Kammavaca – Burmese Ordination Book

Burmese Kammavaca manuscript from the mid-19th century, complete with its lacquered boards, silk velvet cover, and reading stylus. A highly coherent ritual ensemble, illustrating monastic offering practices in Theravada Buddhism.

• Provenance: Claude de Marteau collection.
• Sold with certificate.
• Dimensions: H 53 × W 14 × D 7 cm.

Burmese Kammavaca – Buddhist Ordination Book

This Kammavaca manuscript from Theravada Buddhism brings together sacred texts from the Pali canon, used in monastic ordination ceremonies. The text is handwritten in Pali, in Burmese script, on palmyra palm leaves.

The edges of the leaves are gilded with gold and held between two lacquered wooden boards. The whole is preserved in a silk velvet cover, whose quality reflects the donor’s status and the ritual importance of the object. A ribbon embroidered with sacred writings secures the manuscript, while the reading stylus is slipped through its knots.

These manuscripts were traditionally offered to monasteries by wealthy laypeople. Beyond its protective function, the textile holds symbolic value: wrapping the sacred texts in precious fabric demonstrates respect for the Dharma. Such an offering constitutes a major meritorious act, contributing to the accumulation of merit (karma) and supporting Buddhist teachings.

Burma, circa 1850. A comparable example is held at the Musée Guimet (inv. BG83700 ).

See also our selection of sculptures and objects from Theravada worship.