Be-din-pyinna parabaik [illustrated astrological manuscript]

Burmese book of 11 coloured pictures illustrating the method of divination with short Burmese explanatory notes. Painted and written on thick paper sheets folded in parabaik fashion. This astrological manuscript was originally an accordion style book, the pages a continuous sheet. The scenes have texts at the bottom, each beginning with a number, the remainder from calculating various astrological aspects of the particular case. The astrologer or Be-din-saya relies on careful study of relevant texts and charts, a specialised art with skilled astrologers with many years of study. The scenes are finely painted with rich, vibrant colours, all including a tree associated with a planetary aspect, a finely attired female, another figure such as a monk, an ogre (Bilu), or tree spirit (Yok-khazo) and various combinations of an animal and/or a gold or sand pot.

Open

H24.4cm x W37.6cm

For permission to publish, please contact Archives & Special Collections, SOAS Library in the first instance