A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

The raid of
A BURMESE WONDERLAND. 21
Anawratta, King of Pagan, on Thaton,
is so well kno\\Ti that we need not dwell on it, nor
repeat here the pathetic captivity of King Manuha, nor
describe in detail how the Burmese carried off Talaing
priests, savants, architects, and 30 elephant loads of
manuscripts. The result of these incidents was the
immediate and amazing growth of
Burmese civilization
under Talaing guidance, which made Pagan in two
centuries one of the wonders of the World. Historycontains
few better examples of the intellectual triumph
of a vanquished people over their conquerors. Talaing
influence from Thaton upon the moulding of Burmese
civilization at Pagan was clearly tremendous—but we
must not overlook the part played by the Pyu at Prome
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who had developed a culture and a writing of their own,
deriving them also from southern India.
The Takings, though utterly smashed at Thaton,
made a fairly rapid recovery. They had lived hitherto
in adversity. Their greatness was still before them.
In 1281 A.D. a petty Talaing State arose at Martaban
under an adventurer called Wagaru. He formed an
alliance vnth. the Burmese rebel governor of Pegu.
Between them they beat the Pagan army. Then
Wagaru turned on his ally,
rent him, established himself
at Pegu, and restored the whole Talaing country (less
Bassein) to independence. Wagaru has become celebrated
for the Wagaru Dhammathat, the oldest Law
book in Burma (13th century).