University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents The manuscript is an early or mid 19th century painted Burmese "parabaik", telling the story of Singapatta ("Sangthong" in the better known Thai version), a story from the Buddhist Pannasa Jataka-Suvarnasankha Jataka. The story was so popular that it was later adapted and spread in the forms of "jataka" in the monastic tradition and in the form of tale/performance in the secular tradition. This copy seems to derive from the secular tradition.The manuscript is showing hunting...

Scope and Contents

13 x brass sheets lacquered recto verso with black text, and gilt decorations, on dark red lacquer background. Loosley collected inside 2 x red lacquer and gilt wooden board covers.

The ornate script is called 'Magyi-zi' or tamarind Seed, written in the Pagan style. Brass sheets were introduced late in the 19th century and area relatively uncommon format.