Mon Literature

Mon is one of the earliest documented languages of Southeast Asia, with the oldest inscriptions dating to the 6th century CE. The Mon literary tradition has been continued uninterrupted to the present, with wide range of genres. Most Old and Middle Mon inscriptions were published and translated in the early 20th century, together with a few classical historical texts. More recent Mon literature has not received much attention in Southeast Asian studies, largely due to the fact that Mon is not taught at university level and is therefore not in the focus of research interest.

The story of Prince Sangada is a good example of a piece of Mon literature that has influenced the much better known Thai literature, where different versions of the story have been published and are part of the Thai literary canon. The Mon origin of the story is well documented in the Mon and some Thai versions. This story shows the interconnectedness of Southeast Asian literary traditions.