Abstract
In this paper, I intend to throw a light on the administrative institution and the social structure of Burma in the seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth century by looking through the royal edicts issued by four kings, Nandabayin, Nyaungyan, Anaukpetlun and Thalun of the Nyaungyan Dynasty.
Nandaw (the Royal Palace) was situated in Myodaw (the Royal Fort), a walled and fortified structure in the Capital. It was built on a raised platform and composed at least of ten chambers containing Pyatthattaw zaung (the main chamber with seven tiered spire), Baungdaw zaung (the Crown chamber), Zedawun zaung (the chamber facing east with three tiered roofs), Byedaiktaw (the chamber of the Privy Council), and Mye Nandaw (the Great Hall of Audience) among others. The eastern part and the western part of the Palace were separated by the Marabin brick walls. The eastern part of the Palace was allotted to the administrative offices, and the western part to the private rooms of queens, princesses, royal concubines and female servants. The officials served in the western part were forbidden to go directly to the eastern part or to the Hluttaw, detached building outside the Palace, through the Eastern Red Gate and Vice Versa. The Royal Palace was guarded at cardinal points by four units of Win (the Palace Guards) under the command of four Win Hmu (the Commanders). Small units of the musketeer under the controls of Thwethaukkyi (sergeants) guarded the Marabin Gates and also five Gates to the royal Palace including Eastern and Western Red Gates. Nine Gates of the walls of the Capital (Myodaw Daga) were guarded by another units of the musketeer numbering one hundred each.
The King of Burma was supreme head of the realm. The Burma's Monarch really controlled the lives and properties of his subjects. The royal authority was despotic and absolute. All royal edicts begin with descriptions of him as “exceedingly glorious Lord” (Hpondaw alun kyimyat tawmu hla thaw ashin), “the Lord of the Universe” (Bawa shin), “Mahasammata, the first King's successor” (Min tayagyi) and “the Owner of land and water” (ye mye shin). The office of kingship was hereditary. The law of succession seems to have been primogeniture. The eldest son of the King was in almost all cases ap-pointed as the Heir-Apparent.
The Burma's Crown had five administrative organs; Hluttaw, Byedaik, Sheyon, Naukyon and Tayayon. Hluttaw was the Council of State. It decided all matters of state subject to the King's approval. It also functioned as the Final Court of Appeal. Hluttaw was composed of four Wungyi (the highest officials in the administration) and four Wundauk who assisted the Wungyi. All of them were not hereditary, but appointed and dismissed at the king's will. Their decisions were recorded by Sayedawgyi (the chief secretaries) in the Hluttaw and delivered to the Byedaik for submission to the King. Byedaikwas a chamber within the Palace and functioned as the Privy Council. It dealt with the administration of the Palace. Atwinwun (the Privy Councillors) composed the Byedaik. They had superintendence over all the affairs of the Palace. The number of Atwinwun is supposed to have been four like that of the Konbaung period. All royal orders were issued at the Byedaik, wrote down, passed to Nahkandaw (Royal Reporters), and then transmitted to Hluttaw. Sheyon (the Eastern Court) was concerned with the criminal cases. It also functioned as Town Hall. Myowun (the Metropolis Governor) was on duty there. Naukyon (the Western Court) was the office where dealt with all cases arising within the Palace walls. It was, in
