• Burmese
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
28 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News Burma

Discovery Could Fill Out Historical Record on Little-Known Burmese King

Zarni Mann by Zarni Mann
January 15, 2014
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Discovery Could Fill Out Historical Record on Little-Known Burmese King

A handout shows the front and back of a stone tablet inscribed in several languages and dated back to the 11th century.

5.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

MANDALAY — Burmese archaeologists and historians said Tuesday that a recently discovered stone tablet dating back more than 900 years could help to shed light on the largely untold life of King Sawlu, son of Burma’s much better known King Anawrahta.

The experts said the stone inscription, found in Myittha Township, Mandalay Division, was written in Mon, Pyu, Parli, and Gone Shan languages, as well as another unknown script. The tablet is believed to have been chiseled in the early 11th century and mentions a monastery built and donated by the wife of Sawlu.

The experts said only some lines of the stone inscription are still legible, with the slab found not fully intact and some pieces still missing.

RelatedPosts

Thai ex-PM Thaksin Due in Dock for Royal Defamation Case

Thai ex-PM Thaksin Due in Dock for Royal Defamation Case

July 16, 2025
0
What are junta soldiers fighting for?

What are junta soldiers fighting for?

July 16, 2025
11
Myanmar Junta Moves into Nawnghkio Outskirts

Myanmar Junta Moves into Nawnghkio Outskirts

July 15, 2025
728

“From just a few words that we were able to read in the Mon language, it said that King Sawlu ruled the nation by the teachings of Lord Buddha. This means Sawlu was not a bad king as history has portrayed him,” said Naing Ba Shin, an expert of ancient Mon inscriptions who formerly worked for the government’s Department of Archaeology.

“If we could read more, and if we could get the remaining parts, we would know more untold details about King Sawlu and his queen, and this might change some part of history,” he added.

Sawlu has long been considered a disappointing heir to King Anawrahta, who, as founder of Burma’s Pagan Dynasty, is widely regarded as one of Burma’s greatest monarchs. Accounts of Sawlu’s reign describe the king as a drunkard who was fond of gambling and was eventually dethroned by a popular rebellion.

Due to the brief time that he spent as king—reigning less than a decade—and the imposing legacies of both his predecessor and successors to the throne, history has largely neglected to offer a detailed account of Sawlu’s life.

The Burmese experts said they were in the process of researching the temples, pagodas and statues built and donated by Sawlu, with the recent discovery adding a significant contribution to their efforts.

“We’ve been researching inscriptions written by King Sawlu, but there were very few about him to study. Recent findings disclose more about him and inspire us to study more about him,” said Myint San, a Pyu language expert.

Part of the stone inscription was found while workers were cleaning Myittha’s Paytaw Monastery compound, where a new monastery is slated to be built in November. Additional pieces of the stone slab were unearthed as researchers descended on the site after news of the initial discovery was reported by local media.

The inscription is etched onto a stone slab some 2.6 feet wide, 4.3 feet high and 5 inches thick. The various languages are inscribed on both sides of the tablet.

According to the researchers, only a small portion of the text is legible and states that the Maha Anuruda Deva Rama Monastery was donated by the Sawlu monarchy in the king’s quest to attain Nirvana.

“The year of inscription, in the Burmese year 415 [circa 1052 AD], is clearly written. And the words written on this stone are very similar to other inscriptions of that time. So we can say this stone inscription dates back about 1,000 years,” said Myint San.

However, the researchers acknowledged that given the poor condition of the tablet’s inscription and the fact that large portions of the slab are still missing, the discovery may lead to as much debate as revelation regarding the long-dead king.

“As with many other historical discoveries, there will always be controversy surrounding the year of inscription, the language, about the people, et cetera. There is always a justification to debate, and that is what archaeologists and historians do,” said Naing Ba Shin.

Win Maung, an expert on Burmese traditional arts and a member of the team currently researching the Sawlu tablet, said that inscriptions in Mon, Pyu, Parli and Gone Shan languages were confirmed, but one script remained unknown.

“Because it was written many years ago and was broken into pieces, we still can’t confirm some of the language,” he said. “We have a lot of research ahead, of course.”

The abbot from Paytaw Monastery and interested elders and youth in Myittha are preparing to erect a small building to conserve the centuries-old stone inscription while researchers continue to probe the finding.

“More experts’ help is needed to research more about this valuable stone inscription,” Win Maung said. “We hope remaining parts of the broken stone slab are found.”

Your Thoughts …
Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang
Burma

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

by Hein Htoo Zan
November 28, 2023
98.5k

Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army troops are opening roads and pathways through forests for people to flee Kokang’s capital as...

Read moreDetails
Burning Alive in Myanmar: Two Resistance Fighters Executed in Public
Burma

Burning Alive in Myanmar: Two Resistance Fighters Executed in Public

by The Irrawaddy
February 7, 2024
90k

People’s Defense Force says junta troops told every household in the village to send one member to witness the double...

Read moreDetails
Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State
War Against the Junta

Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

by The Irrawaddy
November 29, 2023
87.1k

Brotherhood Alliance member says it now has complete control of Kokang’s northernmost section after the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 125...

Read moreDetails
Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks
Burma

Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks

by The Irrawaddy
December 4, 2023
59k

The junta said deserters would not be punished for minor crimes, highlighting the military’s shortage of troops as resistance offensives...

Read moreDetails
As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue
Burma

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue

by The Irrawaddy
April 19, 2024
47k

The junta’s No. 2 has not been seen in public since April 3, sparking rumors that he was either gravely...

Read moreDetails
Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow
Burma

Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow

by The Irrawaddy
February 12, 2024
44.8k

Ethnic armed grouping says it will continue Operation 1027 offensive until goal of ousting the junta is achieved. 

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post

Seven Proposed Daily Newspapers Scrap Plans to Publish

Asean Para Games Opened in Naypyidaw

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

7 days ago
1.3k
What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

16 hours ago
688

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Launches Space Agency With Russian Help

    Myanmar Junta Launches Space Agency With Russian Help

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Army Accused of Deadly Strike on Separatists in Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Moves into Nawnghkio Outskirts

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s ‘Living Fence’ on Thai Border Falls to Karen Resistance

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.