Dhammasattha
Encyclopedia
Dhammasattha is the Pāli
name of a genre of literature found in Western Mainland Southeast Asia (modern Laos
, Myanmar
(Burma), Cambodia
, Thailand
, and Yunnan
) principally written in Pāli, Myanmar
(Burmese
), Mon
, or Tai
languages, or in a bilingual Pāli-vernacular nissaya style.
"Sattha" is the Pāli cognate of the Sanskrit
term for instruction, learning, or treatise, "śāstra". Dhamma-sattha translates as "treatise on the law (dhamma)". The vernacular Myanmar (Burmese) term, transliterated as "dhammasāt" or "dhammasat" as "dhammathat"), is historically derived from Sanskrit
or hybrid Sanskrit via Pāli. The Tai and Mon terms, typically romanized as "thammasāt" or "dhammasāt", respectively, also derive from Sanskrit.
Dhammasattha texts are historically related to the Hindu dharmaśāstra
literature, although they are very significantly influenced by the local Pāli Buddhist traditions and literature of Theravāda
Southeast Asia.
"Dhammasāt" is first mentioned in Burma in a Burmese inscription from 13th century C.E. Bagan
(Pagan), although it is likely that dhammasattha texts were transmitted there earlier. Certain dhammasatthas claim to have been compiled during the first millennium C.E. There are nine primary Burmese dhammathats, namely the Manu and Dhammavisala Dhammathats of the Pagan dynasty, the Waru Dhammathat (1270), Pasedha (1468), Dhammathat Kyaw (1581), and Pyanchi Dhammathats (1614) of the Taungoo dynasty, and the Myingun Dhammathat (1650) of the Konbaung dynasty
.
There is an extensive tradition of dhammasattha exegesis, particularly in Myanmar (Burma). Hundreds of dhammasattha, commentaries, and related legal texts are extant in parabaik and palm leaf manuscript
form.
Dhammasattha influenced a number of Southeast Asian societies prior to the colonial era in matters concerning marriage, theft, assault, slavery, debt, kingship, property, inheritance as well as other issues. In contemporary Burma (Myanmar), although colonial and post-colonial laws predominate, it remains acceptable practice to use dhammasat in law courts in certain areas of family and inheritance law.
Páli
- External links :* *...
name of a genre of literature found in Western Mainland Southeast Asia (modern Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Burma), Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
) principally written in Pāli, Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
(Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
), Mon
Mon language
The Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
, or Tai
Tai languages
The Tai or Zhuang–Tai languages are a branch of the Tai–Kadai language family. The Tai languages include the most widely spoken of the Tai–Kadai languages, including standard Thai or Siamese, the national language of Thailand; Lao or Laotian, the national language of Laos; Burma's Shan language;...
languages, or in a bilingual Pāli-vernacular nissaya style.
"Sattha" is the Pāli cognate of the Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
term for instruction, learning, or treatise, "śāstra". Dhamma-sattha translates as "treatise on the law (dhamma)". The vernacular Myanmar (Burmese) term, transliterated as "dhammasāt" or "dhammasat" as "dhammathat"), is historically derived from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
or hybrid Sanskrit via Pāli. The Tai and Mon terms, typically romanized as "thammasāt" or "dhammasāt", respectively, also derive from Sanskrit.
Dhammasattha texts are historically related to the Hindu dharmaśāstra
Dharmasastra
Dharmaśāstra is a genre of Sanskrit texts and refers to the śāstra, or Indic branch of learning, pertaining to Hindu dharma, religious and legal duty. The voluminous textual corpus of Dharmaśāstra is primarily a product of the Brahmanical tradition in India and represents the elaborate scholastic...
literature, although they are very significantly influenced by the local Pāli Buddhist traditions and literature of Theravāda
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
Southeast Asia.
"Dhammasāt" is first mentioned in Burma in a Burmese inscription from 13th century C.E. Bagan
Bagan
Bagan , formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana and also known as Tambadipa or Tassadessa , it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma...
(Pagan), although it is likely that dhammasattha texts were transmitted there earlier. Certain dhammasatthas claim to have been compiled during the first millennium C.E. There are nine primary Burmese dhammathats, namely the Manu and Dhammavisala Dhammathats of the Pagan dynasty, the Waru Dhammathat (1270), Pasedha (1468), Dhammathat Kyaw (1581), and Pyanchi Dhammathats (1614) of the Taungoo dynasty, and the Myingun Dhammathat (1650) of the Konbaung dynasty
Konbaung dynasty
The Konbaung Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled Burma from 1752 to 1885. The dynasty created the second largest empire in Burmese history, and continued the administrative reforms begun by the Toungoo dynasty, laying the foundations of modern state of Burma...
.
There is an extensive tradition of dhammasattha exegesis, particularly in Myanmar (Burma). Hundreds of dhammasattha, commentaries, and related legal texts are extant in parabaik and palm leaf manuscript
Palm leaf manuscript
Palm leaf manuscripts are manuscripts made out of dried palm leaves. They served as the paper of the ancient world in parts of Asia as far back as the fifteenth century BCE. and possibly much earlier. They were used to record actual and mythical narratives in South Asia and in South East Asia...
form.
Dhammasattha influenced a number of Southeast Asian societies prior to the colonial era in matters concerning marriage, theft, assault, slavery, debt, kingship, property, inheritance as well as other issues. In contemporary Burma (Myanmar), although colonial and post-colonial laws predominate, it remains acceptable practice to use dhammasat in law courts in certain areas of family and inheritance law.