An intro page!

Hello world!

This semester, I'm doing an independent study on Southeast Asian epics as part of my PhD in English (Creative Writing) at Nanyang Technological University. Basically, I'm looking at the pre-modern narrative literature of the region, so as to better understand our pre-colonial cultural idioms.

I'm setting up this blog as a way of cataloguing and organising my thoughts on the various texts I'll be researching. My reading list is currently as follows:

Malay Peninsula & Singapore:
Sejarah Melayu / Sulalatus al-Salatin, by Tun Seri Lanang, c. 1612, trans CC Brown (previously read)
Hikayat Hang Tuah, c. 1700, trans Muhammad Haji Salleh (previously read)
The Epic of Bidasari, c. 1750, trans Chauncey C. Starkweather (in progress)
Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, late 1700s, trans RO Winstedt (previously read)
The Precious Gift / Tuhfat Al-Nafis, by Raja Haji Ali, 1885 trans Virginia Matheson Hooker & Barbara Watson Andaya

Java:
Serat Centhini: Forty and One Nights of Rain, by Crown Prince Mangkunegoro, 1814, trans Elizabeth D. Inandiak & Georges Khal; also ref Stories from the Serat Centhini : understanding the Javanese journey of life, by Soewito Santoso, Kestity Pringgoharjono
Nagarakrtagama, by Mpu Prapanca, 1300s, trans Stuart Robson
Krakatau: The Tale of Lampung Submerged / Syair Lampung Karam, by Muhammad Saleh, 1883, trans John McGlynn

Riau:
Syair Perang Siak, 1700s, trans Donald J Goudie.

Philippines:
Philippine Folk Literature: The Epics, ed. Damiana L. Eugenio

Thailand / Siam:
Yuan Phai, The Defeat of Lanna, c. 1400s, trans Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit
Khun Chang Khun Phaen, transcribed 1872, trans Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit

Myanmar / Burma: 
The Glass Palace Chronicle, 1829-32, trans Pe Maung Tin and G.H. Luce.

Vietnam:
The Tale of Kieu, by Nguyẽ̂n, Du, 1820, trans Huỳnh Sanh Thông

General:
Voices of Southeast Asia, ed. George E. Dutton
Traces of the Mahabharata and Ramayana in Javanese and Malay Literature, eds. Ding Choo Ming, ‎Willem van der Molen
Victorious Wives: The Disguised Heroine in 19th Century Malay Syair, by Mulaikas Hijas (previously read)

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A Bibliography of classical Southeast Asian texts available in the National Library of Singapore

This is my attempt at a more complete bibliography! I won't manage to read everything, but I imagine folks online will find this a valuable resource. (I may have made mistakes here and there.) Malay Peninsula & Singapore: Undang-undang Melaka = The laws of Melaka / by Liaw Yock Fang, c. 1400s Melaka RCLOS, Level 11, 340.09595141 LIA -[LYF], 211 pages Sejarah Melayu / Sulalatus al-Salatin, by Tun Seri Lanang, c. 1612, trans CC Brown Singapore, Melaka Level 11, 959.5 SEJ, 273 pages Hikayat Hang Tuah / The Epic of Hang Tuah, c. 1700, trans Muhammad Haji Salleh Melaka Level 11, 398.2209595 HIK, 600 pages, also available for lending The Epic of Bidasari, c. 1750, trans Chauncey C. Starkweather Indrapura / Pahang Level 8, 899.2808 EPI, also for lending, 208 pages Bidasari : jewel of Malay Muslim culture / edited by Julian Millie. Indrapura / Pahang Level 8, 899.281 SYA...
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The Precious Gift/Tuhfat al Nafis, by Raja Ali Haji ibn Ahmad

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Liaw Yock Fang calls this 1885 history is often regarded the second greatest work of classical Malay lit after Sulalatus Salatin/Sejarah Melayu/The Malay Annals. It actually begins with a summary of all the legendary narratives of Alexander the Great and Sang Nila Utama, but the bulk of it takes place in the colonial age, describing how the courtly intrigues of the Sultanates of Johor, Riau and Siak weathered Dutch and British colonialism. It's kind of difficult to follow with all the different dynasties and personalities—though there is a central Bugis band of brothers, and this translation contains some family trees—still, it's clearly a more modern work than Sulalatus Salatin: it cites dates and sources; political roles of women are mentioned a little more—and sadly, almost nothing miraculous happens after the early bits. (The story of Sultan Mahmud getting his wife pregnant by cumming on a floormat while looking at his fairy consort, and ordering her to eat the spunk....
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