Southeast Asia
From richly-illustrated Thai and Burmese folding books and Buddhist texts inscribed on palm leaf and paper, to divination books written on bark by the Batak peoples of Sumatra, the cultures of Southeast Asia are represented by more than 250 works in the Chester Beatty collections. Dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, many of these works embody the courtly splendor of vibrant kingdoms and flourishing religious devotion, others reveal the encroachment of colonial powers.
Monk’s ordination text
19th century
Burma
CBL Bu 1238
Highlights
- List
- Grid
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Extracts from the Pali canon
late-18th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 13411 / 9
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Court amusements and ceremonies
19th century
Burma
CBL Bu 12012 / 9
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Elephant treatise
1816
Thailand
CBL Thi 13013 / 9
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Burmese painter’s pattern-book
probably 19th century
Burma
CBL Bu 12774 / 9
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Divination manuscript
mid-19th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 13025 / 9
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Monk’s ordination text
19th century
Burma
CBL Bu 12386 / 9
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Court ceremonies
after 1885
Burma
CBL Bu 12907 / 9
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Extracts from the Pali canon and Story of Phra Malai
1897
Thailand
CBL Thi 13198 / 9
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Extracts from the Pali canon and Story of Phra Malai
late-19th century
Thailand
CBL Thi 13129 / 9