The Newar language of Nepal has the fourth oldest literature tradition among the Sino-Tibetan languages (after Chinese, Tibetan and Burmese).
The earliest known document in Newar is called "The Palmleaf from Uku Bahal" which dates from 1114 during the Thakuri period.[1] The earliest dated stone inscription in Nepal Bhasa is dated Nepal Sambat 293 (1173 AD).[2] From the 14th century onwards, an overwhelming number of stone inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley, where they are an ubiquitous element at heritage sites, are in Nepal Bhasa.[3]
The first books appeared in the 14th century.
- Haramekhalā (Devanāgarī: हरमेखला, a medical manual written in 1374
- Nāradsmṛti (नारदस्मृति) a law book written in 1380
- Amarkośa (अमरकोश), a Sanskrit-Newari dictionary written in 1381
- Gopālarāja Vaṃśāvalī (गोपालराज वंशावली), a history of Nepal written in 1389[4][5]
The first story book is Tantrākhyāna (1518), and the first one-act play is Ekadaśī Brata (1633) written by King Siddhi Narasingha Malla.
Nepal Bhasa literature can be broadly divided into four periods.
- Classical Period (1505–1847)
- Dark Period (1847–1909)
- Renaissance Period (1909–1941)
- Modern Period (1941 onwards)
- ^ Malla, Kamal P. "The Earliest Dated Document in Newari: The Palmleaf from Uku Bahah NS 234/AD 1114". Kailash. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2012. Pages 15–25.
- ^ Malla, KP. "Classical Newari Literature" (PDF). p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- ^ Gutschow, Niels (1997). The Nepalese Caitya: 1500 Years of Buddhist Votive Architecture in the Kathmandu Valley. Edition Axel Menges. p. 25. ISBN 9783930698752. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
- ^ Tuladhar, Prem Shanti (2000). Nepal Bhasa Sahityaya Itihas: History of Nepalbhasa Literature. Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. ISBN 99933-56-00-X. Pages 20, 25.
- ^ Lienhard, Siegfried (1992). Songs of Nepal: An Anthology of Nevar Folksongs and Hymns. New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas. ISBN 81-208-0963-7. Page 1.