Bagan
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Bagan (Burmese: ; MLCTS: pu. gam mrui.), formerly Pagan, formally titled Arimaddanapura (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) was the ancient capital of several ancient kingdoms in Myanmar (Burma). It is located in the dry central plains of the country, located on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy River), and is 145 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Mandalay.
UNESCO has unsuccessfully tried to designate Bagan as a World Heritage Site. The military junta (SPDC) has haphazardly restored ancient stupas, temples and buildings, ignoring original architectural styles and using modern materials that bear no resemblance to the original designs. Likewise, the junta is planning to construct a golf course, a paved highway, and a 61-metre (200-ft) watchtower, which is believed to be completed by 2007.
Architectural styles
The religious buildings of Bagan are often reminiscent of popular architectural styles in the period of their constructions. The most common types are:
- Stupa with a relic-shaped dome
- Stupa with tomb-shaped dome
- Sinhalese-styled stupa
- North Indian model
- Central Indian model
- South Indian model
- Mon model
History
The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles. The majority of its buildings were built in the 11th to 13th centuries, during the time Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire. It was not made a major city until King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in 874 A.D. However, in Burmese tradition, the capital shifted with each reign, and because of this, Bagan was once again abandoned until the reign of Anawratha. In 1057, King Anawratha conquered the Mon capital of Thaton, and brought back the Tripitaka Pali scriptures, Buddhist monks and craftsmen and they were utilised to transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. After he converted to Theravada Buddhism,he sent a Sangha mission to Sri Lanka, and by the help of the Sangha, he successfully converted his country. Bagan then became the sole centre of religious studies, and the university in Bagan attracted students from as far as the Khmer kingdoms. In 1287 the kingdom fell to the Mongols, after refusing to pay tribute to Kublai Khan. The city was sacked, and many religious relics were stolen.
| Name | Relationship | Reign (A.D.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thamudarit | 107-152 | †founder of Bagan | |
| Pyinbya | Son of Khelu | 846-878 | moved capital from Tampawadi (modern Pwasaw) to Bagan |
| Anawratha | Son of Kunsaw Kyaunghpyu | 1044-1077 | †founder of Bagan and the First Burmese Empire |
| Sawlu | Son | 1077-1084 | |
| Kyanzittha | Brother | 1084-1113 | |
| Alaungsithu | Grandson | 1113-1167 | 1113-1160(?) |
| Narathu | Son | 1167-1170 | 1160-1165(?), aka Kala-gya Min ( king fallen by Indians) |
| Naratheinkha | Son | 1170-1173 | |
| Narapatisithu | Brother | 1174-1211 | |
| Htilominlo | Son | 1211-1234 | aka Nandaungmya (one who often asked for the throne) |
| Kyaswa | Son | 1234-1250 | |
| Uzana | Son | 1250-1255 | |
| Narathihapati | Son | 1255-1287 | lost the kingdom to the Mongols and known as Tayoke Pyay Min (king who fled from the Chinese) to posterity |
| Kyawswa | Son | 1287-1298 | |
| Sawhnit | Son | 1298-1325 | |
| Sawmunnit | Son | 1325-1369 | |
Cultural sites
- Ananda Temple, c.1105 (built by Kyanzittha)
- Dhamma-yan-gyi, c.1165, the biggest temple in Bagan (built by Alaungsithu but never finished)
- Dhamma-yazika, 1196 (built by Narapatisithu)
- Hti-lo-min-lo Temple, 1218 (built by Htilominlo)
- Lokananda, (built by Anawrahta)
- Manuha Temple (built by the captive Mon king Manuha)
- Mingala-Zedi, 1268-74 (built by Narathihapati)
- Mya-zedi Stone, 1113, described as the "Rosetta Stone of Burma" with inscriptions in four languages: Pyu, Mon, Old Burmese and Pali(dedicated to Ku-byauk-kyi temple by Prince Rajakumar, son of Kyanzittha)
- Nan-paya Temple, c.1060-70, Mon style, believed to be Manuha's old residence
- Sein-nyet Ama & Nyima (temple and pagoda, 13th century)
- Shwe-gu-gyi Temple, 1131 (built by Alaungsithu and where he died)
- Shwe-hsan-daw, c.1070 (built by Anawrahta)
- Shwe-zigon, 1102 (built by Anawrahta, finished by Kyanzittha)
- Sula-mani Temple, 1183 (built by Narapatisithu)
- Tan-chi-daung Paya, on the west bank (built by Anawrahta)
- Tharaba Gate, c.850
- That-byin-nyu, the tallest temple at 61 metres, 12th century (built by Alaungsithu}
- Tu-win-daung Paya, on the eastern boundary of Bagan(built by Anawrahta)
Neighbours
- Thaton (to the south, in modern-day Burma) until subdued in 1057
- Nanzhao (to the north, in modern-day Yunnan Province, China)
More photos
Note
See also
References
- Pictorial Guide to Pagan. 2nd ed. Rangoon: Ministry of Culture, 1975.
- Pagan - Art and Architecture of Old Burma Paul Strachan 1989, Kiscadale, Arran, Scotland.
- Glimpses of Glorious Pagan Department of History, University of Rangoon, The Universities Press 1986.
External Links
- [The Life of the Buddha in 80 Scenes, Ananda Temple]
- [The Art and Culture of Burma - the Pagan Period by Dr. Richard M. Cooler, Northern Illinois University]
- [Asian Historical Architecture - Bagan by Prof. Robert D. Fiala, Concordia University, Nebraska]
- [Buddhist Architecture at Bagan by Bob Hudson, University of Sydney, Australia]]
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