1 TfaZ( that it IVas an tint

hill 1287 bull

f lOUt him (my doughltT) in marria~f thinking that bt was a chcttyar only at dOWl1 did I realize that Ix was a lor brothe [288

Both the rllyar and thc lay-brother have shaven hcads lJIltL wear white clothes but wllyars arc bankers ampom South India and lay-brothers arc mendicants

DIS ILLUSIONMENT

Jllst as 1 Wtl$ praising Illy claugbttrs discretion out she comt ridtQcoeJehorSt on the wooden spoon [289

She let her parent down

He was all right while bt was sitting only wbtn Ix Iot up did I realjze bt WIZS lame (290 I-Ie showed himsdfup by doing something t1l t he ollght not

to

Why Ix claims to bt tbe consecrator of the fivtStorira lIIonos[ery in jact )(j merdy a tOllt for the monk from there [29T

INCONGRUITY

Tbe price of th book (good) is great tboll tb price of th elphant [292

The accessories cost morc Ihan the l1lain itelll

A pc of erit a viss af hell (sill) [293

On lit and viss sec No 8z

As tbe chickn was ill Ix (onwited 411 astrologer and IIDI told ta sacrifice a bllffalo [294

Using all irol bar to crack a boilrJ ro [295

To break a butterfl y on the wheel

Attacbing a mousts rars to a hog [296

Ill-matched

A monk bas no concern witb a comb [297

Bccause hc has a shwcn head

62 THE WORLD

The loinclotb is tucked up where there aft no buttocks [298 Du-king up the wrong trec

He cbeps at ont piau and it is cut at anotber 299

TIN bank at NyaunJ U colJapsrd and tbt (OW at Sompanago Jol a broke back [lOO

Said of people who a fC affected by events flf removed from them

San Pa (a ilion) claims to have been shoved aboul by the crowd allbough he bas 01 bt 10 Ibt public bov [lOI

A lame ttlan trying to climb toddy palms is Oftt df pIau []02

An incompetent penon takin g 011 a fOfmidahlc task

Putting goods 011 the royal barge []03 T he foyal barge was all enormous bOlt of $[Itc in which the

king IlslIllly lIIade his j OlinIcys 011 [he river

Gilding and bedecking with gellls the ovftlbri(ki r304

When diamonds are being sold the wbaccdstalk merchant is in Ibt way Worthless people meddling ill serious business

[l05

The lame alonJ

dog gets in the way of a good sImI as it runs [l06

Rat droppings mixed with riuojJerings Useless stuff among valuable objects

[lO

His mOflth says Buddha Buddha bllt his band acts contrarj wi [l08 A fake

Travellilfg by raft and yet tbirsty [309

INCONCRUITY 6l

Goint to plougb and forgetting tbt oule ll10

TiN desire to 1011gb is stronger than tbe dtsire to wetp [311 A misfortune that arou$I$ bughtcr uthcr than sympathy

PARADOX

Tht SOli is ont month older tbon his fotbt [JI A SOil is trying to be ckvcrcr than his f1thcr

Tbt Ixmow sticks out in front of the brillock [JIJ Often Solid to impertincnt young pcople

The monkey chasing the owner of a hillsidefarm [l) 4 fox chases hounds

TlJe tbiif cries Man Mall lJI5 He Jot 10 btd asl yel fall asleep firsl [l16

Tht frog that h roarted last is cooked first [l17

Sbe was born last yel sbe wants to bt called Miss First [3 I 8 Said of people who act out of their turn

Btore be buomts proficimt ill tht goldsmiths art bt learns bow 100Itai JoiJ ll19 J Ie tries to walk before he can cnwlmiddot

He has strticheJ his legs brfore he~I sat down [l20

Searching for a lillie before bt gets tIN bare [J21 Putting the cart before the horse

Wanting to return to tbe seCflar life before YOII ave bUll initiated (into the Order) [J22

64 TH E WORLD

YOllt mOlltb is already sticky btfore you bave tbe cbo1lu to t01ft tbt I OUp r323

Counting ones chich-ns before they arc hatched

Yearningor his Qllnt rather tball bis mother [J24

He who bar 110 pa-llSo says Sit so (IXlt you do not show YO Ig lJ25 The pot calling the kettle black See note 011 plJ-n$O p 17

The homman wi asks for help from the pltdtslrian [)26

You humbly apologize to him ollIy after you bavt slapped his head lJ27 Apology after insult

Looking flY a pupil be finds a teacher [)28

Lookingfat agood blanki be fomld a phlan lree [J29 A very coarse cloth is obtained from the bArk of phaan

trecs

He waf at Meza without having been exiled [330 Meza vlS 2 penal settlement in n ordl Burma

UNTOW ARD IN C IDENTS

Defirillg benefit I pollred banyanwater but caught fix joh cf (orrying tbe drumf [331 Applied to the penalty brought 011 oneself from hc1ping

others

His tlJigb waf broken because bt planted a bodhi tree [332 Th e Bodhi is a sacred banyan trcc Sec the explanatory note

011 the Sicrt(1 banyan tree p 55

UNTOWAUD I NC ID ENTS 65

He st~lmd a pot of gold because Ix broke (the brallch of) a ($0lt1) banyan 1m [JJJ

Brrolst he wanted to btcome ajrbomt be bad tiN figure of a (al tattootd on him but tbi ink ntertly added to bis weiJbt (334 Said of something which is more of a liability Ib~t an usct

Wanting to have delectable food J joiled on orcbestra but bad to pay five upres bUQlIst I troJ on an oxJe [335

ExpdSitlJ in the Sflll a perfon 1lJ)() likes to be eMI [336

BectuSt tlx wild ox tossed him be arrived on tilt hllsh [337 Blessi ng in disguise

DILEMMA AND QUANDARY

Like Ollt who by clMnee Wf taken hoJ of a tigers tailafraid eitlm to hold 011 or to let go [338 Between the devil and the deep SC2 Cf He who ridcs 2

tiger cant dismount Chinese proverb

Padaingjmit if squf(zed ill the hami pricks you if eaten~ maw you mad [JJ9 To be on the horns of a dilemma

If you pUfh fonvard you mete tlx yokf ifYOll draw backwarar you hil fht crofsheam of llx (arl [340

Af to eatil1g it welI it if (overed with grit bllt Of to tbrowinJ it away well it it rich and IUfdouf l34l

1 bave 110 money to pay (the debt) and 110 land to abscond to [342

Whtl1 I work for l1Iy living tlx raiM are scanty wben 1 fteal (at y living the dog bark [J4J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

62 THE WORLD

The loinclotb is tucked up where there aft no buttocks [298 Du-king up the wrong trec

He cbeps at ont piau and it is cut at anotber 299

TIN bank at NyaunJ U colJapsrd and tbt (OW at Sompanago Jol a broke back [lOO

Said of people who a fC affected by events flf removed from them

San Pa (a ilion) claims to have been shoved aboul by the crowd allbough he bas 01 bt 10 Ibt public bov [lOI

A lame ttlan trying to climb toddy palms is Oftt df pIau []02

An incompetent penon takin g 011 a fOfmidahlc task

Putting goods 011 the royal barge []03 T he foyal barge was all enormous bOlt of $[Itc in which the

king IlslIllly lIIade his j OlinIcys 011 [he river

Gilding and bedecking with gellls the ovftlbri(ki r304

When diamonds are being sold the wbaccdstalk merchant is in Ibt way Worthless people meddling ill serious business

[l05

The lame alonJ

dog gets in the way of a good sImI as it runs [l06

Rat droppings mixed with riuojJerings Useless stuff among valuable objects

[lO

His mOflth says Buddha Buddha bllt his band acts contrarj wi [l08 A fake

Travellilfg by raft and yet tbirsty [309

INCONCRUITY 6l

Goint to plougb and forgetting tbt oule ll10

TiN desire to 1011gb is stronger than tbe dtsire to wetp [311 A misfortune that arou$I$ bughtcr uthcr than sympathy

PARADOX

Tht SOli is ont month older tbon his fotbt [JI A SOil is trying to be ckvcrcr than his f1thcr

Tbt Ixmow sticks out in front of the brillock [JIJ Often Solid to impertincnt young pcople

The monkey chasing the owner of a hillsidefarm [l) 4 fox chases hounds

TlJe tbiif cries Man Mall lJI5 He Jot 10 btd asl yel fall asleep firsl [l16

Tht frog that h roarted last is cooked first [l17

Sbe was born last yel sbe wants to bt called Miss First [3 I 8 Said of people who act out of their turn

Btore be buomts proficimt ill tht goldsmiths art bt learns bow 100Itai JoiJ ll19 J Ie tries to walk before he can cnwlmiddot

He has strticheJ his legs brfore he~I sat down [l20

Searching for a lillie before bt gets tIN bare [J21 Putting the cart before the horse

Wanting to return to tbe seCflar life before YOII ave bUll initiated (into the Order) [J22

64 TH E WORLD

YOllt mOlltb is already sticky btfore you bave tbe cbo1lu to t01ft tbt I OUp r323

Counting ones chich-ns before they arc hatched

Yearningor his Qllnt rather tball bis mother [J24

He who bar 110 pa-llSo says Sit so (IXlt you do not show YO Ig lJ25 The pot calling the kettle black See note 011 plJ-n$O p 17

The homman wi asks for help from the pltdtslrian [)26

You humbly apologize to him ollIy after you bavt slapped his head lJ27 Apology after insult

Looking flY a pupil be finds a teacher [)28

Lookingfat agood blanki be fomld a phlan lree [J29 A very coarse cloth is obtained from the bArk of phaan

trecs

He waf at Meza without having been exiled [330 Meza vlS 2 penal settlement in n ordl Burma

UNTOW ARD IN C IDENTS

Defirillg benefit I pollred banyanwater but caught fix joh cf (orrying tbe drumf [331 Applied to the penalty brought 011 oneself from hc1ping

others

His tlJigb waf broken because bt planted a bodhi tree [332 Th e Bodhi is a sacred banyan trcc Sec the explanatory note

011 the Sicrt(1 banyan tree p 55

UNTOWAUD I NC ID ENTS 65

He st~lmd a pot of gold because Ix broke (the brallch of) a ($0lt1) banyan 1m [JJJ

Brrolst he wanted to btcome ajrbomt be bad tiN figure of a (al tattootd on him but tbi ink ntertly added to bis weiJbt (334 Said of something which is more of a liability Ib~t an usct

Wanting to have delectable food J joiled on orcbestra but bad to pay five upres bUQlIst I troJ on an oxJe [335

ExpdSitlJ in the Sflll a perfon 1lJ)() likes to be eMI [336

BectuSt tlx wild ox tossed him be arrived on tilt hllsh [337 Blessi ng in disguise

DILEMMA AND QUANDARY

Like Ollt who by clMnee Wf taken hoJ of a tigers tailafraid eitlm to hold 011 or to let go [338 Between the devil and the deep SC2 Cf He who ridcs 2

tiger cant dismount Chinese proverb

Padaingjmit if squf(zed ill the hami pricks you if eaten~ maw you mad [JJ9 To be on the horns of a dilemma

If you pUfh fonvard you mete tlx yokf ifYOll draw backwarar you hil fht crofsheam of llx (arl [340

Af to eatil1g it welI it if (overed with grit bllt Of to tbrowinJ it away well it it rich and IUfdouf l34l

1 bave 110 money to pay (the debt) and 110 land to abscond to [342

Whtl1 I work for l1Iy living tlx raiM are scanty wben 1 fteal (at y living the dog bark [J4J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

64 TH E WORLD

YOllt mOlltb is already sticky btfore you bave tbe cbo1lu to t01ft tbt I OUp r323

Counting ones chich-ns before they arc hatched

Yearningor his Qllnt rather tball bis mother [J24

He who bar 110 pa-llSo says Sit so (IXlt you do not show YO Ig lJ25 The pot calling the kettle black See note 011 plJ-n$O p 17

The homman wi asks for help from the pltdtslrian [)26

You humbly apologize to him ollIy after you bavt slapped his head lJ27 Apology after insult

Looking flY a pupil be finds a teacher [)28

Lookingfat agood blanki be fomld a phlan lree [J29 A very coarse cloth is obtained from the bArk of phaan

trecs

He waf at Meza without having been exiled [330 Meza vlS 2 penal settlement in n ordl Burma

UNTOW ARD IN C IDENTS

Defirillg benefit I pollred banyanwater but caught fix joh cf (orrying tbe drumf [331 Applied to the penalty brought 011 oneself from hc1ping

others

His tlJigb waf broken because bt planted a bodhi tree [332 Th e Bodhi is a sacred banyan trcc Sec the explanatory note

011 the Sicrt(1 banyan tree p 55

UNTOWAUD I NC ID ENTS 65

He st~lmd a pot of gold because Ix broke (the brallch of) a ($0lt1) banyan 1m [JJJ

Brrolst he wanted to btcome ajrbomt be bad tiN figure of a (al tattootd on him but tbi ink ntertly added to bis weiJbt (334 Said of something which is more of a liability Ib~t an usct

Wanting to have delectable food J joiled on orcbestra but bad to pay five upres bUQlIst I troJ on an oxJe [335

ExpdSitlJ in the Sflll a perfon 1lJ)() likes to be eMI [336

BectuSt tlx wild ox tossed him be arrived on tilt hllsh [337 Blessi ng in disguise

DILEMMA AND QUANDARY

Like Ollt who by clMnee Wf taken hoJ of a tigers tailafraid eitlm to hold 011 or to let go [338 Between the devil and the deep SC2 Cf He who ridcs 2

tiger cant dismount Chinese proverb

Padaingjmit if squf(zed ill the hami pricks you if eaten~ maw you mad [JJ9 To be on the horns of a dilemma

If you pUfh fonvard you mete tlx yokf ifYOll draw backwarar you hil fht crofsheam of llx (arl [340

Af to eatil1g it welI it if (overed with grit bllt Of to tbrowinJ it away well it it rich and IUfdouf l34l

1 bave 110 money to pay (the debt) and 110 land to abscond to [342

Whtl1 I work for l1Iy living tlx raiM are scanty wben 1 fteal (at y living the dog bark [J4J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

66 TIlE WORLD

Ht fails to find his rich uncle and in tbe meantime Ix mints tlx frstival of putting tlx umbrella on a pagoda as well [344

To faU between twO stools

He JotS Iot catcb tbt monitor lizard and Ix bas lost his bopper [l4S

TIN oar bolu while Jbe boat was toing well [l46

His $U(($rj1 notu wert spoilt by the noise of Ding dOHimiddot [l47 W hen a lunatic who was pointing out where treasures were

buried realized that people were taking down notes he distracted their attention by shouting Ding-dong

WORSE OFF

The old monk clouud OHU hut the Hew monk clouts twiu [348

Maung Pa Lt tIlt newcomer is worse than tilt Minister of Sbjds [349 8etter the devil you know than the devil you dont know

Only witb a flew mler do YOIt realize the value of the old [350

Woe to tIlt river wbtn a monitor lizard beCOlHes an aUiJa tor ilSI In DUrIncsc folklore (he monitor lizard which has l tongue

3lld so 3 scm e of taste and can enjoy irs food is able to turn iudf ill to 311 alligator wheras l crocodile has no tongue and eau only to fi ll its belly Usnally lpplicd to men oflow birth OCCUpyitlg high positions Once they have l rute of power they will stop at nothing and those under diem often slIffer

WORSE O Ff 67

Being afraid of the tigtr be laktr refuge with the Lord Spirit but tbe Lord Spirit is wom than the tiger l3S2

Like the fiotludcr outof the frying-pan into the fi re Slrin7lyi lit Lord Spirit is one of the terrestrial supernatural beings whom many Durmms propititc

AGGRAVATI ON

Safe UpOIl sore IlSl Misfortunes never come alone

With the world aftrr the oillamp blazes lip too [3 54

Eczema COUlrs 011 fhr leprous place [m While bring trollbled by snakes he is harassed by centiptdes [356

Adding a pumpkin whell its already u1eigbtd d01l1ll by a gourd 1357 Double dOl1ble toil and troubl 8mh gourd and pumpkin

plantsfr llit o n a frame Whtmiddotn the [ rnlUe is alrtmiddotady weighed down by gourds it Ius to bear the weight of pumpkins 2S

well

The ashchariot Ims arrived for fix monitor lizard prillct 1358 Poverty upon poverty For ilurmans the colours of both

monitor lizard and aihcs denote poverty The jiif(Jka stories relare that in ancient lndb whcn a kingdom WlS left without I king ministers would send out into the streets a dri erless rimal chariot It wollcl wander tllrolgh the streets and stop eVlmiddotntuall y ill front of the future king The tcrm ash-lthario t used here is I plly on this custom

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

68 69 TH E WO llLJ)

Probationers king jew be ried 10 recrllit novices but the tilt laybrotbt reverted to bring a Jaymon It never rains but it pours

l359

TIN brttzt rises wbtrt something is on fire To bring oil to the flft

[360

Servil 4 (oM ilion tuitb watu seltillgjire to a bot man [36r To add insult to injury

The tbirf pClll1lds yot wlX1l rOil bauf Jallfll 1362

Driving a sprar into IOlv grotmd [363 The down-trodden usually gets trodden 011

Pushing a drownin malt still jurtlxT down witb ( bamboo [364 Pour not water on 1 drowunlmousc

Walu itflows tc low grollnd [365 Dont kick a man when he is down

PilUS oj (urrr-meat eo to the man of big) position [3 66 The poor get only rhe grlvy

Emching fix ricb man [367 A variant of t he prccccdillg o ne

I awneJ tbat 1 was frgbuntd yet bt toltcbtd me with tJ

(at [368

ToM to blly sugarcant and SlIck it be bollJ1Jt and at( SllJut potototl [369 Sugar-cane d c3ns ones tocth but a sweet POtl to di rties them

hence he brings trouble upon himsd(

TilE BITER BIT

THE D1TER BIT

Wbtn on( smart imlividual muts QlWtixr bt bar bis nuk s(v(r(4 [370 When Greek meets Greek thcn comes the tug of war

A cnfty crane living neat a pond where the Wltct dried up in summer offered to carry the fish to another pond where water was plentiful T he fish agreed and one by one they were ukcn and eaten by the crane till only a crab waslcft The wily crab agreed to go but he clung round the cranes nock while being carrkd along and severed the cranes head with his pincers when he discovered the poundnnes intention Sec the j iilakn i p 9$

To tonsurt a balJ head [37r

A RllsrrUs viper biUtll by a snokt [372

Tbt sneak wruts it from tbe tbirs band [J7J

Man

The proverbs in this section which is a sequel to the previous one 011 The W orld arc concerned with m el1 Some of these reveal various aspects of mans life and others show m ell the way to adjust themselves to thcir surroundings ill the focm of grim wmungs and pieces of cogtmiddot1It advice

Men toil throughout their life Ul a vain cndc2vou[ to fill nine indlcs ofbclly and to cover eighteen inches of back The avcrshyIgc and he mc(liocrc cal just make both ends meet while the wretched and spendthrift go on fetching water in an open wichr Iraquoskct and the tblc and intdligCIlt accumulate wealth Nevershythelcss the proverbs will have it all these men arc not rcally hlppy those who have money arc worried about it and those who do not have it long for i t

Wealth and poverty which arc frequently identified with success and failure arc oftal thc outcome of mrns actions Living in a suitable place having acquired good karma observshying Illoral conduct Uld possessing virtuous friends says a Ducldhist axiom arc the requirements for success The proverbs howevcr assert tht thrift seizing an opportunity swift aaion and perseverance ue the ingredients Thrift is not merdy saving mOlley it is wise spending and not penny wisc powld foolish Oppornlllity comes o nly once and unless a man stores up the watcr (especially in Upper Bumu) while it rum he is likely to find himsclfin a predicament in time ofnccd Many people not only m iss an opporrunity they arc sometimes caught unprc-shypued like the mm who sharpens his arrows only when the b2ule begins DiluorinC5S like procrastination is the thief o f time Instead of taking opponurllty by the fordock maDY men d1wcUe md let the dlutce pass by Burmaru have a pungent sayillg lbollt such people they arc like a bull which (imtead of

MAN 71

eking on the o ther bull) Illerdy answers nature s call and shupcns its horns To cJlSure success in any lIlIdertaking conshystant rpplication is csscntial and to do things by halves is inconshyceiYlblc to a resolute man whose morto is One IUust be as slow and steady as a Pabung I ifolle wishes to eat the best pickled teashyleavcs Perseverance is I compound of industry and patience MallY weU-disciplincd Burmuu realize that oncs industry is nm rewarded imn lediately especially ifit involves hard labour Their precept and practice in such matters is Clear watcr cannot bc obtained from a wdl tim Ius just been dug

Some Burmans likc to enterrain great expectations and to sct about trying to reach their object without any plan and others sit and wait for it to come The proverbs about SUdl men 2fe all condemnatory He reads writings on trcasllte-trove hoping to find it o r he sits and watches as a paddy-bird watchcs a wrtershyoutlet

People (roln thc W est have describcd the Burmans a being too polite and conscltJ llenrly not spclkiug their minds There is some substance of truth in tili but there is some reasoll for such beshybaviour nllndy tactfulness If a Burman wants flesh he asks for bone lnd he gencrally setS his sail as the w ind blows and acu according to the circuUstrnccs This is of coursc a piece o f hypocrisy to westerners who arc not acquainted with llUfIllCSC

orthodox teachings and homilies which lay Stress on not offendshying omu peoplc lUlIlCCC5S3rily TerminologiClI inc)Octitudcs 2re

permissible if thc mcaru jllstifiltS the cnd and Ourmans will seldom look upon a person w ho uses bhUlt tactics as a InaJl of good breeding

T he proverbs ulvocate tklt llmmUls lction shall match his tlet Appropriatelless is the kcynote of his daily actions Whcre l bradawl is ClUed for to execute a fine piece of w ork a chisel is

1 lalnmI5- 3 t ribe ill north~ast Dumu an expert tCl growers t Another version is He asks for liver bcawc he wma flesh It isa

reference to the story in whidl a man wanted [0 get a piece ofI~t from a huntn w d he got it by asking the hWlter to give him a bone

II P-~

72 MA N

om of place He is also reminded by the proverbs that as many a valuable word is wmcd on d lC wrong car many a good deed is wasted on ut unappreciative nun since me nurrow of a Iioll is too fmc for an euthcllwarc dish it will stay only ill a cup of the fincst goldl And a BUnltan em adapt himself to h is environshyment and acts 25 R ome docs when he is in R ome When he slips he joins the circle of sitting people Th05C who arc not CCTtain of the accepted standard of behaviour a f C advised by the provcrb5 to conform to the popular wish 00 as o thers do when the heavens collapse this is a piece of2dvicc as wclJ 15 a consolashytion given to those who expect exceptional troubles

Prudence 3CCordiug to the proverbs should be a ile of the gtliJ ing principles in ones speech and actiom It is the anti thesis of ilHliscrctioll and excess D iscretion and cauti on are implicit in these proverbs O ne mouthful o f unsuitable food one imprudent step and one illdiscreet word can en danger ones life One cannot be too cautious in what one dOL1 The teeth that Irc to chew for a long t imc must avoid bOllt1 stllns it I l l very well IJldiscreet w ords too arc to be l$Chewed but ifa nun has to usc thelll whcn he speaks u night let him look below when in the day let him look behind to asceccaUl if there is anyollc about T he proverbs lTe quite explicit that to carry tales is unforgiV2ble to keep silence is go lden and to answer No to all kiJ1C1s of enquiries lods tot happy life This is the Burmese counterpart of Sec no evil hear 110 evil speak 110 evil

An enemy of prudalce is excess which is one of the dctdly sins Follow dte middle way says the Duddha Adjust the strings of the harp so that they arc neither loose lIor taut and o nly then w ill melody be achieved Immoderation in love excess ill knowshyledge in industry and ill gcnerosity-211 these hlve disastrous effects and the conseqUt1lCCS of Lntcmpcruue in dressing spcak-

I l1lis s1yillg i~ derived fro m Give car and hearken as if you were fill i11g a tube or gold with lions mjrrowmiddot The aaka i p 4

S ill olden djYs almostlil Dunnese h OU5CS were buil t 0 11 stilts the floor being at least foUl to b ve fect from the ground

M A N 73

ing spcnding and sleeping a fcw of nuns daily activi ties 2re indeed many times w orsc There is a slurp reminder to the Burmms that too much ofa good thing can also be a b2d thing Too rnillly doctors and tOO lUilny wry ingcdicnu in the cooking pot often produce the least expected results As fo r aVl rice which is a form of desiring too much the Dunne5C proverbs are in line with the dlinese and Siamese in censurUlg it Greed toshygether with mgcr and ignoI2Jlcc is the root cause of all the evils of this world-so says Buddhism

If there are undisciplillcd Burnuns it will not be for lad of proverbs on discipline and responsibility Freedom without tllesc f WO spclIs chaos A Roor which has no binding1 defeats its own pllIpose T o enforce d iscipline authority and order is nocessary so long as the world of m Cll is imperfec t Otherwise mice will be at play if the cat is away alld the j ungle cltwill rub h is paws with glee jf the jlUlgle is Oll fuc Those i ll authority tOO ntCd to set a good exalllple fo r if the abbot climbs lip the bliLls tradc ~ay$ onc trenchant proverb the novice wiH go olle bener by climJgt iug OntO the shelf 2bovc the oven

A wag once said TriRcs makc perfoction but perfection is no trifle Perhaps he had in mind the B urmese stock expression Never mind when be was ind u1ging Ul this w itticism Burshymans duough force of habit or ClSu21ness usc the expression even when dIe matter is far from trivial Many Burmese proverbs ulSist that trivial things can give rise to serious consequCllces Even one drop of honey WlS once responsible fo r the destnlction of I

whole kingdom Conversely some proverbs maintain that there arc uivial things which Com be S3fcly ignored Thesc ace of course pcrsoJ11 actions o r things of no consequence SUdl u 2 dogs flo a pinch of sparrows cxcrement and a bullock c1app-r

The p roverbs slate meddlesome individllab md dlCY censure

I 11le DurllCSC floors in olden ID)S were nude of spli t bmboo tied together lt the side ofthe house

SI-c the story )BRS Vol v pt i p Z3

72 MA N

om of place He is also reminded by the proverbs that as many a valuable word is wmcd on d lC wrong car many a good deed is wasted on ut unappreciative nun since me nurrow of a Iioll is too fmc for an euthcllwarc dish it will stay only ill a cup of the fincst goldl And a BUnltan em adapt himself to h is environshyment and acts 25 R ome docs when he is in R ome When he slips he joins the circle of sitting people Th05C who arc not CCTtain of the accepted standard of behaviour a f C advised by the provcrb5 to conform to the popular wish 00 as o thers do when the heavens collapse this is a piece of2dvicc as wclJ 15 a consolashytion given to those who expect exceptional troubles

Prudence 3CCordiug to the proverbs should be a ile of the gtliJ ing principles in ones speech and actiom It is the anti thesis of ilHliscrctioll and excess D iscretion and cauti on are implicit in these proverbs O ne mouthful o f unsuitable food one imprudent step and one illdiscreet word can en danger ones life One cannot be too cautious in what one dOL1 The teeth that Irc to chew for a long t imc must avoid bOllt1 stllns it I l l very well IJldiscreet w ords too arc to be l$Chewed but ifa nun has to usc thelll whcn he speaks u night let him look below when in the day let him look behind to asceccaUl if there is anyollc about T he proverbs lTe quite explicit that to carry tales is unforgiV2ble to keep silence is go lden and to answer No to all kiJ1C1s of enquiries lods tot happy life This is the Burmese counterpart of Sec no evil hear 110 evil speak 110 evil

An enemy of prudalce is excess which is one of the dctdly sins Follow dte middle way says the Duddha Adjust the strings of the harp so that they arc neither loose lIor taut and o nly then w ill melody be achieved Immoderation in love excess ill knowshyledge in industry and ill gcnerosity-211 these hlve disastrous effects and the conseqUt1lCCS of Lntcmpcruue in dressing spcak-

I l1lis s1yillg i~ derived fro m Give car and hearken as if you were fill i11g a tube or gold with lions mjrrowmiddot The aaka i p 4

S ill olden djYs almostlil Dunnese h OU5CS were buil t 0 11 stilts the floor being at least foUl to b ve fect from the ground

M A N 73

ing spcnding and sleeping a fcw of nuns daily activi ties 2re indeed many times w orsc There is a slurp reminder to the Burmms that too much ofa good thing can also be a b2d thing Too rnillly doctors and tOO lUilny wry ingcdicnu in the cooking pot often produce the least expected results As fo r aVl rice which is a form of desiring too much the Dunne5C proverbs are in line with the dlinese and Siamese in censurUlg it Greed toshygether with mgcr and ignoI2Jlcc is the root cause of all the evils of this world-so says Buddhism

If there are undisciplillcd Burnuns it will not be for lad of proverbs on discipline and responsibility Freedom without tllesc f WO spclIs chaos A Roor which has no binding1 defeats its own pllIpose T o enforce d iscipline authority and order is nocessary so long as the world of m Cll is imperfec t Otherwise mice will be at play if the cat is away alld the j ungle cltwill rub h is paws with glee jf the jlUlgle is Oll fuc Those i ll authority tOO ntCd to set a good exalllple fo r if the abbot climbs lip the bliLls tradc ~ay$ onc trenchant proverb the novice wiH go olle bener by climJgt iug OntO the shelf 2bovc the oven

A wag once said TriRcs makc perfoction but perfection is no trifle Perhaps he had in mind the B urmese stock expression Never mind when be was ind u1ging Ul this w itticism Burshymans duough force of habit or ClSu21ness usc the expression even when dIe matter is far from trivial Many Burmese proverbs ulSist that trivial things can give rise to serious consequCllces Even one drop of honey WlS once responsible fo r the destnlction of I

whole kingdom Conversely some proverbs maintain that there arc uivial things which Com be S3fcly ignored Thesc ace of course pcrsoJ11 actions o r things of no consequence SUdl u 2 dogs flo a pinch of sparrows cxcrement and a bullock c1app-r

The p roverbs slate meddlesome individllab md dlCY censure

I 11le DurllCSC floors in olden ID)S were nude of spli t bmboo tied together lt the side ofthe house

SI-c the story )BRS Vol v pt i p Z3

74 MAN

the people who practise I~ivc ncutrality To the busybodies the exhortation is Dont concern youndvcs with things u the Elephant Ministers lady docs which arc no buslncn of yours neither should you worry tUlJlcccssuiIy lbom other people Tn those It the other extreme the neutralists the warning is clue they will not incur rcscntl1lcm but misfortune and catastrophe A sml11 Stltc between two powerfili wuring states may be u ushed fo r no ampuh of its own likc the myaa grassmiddot bctwcCl two fi ghting buffiJocs til some cases a person suffers the same plight as the matting of the granary wall doc when the chicken pecks it in trying to get at the padlly This is the way of the world

ECONOMICS

Nine illcbeJ of belly iJ all ocean [374 Ncither the stomach nor the ocean can ~ver be filled

Fail to work one day ana be IJulgry f or a month [375

Tbt water tbat tbe Indian frtcbeJ is not sufficitnt for biJ own Ust [376 Living bcYOlld ones income

Ten ricb houJtbolderJ will not hi ablt 10 makt tI10uJh cont butionJ to Jupport ont poor boustbold J77

It is tbt kitchen that maktJ away with ontJ proptrty [l78

AJ the wattr flows so iJ the Jam raised [379 As the husballd carns money the wife saves it

1 An Elephll1t Millincrs wifc nw l lIIust clcplunt and was worried lest its pcnis might hitl trec-smmp RED i p 30

I ]11lS iSI common grass probably CyoJOI1 dOCyOII Pen

ECONOMICS 75

Picking up frog wilh Q peiforalt bag An industrious husband md 01 spendthrift wife

[3 80

A s tbe dot giVtS birth to afawn tbe tga tats it It is difficult [0 make both ends meet

[l8

Half a bUJlxl is Jpoilt f or ont annaJ wortb To lose the ship for l lulf(Knnyworth of tar

[3 8bull

With an tyr for a spoonful tlx whole pot iJ minttl PCtulY wise pOlmd foolish

[3 83

Tht proJpect of getting a white rlepbam iI canctlled by tbt rtuipt of a singlt (whitt) cotion thread [384 A Burnun usually refuses 10 accept l small gift or offer if he

Ius an expectation ofl bigger onc

(Adj) burden 10 Irenglb like arrow 10 bow [385 Cut the coat lccording to the doth

When you incur a debt tht kinJ will Jettie it [386 Eat drink and be merry The attitude of a spendthrift

Ht who baJ worries he who hos not iOlltJmiddot [3 87 To have money is a fcarllOt to havc it a grief

Tlx hitler tIx titer tbt bitttr tlx putmarkI [3 88

The more money a p CrsOLl gets the more expcllS(s he incurs

TiJolltb the centipede has ont of its legs brokm this does not affect its movement [389 A smill fmtllClalloss has no cffect 011 I rich man

76 MAN

Wbtn an ltepbant brinks it till a bliffalo [390 A wea1thy man in reduced circunuunccs will still be as well

off as a well-to-do person

MAKESHIFT

Looking jDf a sqie1 until oneg l ts a bird Somewhat is better man nodling

Until timbrr is available 1Ill bamfw ar agirder

[391

[392

OPPORTUNITY

Store flP tbe wattr while it rains [393 Strike while the iron is hot

Draw the thread while the moon shine [394 Make hay while dIe sun shines

He cart tbt net only when tbt fib had galle off [395 It is too late to grieve when the chance is gone

Putting tIN fowl on its perch at daybreak spreading alit tbt paddy at rullret l396 Shutting the stable door after the steed is stokTl

While we wait for the rain tlx plants in tlx nurrtryplot witbir [397 Jrocrastination is the thief of time

Sming sail only after the village has bun parred [398

Arrows all gone before the battle begins [399

OPPORTUNITY 77

Sbarpmillg your arrows only wbtn tIN battle btgir [400

Ooing a thing at the eleventh hour

Lookingfor a tru only wbtn tlx eltplxmt cbasts you [40I

A stupM man (onuivtr an jdea only after tbe event [402

DILATORINESS

You busy yourself with mending tbe rowlock and lo you have arrived at Ywatbitkyi (Big Ntv Village) 1403 Applied to a person who takes an Ululcccssuily long time to

get ready

Dropping dung and sbarpening hi homs-t1ats all the big red bull doer [404 He never fights

A boat load of broad beans i (ooked bejore His Majesty is ready to (orne Ollt [405 O[U11 said ofa lady who cakes a long time getting ready to go

out

PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE

If you dive down go on till you reach tbe sand if yolt can climb up go on til1 you reach tbt top 1406 Never do things by halws

One day six j u t wbere will Pagan tnove to [407

Slow and steady wins the race The idca is dut even ifa boatshyman only progresses up the river six feet each day the city ofPagm will still bein thcSlme plcc i e slowly and surdy will get you there in the end

78 MAN

Ltt not Iht band which bas bu n wtUtd Jet dry [408 Once a work is started do it till it is finished

His only just Jug a lueJI and bt wants to drink dear waitt at anct [409 Rome was not built ill a day

Only just marrjrJ and soc wonts to tive birth to a child [410

EXPECTANCY

H app a fish-hook wherever tbt fish sent up bubbltr (expecting to catch it) [41I A m m who expects to make a success of something without

thinking it Ollt

Exputing to have ript fruit to tat alone clillbI to IIx tap [412

A paddy bird watcbing a wattr outltt [413 Mr Mieawbcr

Ht cleared away tbt bush beCOlst be sow a wrt [414 An axe to grind Applied to people who undertake someshy

thing widl an u lterior motive

Ont onl] gels tIN smtll of frying fit dount get Qny fritd fish [41 l C( Jam to mo rrow but never jalll toda y

1 didnt Imolu tXlt Illy motixrinaw was goig ttl dit If 1 bad 1 would bol( bOllgbt a horSf to ridr l4I O A person who would have been less elUtiolis had he known

thlt a fortune was awaiting him

TACT 79

TACT

To ask Jar a bone if one wantsflesh

Watch tht dirtCIiotl of fix Ivind and stt sail bull As the wind blows you must set your ~iJmiddot

Tht Just will bait if the tongues too true

[417

[418

[419 Painters Uld poets have lcave to lie O ften used to justify

cxaggct3tion in speech

He starts chiulling the moment be appears [420 Said of 3 taceless person who employs bl unt tactics

Ovc1(ome violtllu only by gentle mCalls [421 bullA soft lIlswcr tUnlcth away wrllhmiddot

Only if Ollt accepts mffcring fuill ofle elYoy belltfit [42gt No pains 110 gJins

APPROPRIATENESS

BtJrt wilb a braiaw cbisa wilb a cbisel [423 Where gCIl t1e m(2ns arc ailed [o r violencc is o ut o f place and

vicc vrr$t2

If a lIu dlt can pitru it dont cbop witb an axt [424shyDont uke a hammer to c[3ck ~ lI lI t

Tit a chicken with an tJpbant ropt it will slip off tie an tlrpJumt witb a cbicktn tlfixr it will brtak l4-25 Applying the wrong kind of discipline to a pe rson

81 80 MAN

The prQNn sits on tilt sparrows eggs ana vice versa [426

Applied to 2 hCOLd-strong ladcr with wca followers and a weU lelder with held-strong foUowcrs

You cant catcb a minIOft with a widtmtrb ntt nor catcb (J

Jbark with a pilet of muslin

Adj usting mc2JU and cnds

r427

You can only held lions marrow in a purt gold cup

Sec p 72 footnote I

[428

111 rTJt Garuda country be a GarudJ in the Naga (oulltry b a Nag [429

While in It o mc do as R o me docs Sec notes o n Gama Uld Nara p 26

You art skillta at what you art familiar with [430

Every mm to his [(Ide

MAJ O RITY

Drink tIN bitUr rainwatrf as olMrs do [43 I Confo rm oneself to the popular wish A royal chaplain told

the king that bin cr rain cOlltllining impurities would faJl on a certain cUy 2nd tlut whoever dr-lnk it would become insane The rain fell as foretold and all the people in the kingdom except these two drank it and ocCame iruane Bue the chapbin and the king finding themselves in the minority had to drink it in the end

Do as otbtrs do when tlx betwens collapse [432

MAJORITY

Bllddl)a found it impossible w go against tIN strtngtb of tbe Odrr [433 The wish o f the nujority usually prevails

If tilt fif( is grtater tIx fire wins if tbt wattr it greater tbe wattr wins [434

PRUDENCE

~Vhell yor strmgth jj not SfljJicimt 11IItuble YOfTstlf [43 l Discretion is the bettt( part of valom

if a sant doJ figbts If iliad dog its tbe sant dols ear (bat is bitten ojJ [436 He that touchcth pitch shJI be defil ed therewith

One mouthful of UIISli(ablefood ont infpdtlll sUp may lead ta prril [437 Look before you leap

Tbt Itttb that art going 10 cbew for a font time sbonlJ try to avoid bOf [438 Husband your resources

Tbollgb you would like to brat tlx Jog yem have to consider its mosters fact as well [439 One mUSt consider various factors to avoid1I1 imprudent step

EltIJ if you do not Jove him (be) hold you breath and kiss bim (ber) even if you do not kiss him (ber) heave a figb [440

The anger of the pmdent never shows [44 1

82 MAN

ul tbtm know about it but not Jet it [442

An advice not to commit an indiscretion publicly

Ont (ontgo 10 btd wbtn a iiitor stays lalt [443

Sm Joy i Ibt 1Jlb of 0 JUI lif [444 Dont outstay your hospitality

Visit nol witbout invitation (at not what JOts not luit you [445

When you iptak at nighlook btlow wlx n you speak in tbe ailY look btbiJ [446 Sec explanation on p 72

Ltt the warch spoken ill flu Jungle diJopprar in the jungle [447 All that is said in the kitchen should not be heard ill the h2I1

Silmct it wortl1 a tbollsand piues (of silver) [448 Silence is goldell

If yo carry tbe wordNO wit you you will Miler be poor (lien in old agt l449

IfII hoJy J IhrouJh 0 bol il CO bt puUtJ oul if Ibt moulb slips it cannol rrtract [450 Detter the foot slip than the tongue

EXCESS

Tllllt tIN harp strings to hi ntitx too loose nor too tOII r45J rOlIow the middle way

Moderation is medicine excess is peri [452 Moderation ill all things

EXCE SS 83

Tbt mort vjount tbt 10ve tbt more violent the anger [453 cr Love me little love me long

Exctrrive knowledge leaas to rtnullciation exctrrive industry to aistraction excerrivejavour to passion [454

Excerr in clotMS leaJs to debt in splflding wslavery in rating to harm in slerp to stupidity [455 Every extremity is a fa ult

Commit yourselfI speecb you become a slave [456 ut not youc tongue cut your throat

The kindhrartcd bccomes a slave [457

Ylx good-hearted has a heavy load [458

I)coplc will take advantage of you

Too many doctors anJ the son Jirs [459 T oo mmy cooks spoil the broth

Too mfch carp maku the curry insipiJ [460 Too much of a good thing The Rohita carp is one of the oot

fish

Too much talk will incluat rrrors [461

Words Utter many and they will revfa1 your breed [462

He who delibaates too much ruins his (aUSt [643 He who hesitates is lost

Teasing eventually tllms to a quarrel [464

A stumpy Jog wants to qflorrel a stumpy man is shortshytempertd a stumpy boat is difficult to stetr [465

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

76 MAN

Wbtn an ltepbant brinks it till a bliffalo [390 A wea1thy man in reduced circunuunccs will still be as well

off as a well-to-do person

MAKESHIFT

Looking jDf a sqie1 until oneg l ts a bird Somewhat is better man nodling

Until timbrr is available 1Ill bamfw ar agirder

[391

[392

OPPORTUNITY

Store flP tbe wattr while it rains [393 Strike while the iron is hot

Draw the thread while the moon shine [394 Make hay while dIe sun shines

He cart tbt net only when tbt fib had galle off [395 It is too late to grieve when the chance is gone

Putting tIN fowl on its perch at daybreak spreading alit tbt paddy at rullret l396 Shutting the stable door after the steed is stokTl

While we wait for the rain tlx plants in tlx nurrtryplot witbir [397 Jrocrastination is the thief of time

Sming sail only after the village has bun parred [398

Arrows all gone before the battle begins [399

OPPORTUNITY 77

Sbarpmillg your arrows only wbtn tIN battle btgir [400

Ooing a thing at the eleventh hour

Lookingfor a tru only wbtn tlx eltplxmt cbasts you [40I

A stupM man (onuivtr an jdea only after tbe event [402

DILATORINESS

You busy yourself with mending tbe rowlock and lo you have arrived at Ywatbitkyi (Big Ntv Village) 1403 Applied to a person who takes an Ululcccssuily long time to

get ready

Dropping dung and sbarpening hi homs-t1ats all the big red bull doer [404 He never fights

A boat load of broad beans i (ooked bejore His Majesty is ready to (orne Ollt [405 O[U11 said ofa lady who cakes a long time getting ready to go

out

PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE

If you dive down go on till you reach tbe sand if yolt can climb up go on til1 you reach tbt top 1406 Never do things by halws

One day six j u t wbere will Pagan tnove to [407

Slow and steady wins the race The idca is dut even ifa boatshyman only progresses up the river six feet each day the city ofPagm will still bein thcSlme plcc i e slowly and surdy will get you there in the end

78 MAN

Ltt not Iht band which bas bu n wtUtd Jet dry [408 Once a work is started do it till it is finished

His only just Jug a lueJI and bt wants to drink dear waitt at anct [409 Rome was not built ill a day

Only just marrjrJ and soc wonts to tive birth to a child [410

EXPECTANCY

H app a fish-hook wherever tbt fish sent up bubbltr (expecting to catch it) [41I A m m who expects to make a success of something without

thinking it Ollt

Exputing to have ript fruit to tat alone clillbI to IIx tap [412

A paddy bird watcbing a wattr outltt [413 Mr Mieawbcr

Ht cleared away tbt bush beCOlst be sow a wrt [414 An axe to grind Applied to people who undertake someshy

thing widl an u lterior motive

Ont onl] gels tIN smtll of frying fit dount get Qny fritd fish [41 l C( Jam to mo rrow but never jalll toda y

1 didnt Imolu tXlt Illy motixrinaw was goig ttl dit If 1 bad 1 would bol( bOllgbt a horSf to ridr l4I O A person who would have been less elUtiolis had he known

thlt a fortune was awaiting him

TACT 79

TACT

To ask Jar a bone if one wantsflesh

Watch tht dirtCIiotl of fix Ivind and stt sail bull As the wind blows you must set your ~iJmiddot

Tht Just will bait if the tongues too true

[417

[418

[419 Painters Uld poets have lcave to lie O ften used to justify

cxaggct3tion in speech

He starts chiulling the moment be appears [420 Said of 3 taceless person who employs bl unt tactics

Ovc1(ome violtllu only by gentle mCalls [421 bullA soft lIlswcr tUnlcth away wrllhmiddot

Only if Ollt accepts mffcring fuill ofle elYoy belltfit [42gt No pains 110 gJins

APPROPRIATENESS

BtJrt wilb a braiaw cbisa wilb a cbisel [423 Where gCIl t1e m(2ns arc ailed [o r violencc is o ut o f place and

vicc vrr$t2

If a lIu dlt can pitru it dont cbop witb an axt [424shyDont uke a hammer to c[3ck ~ lI lI t

Tit a chicken with an tJpbant ropt it will slip off tie an tlrpJumt witb a cbicktn tlfixr it will brtak l4-25 Applying the wrong kind of discipline to a pe rson

81 80 MAN

The prQNn sits on tilt sparrows eggs ana vice versa [426

Applied to 2 hCOLd-strong ladcr with wca followers and a weU lelder with held-strong foUowcrs

You cant catcb a minIOft with a widtmtrb ntt nor catcb (J

Jbark with a pilet of muslin

Adj usting mc2JU and cnds

r427

You can only held lions marrow in a purt gold cup

Sec p 72 footnote I

[428

111 rTJt Garuda country be a GarudJ in the Naga (oulltry b a Nag [429

While in It o mc do as R o me docs Sec notes o n Gama Uld Nara p 26

You art skillta at what you art familiar with [430

Every mm to his [(Ide

MAJ O RITY

Drink tIN bitUr rainwatrf as olMrs do [43 I Confo rm oneself to the popular wish A royal chaplain told

the king that bin cr rain cOlltllining impurities would faJl on a certain cUy 2nd tlut whoever dr-lnk it would become insane The rain fell as foretold and all the people in the kingdom except these two drank it and ocCame iruane Bue the chapbin and the king finding themselves in the minority had to drink it in the end

Do as otbtrs do when tlx betwens collapse [432

MAJORITY

Bllddl)a found it impossible w go against tIN strtngtb of tbe Odrr [433 The wish o f the nujority usually prevails

If tilt fif( is grtater tIx fire wins if tbt wattr it greater tbe wattr wins [434

PRUDENCE

~Vhell yor strmgth jj not SfljJicimt 11IItuble YOfTstlf [43 l Discretion is the bettt( part of valom

if a sant doJ figbts If iliad dog its tbe sant dols ear (bat is bitten ojJ [436 He that touchcth pitch shJI be defil ed therewith

One mouthful of UIISli(ablefood ont infpdtlll sUp may lead ta prril [437 Look before you leap

Tbt Itttb that art going 10 cbew for a font time sbonlJ try to avoid bOf [438 Husband your resources

Tbollgb you would like to brat tlx Jog yem have to consider its mosters fact as well [439 One mUSt consider various factors to avoid1I1 imprudent step

EltIJ if you do not Jove him (be) hold you breath and kiss bim (ber) even if you do not kiss him (ber) heave a figb [440

The anger of the pmdent never shows [44 1

82 MAN

ul tbtm know about it but not Jet it [442

An advice not to commit an indiscretion publicly

Ont (ontgo 10 btd wbtn a iiitor stays lalt [443

Sm Joy i Ibt 1Jlb of 0 JUI lif [444 Dont outstay your hospitality

Visit nol witbout invitation (at not what JOts not luit you [445

When you iptak at nighlook btlow wlx n you speak in tbe ailY look btbiJ [446 Sec explanation on p 72

Ltt the warch spoken ill flu Jungle diJopprar in the jungle [447 All that is said in the kitchen should not be heard ill the h2I1

Silmct it wortl1 a tbollsand piues (of silver) [448 Silence is goldell

If yo carry tbe wordNO wit you you will Miler be poor (lien in old agt l449

IfII hoJy J IhrouJh 0 bol il CO bt puUtJ oul if Ibt moulb slips it cannol rrtract [450 Detter the foot slip than the tongue

EXCESS

Tllllt tIN harp strings to hi ntitx too loose nor too tOII r45J rOlIow the middle way

Moderation is medicine excess is peri [452 Moderation ill all things

EXCE SS 83

Tbt mort vjount tbt 10ve tbt more violent the anger [453 cr Love me little love me long

Exctrrive knowledge leaas to rtnullciation exctrrive industry to aistraction excerrivejavour to passion [454

Excerr in clotMS leaJs to debt in splflding wslavery in rating to harm in slerp to stupidity [455 Every extremity is a fa ult

Commit yourselfI speecb you become a slave [456 ut not youc tongue cut your throat

The kindhrartcd bccomes a slave [457

Ylx good-hearted has a heavy load [458

I)coplc will take advantage of you

Too many doctors anJ the son Jirs [459 T oo mmy cooks spoil the broth

Too mfch carp maku the curry insipiJ [460 Too much of a good thing The Rohita carp is one of the oot

fish

Too much talk will incluat rrrors [461

Words Utter many and they will revfa1 your breed [462

He who delibaates too much ruins his (aUSt [643 He who hesitates is lost

Teasing eventually tllms to a quarrel [464

A stumpy Jog wants to qflorrel a stumpy man is shortshytempertd a stumpy boat is difficult to stetr [465

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

78 MAN

Ltt not Iht band which bas bu n wtUtd Jet dry [408 Once a work is started do it till it is finished

His only just Jug a lueJI and bt wants to drink dear waitt at anct [409 Rome was not built ill a day

Only just marrjrJ and soc wonts to tive birth to a child [410

EXPECTANCY

H app a fish-hook wherever tbt fish sent up bubbltr (expecting to catch it) [41I A m m who expects to make a success of something without

thinking it Ollt

Exputing to have ript fruit to tat alone clillbI to IIx tap [412

A paddy bird watcbing a wattr outltt [413 Mr Mieawbcr

Ht cleared away tbt bush beCOlst be sow a wrt [414 An axe to grind Applied to people who undertake someshy

thing widl an u lterior motive

Ont onl] gels tIN smtll of frying fit dount get Qny fritd fish [41 l C( Jam to mo rrow but never jalll toda y

1 didnt Imolu tXlt Illy motixrinaw was goig ttl dit If 1 bad 1 would bol( bOllgbt a horSf to ridr l4I O A person who would have been less elUtiolis had he known

thlt a fortune was awaiting him

TACT 79

TACT

To ask Jar a bone if one wantsflesh

Watch tht dirtCIiotl of fix Ivind and stt sail bull As the wind blows you must set your ~iJmiddot

Tht Just will bait if the tongues too true

[417

[418

[419 Painters Uld poets have lcave to lie O ften used to justify

cxaggct3tion in speech

He starts chiulling the moment be appears [420 Said of 3 taceless person who employs bl unt tactics

Ovc1(ome violtllu only by gentle mCalls [421 bullA soft lIlswcr tUnlcth away wrllhmiddot

Only if Ollt accepts mffcring fuill ofle elYoy belltfit [42gt No pains 110 gJins

APPROPRIATENESS

BtJrt wilb a braiaw cbisa wilb a cbisel [423 Where gCIl t1e m(2ns arc ailed [o r violencc is o ut o f place and

vicc vrr$t2

If a lIu dlt can pitru it dont cbop witb an axt [424shyDont uke a hammer to c[3ck ~ lI lI t

Tit a chicken with an tJpbant ropt it will slip off tie an tlrpJumt witb a cbicktn tlfixr it will brtak l4-25 Applying the wrong kind of discipline to a pe rson

81 80 MAN

The prQNn sits on tilt sparrows eggs ana vice versa [426

Applied to 2 hCOLd-strong ladcr with wca followers and a weU lelder with held-strong foUowcrs

You cant catcb a minIOft with a widtmtrb ntt nor catcb (J

Jbark with a pilet of muslin

Adj usting mc2JU and cnds

r427

You can only held lions marrow in a purt gold cup

Sec p 72 footnote I

[428

111 rTJt Garuda country be a GarudJ in the Naga (oulltry b a Nag [429

While in It o mc do as R o me docs Sec notes o n Gama Uld Nara p 26

You art skillta at what you art familiar with [430

Every mm to his [(Ide

MAJ O RITY

Drink tIN bitUr rainwatrf as olMrs do [43 I Confo rm oneself to the popular wish A royal chaplain told

the king that bin cr rain cOlltllining impurities would faJl on a certain cUy 2nd tlut whoever dr-lnk it would become insane The rain fell as foretold and all the people in the kingdom except these two drank it and ocCame iruane Bue the chapbin and the king finding themselves in the minority had to drink it in the end

Do as otbtrs do when tlx betwens collapse [432

MAJORITY

Bllddl)a found it impossible w go against tIN strtngtb of tbe Odrr [433 The wish o f the nujority usually prevails

If tilt fif( is grtater tIx fire wins if tbt wattr it greater tbe wattr wins [434

PRUDENCE

~Vhell yor strmgth jj not SfljJicimt 11IItuble YOfTstlf [43 l Discretion is the bettt( part of valom

if a sant doJ figbts If iliad dog its tbe sant dols ear (bat is bitten ojJ [436 He that touchcth pitch shJI be defil ed therewith

One mouthful of UIISli(ablefood ont infpdtlll sUp may lead ta prril [437 Look before you leap

Tbt Itttb that art going 10 cbew for a font time sbonlJ try to avoid bOf [438 Husband your resources

Tbollgb you would like to brat tlx Jog yem have to consider its mosters fact as well [439 One mUSt consider various factors to avoid1I1 imprudent step

EltIJ if you do not Jove him (be) hold you breath and kiss bim (ber) even if you do not kiss him (ber) heave a figb [440

The anger of the pmdent never shows [44 1

82 MAN

ul tbtm know about it but not Jet it [442

An advice not to commit an indiscretion publicly

Ont (ontgo 10 btd wbtn a iiitor stays lalt [443

Sm Joy i Ibt 1Jlb of 0 JUI lif [444 Dont outstay your hospitality

Visit nol witbout invitation (at not what JOts not luit you [445

When you iptak at nighlook btlow wlx n you speak in tbe ailY look btbiJ [446 Sec explanation on p 72

Ltt the warch spoken ill flu Jungle diJopprar in the jungle [447 All that is said in the kitchen should not be heard ill the h2I1

Silmct it wortl1 a tbollsand piues (of silver) [448 Silence is goldell

If yo carry tbe wordNO wit you you will Miler be poor (lien in old agt l449

IfII hoJy J IhrouJh 0 bol il CO bt puUtJ oul if Ibt moulb slips it cannol rrtract [450 Detter the foot slip than the tongue

EXCESS

Tllllt tIN harp strings to hi ntitx too loose nor too tOII r45J rOlIow the middle way

Moderation is medicine excess is peri [452 Moderation ill all things

EXCE SS 83

Tbt mort vjount tbt 10ve tbt more violent the anger [453 cr Love me little love me long

Exctrrive knowledge leaas to rtnullciation exctrrive industry to aistraction excerrivejavour to passion [454

Excerr in clotMS leaJs to debt in splflding wslavery in rating to harm in slerp to stupidity [455 Every extremity is a fa ult

Commit yourselfI speecb you become a slave [456 ut not youc tongue cut your throat

The kindhrartcd bccomes a slave [457

Ylx good-hearted has a heavy load [458

I)coplc will take advantage of you

Too many doctors anJ the son Jirs [459 T oo mmy cooks spoil the broth

Too mfch carp maku the curry insipiJ [460 Too much of a good thing The Rohita carp is one of the oot

fish

Too much talk will incluat rrrors [461

Words Utter many and they will revfa1 your breed [462

He who delibaates too much ruins his (aUSt [643 He who hesitates is lost

Teasing eventually tllms to a quarrel [464

A stumpy Jog wants to qflorrel a stumpy man is shortshytempertd a stumpy boat is difficult to stetr [465

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

81 80 MAN

The prQNn sits on tilt sparrows eggs ana vice versa [426

Applied to 2 hCOLd-strong ladcr with wca followers and a weU lelder with held-strong foUowcrs

You cant catcb a minIOft with a widtmtrb ntt nor catcb (J

Jbark with a pilet of muslin

Adj usting mc2JU and cnds

r427

You can only held lions marrow in a purt gold cup

Sec p 72 footnote I

[428

111 rTJt Garuda country be a GarudJ in the Naga (oulltry b a Nag [429

While in It o mc do as R o me docs Sec notes o n Gama Uld Nara p 26

You art skillta at what you art familiar with [430

Every mm to his [(Ide

MAJ O RITY

Drink tIN bitUr rainwatrf as olMrs do [43 I Confo rm oneself to the popular wish A royal chaplain told

the king that bin cr rain cOlltllining impurities would faJl on a certain cUy 2nd tlut whoever dr-lnk it would become insane The rain fell as foretold and all the people in the kingdom except these two drank it and ocCame iruane Bue the chapbin and the king finding themselves in the minority had to drink it in the end

Do as otbtrs do when tlx betwens collapse [432

MAJORITY

Bllddl)a found it impossible w go against tIN strtngtb of tbe Odrr [433 The wish o f the nujority usually prevails

If tilt fif( is grtater tIx fire wins if tbt wattr it greater tbe wattr wins [434

PRUDENCE

~Vhell yor strmgth jj not SfljJicimt 11IItuble YOfTstlf [43 l Discretion is the bettt( part of valom

if a sant doJ figbts If iliad dog its tbe sant dols ear (bat is bitten ojJ [436 He that touchcth pitch shJI be defil ed therewith

One mouthful of UIISli(ablefood ont infpdtlll sUp may lead ta prril [437 Look before you leap

Tbt Itttb that art going 10 cbew for a font time sbonlJ try to avoid bOf [438 Husband your resources

Tbollgb you would like to brat tlx Jog yem have to consider its mosters fact as well [439 One mUSt consider various factors to avoid1I1 imprudent step

EltIJ if you do not Jove him (be) hold you breath and kiss bim (ber) even if you do not kiss him (ber) heave a figb [440

The anger of the pmdent never shows [44 1

82 MAN

ul tbtm know about it but not Jet it [442

An advice not to commit an indiscretion publicly

Ont (ontgo 10 btd wbtn a iiitor stays lalt [443

Sm Joy i Ibt 1Jlb of 0 JUI lif [444 Dont outstay your hospitality

Visit nol witbout invitation (at not what JOts not luit you [445

When you iptak at nighlook btlow wlx n you speak in tbe ailY look btbiJ [446 Sec explanation on p 72

Ltt the warch spoken ill flu Jungle diJopprar in the jungle [447 All that is said in the kitchen should not be heard ill the h2I1

Silmct it wortl1 a tbollsand piues (of silver) [448 Silence is goldell

If yo carry tbe wordNO wit you you will Miler be poor (lien in old agt l449

IfII hoJy J IhrouJh 0 bol il CO bt puUtJ oul if Ibt moulb slips it cannol rrtract [450 Detter the foot slip than the tongue

EXCESS

Tllllt tIN harp strings to hi ntitx too loose nor too tOII r45J rOlIow the middle way

Moderation is medicine excess is peri [452 Moderation ill all things

EXCE SS 83

Tbt mort vjount tbt 10ve tbt more violent the anger [453 cr Love me little love me long

Exctrrive knowledge leaas to rtnullciation exctrrive industry to aistraction excerrivejavour to passion [454

Excerr in clotMS leaJs to debt in splflding wslavery in rating to harm in slerp to stupidity [455 Every extremity is a fa ult

Commit yourselfI speecb you become a slave [456 ut not youc tongue cut your throat

The kindhrartcd bccomes a slave [457

Ylx good-hearted has a heavy load [458

I)coplc will take advantage of you

Too many doctors anJ the son Jirs [459 T oo mmy cooks spoil the broth

Too mfch carp maku the curry insipiJ [460 Too much of a good thing The Rohita carp is one of the oot

fish

Too much talk will incluat rrrors [461

Words Utter many and they will revfa1 your breed [462

He who delibaates too much ruins his (aUSt [643 He who hesitates is lost

Teasing eventually tllms to a quarrel [464

A stumpy Jog wants to qflorrel a stumpy man is shortshytempertd a stumpy boat is difficult to stetr [465

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

82 MAN

ul tbtm know about it but not Jet it [442

An advice not to commit an indiscretion publicly

Ont (ontgo 10 btd wbtn a iiitor stays lalt [443

Sm Joy i Ibt 1Jlb of 0 JUI lif [444 Dont outstay your hospitality

Visit nol witbout invitation (at not what JOts not luit you [445

When you iptak at nighlook btlow wlx n you speak in tbe ailY look btbiJ [446 Sec explanation on p 72

Ltt the warch spoken ill flu Jungle diJopprar in the jungle [447 All that is said in the kitchen should not be heard ill the h2I1

Silmct it wortl1 a tbollsand piues (of silver) [448 Silence is goldell

If yo carry tbe wordNO wit you you will Miler be poor (lien in old agt l449

IfII hoJy J IhrouJh 0 bol il CO bt puUtJ oul if Ibt moulb slips it cannol rrtract [450 Detter the foot slip than the tongue

EXCESS

Tllllt tIN harp strings to hi ntitx too loose nor too tOII r45J rOlIow the middle way

Moderation is medicine excess is peri [452 Moderation ill all things

EXCE SS 83

Tbt mort vjount tbt 10ve tbt more violent the anger [453 cr Love me little love me long

Exctrrive knowledge leaas to rtnullciation exctrrive industry to aistraction excerrivejavour to passion [454

Excerr in clotMS leaJs to debt in splflding wslavery in rating to harm in slerp to stupidity [455 Every extremity is a fa ult

Commit yourselfI speecb you become a slave [456 ut not youc tongue cut your throat

The kindhrartcd bccomes a slave [457

Ylx good-hearted has a heavy load [458

I)coplc will take advantage of you

Too many doctors anJ the son Jirs [459 T oo mmy cooks spoil the broth

Too mfch carp maku the curry insipiJ [460 Too much of a good thing The Rohita carp is one of the oot

fish

Too much talk will incluat rrrors [461

Words Utter many and they will revfa1 your breed [462

He who delibaates too much ruins his (aUSt [643 He who hesitates is lost

Teasing eventually tllms to a quarrel [464

A stumpy Jog wants to qflorrel a stumpy man is shortshytempertd a stumpy boat is difficult to stetr [465

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

85 84 MAN

AVARICE

Gmlt desift ohtains IiItlt [466 Gp n lose n

A needle (omu in and an axt gOts Olft [467 Large loss for small gain

ampur bt tvould not tat it tbt food got maggoty [468 Said of cloSt--fistcd people who arc too meall to put their

posscssiollS to good usc

The Jreely Inon His Voras are swett [469

DISCIPLINE AND RESPONSlDILITY

A floor which bas no bilding s in disorder [470 Sec p 7] footnote I

A sktin of yam whicb bas no binding (to kitp tbt tbrtad in piau) [47 1

ampcause (1)( cats away tlx mict art at play [472

Wbtn tbtjunglt is onfire Ibtjunglt cat slaps bis arms (473 Lawless d ements take advanugc of lawlessness Sbpping

oncs arms signifies glee or triumph

If 11)( mOJlk climbs tip fix balustradt wont a noviu climb onto tbe sbtlf above tiN ovtn~ l474

Most BmmltUl5 do their cooking on a wood fire and abovc the fi re-place is a shelf on which a f C placed things that need drying by smoke and heat

Rainwa(er leaks through tbe rooJtop [475 People high in the hierarchy set a bad example

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

TRIFLING AND TRIVIAL

Startingrom tIN rubbish it burnt tIN pyathat(a ttlonrion)476 Dangerous fire begins in the bed straw

The country is destroyed jar 0 drop oj henty Sec cxplanatioll on p 73

[477

Trffiing trifling the nosl bluas in the ma

Drowning in shallow walrr

[478

[479 Said of a person whose fai lmc or downfall is due to l minor

mishap

Tht cat walks by but Ibt dwdp dont fall [480 An action of110 consequence Lus no effect on serious matters

Dllst dOiS lot rise kcause a dog-foa bops [481

Tbt dog InoY bark but tbt ant-bill will not run away [48 The dog blrks but the caravan goes on

A pincb oj sparrows dung cannot serve as manure [483 One swallow docs not make a sunull cr

One sesamum sud will not make oil [484 Scsamum oil is popularly used in Durma for cooking Sec

explanatory note on seSlInulll p 2

Altbougb the bullockclapper claps it will not give sesamumds [485

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

87 86 MAN

UNN ECESS ARY CONCERN

Theres nothillg about

the Elephant Minister laay need worry [486

Sec note p 74

AlthougJ thepos not Jot (be 1M is [487 Said of people who arc UlUlcccssarily worried lbouc others

Tix tttbtring post sbook blt not Ibt pony [488

Tbt bush is worrird on the barts account [489

Its 1I0t the sticky ju tbat is stickiltg but IIx rotgh ju [490

T he persoll conc(~rned ill l matter docs nOt mind but an outshysieler docs

NEUTRALITY

M yc-za grass betllu n fightn biffaloes cannot fUftliue [491 The plight of I weak neutral state between twO powerful

warring statd Sec notc on myr-za grass p 74-

The matting suffers brcaure the chicken eat paddy f492

Sec explanation Oll p 74shy

Wbtll tbi log was strllck hy litblnill~ the chameMII fIIas hit too [493 Said of l third ~rty who suffn in l ~r or qlllrrcl

A bamboo growin k tween two tras [494

NEUTRALITY

If Ib billlopper Ibt gross is prooltd [495 Applied to the pligh t ofdcpc1l(bnts when they lose thei r chief

supporter

Contritein malaria while coJecting alms [496 lllcurring blame whiJc carrying Oil OIlCS daily task

D I - C

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

Key to Pronunciation

The symbols employed for the representation ofDurmese soundt Me the same as those used in the new Bul1n(~-Engrish DitfimllHY now bc-ing issued in pltlru by the School of Oriental and Afrinu SlUdics The )Stem is as follows

VtlIOlts

Q in open syllables pom elsewhere the Slmc sOWld shortened in open syllables coger elsewhere pin

u in open syllables tDO elsewhere put e FrleYe I in open sylbblcs Fr elvc elsewhere well a law 0 Fr CQII

i tight ou boiL au doum soun(1 ai fine above

ConSOlll

b d g (as iogo) hj kI m II ny (ugl in Fr Jgllt) p r S f W Y (as in you) z approxillucdy as in English bllt upiration of k $ t and p m lJ$[ be voided

C all intimate combination of 2nd y resembling the initial 0011shysOllmw sound in 1Jlip or the en ofchrat made widl tip of tongue touching lower rccth

U when initll as ng in sing whell (moll I nasalization of the pushyceding vowel

o Ihin i) then I JItKe (no rounding ofL)

88

KEY TO P RONUNC IATI ON 89

It folLowingt COll$OlWlt indicates ~piGltion of tlut consorWlt IS in kh sh th 1)li cit Prroding a COllJWWlt it indicatts that that consonaJlt is a breathc1 coruonant thus 1) n tn I uc voiced OOllSOIWIts whik h1) hn 7lm hl tre breathed consonants-hi being = the 11 in Llmllililino

is 2 gl0l111KOp as in the Cockney or the Gwgow prollWlciuion ofwaler ~ wa~cr For convcruence this is further dcaJt with wlCJcr Tones

Notc-Assimihtiou of final rusaIs before ccnain conSOlWlts is not indicucd in the phmlCtM trul5CfiptiOIl eg patltJa uthnu md pa]daiJ winning-post whidl should be pronounced pan na md pan daiV

Tonrs

The term wnc is herc used to describe four o( the five categories of round found in Dunncsc the fifth the ntUCrl1 a (as in above) being rLgardcd lS IiOIi-tonal

The It zd tolic- A 5yllable in this tone is low-pitched relatively to adjacent syllabJc No fall of pitch is pamiuible but it can rise towuds the end lightly stressed in cornpu-ison with syllables in other tones belonging to [hc same combination Levd tOiles arc le(t unmarked in the phonctic tnnscriptiozl 3S S(uy blanket

The IleallY (allig tone- nlis is high-pitched at the start md faUs ttlxply ronounccd in a breathy voice mduig in a fade-out Heavily stressed M2rkcd by prcaxling the sylbbk 2S lOti harp

The ataky tOlle- PronOUllcro with an illlermittcnt voiCe filling (rom 2 relatively high initial pitch and ending in a weal closure of the glottis Mulrcd by following the syllable as ~au1 to wait

The abrupt tone-Ramer higher in pitch dun the creaky tone TerminateS in l glomi stop produad by an abrupt closun of the glottis AccolllJraquonicd by lIluch greatct effort and COllStriaioll of the larynx th~1I thcC=Iky tOIiC MMkcd by following the syllabic l$aumiddot to be steep

Burmese Texts

I CEhmO ~yo lubmo omyo 2 6j POUtlUgo OJ pe thwt)hmohpound 3middot hJopyobiIJ soi miloi pharo 4 chaunyo myou)yooo tciggxlt lumya mateingo S 00 myo 00 til 6 eciD acoko fwehma (lIe aciggo Oiyad 7middot zaligo OijilJyilJ omll ociJgo ci 8 apyn chayi) ())oo 0

9middot apwc myig apiu OJ Owe royiIJ oOwiu ai to coyo cozwtgo myi) ycdoiO yem) Oiyome 11 chiObo lW10lJ mahnlltlJ hmilJzolJ OeOe 12 kbwcbmo hnoyOU) couuhma Daphu luhma du 13middot shi) hou) CQug Ilnomau1J OtOc kalu hou)caul]

hnakLoulJ 6r)amp 14middot badeiu to maw gahow) OcOe ISmiddot Jwc acall) phaycm) 6l)Oe 16 nayou)Oi hmal) khll)naiolJ yc Jon 00 sote 17 shiiJ7wt hmon po mOlIObu 18 OOdamyo hmog nUl) malli 19- tbobo kau) salouooc tIn 20 she kollJyllJ OaJ goUJ 21 taUIj oku III awn 1-2 you oo pri) (r) khi mciumo pyin chi shiu 23 jahwc atc pau 24 hiO soje atckolllJ pOll 2j thamiujaugu aIJwc t hwpound 26 tou clliOdr migt oJcilJlU ytye 27 ci1e wcle 113ywelo

90

BU RMESE TEXTS 9 [

28 cwtbo SOUl] ti 29 wo nabilJ9o ye OMolo mawio 30 pe kouoywe so maca 3) PO()O kouJlo mouu POU souU mow 32 Ebmi kouuywe Game mayo 13 pbwEgo tba uuywe shoggonu maya 34- wogul] tebhgo phou ywc OOsbou maya 3j GakhupwiJgo dabyi pyou ywe t3ehou maya 36 wa shwogo chulJYe mathe 37 kon klQu1)goulJhmo yedwin tu 38 9pounddt ye 00 39 chouuye 10 (k kOIt1innt sh i 40 shlupaza hnoU PE 4[ WlouJgouJdt la 00 42 In a eimt kouU pe 43 ana maOi ahe maJi 44 ahni mafidt ta (~)lIhnb i ) miJ mn 4S aroe CWpoundjOUlJ aphyc phoyolou) 46 malcilJmo hnnkho rna

41 maOiyin mc masilJyilJ ahe 48 maOii)u ro()wo OJ[)u pha so 49 yayn mamu gn mamyilJ gayu mn myu myi) So ffiapyc()i 0 bonlJbilJ kho

jl lubyo maOalJ Inooo mapygt 52 m)Esi golJ tnshe umcau SJ myilJ silo atill tlmobmo) maOi j4 khtlyi twilJ lo ywazig maOi 55 mtlfidodt) maOido kbE 56 jojn sho lxhgf If me 57 00 koPlo 6ebod~8ho no tolele me 58 t3lJogo poi tho eig moushogo 00 tho aia 59 phouJji so eho mijougmin yegiU pya

93 92 BURMESE TEXTS

60 wyou~ pye a youn Owo

61 cit) 0 co ko) mei)ma 0 PO) PO)

62 Wo lemyegthna yin dagolou) Oougywc makoU-) 6J sbin Ii aewu mali 64- yozowilJ pyaulJ ci-lJdoulJhmu lilatpound

65 mciumo pbye pye Prt 66 ct mo tu nlo rno ma lio ctpho t llJhmO 010 lin 67middot MwO ci We au taUI) ci pbswo ou 68 ko mahlo ko mamyilJ Ou mahln un yijil) 69middot ko myt cli ko roomyilJ Ou myechi UO myilJ 70 ko lJoobilJ ko chiD 71 kaka ko pho lDaOudo khulJ llOpa 72 cigOlJmyolo ko lI hDlO ko hm oft 73 ko scilIc l noi) mo yuiU 74 ko otanc ko ti ll 75 Ocjinde 00 to PyouD 76 ka pall) ko lion thou) 77 ko wunna kobo Oi 78 gultt fiyvc Dati anYUJ poll

79middot 9umya hno khouUoe a(k JII bull 80 flbiJbyudo hmihi CO) 8OU

81 shin pyo shOD toU]

82 )W6 dobe Iduna lIllnyodE I)()U~Oi]

8] Jwe ladolllyouJ jouJ pet PyouD 84 JwcbilJ no Jwe ce uwebiU no IJwe ce 85 ciJni jiu yoc1eou YOll tr~

86 9hlllliu bma lJ Oiau) molJdo~toiu Ipound~

87 mapbyi~pJlElu 009amp SOU] towiJ wilJ 88 nedgt pyiUdotlJ soda chinbotl) 89 Jwcjoll) pyOIl) by(lU ~Wtl) khclIIUgou ) 90 asho maJide OojU amyoll~

9 1 omt d tlr ohne hi oLma 0 mana

BURMESE TEXTS

92 chipaslloga po pouuj ilJ 93 chibyo t lmmci) De wroeilJ blon 94 In ne choulJ jo sci ne bongbya 95 mahmidtraquoon tow) 11n lo hlol] 96 do u) tulo 8080)c hlo) che hlon CE paUll pe

97 IJwe dabcnc Jll lcgou) shaig 98 nradgt zeot ywoogt mahanwe 99 cOO) WeOaj i nymb hIedo ba

100 ahIo) tEda ole la

lOr OOO IJ cido pYpound siyotaiu 10 2 OCO ) kOlllJ geloulJ she che) 10 ] ocol) maJi ys lou shon mali pc pyou) 104 dltM1 e~ sa cc) Oll lJ bnatt 80 CEOuIJ

105 pou~pyidc novhu ma Umdabyi 106 pwc apyergta tilJdci ~ swchmo m()CQll~ 107 we~ phyj) pyidcnau masi lJ mocoubbu 108 ~agoulJde) nyb] maue)b bu 109 umo tounhmo Oila anulJ I 10 OU~80 maJi gadi mati II I kouQa masalou~ phyo u) )a sa nmkoulJ 112 cho) khoulJ bude nwo 113 kbwc migou~ eidou~ su~

11 4-- aOndEgo lou~ t11WC~

lI S UO Iu Ou amp6e It 6 9a kbo doyo kon 117 kogo e ll dndoun mgtyollJyabu 118 CUD YOU) topbc~ koJ Oo1la mi youlJ zouJ IoulJ kolJ fl9 luyoulJ Oo~ Oe JJO cgt ehahmo dobyalunau Oi 121 rowebwo khobai poi 12l oyoi khogo akhc cho~jo

123 Oeyeba ei ~ Oayena sa

94 BURMESE TEXTS

124 sobi khwt) hmauil

125middot no mwedpoundroyauil uogo chau

u6 bampilIOUl) HOge50hmyo 009OOYO lachanCE ce 1Z7middot naboiJ UIU III khwe 128 mYE)hno hlwpound 91 prj) 129 chi bU3chauljt maktnc miU hIe myaIE m3Shtnt 130 cezu kOD Io) momyilJ 11 r 91 hmo)budt saOaC 1]2 takha 6ebu pyiubo no Ie Illmiddot 090 phtYin iJ9o pMmE tJ4 po kai no koP r]S Gowo ewe) 8(1 Gaga SU) chi 136 kala monoi) ygkhaig me 137middot ewu monoillo ci mi Jo 138 ma8Clyode ame StOE~)

139middot Ougo 00 phyc) Joyi) pyt

40 Y0990 YOIJji) matoulJh1yiJoc 141 Y0J7QgO tolo chiaogo (cze 141 OiilpilJ ou 001)0 kogo pi In au) coaa kogo mopi 143middot co rnaye till Iu maye hi 1laquo couto il WUlJ ki) 145 oou)ywc mal)( Jtywe Oc 146 ~shojouudtga e)9i pya 147middot 00 Oehmo lu zll)goUl po 148 Oekbo pycbmo thogwi) tho [49middot maYEbe owe bYE siji) [So shilJbyud~ mp)hno shitlme OlooiWUlJ lSI oou~yj) lwe ypound mi) phyP IS2 co mycji te~ fwethi ISJmiddot yd~~ maee Oclh )ayE mula IS4middot mayEgadE pyegue ISSmiddot zomuyimyo omwe tacbou) oou makbo)

n URMESE TEXTS 9S I j6 tayauf kou) tJaOoUJ boje nYEuye cc 157 OOU) ne en sbayogo moyo~e

IS S gotha ludrug pc tc phyi 159 lJaypoundgo lu pyobu macou~ 160 ywona90mye~ ywoowa mo8Q 161 tago mijoungo maie 162 myi)bon myodo nl nOlJ bolJ myoda pye 16) haunlundE kbwe lu rna ie 164- myE~hna OJ napilflawEya 165 OOllg 0 eWEf ma ie 166 khwe oji fi kho einlo muwf

167middot nabyo 9oU1l10 noo paul] coampolall~ Ii 16S noo mtnu cai~ 169 Oomel 070 Ieoc pyoza 170 tahledE si takhayidl awn 171 e atu pu ollymo 172 neyi) QIJO myoyin awn 17Jmiddot kollJyiJ sol] shoyilJ hlolJ 174 JoYal] yo otudu lJokhu yo khwfjol] kllwe jou 175 cigo bouf ~ b(m~ko ci yo)e 1]6 00J00 asllJ ebodE lu asin mocha In CCf60IJji ne akoo)Clo t10yollf Oine polllJhma otha uJ

khonyo 17S )akhoulJma dagoll)joulJ rolllc loll) POll 119 cigog dagOllgjOIl) ci arnya l)yrsiyodlO ISO talJono ni te)O rnoushono oi mousbo 181 g~nena g~n~ Oamaneno Oamon~ 182 mimI ni be atu tho nibe meza no) 183 OudojilJji) OodiO wcwc p(lU)bE~ twe 184 sei~ pou~ ko kbwo 18S feyilJ shpound~ toyio phyOf 186 nwo kwE co kai~

94 BURMESE TEXTS

124 sobi khwt) hmauil

125middot no mwedpoundroyauil uogo chau

u6 bampilIOUl) HOge50hmyo 009OOYO lachanCE ce 1Z7middot naboiJ UIU III khwe 128 mYE)hno hlwpound 91 prj) 129 chi bU3chauljt maktnc miU hIe myaIE m3Shtnt 130 cezu kOD Io) momyilJ 11 r 91 hmo)budt saOaC 1]2 takha 6ebu pyiubo no Ie Illmiddot 090 phtYin iJ9o pMmE tJ4 po kai no koP r]S Gowo ewe) 8(1 Gaga SU) chi 136 kala monoi) ygkhaig me 137middot ewu monoillo ci mi Jo 138 ma8Clyode ame StOE~)

139middot Ougo 00 phyc) Joyi) pyt

40 Y0990 YOIJji) matoulJh1yiJoc 141 Y0J7QgO tolo chiaogo (cze 141 OiilpilJ ou 001)0 kogo pi In au) coaa kogo mopi 143middot co rnaye till Iu maye hi 1laquo couto il WUlJ ki) 145 oou)ywc mal)( Jtywe Oc 146 ~shojouudtga e)9i pya 147middot 00 Oehmo lu zll)goUl po 148 Oekbo pycbmo thogwi) tho [49middot maYEbe owe bYE siji) [So shilJbyud~ mp)hno shitlme OlooiWUlJ lSI oou~yj) lwe ypound mi) phyP IS2 co mycji te~ fwethi ISJmiddot yd~~ maee Oclh )ayE mula IS4middot mayEgadE pyegue ISSmiddot zomuyimyo omwe tacbou) oou makbo)

n URMESE TEXTS 9S I j6 tayauf kou) tJaOoUJ boje nYEuye cc 157 OOU) ne en sbayogo moyo~e

IS S gotha ludrug pc tc phyi 159 lJaypoundgo lu pyobu macou~ 160 ywona90mye~ ywoowa mo8Q 161 tago mijoungo maie 162 myi)bon myodo nl nOlJ bolJ myoda pye 16) haunlundE kbwe lu rna ie 164- myE~hna OJ napilflawEya 165 OOllg 0 eWEf ma ie 166 khwe oji fi kho einlo muwf

167middot nabyo 9oU1l10 noo paul] coampolall~ Ii 16S noo mtnu cai~ 169 Oomel 070 Ieoc pyoza 170 tahledE si takhayidl awn 171 e atu pu ollymo 172 neyi) QIJO myoyin awn 17Jmiddot kollJyiJ sol] shoyilJ hlolJ 174 JoYal] yo otudu lJokhu yo khwfjol] kllwe jou 175 cigo bouf ~ b(m~ko ci yo)e 1]6 00J00 asllJ ebodE lu asin mocha In CCf60IJji ne akoo)Clo t10yollf Oine polllJhma otha uJ

khonyo 17S )akhoulJma dagoll)joulJ rolllc loll) POll 119 cigog dagOllgjOIl) ci arnya l)yrsiyodlO ISO talJono ni te)O rnoushono oi mousbo 181 g~nena g~n~ Oamaneno Oamon~ 182 mimI ni be atu tho nibe meza no) 183 OudojilJji) OodiO wcwc p(lU)bE~ twe 184 sei~ pou~ ko kbwo 18S feyilJ shpound~ toyio phyOf 186 nwo kwE co kai~

97 96 BURMESE TEXTS

187 ~khwn 8ihma oyi bjiJ 188 khilJYo shwemyo mcilJya hiD~JauJ 189 ayo cigo Owe niya

190middot amo kouJza ma uD myin talulu ma ug kauJza ama mibojaul)

191 Oi wbilJ koulJ hJc taOoul) nanai)dpound 192 ojiu tho ajil] thi cojil] tho 001il] nyi 193middot chinewe sha otu tho JltIbyo paiubniu mancnailJ 194middot OijeiU tau Oi pwiJjcin ta] pwilJ 195middot nOphuzo ywo 11 196middot JOI] cail own eh ko thiu kadi) JwelloJ 197middot ko bniOtka thou bala naiyougt ~hi1J

198 IJeuroyilJ chiya hmo ciyilJ Ilmiyallmo 199middot phli ehi) pLoP eithrhmo pLoP

200 shwejiJ choul] loulJ myojiu thol mya 201 sci ttl wael mwe sei motu taepound) me

202 lJega chi 3hnj Laya mmoe3a uega POll lJ ohnii ta8aUIJ mome7lt1 gaUl)

203 lJazeiJ myilJ lJ ltl9 ilJ pyi 204 ciDJe puda Ci l] nall machol]lIo 205 cil] Oohma e In

206 do toul] doul]llI walolll] kholl ~

207middot nakhol]bejil] mi hmou 208 dabiIJ ltmu dabil) thu 209middot lin Dt rnaya Jane OWO

2 to kain CUD hmi cun kailJ hmi 21I mayo neza coul] Oehma 212 nwoue IDayo maGanom( 213middot mi we chci rna 21 4 SOZltlyodwilJ Qsa khe thozayodwiu rnayo khe~

215middot rnayogo chi Oegabma chimulJyomr 216 PpOOl] myo mayn zago oUI]

BURM ESE TEXTS

217 mobe~ loi moi~pht) po 218 shunt phe)lo shu co phr) ptl1l1 phi) co phe) pou

219 kOUlJ JoUlJyilJ mkJlO u liIJg0111J JOUlJyin wOelouu hmau 220 khwelo IilJ maci lJnr 221 OOlllJjaUl] pyall1j lIl JilJ GoU1jlin pyounibmeilJmo 222 ye IDyll]hmo co ti l]

223 shwe koul]yil] d~zh myocwtyil] da7alaulJ lilJ koulJhmo sauya

224 poubasariyominebo

225 OniJami makoun miba gauu 226 shilJ siywe myilJ yanda myiujiudr sh iIJ ni IJywe myilJ

kO IJdo m~myiDj ilJ 227 k1ll1J 70 plloulJzogo~a pyi)yamr f)am o-rnizogo

nwpyiya 228 gtlbo mi laulJ OogOU] cho ni] 229 ko machi ~miiJale 00 rogE

230 nwumadal] 00 makhiIJ 231 Gau yu 232 WUlJm malwE 00 marnE JwellE maw Cll l] mamc 233 llliOO Z)90 uo thauDIlYO OOJ byo CHU SltllIJ COD0

pya Ul] 234 cwcdoUl] cwcllh mwedollll mwebJe 235 OogaUI] w ynu cou)kuul] dazi 236 rna wtboulJ dxJoul] pllWO

237 aua khwuyu kli) 238 yo~uyiJJ ua Ilaphu Oaj~ tuye 239 ()mi dilgou1j owo wthoul] 240 3mi meOa ye ne IJO 241 shayel hmalJyilJ alal] IllJsai ru 242 lJ ltlpi phoukoluua shayo mapyo ni maca 243 dabe makaul] sh1yo90111] 244 chimug robe kEyt siwY(l 245 dabe hnyo yig no

99 98 B URMESE TEXTS

246 sll)y09o malJ khuywe oUfkht athu khouyadE 247middot ampbayade dabpound JE)SOUJ m3tht

248 Sh3yagO lua) y udt myiJ9o Iucgt) mudE 249middot ko)OOWyilJ ltlmi kOJ()ohlyilJ epbo 250 GogOI] moyau Sf) mapyan 251 kWJ m)ji tlyoO Ji dai) mwE

252 kOIJ camo Ie shouOhlyiU couftaunji IwilJyo 253middot kOlJzamo ampwoleyoyo rno loi lo ywo 254middot acoul) to tauUha yc si 2Hmiddot nOUlJ90 Jo nouJ9oze pau)yonE youl]

256 tlO thwilJdE fJJ dwiJ lu thwilJdE gadwiJ mahou 257middot koU koulJdc co pyeyin OomiU twc 258 oohei lJ tondo nabeil] kOlJleiumc 259middot maYWt bE 8Oke miD phyi7 260 lurtolJ kWJ cbo 26r kOD youOlo shuboutJ maninne 262 CQytyo camo mayoyo 263 OU80 kOIJ SOU) 00amp nyoU saU) 264 shi)ye tokho cholJCgto tahlt 265 yczi takha ye()o tabIt

266 bmoIJgiIJ toLlE thilJ tabk 267 youlJ cuji kbwe cuji 268 Oi)lJou royilJ dolllJ mYE) myiIJdouJ 269middot nc()e(Saoo cbouU~o jo Oweamplbo tamyamyo 270middot oyeP 10 ncbugo saulJyo 27J Gmo ul) w you )ODwoJe pyou7 272 thoUai cwegaP ci flin loP 273middot )ojiJYpound~ It) to 274middot cekan ahoJo to 275middot khayo))i pciJ9oi dotoujgaP 276 yo lJoOu yedwilldt co 277middot kuIJoi cai7 toU)O po

BURMESE TEXTS

278 sulo JeP ye cho 279 mij0tl)90 ychmo hln 280 ldlwe 0 ()QyejoD~ chi 281 soyagnu COll) mou~shei~ pya awl 282 Oakhogo toi~80 hoi) 80llJ)go 00 kin khailJ

283 Oakho Iiyo wundou) wlllJbollE 6wn 28+ takhulako fa tGliugwogo twc 285 kl101pyogO Jwe hmoo pODm i 286 daro bmolo h lopa til] kogwdJO kalapa cohmo

kalcilJ1ihmo) OJ 287 ph)ya hmo lo kOgWEbcJ pliu) t]lwhmo tau)bohmo)

6i 288 chiti hmo lo pezaba moliuhma phoOudohmCUJ ai 289_ lJoOemi leinma1llo(iilm chimuljncgoi youma myi)

8i 1lWI 2)0 thoilJne akOllJlia thaiwa hmo cohmoO OJ 291 Uodo coujdaga coulJd)IJonr asbouf) 0000 lJoda

khi)ji oIOl]fubogalo 292 ehiUbodt chuJbo ci 29] ku6Q oobt I]ayc dabci9a 294 ct noywc huyo me cwcgo 00 tilJ 295 ctuoyou7 9olJdou~nE cbo 296 CWE naywt 7 wpoundhmo 00 297 khinjint bi ltlkwoji 298 gadoulJjoi talwe phi~ talwpound 299 khouyo tacho Joyn facho 300 nyau) u ko~ba pyo 8O~ponagogo n3mo kho co 301 PWE macibEDE 8O~po Iu to kholJYo 302 cJlijo thoU tpound7 ochE7 moco

303 hlago wUIJ tiU 304 sapho oltko Jwe Oou si 305 sciU COU yuuUyo heyot~o kOJ loIJ 306 myiUgaul) pyeya kLwojo koUlolJ

100 BU R MESE TEXTS

30] shUUzQUde (lwc~chi ra 308 ooU1~ka phoyo phaya ht)ka koya karo 309 pllQUI] sire ye IJa 310 Ie tlmg Owo nwo mo

311 go ade yi 0 OOD In (loode 80 tla ci 313 nwa Ie thulJ ell 314 tauUya Ji090 royall) Ioi 31S Ehkhogo lu In hi 316 nougt oi ayilJ Pro 317 nuuhma kiIJ ayi) cpound1tpound pho 118 l1ouhmo mwe mi u hmlji~) 319 badei) moto khil) lwo90 Oin 320 motbailJJiu chi ahi)

321 YOUl) moyogin Oo900Yo fa )22 JiI] mapyugiugo lu tbwe chin 323 hiIJ jo mmyiyagi1) hnou Oi sihniljdt 324 orne co dwedo lug 325 plsho moJiI~Hlgn louIJou) thai) pyo 316 chilyiIJ ktba myiJwma 327 thei)ko pou pihma kooo ]28 dabf 10 shara two

329 sa UIJgouU90 fa phoioUbiIJ90 two 330 mapoocru meza you

3l - amp00 lola nyouuye louIJ pathoU two 332 bxlibiU pyolo paUIJ 00 3J3 nyouIJ cholo Jwe 0 yo 3H pzcolo couUyou tho ahe Qtwe~ Ie 335 mypound~myt lIOjiu1o sha ilJ de loP hllf ji niUmilo we

lJoja )))0

336 00 caitpound lugo nebuhma WOIJ 337 sai] bIo chOU1]b~ you

101BURME SE TEXTS

338 comi ahwtmiamplo hlllyahmalpound khf shwtthayamiddot hmole klu~)

339 bedailJailo ahou1yilJlt au soyiIJlt yu 340 Ie to dabo nou shou hbdoll HI lQyahmnll OEne Jo Ja1 pyiyahmalpound oshine ymywe 342 pe7oyole IJ we mali pyczayalpound mye mali 343 lou so mokhou1] kho 8C1 khwe baulJ 344 bajigolpound motwe thi blJbwtgolpound mhmi HS phu moya doma sholl IJ

346 hle pyodoulJ tr co 347 oye koulJ deiIJdauU phyt 34-8 oyiIJ phouIJ ji bKbE khau~ nou phoulJjihnooht1 kbou 349 nou lade mouIJ p3lamp dailJwuIJdE ke B O romil) lehron tamil) 1)0090 Oi HI phul mijo uJ phyil myi mOchclJaa

H2 00 ooulo lilJji ko liIJji cad) sbo 3B onalxxlwi1] ouo shiIJ 3S4 goba ~mi la u1J ahimigwe1 tho tau 3H nuya we awl

3S6 rowe puye kilj lunauIJ 357 bu leya pbOYOllU s1th] 358 pbu minlgta pya yotho boi 359 Jin uclo allibubo ~)go III tbwe

360 mi lauUYo Ie piU 36I eaugo yo ku Ptli)UgO mi taP 362 kyo amp kbo thoun

363 mye nciIJyo hloIJ sai 364 ye nian weLkulo tho 36S yego Il ciIJye~o si~i

366 myelma eiya hiIJba po 367 amptho 00 paU 368 coupadc Rho COUUDE to

102 BURMESE TEXTS

]69 COlJ90 ~ soupa sho pciU ugo WE sa 370 9pojin tweda Ltbin pya) 371 gadoUIJhgt thei kwt 372 mwebwe po thi 373 93kholt) amp-e Ill 374middot ampmou)dayo wUIJ tathwa 37S wne chu tala mn 376 kala khaOi y6 ka io 6ouDywe malau 377 III 8hi~fYE toeiUdouggo In choJikt sltEeilJdouI pe1o

IDalou 378 ousogo phyo saph09u 379 side ye shEliE 93zilJ 380 eP pou nt pho kou 38 t OomiU mwcyilJ co sayiU 382 dall1doljiaulJ tokhwcdon pyt

383 teyoumogo myiu t3odoO pyr 384 shiUbY1Ub Wi )IUCJ10 cbi dabium ceil) cc 385 wngne 0 lent Iunya 386 ewe tin Jiuooyiu sho mr 387 Ii cCiuljja mali oo IllJ do 388 00 ci chiyn ci 389 kiochimya chi tochun1] ooywe aOwn mapye 390 alii) con) eWE

391 hue moyogin l in In 392 ai moyagilJ wo poUIJ ku 393 rno ywodoul) ye khQl] 394middot la Oodoun boiU lJiU 395 IJO IUlJhmo ku) pyi ]96 roo Gau] Cf) t in DC wi) zabo Ma) ]97 mogo lilJywe pya yilJOj 398 ywo IlUhmo ywe wi )99 sP moyou)khi) hmya kOlin

n URMJlSE TEXTS 10)

400 si youIJma lmlya elml]

401 shilJ loPhmo Oipin Jo 402 Lumai noU1hmo ocuU yo 40] khokwin pyiuuoru ywui1ici youl

404 chi yo jo Oweneyoltom noniji piyo 405 JinooyilJ hlkho thwe ptji ~hLc eel 406 lJoumi Ordoi) uluoiU phyo Y(IU I

407 IAlnc rololJ pago) be ywemaIt 408 Bupide b ko machou)pOZCI1E 409 khu yedwin tu klm ycji OouchiU 410 klll1 liD ne k lHl 00 mwejiJ 411 uo I)WIyo lJOlmlyo laicha 4 12 aphyu te ahnn soyctnono 41] ~uJlouku byaiU SOU IJ 414- di youB myilJlo di chOlllJ tLwiUdF 415 hnyollo Imp Jojo rnasayn 416 youkhama 6eJunolJ maOi myiIJ we Inodiyo lo

4 17 aOo 10 010 taU) 418 Ie shiJ9o ciywe S taP 419 mubu m3pa liYJo mach 4-20 win wil] jil] slmum tbwi) 41 oOOIJ hum anuphyiJi)a OUI]1oyo 422 000 klJaljlunu aea HO)yO 42 su neyo su shuu neyo shan 424- unt thwil]ywc phyi) llu~Oi 9Y090 pau sbciUllt

m9]lOu9a 425 sllilJ cltiih conc ct chi6gt momyc CE c1iil)) cooe amphilJ

chi6l makhODnailJ 426 so u doul) Oll ~ dolllj U so 011] 427 kUJ le6iJ--wiIJIU In)il]9o ou)ywe mamiliail] kUIJ

lclebinc U(1ji llyi lo mayonail] 428 clii U6c1 i OeiUgi JWCJwcfluna node

8 -11

99 98 B URMESE TEXTS

246 sll)y09o malJ khuywe oUfkht athu khouyadE 247middot ampbayade dabpound JE)SOUJ m3tht

248 Sh3yagO lua) y udt myiJ9o Iucgt) mudE 249middot ko)OOWyilJ ltlmi kOJ()ohlyilJ epbo 250 GogOI] moyau Sf) mapyan 251 kWJ m)ji tlyoO Ji dai) mwE

252 kOIJ camo Ie shouOhlyiU couftaunji IwilJyo 253middot kOlJzamo ampwoleyoyo rno loi lo ywo 254middot acoul) to tauUha yc si 2Hmiddot nOUlJ90 Jo nouJ9oze pau)yonE youl]

256 tlO thwilJdE fJJ dwiJ lu thwilJdE gadwiJ mahou 257middot koU koulJdc co pyeyin OomiU twc 258 oohei lJ tondo nabeil] kOlJleiumc 259middot maYWt bE 8Oke miD phyi7 260 lurtolJ kWJ cbo 26r kOD youOlo shuboutJ maninne 262 CQytyo camo mayoyo 263 OU80 kOIJ SOU) 00amp nyoU saU) 264 shi)ye tokho cholJCgto tahlt 265 yczi takha ye()o tabIt

266 bmoIJgiIJ toLlE thilJ tabk 267 youlJ cuji kbwe cuji 268 Oi)lJou royilJ dolllJ mYE) myiIJdouJ 269middot nc()e(Saoo cbouU~o jo Oweamplbo tamyamyo 270middot oyeP 10 ncbugo saulJyo 27J Gmo ul) w you )ODwoJe pyou7 272 thoUai cwegaP ci flin loP 273middot )ojiJYpound~ It) to 274middot cekan ahoJo to 275middot khayo))i pciJ9oi dotoujgaP 276 yo lJoOu yedwilldt co 277middot kuIJoi cai7 toU)O po

BURMESE TEXTS

278 sulo JeP ye cho 279 mij0tl)90 ychmo hln 280 ldlwe 0 ()QyejoD~ chi 281 soyagnu COll) mou~shei~ pya awl 282 Oakhogo toi~80 hoi) 80llJ)go 00 kin khailJ

283 Oakho Iiyo wundou) wlllJbollE 6wn 28+ takhulako fa tGliugwogo twc 285 kl101pyogO Jwe hmoo pODm i 286 daro bmolo h lopa til] kogwdJO kalapa cohmo

kalcilJ1ihmo) OJ 287 ph)ya hmo lo kOgWEbcJ pliu) t]lwhmo tau)bohmo)

6i 288 chiti hmo lo pezaba moliuhma phoOudohmCUJ ai 289_ lJoOemi leinma1llo(iilm chimuljncgoi youma myi)

8i 1lWI 2)0 thoilJne akOllJlia thaiwa hmo cohmoO OJ 291 Uodo coujdaga coulJd)IJonr asbouf) 0000 lJoda

khi)ji oIOl]fubogalo 292 ehiUbodt chuJbo ci 29] ku6Q oobt I]ayc dabci9a 294 ct noywc huyo me cwcgo 00 tilJ 295 ctuoyou7 9olJdou~nE cbo 296 CWE naywt 7 wpoundhmo 00 297 khinjint bi ltlkwoji 298 gadoulJjoi talwe phi~ talwpound 299 khouyo tacho Joyn facho 300 nyau) u ko~ba pyo 8O~ponagogo n3mo kho co 301 PWE macibEDE 8O~po Iu to kholJYo 302 cJlijo thoU tpound7 ochE7 moco

303 hlago wUIJ tiU 304 sapho oltko Jwe Oou si 305 sciU COU yuuUyo heyot~o kOJ loIJ 306 myiUgaul) pyeya kLwojo koUlolJ

100 BU R MESE TEXTS

30] shUUzQUde (lwc~chi ra 308 ooU1~ka phoyo phaya ht)ka koya karo 309 pllQUI] sire ye IJa 310 Ie tlmg Owo nwo mo

311 go ade yi 0 OOD In (loode 80 tla ci 313 nwa Ie thulJ ell 314 tauUya Ji090 royall) Ioi 31S Ehkhogo lu In hi 316 nougt oi ayilJ Pro 317 nuuhma kiIJ ayi) cpound1tpound pho 118 l1ouhmo mwe mi u hmlji~) 319 badei) moto khil) lwo90 Oin 320 motbailJJiu chi ahi)

321 YOUl) moyogin Oo900Yo fa )22 JiI] mapyugiugo lu tbwe chin 323 hiIJ jo mmyiyagi1) hnou Oi sihniljdt 324 orne co dwedo lug 325 plsho moJiI~Hlgn louIJou) thai) pyo 316 chilyiIJ ktba myiJwma 327 thei)ko pou pihma kooo ]28 dabf 10 shara two

329 sa UIJgouU90 fa phoioUbiIJ90 two 330 mapoocru meza you

3l - amp00 lola nyouuye louIJ pathoU two 332 bxlibiU pyolo paUIJ 00 3J3 nyouIJ cholo Jwe 0 yo 3H pzcolo couUyou tho ahe Qtwe~ Ie 335 mypound~myt lIOjiu1o sha ilJ de loP hllf ji niUmilo we

lJoja )))0

336 00 caitpound lugo nebuhma WOIJ 337 sai] bIo chOU1]b~ you

101BURME SE TEXTS

338 comi ahwtmiamplo hlllyahmalpound khf shwtthayamiddot hmole klu~)

339 bedailJailo ahou1yilJlt au soyiIJlt yu 340 Ie to dabo nou shou hbdoll HI lQyahmnll OEne Jo Ja1 pyiyahmalpound oshine ymywe 342 pe7oyole IJ we mali pyczayalpound mye mali 343 lou so mokhou1] kho 8C1 khwe baulJ 344 bajigolpound motwe thi blJbwtgolpound mhmi HS phu moya doma sholl IJ

346 hle pyodoulJ tr co 347 oye koulJ deiIJdauU phyt 34-8 oyiIJ phouIJ ji bKbE khau~ nou phoulJjihnooht1 kbou 349 nou lade mouIJ p3lamp dailJwuIJdE ke B O romil) lehron tamil) 1)0090 Oi HI phul mijo uJ phyil myi mOchclJaa

H2 00 ooulo lilJji ko liIJji cad) sbo 3B onalxxlwi1] ouo shiIJ 3S4 goba ~mi la u1J ahimigwe1 tho tau 3H nuya we awl

3S6 rowe puye kilj lunauIJ 357 bu leya pbOYOllU s1th] 358 pbu minlgta pya yotho boi 359 Jin uclo allibubo ~)go III tbwe

360 mi lauUYo Ie piU 36I eaugo yo ku Ptli)UgO mi taP 362 kyo amp kbo thoun

363 mye nciIJyo hloIJ sai 364 ye nian weLkulo tho 36S yego Il ciIJye~o si~i

366 myelma eiya hiIJba po 367 amptho 00 paU 368 coupadc Rho COUUDE to

102 BURMESE TEXTS

]69 COlJ90 ~ soupa sho pciU ugo WE sa 370 9pojin tweda Ltbin pya) 371 gadoUIJhgt thei kwt 372 mwebwe po thi 373 93kholt) amp-e Ill 374middot ampmou)dayo wUIJ tathwa 37S wne chu tala mn 376 kala khaOi y6 ka io 6ouDywe malau 377 III 8hi~fYE toeiUdouggo In choJikt sltEeilJdouI pe1o

IDalou 378 ousogo phyo saph09u 379 side ye shEliE 93zilJ 380 eP pou nt pho kou 38 t OomiU mwcyilJ co sayiU 382 dall1doljiaulJ tokhwcdon pyt

383 teyoumogo myiu t3odoO pyr 384 shiUbY1Ub Wi )IUCJ10 cbi dabium ceil) cc 385 wngne 0 lent Iunya 386 ewe tin Jiuooyiu sho mr 387 Ii cCiuljja mali oo IllJ do 388 00 ci chiyn ci 389 kiochimya chi tochun1] ooywe aOwn mapye 390 alii) con) eWE

391 hue moyogin l in In 392 ai moyagilJ wo poUIJ ku 393 rno ywodoul) ye khQl] 394middot la Oodoun boiU lJiU 395 IJO IUlJhmo ku) pyi ]96 roo Gau] Cf) t in DC wi) zabo Ma) ]97 mogo lilJywe pya yilJOj 398 ywo IlUhmo ywe wi )99 sP moyou)khi) hmya kOlin

n URMJlSE TEXTS 10)

400 si youIJma lmlya elml]

401 shilJ loPhmo Oipin Jo 402 Lumai noU1hmo ocuU yo 40] khokwin pyiuuoru ywui1ici youl

404 chi yo jo Oweneyoltom noniji piyo 405 JinooyilJ hlkho thwe ptji ~hLc eel 406 lJoumi Ordoi) uluoiU phyo Y(IU I

407 IAlnc rololJ pago) be ywemaIt 408 Bupide b ko machou)pOZCI1E 409 khu yedwin tu klm ycji OouchiU 410 klll1 liD ne k lHl 00 mwejiJ 411 uo I)WIyo lJOlmlyo laicha 4 12 aphyu te ahnn soyctnono 41] ~uJlouku byaiU SOU IJ 414- di youB myilJlo di chOlllJ tLwiUdF 415 hnyollo Imp Jojo rnasayn 416 youkhama 6eJunolJ maOi myiIJ we Inodiyo lo

4 17 aOo 10 010 taU) 418 Ie shiJ9o ciywe S taP 419 mubu m3pa liYJo mach 4-20 win wil] jil] slmum tbwi) 41 oOOIJ hum anuphyiJi)a OUI]1oyo 422 000 klJaljlunu aea HO)yO 42 su neyo su shuu neyo shan 424- unt thwil]ywc phyi) llu~Oi 9Y090 pau sbciUllt

m9]lOu9a 425 sllilJ cltiih conc ct chi6gt momyc CE c1iil)) cooe amphilJ

chi6l makhODnailJ 426 so u doul) Oll ~ dolllj U so 011] 427 kUJ le6iJ--wiIJIU In)il]9o ou)ywe mamiliail] kUIJ

lclebinc U(1ji llyi lo mayonail] 428 clii U6c1 i OeiUgi JWCJwcfluna node

8 -11

100 BU R MESE TEXTS

30] shUUzQUde (lwc~chi ra 308 ooU1~ka phoyo phaya ht)ka koya karo 309 pllQUI] sire ye IJa 310 Ie tlmg Owo nwo mo

311 go ade yi 0 OOD In (loode 80 tla ci 313 nwa Ie thulJ ell 314 tauUya Ji090 royall) Ioi 31S Ehkhogo lu In hi 316 nougt oi ayilJ Pro 317 nuuhma kiIJ ayi) cpound1tpound pho 118 l1ouhmo mwe mi u hmlji~) 319 badei) moto khil) lwo90 Oin 320 motbailJJiu chi ahi)

321 YOUl) moyogin Oo900Yo fa )22 JiI] mapyugiugo lu tbwe chin 323 hiIJ jo mmyiyagi1) hnou Oi sihniljdt 324 orne co dwedo lug 325 plsho moJiI~Hlgn louIJou) thai) pyo 316 chilyiIJ ktba myiJwma 327 thei)ko pou pihma kooo ]28 dabf 10 shara two

329 sa UIJgouU90 fa phoioUbiIJ90 two 330 mapoocru meza you

3l - amp00 lola nyouuye louIJ pathoU two 332 bxlibiU pyolo paUIJ 00 3J3 nyouIJ cholo Jwe 0 yo 3H pzcolo couUyou tho ahe Qtwe~ Ie 335 mypound~myt lIOjiu1o sha ilJ de loP hllf ji niUmilo we

lJoja )))0

336 00 caitpound lugo nebuhma WOIJ 337 sai] bIo chOU1]b~ you

101BURME SE TEXTS

338 comi ahwtmiamplo hlllyahmalpound khf shwtthayamiddot hmole klu~)

339 bedailJailo ahou1yilJlt au soyiIJlt yu 340 Ie to dabo nou shou hbdoll HI lQyahmnll OEne Jo Ja1 pyiyahmalpound oshine ymywe 342 pe7oyole IJ we mali pyczayalpound mye mali 343 lou so mokhou1] kho 8C1 khwe baulJ 344 bajigolpound motwe thi blJbwtgolpound mhmi HS phu moya doma sholl IJ

346 hle pyodoulJ tr co 347 oye koulJ deiIJdauU phyt 34-8 oyiIJ phouIJ ji bKbE khau~ nou phoulJjihnooht1 kbou 349 nou lade mouIJ p3lamp dailJwuIJdE ke B O romil) lehron tamil) 1)0090 Oi HI phul mijo uJ phyil myi mOchclJaa

H2 00 ooulo lilJji ko liIJji cad) sbo 3B onalxxlwi1] ouo shiIJ 3S4 goba ~mi la u1J ahimigwe1 tho tau 3H nuya we awl

3S6 rowe puye kilj lunauIJ 357 bu leya pbOYOllU s1th] 358 pbu minlgta pya yotho boi 359 Jin uclo allibubo ~)go III tbwe

360 mi lauUYo Ie piU 36I eaugo yo ku Ptli)UgO mi taP 362 kyo amp kbo thoun

363 mye nciIJyo hloIJ sai 364 ye nian weLkulo tho 36S yego Il ciIJye~o si~i

366 myelma eiya hiIJba po 367 amptho 00 paU 368 coupadc Rho COUUDE to

102 BURMESE TEXTS

]69 COlJ90 ~ soupa sho pciU ugo WE sa 370 9pojin tweda Ltbin pya) 371 gadoUIJhgt thei kwt 372 mwebwe po thi 373 93kholt) amp-e Ill 374middot ampmou)dayo wUIJ tathwa 37S wne chu tala mn 376 kala khaOi y6 ka io 6ouDywe malau 377 III 8hi~fYE toeiUdouggo In choJikt sltEeilJdouI pe1o

IDalou 378 ousogo phyo saph09u 379 side ye shEliE 93zilJ 380 eP pou nt pho kou 38 t OomiU mwcyilJ co sayiU 382 dall1doljiaulJ tokhwcdon pyt

383 teyoumogo myiu t3odoO pyr 384 shiUbY1Ub Wi )IUCJ10 cbi dabium ceil) cc 385 wngne 0 lent Iunya 386 ewe tin Jiuooyiu sho mr 387 Ii cCiuljja mali oo IllJ do 388 00 ci chiyn ci 389 kiochimya chi tochun1] ooywe aOwn mapye 390 alii) con) eWE

391 hue moyogin l in In 392 ai moyagilJ wo poUIJ ku 393 rno ywodoul) ye khQl] 394middot la Oodoun boiU lJiU 395 IJO IUlJhmo ku) pyi ]96 roo Gau] Cf) t in DC wi) zabo Ma) ]97 mogo lilJywe pya yilJOj 398 ywo IlUhmo ywe wi )99 sP moyou)khi) hmya kOlin

n URMJlSE TEXTS 10)

400 si youIJma lmlya elml]

401 shilJ loPhmo Oipin Jo 402 Lumai noU1hmo ocuU yo 40] khokwin pyiuuoru ywui1ici youl

404 chi yo jo Oweneyoltom noniji piyo 405 JinooyilJ hlkho thwe ptji ~hLc eel 406 lJoumi Ordoi) uluoiU phyo Y(IU I

407 IAlnc rololJ pago) be ywemaIt 408 Bupide b ko machou)pOZCI1E 409 khu yedwin tu klm ycji OouchiU 410 klll1 liD ne k lHl 00 mwejiJ 411 uo I)WIyo lJOlmlyo laicha 4 12 aphyu te ahnn soyctnono 41] ~uJlouku byaiU SOU IJ 414- di youB myilJlo di chOlllJ tLwiUdF 415 hnyollo Imp Jojo rnasayn 416 youkhama 6eJunolJ maOi myiIJ we Inodiyo lo

4 17 aOo 10 010 taU) 418 Ie shiJ9o ciywe S taP 419 mubu m3pa liYJo mach 4-20 win wil] jil] slmum tbwi) 41 oOOIJ hum anuphyiJi)a OUI]1oyo 422 000 klJaljlunu aea HO)yO 42 su neyo su shuu neyo shan 424- unt thwil]ywc phyi) llu~Oi 9Y090 pau sbciUllt

m9]lOu9a 425 sllilJ cltiih conc ct chi6gt momyc CE c1iil)) cooe amphilJ

chi6l makhODnailJ 426 so u doul) Oll ~ dolllj U so 011] 427 kUJ le6iJ--wiIJIU In)il]9o ou)ywe mamiliail] kUIJ

lclebinc U(1ji llyi lo mayonail] 428 clii U6c1 i OeiUgi JWCJwcfluna node

8 -11

102 BURMESE TEXTS

]69 COlJ90 ~ soupa sho pciU ugo WE sa 370 9pojin tweda Ltbin pya) 371 gadoUIJhgt thei kwt 372 mwebwe po thi 373 93kholt) amp-e Ill 374middot ampmou)dayo wUIJ tathwa 37S wne chu tala mn 376 kala khaOi y6 ka io 6ouDywe malau 377 III 8hi~fYE toeiUdouggo In choJikt sltEeilJdouI pe1o

IDalou 378 ousogo phyo saph09u 379 side ye shEliE 93zilJ 380 eP pou nt pho kou 38 t OomiU mwcyilJ co sayiU 382 dall1doljiaulJ tokhwcdon pyt

383 teyoumogo myiu t3odoO pyr 384 shiUbY1Ub Wi )IUCJ10 cbi dabium ceil) cc 385 wngne 0 lent Iunya 386 ewe tin Jiuooyiu sho mr 387 Ii cCiuljja mali oo IllJ do 388 00 ci chiyn ci 389 kiochimya chi tochun1] ooywe aOwn mapye 390 alii) con) eWE

391 hue moyogin l in In 392 ai moyagilJ wo poUIJ ku 393 rno ywodoul) ye khQl] 394middot la Oodoun boiU lJiU 395 IJO IUlJhmo ku) pyi ]96 roo Gau] Cf) t in DC wi) zabo Ma) ]97 mogo lilJywe pya yilJOj 398 ywo IlUhmo ywe wi )99 sP moyou)khi) hmya kOlin

n URMJlSE TEXTS 10)

400 si youIJma lmlya elml]

401 shilJ loPhmo Oipin Jo 402 Lumai noU1hmo ocuU yo 40] khokwin pyiuuoru ywui1ici youl

404 chi yo jo Oweneyoltom noniji piyo 405 JinooyilJ hlkho thwe ptji ~hLc eel 406 lJoumi Ordoi) uluoiU phyo Y(IU I

407 IAlnc rololJ pago) be ywemaIt 408 Bupide b ko machou)pOZCI1E 409 khu yedwin tu klm ycji OouchiU 410 klll1 liD ne k lHl 00 mwejiJ 411 uo I)WIyo lJOlmlyo laicha 4 12 aphyu te ahnn soyctnono 41] ~uJlouku byaiU SOU IJ 414- di youB myilJlo di chOlllJ tLwiUdF 415 hnyollo Imp Jojo rnasayn 416 youkhama 6eJunolJ maOi myiIJ we Inodiyo lo

4 17 aOo 10 010 taU) 418 Ie shiJ9o ciywe S taP 419 mubu m3pa liYJo mach 4-20 win wil] jil] slmum tbwi) 41 oOOIJ hum anuphyiJi)a OUI]1oyo 422 000 klJaljlunu aea HO)yO 42 su neyo su shuu neyo shan 424- unt thwil]ywc phyi) llu~Oi 9Y090 pau sbciUllt

m9]lOu9a 425 sllilJ cltiih conc ct chi6gt momyc CE c1iil)) cooe amphilJ

chi6l makhODnailJ 426 so u doul) Oll ~ dolllj U so 011] 427 kUJ le6iJ--wiIJIU In)il]9o ou)ywe mamiliail] kUIJ

lclebinc U(1ji llyi lo mayonail] 428 clii U6c1 i OeiUgi JWCJwcfluna node

8 -11

104 BURMESE TEXTS

429 galoug pyo EIloug nago pye nago 4]0 cugcigyo Icinma 431 amya mogo ye Gau 432 mo pyo amyo IIi 433middot Oa~)9a a pya llJasholjllaig 434middot mi ci mi noilJ yo ci ye Jim)

435middot a maw) rna ) I~ 436 khwe yu phI koi khwegoUl Daywpound pya) 437middot aso mab() ~Iou ~ aOwo matai)a altIag 438 coJe WaDlE Owo eyo ci Ja u)

439middot khwcgo yoiclligJa dE khweJil) mye hno Iholl yoi)e 440 rnaclii Oalpound auUgo 110l lJlaIIQl~1pound piU()E Iu 44 1 lulcigma omyt pyi) umthwE 442 Oiaa Oize mamyiuzcne 443 middot pound(ipound nyi one oei kbt 444middot t(it aik khllunye

445middot makhbe meOwunc DmtobE rnasoDc

446 oya pygt a u ei Ile pya uall ci 447middot tazaga tohma pyall 448 teitei no tLaulj taIJ

449middot bu tIllouIJ shoU1J onU) masltilytbu

450 ko eu)yi) hnolllo yonaigdE rogo eUlJyi1J hDOU~lo mayonni)

451 malyo metiD souojo hnyi) 452 ta)yilJ lIhc lu)yilJ Le 45]middot aobi ciyig ornyt cidr

454middot pi)Dya lu)(io z090 wiriyo IU Ij()a oudeiso eada IU)(i yogo

455middot awu IUJin i tlo oOOUIj lugOa daOo eso lUIJi) hyo aei~ IUIJOaronho

456 7agO hi) ell) Jlhyj ~

457middot sedano Ill) eliD phyi

BURMESE TEXTS 105

458 hnaioug kollIJ wUD ci 459 sbaya myo eo 9c 460 UeOuiU mya h in hOll)

461 zago myo allmo po 462 mgo zago pyoboU IllYO zagockgo zati pyo 46]two Il[Jyin aye pye 464 ciw Oon yol] 465 khwcbu yol] 10 lulm sci to hlOOo JX kIlt 466 010 ci oyu IIi 467 0 win pClu shciu thwt 468 masoye luu tt 469 lobo cit)u zaga cho

470 eku maJide con ooyQ)booa 471 etllCiU maJide chigilJ 472 coul] malilo CWamp myu 473 to mj lou) oojolll hYpoUbau kba1

474- khiJji le yon teka mauDyin co khozi) mattla 475 khou)go mo yo 476 ollmoi ko MO pyaOo mi loug

4n pya dm~ecou ) pye PYE 478 opye opye m huakbau9~we thWE 479 ycdcin ni 480 COU) Owoywc shi hnh1 moowe 481 khwehlc khoulJ lo phang motho 48z khwe haulJlo tuugbo mopye 48] 8090le tesheisojaulJ mye 70 maphyi)lmoiu 484- bno~ daziuc lbi mphyi llTIo ig 485 nwo khalau~ myibcdc hn(l~ maya 486 shi gwlI lJbooa oooll gjo mahou 487 090 mapu 1IQlolI)go pli 488 myi ~Jo mahlou khoulJda ilJ9o hloo 489 YOIIIJ alwc cl lOlIJltJO co ulJja

106 B U RME SE TEXT S

490middot kou hllyi)9o mesi shoUJoUga si 491 ewe hnEknulJ khatejo myezobiJ makhoIJllaig 492 cpound za bo sa tlmyoIJ dOl) OilJ Suggestions for Further Reading491 middot toungo mojo pyP pouOiUbo hmolJ 494 OJ Jl1Iapil] 80 0090 WCl

Thr 50111 ofa Propc H Fielding Macmillan amp Co Ltd London 1898 495middot taU) lcyin mYE pyo The Silktn East V C Scott OCounor Yols i amp ii Hutchinson London 496 shUIJ kbo]yi) huc Oil] 4Mandalay and Ollrer CrlilS of rhe Past in BrlnnQ V C Scou OConnor

Hutchinson London 1m 1111 BIrmall his Li~ mId Norom Shway Yue Macmillan amp Co Ltd

London 19IO nririslr Rille in Burma 18z4- If)ltjl G E Harvey Faber amp Faber London

1946 BlmutS Fmlfily Mi Mi Khaing LongmallS Green amp u London 1946 Bllmr(~ FoJ-Tab Htitl Aung OUP 1948 Handbook of Orienlal Hislory edited by c H Phi ll ips The Royal

Historical Socjety London 1951 BUflll1l wuler III( japallrSl Thakin N u editltx and translated with

Introduction by J S Fumivall MJCmillan amp Co Ltd London

1954middot A Hislory cf Soulh-East Asia D G E Hall St Martills PrCS$ Inc

New York 1955 The Union 0 Burma A Siudy of lilt FirSI Ywrs of IlIdrptndtnU Hugh

Tinker OUP 19S7 Burma ill lilt Family ojNaliJrls Dr Maullg Mauug Djltllbaum Amstershy

dun 19$H

PaipUliv( oj Burma The Atlantic Vol 20 1 NO2 Concord NH

1958 My Burma The Autohiography ofIl PrcsiJmt U Da U Taplingcr Publishshy

ing Co Inc New York 19S9 Buntla D G E Hall Hutchinson London 1960

7

106 B U RME SE TEXT S

490middot kou hllyi)9o mesi shoUJoUga si 491 ewe hnEknulJ khatejo myezobiJ makhoIJllaig 492 cpound za bo sa tlmyoIJ dOl) OilJ Suggestions for Further Reading491 middot toungo mojo pyP pouOiUbo hmolJ 494 OJ Jl1Iapil] 80 0090 WCl

Thr 50111 ofa Propc H Fielding Macmillan amp Co Ltd London 1898 495middot taU) lcyin mYE pyo The Silktn East V C Scott OCounor Yols i amp ii Hutchinson London 496 shUIJ kbo]yi) huc Oil] 4Mandalay and Ollrer CrlilS of rhe Past in BrlnnQ V C Scou OConnor

Hutchinson London 1m 1111 BIrmall his Li~ mId Norom Shway Yue Macmillan amp Co Ltd

London 19IO nririslr Rille in Burma 18z4- If)ltjl G E Harvey Faber amp Faber London

1946 BlmutS Fmlfily Mi Mi Khaing LongmallS Green amp u London 1946 Bllmr(~ FoJ-Tab Htitl Aung OUP 1948 Handbook of Orienlal Hislory edited by c H Phi ll ips The Royal

Historical Socjety London 1951 BUflll1l wuler III( japallrSl Thakin N u editltx and translated with

Introduction by J S Fumivall MJCmillan amp Co Ltd London

1954middot A Hislory cf Soulh-East Asia D G E Hall St Martills PrCS$ Inc

New York 1955 The Union 0 Burma A Siudy of lilt FirSI Ywrs of IlIdrptndtnU Hugh

Tinker OUP 19S7 Burma ill lilt Family ojNaliJrls Dr Maullg Mauug Djltllbaum Amstershy

dun 19$H

PaipUliv( oj Burma The Atlantic Vol 20 1 NO2 Concord NH

1958 My Burma The Autohiography ofIl PrcsiJmt U Da U Taplingcr Publishshy

ing Co Inc New York 19S9 Buntla D G E Hall Hutchinson London 1960

7