The Social Structure of Burma during Pagan, Pinya and Ava Periods

Abstract

 Ancient society of Burma seems to have been, at first, formed by two different classes : viz. governing class and governed class. The former was composed of king, his family and other aristocrats called sampyan, who had intimate relations to the royal family. The governing class possessed not only political power but economic benefits also. They owned a vast agricultural lands and slaves in large numbers. They formed a strictly closed community among them as a matter of course. The king, particularly, was regarded as the lord of "all the land and water" and hence called puralon, the status of pre-Buddha. His authority was theoretically absolute. On the contrary, the governed class was constituted by a lot of subordinates called kalan, and slaves. The latter seems to have been originally war captives. They were, according to the Burmese inscriptions, dedicated to the so-called Three Gems, inherited by certain descendant when owner died, and sold out freely if necessary.
 Though the basic structure has been left unchanged, the Burmese society produced, during 13th and 14th centuries, new other constituents such as men of wealth called sū-krway, landed farmers called asañ, and hereditary slaves called sapok respectively. It is obvious that these constituents were the outcome of socio-economical change, which had occured mainly due to the religious deeds done by the governing class.