A History of the Pyu Alphabet

A History of the Pyu Alphabet (Burmese: ပျူအက္ခရာသမိုင်း) is a book on the Pyu language first published in 1963 by Tha Myat.[1][2]

A History of Pyu Alphabet
Second edition cover
AuthorTha Myat
Cover artistThaung Hla (first edition),
Thaw Thein Gar (second edition)
CountryBurma (Myanmar)
LanguageBurmese, Pyu
Genrelinguistic
PublisherNational Publishing Works
Publication date
1963
Media typePrint (paperback)
Pages89 (second edition)

Research

The author Tha Myat studied Indian and Southeast Asian stone inscriptions before writing the book.[3] It took about ten years for him to understand the Pyu writing and to reveal the denotations of Pyu alphabets.[4][5]

Publications

First time

The book was first published in 1963.[nb 1] It was published by National Publishing Works.[7] Tha Myat presented his interpretations of the Pyu portions of the Myazedi Inscription, as well as of other Pyu inscriptions. However, because his translations lacked precision, the Burma historian G.H. Luce called them "tentative".[8]

Second printing

The second printing of 500 copies was published in December 2011 by Gangaw Wutyee Publishing House.[9][10]

Content

The book covers the Pyu alphabet and numerals, and includes Romanized transcriptions of sample ancient Pyu stone inscriptions. The book also includes Kamawa (Burmese Buddhist scriptures) and the Mangala Sutta in Pyu.

Table of contents
  1. Combination of vowels with consonants
  2. Various Forms of Alphabets
  3. Conjunct Consonants
  4. Halin Pyu
  5. Sri Ksetra Pyu
  6. Gupta Pyu
  7. Pyu in Roman Characters
  8. Hmawza Payagyigon Pyu manuscripts
  9. The Myazedi inscription Page(A)
  10. The Myazedi inscription Page(B)
  11. Shwesandaw Pagoda, Bagan- Pyu Manuscript
  12. Appendix

Language

The book's Pyu inscriptions were transcribed in modern Burmese, and at times also in the Latin alphabet. Their meaning was given in both Burmese and English.

Reception

Historian Than Tun wrote in 1963:[9]

I was surprised by Thandwe Pyu, the newest discovery of Pyu manuscript.

Footnotes
  1. It was published 9 years before the publication of The Biography of Myanmar Alphabets.[6]

References
  1. "Myanmar Bookshop - Myanmar Books - List". myanmarbookshop.com.
  2. Reader, Pyu (1963). Pyu reader: a history of Pyu alphabet. Rangoon: National Printing Works. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  3. The summary of contributing books about Mon, Pyu, Pali languages by U Tha Myat
  4. "Myanmar Bookshop - Myanmar Books - Book Details". myanmarbookshop.com.
  5. "Myanmar Market Journal". zaygwet.com.
  6. Publication Record of The Biographies of Myanmar Alphabets and Numbers
  7. , Pyu Reader-Scribd
  8. Medieval Tibeto-Burman Languages IV (2012). Nathan Hill. Brill Publishers. ISBN 978-9004232020.
  9. Tha Myat (2011). A History of Pyu Alphabet. Yangon: Gangaw Wutyee Publishing House.
  10. "Kantkawwutyee Publishing House - Myanmar Books - List". myanmaronlinesales.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-03. Retrieved 2015-04-02.
  1. Mratʻ, S.; Myat, T. (1963). Pyu Reader: A History of Pyu Alphabet. National Printing Works. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
  2. Pyu reader (microform) by U Tha Myat National Library of Australia
  3. Pyu reader: a history of Pyu alphabet-by Lingvist
  4. Pyu Reader: a History of Pyu Alphabet-Documents
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