There are two types of parabaiks: historically, black parabaiks (ပုရပိုက်နက်) were the main medium of writing while the white parabaiks (ပုရပိုက်ဖြူ) were used for paintings and drawings. The extant black parabaiks consist of works of scientific and technical importance like medicine, mathematics, astronomy, astrology, history, social and economic commentary, music, historical ballads, fiction, poetry, etc. The extant white parabaiks show colored drawings of kings and court activities, stories, social customs and manners, houses, dresses, hair styles, ornaments, &c.[3] The majority of Burmese chronicles were originally written on parabaiks.[4] A 1979 UN study finds that "thousands upon thousands" of rolls of ancient parabaiks were found (usually in monasteries and in homes of private collectors) across the country but the vast majority were not properly maintained.[2]
A parabaik depicting a panorama of scenes from the Buddha's life
Hla Pe, U (1985). Burma: Literature, Historiography, Scholarship, Language, Life, and Buddhism. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN9789971988005.
