LITEREATURE OF THE PHILIPPINES

  One of the largest archipelago nations in Southeast Asia

  7,641 islands
  Three main geographical divisions : Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao
  Philippines is divided into 18 regions (17 administrative and 1 autonomous)
  Known for abundance of beautiful beaches and delicious fruit

 Political Environment
o  The country’s tortuous political history has given rise to many opportunities for
direct engagement in political resistance by Filipino authors.
o  Writing in Filipino became a form of resistance, and in both English and Filipino,
political themes prevailed
o Dr. Jose Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell) that showed Dr. Jose
Rizal’s patriotism and nationalism that opened the eyes of fellow poets and
enlightened the hearts flame of millions of people’s hearts.
 Economic Environment
o  Philippines is a developing country
o Philippines is a great country with such beautiful sceneries, literatures have come
to present what we have.
o An example of this is the literary piece of Alejandro Roces titled “My Brother’s
Peculiar Chicken”. 
 Socio-Cultural Environment
o  It was the social customs that gave birth to literature that depicts re-enactment of
the beliefs of Filipino people. It reflects to the society with diverse cultural influences
and traditions.
o  The traditional festivities known as barrio fiestas (district festivals) to
commemorate the feast days of patron saints are common, these community
celebrations are times for feasting, music, and dancing. 

II. Historical Development of Literature in the Republic of the PH

III. Forms of Literature in the PH
 Prose
o Novel
o Short Story
o Legends
o Fables
o Plays
 Anecdotes
 Essay
 Biography
 News
 Oration
 Poetry
o Narrative Poetry
  Epic
  Metrical Tale
  Ballads
 Lyric Poetry
o  Folksongs
o  Sonnets
 o  Elegy
o  Ode
o  Psalms
o  Awit
o  Corridos
 Dramatic Poetry
o  Comedy
o  Melodrama
o  Tragedy
o  Farce
o Social Poems
 Other Forms
o Folk Speeches/Bugtong
o Proverbs/Salawikain
o Tanaga
o Balagtasan 
o Spoken Word
o Comedia
  Balagtasan
o Balagtasan is Filipino form of debate done in verse. 
o It is derived from the surname of Francisco Balagtas
o Balagtasan is participated by two or more protagonists who engaged in a debate
on a selected subject
o A judge, known as the lakandiwa if male or lakambini if female, will decide the
winner of the balagtasan. 

IV. SIGNIFICANT Literature in the PH

  Piliin mo ang Pilipinas
o  In 2011, ABS- CBN Creative Communication Management Head Robert
Labayen wrote a song entitled “Piliin Mo ang Pilipinas”. This was sung by Angeline
Quinto and Vincent Bueno.  The song was made to promote travel and tourism in the
Philippines after a season of travel bans that occurred. 
 In the first part of the song, it showcases the natural beauty of our tourist destinations like
beaches with different and unique sea creatures (Mga hiyas na inilatag sa malasutlang
dagat). 
 The next parts signify the entertainment given by the people and the environment to its
guests and tourists (Kasayahang di mapatid ramdam sa bawat awit, sa masisiglang indak
mga puso’y lumilipad; If you know what I’m talking about, Suitcase in the house with the
party sound).
 Vietnamese Literature
Primary Descriptions
 Vietnam or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
 It is the is the easternmost country on the Southeast Asian Indochinese Peninsula
 Its capital city is Hanoi, while its most populous city is Ho Chi Minh City, also known by
its former name of Saigon
 Vietnam is known for having a long, narrow nation shaped liked letter “s”

Political Environment

 The most profound "changing external circumstances" that affected Vietnamese

literature in their political situation in the past two decades are the so-called literary
Renovation movement, which began in 1986 and reached its peak in 1988-89 and had
no official ending, and the post-Renovation period, from the mid-1990s to today. 

 Literature and art were allowed a certain "space of freedom”. The task for the post-
Renovation era is to determine precisely the parameters of this space for freedom and
literature and to determine the circumstances in which the government maintains a right
to interfere with literature.

 The parameters today are clear. You can do whatever you want as long as you avoid
politics.
 In Vietnam, the practice of segregating literature from politics has a stature to the
separation of church and state. Since mixing literature and politics remains taboo, the
writer's horizon is still constrained. But, as narrow as the post-Renovation may be, it still
represents a new and fresh horizon that no one had seen before. 

Economic Environment
 Walking around in Ha Noi, Viet Nam’s capital, you can feel boundless energy everywhere.
People whiz by on scooters, buy and sell everything from phones to food in the countless
small shops, and run to and fro to get to school or work. 
Viet Nam is young, growing, and anything feels possible.
 Vietnam’s economic freedom score is 58.8, making its economy the 105th freest in the 2020
Index. Its overall score has increased by 3.5 points due to a dramatic gain in fiscal health.
Vietnam is ranked 21st among 42 countries in the Asia–Pacific region, and its overall score is
slightly below the regional and world averages.

Facts about Economy of Vietnam

 The Socialist Republic of Vietnam remains a Communist dictatorship characterized by
repression of dissenting political views and the absence of civil liberties. 
 Economic liberalization, began in 1986 with doi moi reforms aimed at transitioning to a
more industrial and market-based economy. 
 Vietnam’s economic growth, based on tourism and manufactured exports, was among
the world’s fastest during the decade-long tenure of former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan
Dung. In 2016, Dung was forced out after losing election as General Secretary of the
Communist Party, but state-managed economic liberalization has continued under
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. 
 Vietnam joined the World Trade Organization in 2007 and signed the Comprehensive
and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2018.
  Many cultural economic contents/ productions as films, television series, animations,
video games, radio plays, musicals, songs etc. were created by using this memory or
heritage as the main source. This literary heritage is considered as the main attraction of
cultural tourism.

Socio-Cultural Environment
 Vietnam has a vibrant literary social and cultural tradition dating back many centuries
that affects their literature. Many poem from earlier eras such as Nguyen Du’s The tale
of Kieu or Nguyen Tien are regarded as literary masterpiece.
 Important cultural symbols include dragons, turtles, lotuses and bamboo. Along with
these tradition, the Vietnamese also maintained a rich oral legacy of songs, poems and
morality tales that people still recite today

Historical Development of the Literature of

Vietnam
Forms of Literature

Truyen
- (traditional oral literature)
- works of folkoric intention and their authors themselves have meant them for retelling,
for existence in the oral tradition. 
Han Viet
- (Chinese-Vietnamese literature)
- gives individual authors a wide range of formal and thematic possibilities, including the
luc-bat (“six-eight,” referring to a basic couplet of six syllables in the first line and eight in
the second) prosody of the oral tradition. 

Quoc Am
- (modern literature, or anything written in the romanticized quoc ngu alphabet)
- written with the Roman alphabet, like English and French, not Chinese characters (like
China) or a distinct alphabet (as is the case in Thailand and Myanmar).

Significant Literature 

Types of Poetry: 
* Lyric Poetry
-  usually written in first person point of view and     expresses personal thought and feelings
- expresses an emotion or an idea or describes a scene
- is often used in musical

Narrative Poetry 
- tells a story
- they can be long and short
- Some use rhyme, some do not. 

Example: The Greedy Dog

 There was once a dog filled with greed
Who wanted much more than he's need
When he saw his reflection 
Upon further inspection
He ended with nothing, indeed.

Descriptive Poetry
- Poetry that, through memorable descriptions that appeal to our senses, engages our minds, our hearts,
and our imaginations.

- Gives the reader a sense of an experience/place/person

Subtypes:
 Sonnet (Shakespearean or English Petrarchan or Italian) - 14 lines
Haiku  - japanese poem of 17 syllables, 5,7,5
Elegy - lament for the dead
Limerick - 5 line poem that consist of 1 stanza
Ballad - form opf verse, narrative set to music
Ode - lyrical stanza; used to glorify
Epic - long narrative poem about heroic acts

Sound Devices:

Alliteration  
Assonance 
Consonance 
Onomatopoeia 
Rhyme 
Rhythm
The Literature of Brunei Darussalam

Primary description of the country

* Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the
South China Sea. 

*It's known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest, much of it protected within reserves. The capital,
Bandar Seri Begawan, is home to the opulent Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and its 29 golden
domes.

*The capital's massive Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of Brunei’s ruling sultan. 

*Brunei, situated on the northern shore of the island of Borneo in the South China Sea, is one of the
smallest yet richest states in the world. 

*With a population of less than 500,000, its socialist society is arguably the closest any nation has gotten
to a total welfare state:  the Sultan’s government pays for education, healthcare, and most other living
expenses of its citizens, financed through Brunei’s massive oil and natural gas wealth, thus the nickname
“Shellfare.” The Sultan is one of the richest men in the world and he flaunts his wealth shamelessly. 

 The national crest of Brunei Darussalam was developed from a royal emblem and in its original
form still maintains its status as one of the royal emblems. The present national crest was
superimposed on the national flag after promulgation of the 1959 Brunei Constitution. The crest
comprises of the following: 

 o Bendera – the flag. 

 o Payung Ubor-Ubor – the royal umbrella. 

 o Sayap – the wing. 

 o Tangan (kimhap) – the hand. 

 o Bulan – the cresent. 

 The Bendera and Payung Ubor-Ubor have been royal regalia since the creation of the crest. The
Sayap, the wing of four feathers, symbolizes the protection of justice, tranquility, prosperity and
peace in the country. Tangan or Kimhap, the hand, signifies the government’s pledge to promote
welfare, peace and prosperity. Bulan, the crescent, is the symbol of Islam, the national religion of
Brunei Darussalam. The characters inscribed on the crescent are the national slogan, ‘Always
render service by God’s guidance’. The scroll beneath the crest reads ‘Brunei Darussalam’ which
means ‘Brunei, the abode of peace’.

Political Environment

* The politics of Brunei take place in a framework of an absolute monarchy, whereby the Sultan of
Brunei is both head of state and head of government (Prime Minister of Brunei).

* Executive power is exercised by the government. Despite numerous initiatives and calls for action on
the part of the government, notably through the National Language and Literature Bureau (Dewan
Bahasa dan Pustaka, DBP), the state of Bruneian literature and publishing remains nascent.

* At the 2011 Globalization and Translation conference in Kuala Lumpur, Abdullah (2011) stated that
developed countries generate 1,000 new book titles per year per population of one million, including
 textbooks and translations. The national support of Malay Literature is rooted in the use of Malay as the
national literature has been formally recognized at the state level. The country’s investment is
highlighted by the role of the DBP, which is responsible for language and literary development program,
cultural research and documentation and book publication. The DBP has in the past encourage and
supported local literary output through activities such as writing competitions etc.

Economic Environment
  
 
* The economy of Brunei is small and wealthy, and is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship,
government regulation and welfare measures, and village traditions. It is almost entirely supported by
exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of
GDP. 

*Per capita GDP is high, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from
domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

* Malay /Indonesia language is the dominant language among ASEAN countries which the speakers are
more than 250 million people and it has become world’s fourth most widely spoken language by native
speakers.  Historically, Malay language was widely used in the past particularly in the ports which were
the centers of the economy or trade. Malay language was used as the main language of communication
between Indian, Chinese, Arab, and European traders with the locals. Similarly in the administration,
preaching and literature.  This is to prove that the use of Malay language was dominant and widespread,
and the Malays themselves were also nationalists. Moreover, the Malay language was attributed to its
flexibility and dynamic that made it easily to be accumulated and adapted.

Socio – Cultural Environment

 The social beliefs and customs of Brunei are primarily influenced by Islam, which is the
official national religion. In terms of social makeup, individual families play a critical role
and are considered the building blocks of society. Within families and their extended
relatives, each person occupies a place in the hierarchy. Elders tend to hold the most
important part within the familial structure and showing them respect is of utmost
importance in the culture here.
 Islam has also influenced the social custom of conservative behavior and modest dress.
Following these guidelines of modesty, women are expected to be fully covered with only
their hands and face exposed in public. Another interesting social custom is that eating
and drinking while walking are considered impolite and are behaviors that should be
avoided. When shaking hands with somebody of the opposite sex, the man should wait
for the woman to offer her hand as it is not customary for men and women to touch.
Additionally, touching anybody on the head is considered rude. 

 Brunei is home to unique folk music and dance styles, although Islamic practices
do restrict these types of performances. Some of the most traditional types of music are
combined with specific dance styles. Several instruments are utilized to play the music of
Brunei, including gongs, coconut shells as percussion, rebana tambourines, and dombak
drums. One popular music and dance combination is the Aduk Aduk, which is performed
by children wearing warrior clothing to celebrate birthdays and the end of harvest season.
Another example of traditional music in Brunei is the Adai Adai, which is a song
performed by fishermen while they work. The Adai Adai is made up of vocals and
percussion instruments. The Jipin performance is another important example of music
and dance in Brunei. This performance, which originally comes from the Malay culture, is
carried out by a group of 6 men and women. The music is produced by using percussion
instruments as well as the gambus dan biola, a stringed instrument.
  Literature is an important part of the culture of Brunei and one of the most
important literary works is Sya’ir Awang Simawn, an epic poem. This poem tells the
history of the Sultanate through the adventures of the hero Simawn. Children also have
an appreciation for literature and are particularly familiar with the sajak style of poetry.
The sajak was first used to teach children about history and civil studies. It is read in
regular prose form but may be accompanied by hand movements as well.
 The arts in Brunei take on a number of forms, including painting, architecture,
jewelry, textiles, metal works, and baskets. During the mid-20th century, the government
of Brunei took an active part in promoting art in the society. Since then, the production
and sale of art have increased. Women work primarily with textiles and beads, while men
tend to work with metals. This country is well-known for its silver ornaments and fabrics
dyed in the batik style.

Historical Development of the Literature of Brunei

 Locally produced English literature is a fairly new development compared to Malay literature,
which is rooted in a proud history of oral tradition, folklore, legends and myths. With the arrival of
Islam in the 15th century, this tradition has been enriched by Islamic beliefs, values, teachings, as
well as its literature (Ampuan Brahim 2001, 2010). Echoing Malaysia, the emergence of modern
Malay literature in Brunei generally refers to post-1840s works.
 Despite the efforts of the DBP, the novel form has historically had a late and disjointed presence
in the development of Malay literature.
 The 1980s would see a significant increase in the production of Malay novels, with Mohd Salleh 
publishing  Meniti  Hasrat  (‘The  Passing  Aspiration’) in  1982,  followed  by  Titian Semusim 
(‘The  Passing  of a  Season’) in  1986  and Pahlawan  Bendahara  Sakam  (‘Chief Minister Sakam
the Warrior’) in 1991. Other genres, particularly poetry and cerpen (‘short stories’), have also
continued to flourish during this period.
 In English literature, novel production such as it is has developed at the same pace as the
production of other genres. Due once again to the lack of a critical mass, it is impossible and
unfruitful to make generalized statements about trends in Bruneian English literature. With such a
small and under-marketed body of work to draw upon, writers often find themselves working in
isolation, with little if any knowledge of other writers of the language. This is exacerbated by the fact
that English language writers tend to have very little exposure to Malay.
 Malay literature, in comparison with English, has had the time and space to grow in response to
and in conversation with critical study and other local literary texts as well as texts from the Malay
world. While thematically it tends to address social issues, writers have proven willing to
experiment with narrative form, although a didactic style befitting the perceived moral role of
literature in the national culture is often adopted. While the influences of the West are far more
apparent in Bruneian English literature, traditional narrative dominates, with writers as yet
unwilling to experiment with form.
 Despite the fewer constraints involved in writing for a publisher outside of Brunei, then, Bruneian  
English  literature seems  still  ideologically  invested  in  perpetuating  a  vision  of Brunei in
which MIB is central, and the unique features of Brunei are emphasized.
 Tracing the development of both literatures reveals a still-nascent literary situation struggling to
build the critical mass of texts necessary to truly claim a national literary history or scene. The
slowness of this literary development may also be attributed to the lack of a national culture of
review or critique, other than in academic circles. Nevertheless, the sudden growth in productivity
in the English sphere makes it clear that the lack of engagement across the literatures is, in the
future, something that the Bruneian literary community will have to address if it is to prove
inclusive rather than divisive.
 The development of contemporary Bruneian Malay and English literature has been tied to
publishing and educational policies which have privileged Malay language and literature as a core
 part of national identity. Nationalist themes such as support for the monarchy (Syair Rakis and
Mahkota Berdarah), Islam and the importance of Malay culture and tradition (Pengabdian),
abound in Malay literature.

 In contrast, the emergence of English language literature in the last decade seems to have
developed separately from Malay literature, in large part because of its marginalization from state
support and attention; its development can perhaps be attributed to, or at least linked with, global
trends and increased Bruneian presence online, particularly in the blogosphere. Despite this
differing impetus, the themes, form and ideological concerns across literatures have not diverged
significantly. Generally, support for the national ideology of MIB remains a strongly pervasive
theme of local literature in both languages. 

 
Forms of Literature in Brunei
A. Poetry

 Poem (Pantun) – is a Malay inheritance or a genre of pure Malay literature work in the
Archipelago including Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Malay poem involved:

Children’s Poem
Love Poem
Social Poem
Moral Poem
Religious Poem
Advisory Poem
History Poem
Linked Poem
 
 Epic Poem - is a long, narrative poem that is usually about heroic deeds and events that are
significant to the culture of the poet. Many ancient writers used epic poetry to tell tales of intense
adventures and heroic feats. Some of the most famous literary masterpieces in the world were
written in the form of epic poetry.
 
 Verse (Syair) - is a kind song that is sung in verses to narrate tales of writing with rhymes. The
syair can be a narrative poem, a didactic poem, or a poem used to convey ideas on religion or
philosophy, or even one to describe historical event. 

 Sajak - is a Malay free-form style (meaning “rhyme” in English) that was full of nationalistic
symbolism once used as a means of propaganda during the days when the Japanese occupied the
island during WWII.

 Haiku - It consists of three lines. The first line contains five syllables, the second line contains
seven, and the last line five.

 Folksong – in Brunei Darussalam, folksongs mostly consists of traditional Brunei Malay songs
categorized under five categories:

Working Songs
Magical or Spiritual Songs
 Love Songs
Lullabies
Festivities Songs
B. Prose

 Myths - a legendary or a traditional story that usually concerns an event or a hero, with or without
using factual or real explanations. A myth involves historical events and supernatural beings.
 
 Legends - a narrative that focuses on a historically or geographically specific figure, and
describes his exploits. Similar to a myth, a legend can provide an etymological narrative, often filling
in historical gaps.

I. Religious Legend. It includes legend about saints or clergies such as propagators of Islam.
II. Supernatural Legend. Events which actually took place and was experienced by someone. Its
function is to strengthen folk beliefs and creeds.
III. Individual Legend. Stories about an individual who are regarded by the originator as true stories.
IV. Local Legend

 Tales 

Common Tales or Tales of Romance – are tales about people and usually portrays the life story of a
person.

Comedy Tales – tales of comedies often tickles the listener, audience and the story teller him or herself.

Animal Tales – often portray the life in the jungle.

 
Short Story – is a brief fictional prose narrative that is shorter than a novel and that usually deals with only
a few characters.
 
Novel - is a long narrative work of fiction with some realism.
 
C. Drama 
Drama is a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. It is one of the
literary genres, which is an imitation of some action. Drama is also a type of a play written for theater,
television, radio, and film.
 
The Most Distinguished of all Forms

Sajak is type of modern Malay poetry which is free-form and is not bound to the number of rows,
inline words, duplicates, recitals and so on. The free nature of this rhyme means the ability and readiness
of rhyme in accepting forms of traditional poetry or the emergence of new forms created based on the
creativity and sensitivity of the poet or the merger of the existing forms.

 
MYANMAR 
Primary Description
 Mynamar is known also as Burma. Burma was coined during the reign British empire in the
country from 1824-1948. Hence, Burma is the old name, Myanmar is the new name.

 Buddhism is consdired the national religion

 Mynamar is home to 135 ethnic groups

 Kind of government: Unitary Parliamentary Republic wherein the heads of the Cabinet are in
charge of excuting the regulations set down by this form of government

 The design of the flag has 3 horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a five-pointed white
star in the middle. The three colors of the stripes are meant to symbolize solidarity, peace and
tranquility, and courage and decisiveness.  
 Its charming friendly people and some man-made religious sites such as the impressive
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and the temples of Bagan. One of Southeast Asia's largest and
most diverse country: Myanmar. Also called the “Golden Land” because of it's all over the
country placed golden pagodas as the beauty of its sacred old buildings is just a hint of the
former magnificence of ancient Burma.

 capital - Naypyitaw (3rd largest city)

Political Environment
 The first military rule began in 1958 and direct military rule started when Ne win captured
power through a coup d'état in 1962. 

 Myanmar has undergone a number of political reforms following 50 years of military rule. 

 Myanmar has a rich reading culture, one of the reasons why the Irrawaddy Literary Festival was
set up in the first place. Since 2010, when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was released
from years of house arrest, Myanmar has undergone a number of political reforms following 50
years of military rule. 

Economic Environment
 Improvement the business environment has been a major aim of Myanmar's reforms. However,
the formal and informal economic institutions that govern exchange and shape the business
environment. 

 The socialist leadership eliminated many market-. contextualising relevant economic opening
and peace and conflict literatures. It then illustrates how business-peace promises have
manifested in Myanmar through perspectives from local business leaders.

 Myanmar now has a mixed economy wh a private state, and a joint private sector. 

 Agriculture, light industries, and other businesses are in the private sector

 Heavy industries that require huge capital are in the state sector.
  KYAT - national currency

 Agriculture, forestry, fishing together consitute the largest contributor to Myanmar's economy

 The country's trade in rice is dependent on water transport

Socio-Cultural Environment
 Myanmar Social Problems, poor by Asian Standards and consequently suffers from a number of
social problems. Since a large number of young women in the boarder areas have been drawn
into prostitution in Thailand. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (Aids) has become a large
scale. 

 The towns, movies, particularly foreign features films are popular. In the cities and towns music
is piped into the streets the publics benefit. The major population groups in Myanmar migrated
into the Irrawaddy River Valley from the north, bringing their spoken language, their gender roles
and several varieties of food. Myanmar script in which the popular language is written.
 Do's in Myanmar:

1. Respect the Mynamar people and their unique traditions.

2. Respect the elders. Let the oldest be served first, and bend a bit when crossing close in front of the
elders.

3. Wear decent clothes when visiting religious sites. Please cover shoulders and knees and take off shoes
when entring pagoda areas.

4. Keep the feet on the ground: Tuck away your feet when you sit, your legs should not be stretched out,
and your feet should never face the Buddha.

5. To maintain Mynamar's heritage, do not buy antiques. Buy arts and crafts instead.

6. Help protect Myanmar wildlife by refusing to purchase wildlife products.

7. Myanmar currency should be exchanged at the official exchange counters and banks, not on the black
market. 

 Dont's in Myanmar:

1. Don't sit with back against Buddha image. Don't handle Buddha Images or sacred object with disrespect.
Don't keep Buddha images or sacred objects in inappropriate places.

2. Don't offer to shake hands with a monk.Women should not touch a monk.

3. Don't step on other's shadows or any parts of their bodies. Don't point a finger straight in other's
faces.Don't point with your foot, it means disrespect.
4. Don't touch anybody on the head.The head is the most esteemed part of the body. To be touched in the
head means aggresive.

5. Don't touch a woman on any part of her body.

6. Don't gamble. Don't use drugs. 

7. Do not go where you are advised not to go.

8. Dont kiss in public. Displaying physical closeness in public places is frowned upon in Myanmar.

9. Don't disturb people praying and meditating. Visitors should avoid loud talk and should take care not to
touch people who are meditating. 

10. Calling with your fingers up means calling for a challenge; calling someone with fingers down is
considered polite.

11. Don't touch the robe of the monk. 

12. Giving money or sweets to children is not advisable.

Brief history of the development of literature

MYANMAR LITERATURE

 The literature of Myanmar spans over a millennium. Burmese literature was historically
influenced by Indian and Thai cultures, as seen in many works, such as the Ramayana. The Burmese
language, unlike other Southeast Asian languages (e.g. Thai, Khmer), adopted words primarily from
Pali rather than from Sanskrit.

 Burmese literature has historically been a very important aspect of Burmese life steeped in the
Pali Canon of Buddhism.

Palm-leaf and Folded Paper Literature

 From the fifteenth century up to the nineteenth century, palm-leaf (scratched with a stylus) and
folded-paper literature became common. Such works were filled with Buddhist piety and courtly
refinement of language. The authors were monks, educated counters and court poetesses.
Prose works during this period of were few, mostly Buddhist scriptures and chronicles of kings.

Forms of literature in Myanmar

MYANMAR LITERATURE: FOLK TALES, CLASSICAL WORKS, MODERN WRITERS AND CENSORSHIP, POEM

MYANMAR LITERATURE: FOLK TALES, CLASSICAL WORKS, MODERN WRITERS AND CENSORSHIP, POEM

BURMESE LITERATURE

How The Coconut Came To Myanmar: A Burmese Folk Tale

The Four Puppets: Another Burmese Folk Tale

Religious Manuscripts and Books

Classical Burmese Literature

Colonial Literature in Burma

Post- Colonial Literature in Burma

Modern Writers in Burma-Myanmar

Pascal Khoo Thwe and “From the Land of Green Ghosts”

Everything Is Broken and Other Books About Modern Myanmar

Literary Censorship in Myanmar and How Things Have Changed

Freedom Brings New Challenges for Burma’s Writers

Poetry is the most popular literature in Burma/Myanmar

 LITERATURE OF THE THAILAND
Primary Description
 Thailand is in the heart of the south east 

asia.

 A country of mountains, hills, plains, and

a long coastline.

 Thai is the national and official language.

 Over 90% of Thai’s are Buddist.

  Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by a European
country. In fact, in Thai Language, the name of the country is Prathet Thai which means
“land of the free”

 This is where you'll find the smallest and biggest creature in the world. The smallest
mammal, which is the bumblebee bat and the largest fish, whale shark in Thai waters.

 capital is Bangkok which is its largest city; one tenth of the entire population lives here

 Logging is completely banned in Thailand

 Thailand loves his king and shows great respect for the monarchy

 There are about 35000 temples and visiting them requires modest clothing

 Thailand is home to many many animals. To put into perpective, it has more birds than
Europe and America combined. 

 national flower - orchid 

 There are more than 5,000 elephant in Thailand

 Thailand was named the world's hottest city

 Rice is considered the most important mineral of Thailand

 Old name of Thailand – SIAM

Political Environment
 Thailand was under the rule of military organization called National Council for Peace
and Order, which had taken control of national administration.

 Much literature lost in the sack of Ayutthaya by Hsinbyushin of Myanmar in 1767.

 Thailand is governed by a constitutional monarchy. The King is the Chief of State, and
the Monarchy is heriditary. Traditionally, he has little direct power but benefits enormous
respect and moral authority. 

 The Prime Minsiter is the head of government and hold all executive powers including
implementation of the law in the country and running the day to day affairs. The cabinet
is appointed by the King on recommendation of the Prime Minister.
  The parliament handles the legislative power 
Economic Environment
 Thailand is family life and society has been traditionally male-dominant women are
granted considerable respect.

 In the late 1940’s many writers influenced by socialist realism ad for the brief produce
novels and short stories highlight social injustice.

 It has an upper middle income economy

Socio-cultural Environment
 Much of Thailand’s culture comes from the ethnic Thai people.

 One of the most important influences on culture in Thailand is Buddhism.

 Thai language is widely spoken and understood, and the Thai script is often used in
place of traditional writing styles.

Do's in Thailand:

1. Dress properly especially in visting temples.

2. Take off your shoes when entering temples and someone's homes.

3. Respect the monarchy,

4. Keep your patience. Thailand is the land of happy, go lucky so service might be slower than
usual. 

5. When giving gifts, it's best to give flowers, chocolates or fruits.

6. Gold and yellow are considered good choice of colors

 
 Dont's in Thailand:

1. Don't cross your legs when inside the temple and when in the presence of the monk. This
applies whether you are sitting on the floor or in the chair. 

2. Don't touch a Thai woman without consent. 

3. Don't be overly affectionate in public. 

4. Don't touch a Thai person's head or ruffle their hair. 

5. Don't place your feet on the table.

6. Don't raise your voice of lose your temper.

Historical Development of the Literature of Thailand

  Thai literature was traditionally heavily influenced by Indian culture from the 13th century.

 That time the Sunthorn Phu is the most important poet in Thai literature.

 But is has changed in 20th century.

 Thai traditional literature is more focuses in religious things.

Most works of emotive literature

 The Romance of Khun Chang Khun Phaen

 Ramakian (or Ramakirti)

 The Romane of Inao

 Sam Kok

 Phra Aphaimani

Forms of Literature of Thailand

 Khlong - oldest Thai poetic form

 Chan - prominent poetic form

 Klon - refered to any type of poetry

 Rai - oldest Thai poetic form that used in laws and chronices

 Kap

Most Distinguished of all Forms

Klong - termed as the earliest form of Thai poetry. Klong has different and elaborated tonal and
rhythmic constrain and has been developed on the basis of Thai language