Balinese literature is one of the literary treasures of the archipelago.

Like literature in general, Balinese

literature is actualized in oral and written forms. According to the category of periodization of Balinese
literature, there is what is called the Purwa Bali Literature and the Anyar Bali Literature. Balinese
Literature Purwa means Balinese literature which is traditionally inherited in the form of old texts. Anyar
Bali Literature is a literary work that was created at a time when Balinese society had undergone
modernization. There are also those who call it Modern Balinese Literature.

Balinese literature, before the existence of paper in Bali, was generally written on palm leaves. Because
it is written on palm leaves, this "literary book" is called "lontar". Indeed there are other written forms,
such as inscriptions, using various media such as stone and copper plates, but there are no Balinese
literary works written on bamboo, animal skins, wood, bark. Later, after being known by paper, Balinese
literary writers wrote their works on paper, even many have typed them.

There are three types of language used to write Balinese literature, namely Old Javanese (Balinese
Kawi), Central Javanese, and Balinese.