| ID | 191692 |
| Title Proper | Flower, then the sword |
| Other Title Information | the militarisation of Burma's most beautiful book |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Kaloyanides, Alexandra |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article examines the highly ornamented Burmese manuscript known as the Kammavāca to understand what its luxurious materials and distinctive illustrations reveal about Buddhist practice and politics in Burma's last kingdom, the Konbaung dynasty (1752–1885). This article shows that the illustrations on Kammavāca manuscripts transformed during the Konbaung dynasty to feature new sword-wielding guardians. This article argues that this militarisation was part of the Burmese kingdom's increasing reliance on ritual practices and religious materials to fortify a kingdom at war with the British and threatened by ethnic divisions. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of South East Asian Studies Vol. 54, No.2; Jun 2023: p. 175 - 199 |
| Journal Source | Journal of South East Asian Studies 2023-06 54, 2 |
| Key Words | Militarisation of Burma |