His creation of Detective U San Shar, often called the Burmese counterpart to Sherlock Holmes,[1] is considered as his most iconic work to the translation literature in Myanmar.
[2][3][4] Shwe U Daung's works reflect the whole era of Burma at that time, addressing themes such as colonial resistance, moral responsibility, and the importance of cultural identity.
He is well-known not only as an influential storyteller but also as a leading writer who bridged between Burma’s traditional narratives and the emerging modern literary styles of the 20th century.
Shwe U Daung (U Pe Thein) was born on 24 October 1889 (Burmese calendar: 2nd of the waxing moon, Tazaungmon, 1251) in Shwebo District, British Burma (now Myanmar).
His birth name was Maung Pe Thein, but he later adopted the pen name "Shwe U Daung" (“Golden Peacock"), symbolising Burma’s regal identity under the Konbaung dynasty before British colonisation.
His mother, Daw Shwe, served as a reader during King Thibaw's reign and was honored with the title of Taninkathi village chief.
He wrote this modelled after Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, but San Shar was adapted to suit Burmese culture and became a national sensation, published through the Suriya magazine associated with the Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA).Many readers were unaware that these works were translated from foreign sources and sent letters to him asking who San Shar is and where he is.
In addition to adaptations, Shwe U Daung wrote original works such as Myat Thet Maw and Hsu Gyi Pan, and so many other books that included over 50 long novels and more than 300 short stories.
He also wrote several non-fiction works, including How to Stay Healthy Through Nutrition, Prosperity Through Good Advice, and a travelogue, New China in Person.
In 1961, at the age of seventy-two, Shwe U Daung published a comprehensive autobiography titled “Record of Life and Thoughts” (Translation: Tathetta Hmattan hnint Ahtweakhawmyar), an unprecedented move in Burmese literature at the time.
The autobiography offered personal reflections on his life, his career as a writer, and his views on the political and social changes that had occurred in Burma over the previous half-century.
His autobiography remains a significant text for understanding not only Shwe U Daung’s personal journey but also the broader cultural and intellectual shifts taking place in Burma during the 20th century.
[1][5] During World War II, Shwe U Daung faced severe financial difficulties, but his wealth improved in the Post-war era.
While serving as editor-in-chief of a Mandalay Public Daily, the AFPFL (The Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League ဖက်ဆစ်ဆန့်ကျင်ရေး ပြည်သူ့လွတ်လပ်ရေး အဖွဲချုပ်) regime imprisoned him for over five months.
The Young Men’s Buddhist Association (YMBA), which had been inspired by the Theosophical Society, played a significant role in promoting Burmese nationalism during the colonial period.
Though he did not engage in politics directly, Shwe U Daung’s critical voice represented the frustrations of many Burmese intellectuals and citizens who felt that the ideals of the nationalist movement had been betrayed.
Shwe U Daung’s religious beliefs were deeply rooted in Buddhism, which played a significant role in both his personal life and his writings.