Journal of Burma Research Society (JBRS)

The Journal of Burma Research Society (JBRS) was the first academic journal devoted to Burma Studies. The journal started in 1911 about the same time as The Journal of the Siam Society. It was published in Burma but is no longer published today.

JBRS had 59 volumes spanning a period of 70 years, with a total of 377 authors writing about 631 subjects. It comprises more than 132 issues with over 1,300 articles (more than 30,000 pages in total), and includes some 500 photos, graphs, charts and maps. Like the Journal of the Siam Society, JBRS was, and still is, the premier research journal on Burma.

JBRS was originally published by The Burma Research Society. From the start, the Burma Research Society represented a fusion of the energy and initiative of a generation of both Burmese and Europeans. These early leading luminaries included John S. Furnivall, Charles Duroiselle, U May Oung, Gordon Luce and U Pe Maung Tin. The society’s meetings and Journal were a forum for enthusiastic debate and research on Burma for seventy years.

The Burma Research Society was inaugurated on 29 March 1910 at a meeting held at the Bernard Free Library, Rangoon. Its aims were “the investigation and encouragement of Art, Science and Literature in relation to Burma and the neighbouring countries”. In 1980, the Society celebrated its seventieth anniversary with a conference at Rangoon University, but was closed down soon after and its Journal ceased publication.

About the Authors of JBRS

U Shwe Zan Aung who is a Rakhine scholar, interpreter and translator passed away on May 11, 1932. In 1887 he completed his BA degree from Rangoon College. While serving in the Land Service Department he took interest in studying Buddhism under U Gandama and Ledi Sayadaw.

On the request of Rhys Davids Shwe Zan Aung translated the Abhidhammatthasangaha as Compendium of Buddhist Philosophy in 1910 for western readers. However, he also translated one of the difficult Abhidhamma texts into English the Kathāvatthu, as Point Of controversy. This text is practical Buddhist logic which presents doctrines from Logical perspectives. Besides that, he also wrote on other subjects in English and in Myanmar. I convey my tribute for this Abhidhamma scholar in who contributed Theravāda Scholarship.

Sayagyi (‘revered teacher’) U Pe Maung Tin (24 April 1888-22 March 1973) passed away on 22 March 1973. U Pe Maung Tin grew up as a Christian, but mastered Pali, the language of Buddhism, early in his career. This led him to become one of the world’s leading translators of Pali texts into English and interpreter of Buddhist doctrine to Western scholars. He was close friends with professors J S Furnivall of the BRS and Gordon H Luce, who married his sister Daw Tee Tee in 1915.

Gordon Hannington Luce was a colonial scholar in Burma. In 1912 Luce was appointed Lecturer in English Literature at Government College, Rangoon, later a constituent college of the University of Rangoon. There he developed a lasting friendship with the young Pali scholar Pe Maung Tin. In 1915, he married Pe Maung Tin’s sister Ma Tee Tee. His three volume Old Burma – early Pagan, covers the history, art and architecture of Burma and its capital city Pagan in the 11th and 12th centuries. Phases of pre-Pagan Burma, on the earlier history of Burma, appeared posthumously. His writings remain authoritative today and are widely cited.

CHARLES DURIOSELLE

Charles Duroiselle (1871 – 1951) was a French-born Burmese historian and archaeologist. He was a noted Pali scholar and epigrapher. He served as a Professor of Pali at the University of Rangoon. He also served as a Superintendent, Archaeological Survey of Burma (ASB) from 1912 to 1940, succeeding Taw Sein Ko. In March 1910, he co-founded the Burma Research Society along with colleagues including John Sydenham Furnivall, May Oung, and Pe Maung Tin. The following year, the Journal of the Burma Research Society, was launched. He retired in 1939.

Archaeologist. Joined the Indian Civil Service in 1884, working in Burma (Myanmar). Founded the Bagan Archaeological Museum. Published extensive reports on archaeological findings. He was born in Mawlamyine, Mon State in 1864. He was the son of a Burmese Chinese father.

Dr Than Tun was born in 1923 in Ngathaingchaung town, Yeikyi township, Ayeyawady Region. He obtained his MA degree in 1950, BL degree in 1952 both from University of Yangon. From 1952 to 1956 he studied in London University, Schools of Oriental and African Studies for the Ph D degree and submitted the thesis “History of Buddhism in Burma (AD 1000-1300)”. He was awarded the Ph. D degree in 1956. In 1959 he became a lecturer in Yangon University, Dept. of History and Political Science. He passed away on 30 November 2005.

List of JBRS (Journal of Burma Research Society) Files that has been Digitally Copied related to the Bagan Era

No.	Subject	Title	Author	Issue
1	Bagan, Antiquities	Chinese antiquities of Pagan	Taw Sein Ko	V: 1, P:2, 1911
2	Bagan, Antiquities	Critical note on Mr. Taw Sein Ko’s paper on “The Chinese antiquities of Pagan”	May Oung, U	V: 1, P:2, 1911
3	Bagan, Architecture	Pagan Restoration	Than Tun, Dr	V:59, P:1, 1977
4	Bagan, Architecture	The monasteries of Pagan I	Sinclair, Capt.W Braxton	V:10, P:1, 1920
5	Bagan, Architecture	The monasteries of Pagan II	Mya, U	V:10, P:3, 1920
6	Bagan, Architecture	The smaller temples of Pagan	Luce, Gordon H.	V:10, P:2, 1920
7	Bagan, Architecture	The greater temples of Pagan	Luce, Gordon H.	V: 8, P:3, 1918
8	Bagan, Ari-gyi Sect	The Ari of Pagan	Editors, JBRS	V: 3, P:1 1913
9	Bagan, Chronology	The chronological dates of the kings of Burma who reigned at Thayekhittaya (ancient) (Prome) and at Pagan	Hla, U	V:13, P:2, 1923
10	Bagan, Dynasty	Mons of the Pagan Dynasty	Luce, Gordon H.	V:36, P:1, 1953
11	Bagan, Dynasty	Some of the early kings of Pagan	Mya Than, Daw	V:22, P:2, 1932
12	Bagan, Geography	Geography of Burma under Pagan dynasty	Luce, Gordon H.	V:42, P:1, 1959
13	Bagan, Handicraft	A hand book of old handicrafts	Pe Maung Tin, U	V:45, P:1, 1962
14	Bagan, Handicraft	Lacquerware manufacture at Pagan	Taw Sein Ko	V: 2, P:2, 1912
15	Bagan, History	Old Burma Early Pagan (A Radical Review)	Lu Pe Win, U	V:54, P:1, 1971
16	Bagan, History	Burma’s Debt to Pagan	Luce, Gordon H.	V:22, P:3, 1932
17	Bagan, History	Old Kyaukse and the coming of the Burmans supplementary note on Kyanzitha’s stone of the Kyaukse area	Luce, Gordon H.	V:42, P:1, 1959
18	Bagan, History	Burma down to the fall of Pagan	GH Luce & Pe Mg Tin	V:29, P:3, 1939
19	Bagan, History	Vijrabuddhi and Pagan razawin	Duroiselle, Charles	V:10, P:2, 1920
20	Bagan, History	A new book on Pagan, by C. M. Enriquea	Taw Sein Ko	V: 5,P:2,1915
21	Bagan, History	The foundation of Pagan	Furnivall, John Sydenham	V: 1, P:2, 1911
22	Bagan, History	A history of Lower Burma	Maung Maung, U	V:11, P:2, 1921
23	Bagan, History	Alaungsithu Va Narapatisithu	Duroiselle, Charles	V:10, P:2, 1920
24	Bagan, History	A comparative study of Burmese history	Thein, Saya	V: 8, P:2, 1918
25	Bagan, Inscription	Ananda brick monastery inscription of Pagan	Tin Lwin, U	V:59, P:1, 1977
26	Bagan, Inscription	The Shwegugyi Pagoda Inscription, Pagan 1141 AD	Luce, Gordon H.	V:10, P:2, 1920
27	Bagan, Inscription	Pali and old Mon ink glosses in Pagan temples I	Luce, Gordon H.	V:58, P:2, 1976
28	Bagan, Inscription	Pali and old Mon ink glosses in Pagan temples II	Luce, Gordon H.	V:58, P:2, 1976
29	Bagan, Inscription	Buddhism in the inscriptions of Pagan	Pe Maung Tin, U	V:26, P:1, 1936
30	Bagan, Inscription	Women in the inscriptions of Pagan	Pe Maung Tin, U	V:25, P:3, 1935
31	Bagan, Inscription	Extract from the Burmese face of the Myazedi Inscriptions, Pagan	Duroiselle, Charles	V: 6, P:3, 1916
32	Bagan, Religion	Religious buildings of Burma (AD 1000-1300)	Than Tun, Dr	V:42, P:2, 1959
33	Bagan, Religion	Mahakassapa Sect (A forest monk sect at Pagan)	Than Tun, Dr	V:41, P:2, 1959
34	Bagan, Religion	The earliest arrival of the Maha-yin Sect to Pagan	Tin, U	V:19, P:2, 1929
35	Bagan, Religion	Treatise on Buddha vamsa katha, Sankitivamsa katha, Sasana vamsa katha, Raja vamsa katha	Shan, U	V:11, P:3, 1921
36	Bagan, Revenue	Pagan sittan (Revenue Inquest) I	Furnivall, John Sydenham	V:32, P:1, 1948
37	Bagan, Revenue	Pagan sittan (Revenue Inquest) I Cont.	Furnivall, John Sydenham	V:33, P:1, 1950
38	Bagan, Revenue	Pagan sittan (Revenue Inquest) II	Furnivall, John Sydenham	V:33, P:2, 1950
39	Bagan, Saka Era	The Saka Era in Pagan	Pe Maung Tin, U	V:22, P:3, 1932
40	Bagan, Sculpture	The stone sculptures in Ananda Temple at Pagan. Review by editor	Duroiselle, Charles	V: 7, P:2, 1917
41	Bagan, Sculpture	The stone sculptures in Ananda Temple at Pagan	Pe Maung Tin, U	V: 7, P:2, 1917

List of JBRS Files that has been Digitally Copied related to the Buddhism (80 articles)

No.	Subject	Title	Author	Issue
1	Buddha and Buddhism	The language problem of primitive Buddhism	CHI, Hsien-Lin	Vol. 43, Part. 1, 1960
2	Buddha and Buddhism	Theravada Buddhism in Burma. Review by P.M.T.	RAY. Nihar-Ranjan	Vol. 33, Part. 2, 1950
3	Buddha and Buddhism	Theravada Buddhism in Burma, by Nihar-Ranjan Ray	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 33, Part. 2, 1950
4	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism in the inscriptions of Pagan	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 26, Part. 1, 1936
5	Buddha and Buddhism	The central conception of Buddhism and the meaning of the Dharma	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 14, Part. 1, 1924
6	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism in Europe	SILACARA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 10, Part. 3, 1920
7	Buddha and Buddhism/ Ari-Gyi Sect	The Ari of Burma and Tantric Buddhism. Review by G.H. Luce	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 9, Part.1, 1919
8	Buddha and Buddhism	The Ari of Burma and Tantric Buddhism by Duroiselle C	LUCE, Gordon H	Vol. 9, Part.1, 1919
9	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism and Bergsonism and Shwe Zan Aung versus Dr. Ross.	WARD, K.M	Vol. 8, Part.3, 1918
10	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism and Science.	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 8, Part.2, 1918
11	Buddha and Buddhism	Mahayana Buddhism	SILACARA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 8, Part.1, 1918
12	Buddha and Buddhism	The Essence of Buddhism, by Ledi Pandita	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 5, Part. 3, 1915
13	Buddha and Buddhism	Discourses of Gotama the Buddha, by M.T.	SILACARA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 4, Part. 1, 1914
14	Buddha and Buddhism	Discourses of Gotama the Buddha, by Bhikkhu Silacara	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 4, Part. 1, 1914
15	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism, a study of the Buddhist norm	S.	Vol. 2, Part. 2, 1912
16	Buddha and Buddhism	Dialogues of Buddha, by Rhys Davids	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
17	Buddha and Buddhism	Die reden des Buddha, by Bhikkhu Nanatiloka	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
18	Buddha and Buddhism	Singularity of Buddhism. Review by C.D.	SINHA, J. Wettha	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
19	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism in Indo-China, by M. Louis Finot.	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
20	Buddha and Buddhism	Sayings of Buddha. Review by C.D.	MOORE, Justin H.	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
21	Buddha and Buddhism	. Die reden des Buddha (Anguttara Nikaya). Review by C. D.	NANATILOKA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
22	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhism in Indo-China. Review by C.D.	FINOT, M. Louis	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
23	Buddha and Buddhism	Dialogues of Buddha Review by C.D.	RHYS DAVIDS, C.A.F.	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
24	Buddha and Buddhism	Sayings of Buddha, by Justin H. Moore	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
25	Buddha and Buddhism	Singularity of Buddhism, by J. Wettha Sinha	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
26	Buddha and Buddhism	Did Sona and Uttara come to lower Burma?	SAIMONG MANGARI, Sao	Vol. 59, Part. 1, 1977
27	Buddha and Buddhism/ Burma-Religion	Religion in Burma, A.D. 1000-1300	THAN TUN, Dr	Vol. 42, Part. 2, 1959
28	Buddha and Buddhism/ Philosophy, INDIAN	Logical empiricism and Carvaka and Buddhist System of Philosophy	KAR, K.N	Vol. 37, Part. 2, 1954
29	Buddha and Buddhism	Clarification and critical analysis of the various processes involved in the attainment of Lokiya Samadhi through Samatha	HPE AUNG, U	Vol. 37, Part. 2, 1954
30	Buddha and Buddhism	Prayers of ancient Burma	LUCE, Gordon H.	Vol. 26, Part. 3, 1936
31	Burma- Religion/ Burma- Social Life & Customs/ Buddha and Buddhism/ Women in Burma	Women in inscriptions of Pagan	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 25, Part. 3, 1935
32	Buddha and Buddhism	Gotama the man, by C.A.F. Rhys Davids	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 19, Part. 1, 1929
33	Buddha and Buddhism/ MYSTICISM	Buddhist mysticism, by Dr. Ba Maw	FURNIVALL, John Sydenham	Vol. 15, Part. 1, 1925
34	Buddha and Buddhism/ ETHNOLOGY – India	Ksatriya clan in Buddhist India. Review by W. S Desai	LAW, BIMALA, Charan	Vol. 12, Part. 3, 1922
35	Buddha and Buddhism	Hinayanism and Mahayanism	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 12, Part.1, 1922
36	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist Review, Jan-Feb. 1922	S.	Vol. 12, Part.1, 1922
37	Buddha and Buddhism/ ETHNOLOGY_ India	Ksatriya Law clan in Buddhist India, by Bimala Charan (12316)	DESAI, W. S.	Vol. 12, Part.3, 1922
38	Buddha and Buddhism/ BURMA – History- Pagan Dynasty	Treatise on Buddha vamsa katha, Sankitivamsa katha, Sasana vamsa katha, Raja vamsa katha.	SHAN, U	Vol. 11, Part.3, 1921
39	Buddha and Buddhism	A Buddhist Tantra, ed. By Kazi Dawa-Samdup.	S.	Vol. 10, Part.1, 1920
40	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist philosophy of Change	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 10, Part. 1, 1920
41	Buddha and Buddhism	Concerning Nibbana	SILACARA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 9, Part. 3, 1919
42	Buddha and Buddhism	Metteya and Shinmale	FURNIVALL, John Sydenham	Vol. 9, Part. 3, 1919
43	Buddha and Buddhism	Anatta: the doctrine of no ego	WARD, K. M.	Vol. 9, Part. 2, 1919
44	Buddha and Buddhism	Dialogue on Nibbana	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 8, Part. 3, 1918
45	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist philosophy of the real by Shwe Zan Aung (a review). ROSS, GR.T.	ROSS, G. R. T.	Vol. 8, Part. 1, 1918
46	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhist Nibbana, an essay	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 8, Part. 3, 1918
47	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist ruins at Sanchi. TAW SEIN KO	TAW SEIN Ko	Vol. 8, Part. 2, 1918
48	Buddha and Buddhism	The way to Nirvana by L. De La Valee Poussin	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 7, Part. 2, 1917
49	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhist prayer	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 7, Part.2, 1917
50	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist philosophy of the real- I	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 7, Part.1, 1917
51	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist philosophy of the real-III. (concluded)	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 7, Part.3, 1917
52	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist philosophy of the real II (cont.)	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 7, Part.2, 1917
53	Buddha and Buddhism	The World is Round	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 7, Part.2, 1917
54	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhist psychology Review by G.R.T. Ross	RHYS DAVIDS. C. A. F.	Vol. 5, Part.3, 1915
55	Buddha and Buddhism	The history of the relics of the exalted one (found at Peshawar)	ENRIQUEZ, Major C. M.	Vol. 4, Part. 3, 1914
56	Buddha and Buddhism	The Bodhisattva Maitreya in Burma II	ENRIQUEZ, Major C. M.	Vol. 4, Part. 1, 1914
57	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist legend of Jimutavahana, by Hale Wortham	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 4, Part. 1, 1914
58	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhist China, by R.F. Johnston	NARIMAN, G. K.	Vol. 4, Part. 2, 1914
59	Buddha and Buddhism	Buddhist China. Review by G. K. N.	JOHNSTON, R. F.	Vol. 4, Part. 2, 1914
60	Buddha and Buddhism	Psalms of the early Buddhists (the Brethren)	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 4, Part. 1, 1914
61	Buddha and Buddhism	The Buddhist legend of Jimutavahana. Review by Maung Tin	HALE- WORTHAM	Vol. 14, Part. 1, 1924
62	Buddha and Buddhism	Mahayana Sutralamkara	NARIMAN, G. K.	Vol. 2, Part. 1, 1912
63	Buddha and Buddhism	Six Buddhist Nyaya tracts	NARIMAN, G. K.	Vol. 2, Part.1, 1912
64	Buddha and Buddhism	The Bodhisattva Maitreya in Burma I	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 2, Part.1, 1912
65	Buddha and Buddhism	Pancha Sila. Review by N.	SILASARA, Bhikkhu	Vol. 1, Part.2, 1911
66	Buddha and Buddhism	Das Buch der Charktere, by Bhikkhu Ňanatiloka	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
67	Buddha and Buddhism	Compendium of Philosophy I. Review by Ananda M.	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 1, Part.1, 1911
68	Buddha and Buddhism	Pali Buddhimus in Ubersetzungen. Review by C.D.	SEIDENSTUCKER, Herr	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
69	Buddha and Buddhism	Compendium of Philosophy II, by Shwe Zan Aung	ROSS, G. R. T.	Vol. 1, Part. 2, 1911
70	Buddha and Buddhism	Compendium of Philosophy II. Review by G.R.T. Rose	SHWE ZAN AUNG, U	Vol. 1, Part. 2, 1911
71	Buddha and Buddhism	Pali Buddhismus in Ubersetzungen, by Herr Seidenstucker	DUROISELLE, Charles	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
72	Buddha and Buddhism	Compendium of Philosophy I, by Shwe Zan Aung	M. Ananda	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
73	Buddha and Buddhism	Puggala Panntti. Review by C.D.	Ňanatiloka Bhikkhu	Vol. 1, Part. 1, 1911
74	Buddha and Buddhism	Pancha Sila, by Bhikkhu Silacara	N.	Vol. 1, Part. 2, 1911
75	Buddhaghosa, Biography	Buddhaghosa and Burma	Lu Pe Win, U	Vol. 58, Part. 1, 1975
76	Buddhaghosa, Biography	Buddhaghosa	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 12, Part. 1, 1922
77	Buddhaghosa, Biography	The life and work of Buddhaghosa by Bimala Charam Law	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol. 15, Part. 2, 1925
78	Buddhism	The Shwedagon Pagoda, Part.1, Part. 2, Part. 3	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol 24, Part 1, 1934
79	Buddhism	The Ancient Pyu	LUCE, Gordon H.	Vol 27, Part 3, 1937
80	Buddhism	Buddhism in the inscriptions of Pagan	PE MAUNG TIN, U	Vol 26, Part 1, 1936

Academic Papers on Buddhist Culture and History

Journal of Burma Research Society (JBRS)

The Journal of Burma Research Society (JBRS) was the first academic journal devoted to Burma Studies. The journal started in 1911 about the same time as The Journal of the Siam Society. It was published in Burma but is no longer published today.

About the Authors of JBRS

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Academic Papers on Buddhist Culture and History