ИСТИНА

Buddhist idioms have long been understood as an important conceptual tool that framed Burma's diplomatic relations. At the same time, in sectarian terms Burma was seen as more closely affiliated with countries and areas sharing its adherence to Pāli canonical literature. The paper will argue that, at least for some time, Konbaung court and its monastic advisers showed remarkable interest in developing Buddhist links with China, along the lines similar to Burma's interactions with Laṅkā. It will also discuss possible impact of several Burmese monks on Burmese diplomacy and understanding of the outside world from the 1770s to the 1820s. Finally, the paper will discuss the declining use of Buddhist rhetoric in nineteenth-century Burmese documents.