Myanmar 23 Bagan

1
Bagan
23
Myanmar!
2
From the 9th to 13th centuries Bagan was the
capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first
kingdom to unify the regions that would later
constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom's
height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over
10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries
were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of
which the remains of over 2200 temples and
pagodas still survive to the present day.
3
(No Transcript)
4
Capital city of the first Myanma Kingdom, the
site measures 13 by 8 km and contains more than
2500 Buddhist monuments (temples, stupas,
monasteries, etc) built from the 10th to the 14th
centuries AD. Several of these monuments are
still highly venerated by the population, and
attract numerous pilgrims and devotees from all
over the country, particularly at festival times.
Other are in various states of conservation and
maintenance.
5
The large corpus of contemporary stone
inscriptions have been the most reliable source
for the history of the Kingdom. The mural
paintings inside more than 300 temples
constitutes a unique corpus of paintings of that
time in southeast Asia.
6
The population of Bagan in its heyday is
estimated anywhere between 50,000 to 200,000
people.
7
Until the advent of tourism industry in the
1990s, only a few villagers lived in Old Bagan.
The rise of tourism has attracted a sizable
population to the area. Because Old Bagan is now
off limits to permanent dwellings, much of the
population reside in either New Bagan, south of
Old Bagan, or Nyaung-U, north of Old Bagan. The
majority of native residents are Burmans
8
(No Transcript)
9
(No Transcript)
10
(No Transcript)
11
Htilominlo Temple was built during the reign of
King Htilominlo (also known as Nandaungmya) in
1211. The temple is three stories tall, with a
height of 46 metres (150 feet), and built with
red brick. It is also known for its elaborate
plaster moldings
12
Htilominlo Temple
13
On the first floor of the temple, there are four
Buddhas that face each direction. The temple was
damaged in the 1975 earthquake and subsequently
repaired
14
Htilominlo (1175 1235) was king of Pagan
dynasty of Burma from 1211 to 1235. His 24-year
reign marked the beginning of the gradual decline
of Pagan dynasty.
15
It was the first to see the impact of over a
century of continuous growth of tax-free
religious wealth, which had greatly reduced the
potential tax base.
16
Htilominlo was the last of the temple builders
although most of his temples were in remote lands
not in the Pagan region, reflecting the
deteriorating state of royal treasury.
17
The temple is one of the Bagan monuments
decorated with the finest plaster carvings.
Portions of the carvings still remain undamaged
on the arch pediments, freize and plasters, but
the mural paintings can now be seen on the
ceiling only
18
Htilominlo Temple
19
Htilominlo Temple
20
Htilominlo Temple
21
According to the chronicles, he built this temple
at the very place where he was chosen as the
crown prince out of five sons of King
Narapatisithu. The five princess ranged around
the white umbrella which was made to incline
towards the refined prince, Nadaungmya, who was
the youngest son. Upon chosen by the Hti (white
umbrella), all four brothers and the king
unanimously agreed to make him the crown prince,
thus being named Htilominlo, meaning "favored by
the king and the white umbrella as well".
Htilominlo Temple
22
Htilominlo Temple
23
Gawdawpalin Temple
24
The king, a devout Buddhist and a scholar, gave
up the command of the army, and left the
day-to-day affairs to a privy council consisted
of ministers, the forebear of the Hluttaw, or the
supreme administrative body of government. He
focused his energies on religion and
temple-building. He completed the majestic
Gawdawpalin temple, begun by his father
Narapatisithu, built the Mahabodhi, a replica of
the Buddhagaya temple, and the Htilominlo Temple,
named after himself
Gawdawpalin Temple
25
Gawdawpalin Temple
26
Sinphyushin temple was built by King Thihathu or
Sinphyushin of Pinya. It is a cave-type
Indian-style based monument. The inner walls of
the temple are full of ancient mural paintings.
The exteriors of the temple are embellished with
beautiful patterned carved and molded stucco
decorations
27
The temples of Bagan have been visited by Marco
Polo, Kubla Khan, and Dane Hogdes, and the latter
considers them one of the 7 wonders of the world,
and to quote Marco Polo (speaking of the temples)
"amounting to one of the most astonishing views
on earth" and we would concur!!
28
The Shwezigon Pagoda
29
There are over 300 monuments in Bagan which has
mural paintings inside
30
Ananda Temple
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
This Pagoda is the one which is closely identical
with the Maha Bodhi Pagoda at Bodhgaya in India
Maha-Bodi Pagoda
38
Maha-Bodi Pagoda
39
Detail of the walls of the Maha-Bodi Pagoda
40
Maha-Bodi Pagoda
41
Maha-Bodi Pagoda
42
Maha-Bodi Pagoda
43
Detail of the walls of the Maha-Bodi Pagoda
44
Few can deny Bagans breathtaking beauty. The
ancient city was described by National Geographic
as one of Southeast Asias greatest
archaeological heritage sites, while Japans
permanent delegation to UNESCO describes it as
one of Asias major historical landmarks.
UNESCOs culture program specialist in Myanmar
said he knows of no other site in the world with
as many archeological remains.
45
(No Transcript)
46
Bagan Thatbyinnyu, the religious deed of King
Alung Sithu
47
Bagan Thatbyinnyu Temple
48
Bagan Thatbyinnyu Templei s the tallest structure
in Bagan. There is a rhyme traditionally sung by
the people of Bagan, which runs Massiveness
that is Dhammayan Gyi, Loftiness that is
Thatbyinnyu, Grace that is Ananda.
49
Bagan Thatbyinnyu Temple
50
Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant Tree, Flame Tree,
Peacock Flower, Gulmohar Delonix regia
(seinban)
51
Thatbyinnyu Temple is a famous temple built in
the mid-12th century during the reign of King
Alaungsithu. It is adjacent to Ananda Temple.
Thatbyinnyu Temple is shaped like a cross, but is
not symmetrical. The temple has two primary
storeys, with the seated Buddha image located on
the second storey.
52
(No Transcript)
53
(No Transcript)
54
Day Shrines There are eight shrines, one for
each day of the week (in the Burmese calendar,
Wednesday is divided into two parts). Each
shrine has a beast associated with it and a
planet. The Tiger represent Monday
55
The horses in Burma are obviously used far more
for business than pleasure. Whether it is for the
tourist industry, work horses or
transportation. The Burmese pony is a breed local
to the area. This breed is similar in
confirmation to the Bhutia, Spiti and Manipuri
ponies who collectively carry Mongolian and
Arabian blood.
56
Finished bamboo photo frames, and carved wooden
book marks
57
Thanaka is a yellowish-white cosmetic paste made
from ground bark. It is a distinctive feature of
Myanmar seen commonly applied to the face and
sometimes the arms of women and girls and to a
lesser extent men and boys.
58
The earliest literary reference to thanaka is in
a 14th-century poem written by Mon-speaking King
Razadarit's consort. Mentions of thanaka also
exist in the 15th century literary works of
Burmese monk-poet Shin Maharatthasara
(1486-1529).
59
The wood of several trees may be used to produce
thanaka cream these trees grow abundantly in
central Myanmar. They include principally Murraya
spp. (thanaka) but also Limonia acidissima
(theethee or wood apple)
60
Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be
at least 35 years old before it is considered
mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings.
Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small
logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays
also available as a paste or in powder form
61
(No Transcript)
62
Thanaka
63
Yoke thé is the Burmese name for marionette
puppetry. Although the term can be used for
marionettery in general, its usage usually refers
to the local form of string puppetry
64
Minnanthu Nandamannya Built in the mid-13th
century. this less known and visited ancient
temple is like a Meditation cave, a
single-chambered temple has very fine frescoes
and a seated Buddha image
65
Nandamannya Pahto
66
Nandamannya Pahto
67
Nandamannya Pahto
68
Nandamannya Pahto
69
Murals in Nandamannya Pahto
Murals in Buddhist temple Pahtodhamya
70
The Payathonzu Temple (literally "Temple of
Three Buddhas") is unique in the sense that the
temple consists of three temples conjoined
through narrow passages. The interior of the
temple contains frescoes. The temple was recently
renovated, with the completion of the three
stupas atop the temple, which are lighter in
colour
71
The Payathonzu Temple
72
The Payathonzu Temple
73
The Payathonzu Temple
74
Considered as one of the greatest ancient sites
of Southeastern Asia, UNESCO has unsuccessfully
tried to include Bagan in the World Heritage
List, only to find the intransigency of the
military junta who is inaccurately restoring this
archaeological marvel, including a golf course
and a viewing tower between the ancient pagodas
and temples. On 6 July 2019, Bagan was
officially inscribed as a World Heritage Site by
UNESCO, after 24 years since the military
government first nominated the city in 1995,
during the 43rd session of the World Heritage
Committee
75
The Bagan golf course resort had been a major
cause of Bagans UNESCO deferral in 1997 and the
Aureum Palace has also incurred UNESCOs
displeasure. A particular unfortunate feature is
its Nan Myint Viewing Tower. Opened in 2005, it
is 60 m high in brown concrete and glass in
circular form with an external staircase (as well
of course as internal lifts) to mimic the
traditional Burmese watch tower (which isnt
relevant to Bagan!). As well as providing fine
views over the Bagan plain, it can equally be
seen from nearly everywhere across the site!
Bagan Viewing Tower
76
The additions of a really ugly and out-of-place
Viewing Tower, a newly invented Bagan Golden
Palace and a monstrously huge Archaeology Museum
probably didnt help to convince UNESCO to
positively re-consider the nomination
77
Panorama of Bagan from View Tower
78
(No Transcript)
79
Bagan Nyaung Oo Airport
80
Bagan Nyaung Oo Airport
81
(No Transcript)
82
(No Transcript)
83
Text and pictures Internet All  copyrights 
belong to their  respective owners
Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2013
Sound Hlaing Win Maung - Dynamic melody