Posted By: Anita Mui
Posted Date: Jan 14, 2010 (11:56 PM)
Dear Amy
In ancient times the Pali Canon was written on thin slices of wood and palm leaves. The 'pages' are kept on top of each other by two thin sticks, which go through little holes in the scripture. The scripture is wrapped in cloth and stored inside the box.
In SE Asia we use sun dry palm leaves, then use steel needle to engrave Buddha scripture in Pali on them.
Your scripture is made of palm leaves and they were engraved Burmese language on them. Two wooden plate on top and bottom are coated with Myanmar red lacquer. It's a varnish resin derived from a tree commonly known as the varnish tree. But the red lacquer will normally numerous coats of lacquer, first black, then red, were applied. Your Scripture has no black as a foundation, it's possibly a paint.
Possibly old, but the age is unknown.
Have fun
Anita
