Top 10 Articles

LS-Studio
GayRomeo
Justus_Dahinden
Mercedes Benz OM601
Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı
Radically 25
Ral color system
RTLnow.de
New concept
Electromagnetic compatibility

News:

Bagan

Bagan
formerly Pagan
Temples in Bagan

Bagan
Location of Bagan, Burma (Myanmar)
Coordinates: 21°10′N 94°53′E / 21.167, 94.883
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Admin. division Mandalay Division
Population
 - Ethnicities Bamar
 - Religions Buddhism

Bagan (Burmese: ပုဂံ; MLCTS: pu. gam mrui.), formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the ancient capital of several ancient kingdoms in Myanmar. It is located in the dry central plains of the country, on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, 90 miles (145 km) 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 has established a golf course, a paved highway, and built a 200-foot (61-m) watchtower in the southeastern suburb of Minnanthu.[1]

Contents

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

Main article: Pagan Kingdom

The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles. The majority of its buildings were built in the 1000s to 1200s, during the time Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire. It was not until King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in AD 874 that it became a major city. However, in Burmese tradition, the capital shifted with each reign, and thus Bagan was once again abandoned until the reign of Anawrahta. In 1057, King Anawrahta conquered the Mon capital of Thaton, and brought back the Tripitaka Pali scriptures, Buddhist monks and craftsmen and all of these were made good use of in order to transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. With the help of a monk from Lower Burma, Anawrahta made Theravada Buddhism a kind of state religion, and the king also established contacts with Sri Lanka. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Bagan became a truly cosmopolitan centre of Buddhist studies, attracting monks and students from as far as India, Sri Lanka as well as the Thai and Khmer kingdoms. In 1287, the kingdom fell to the Mongols, after refusing to pay tribute to Kublai Khan. Abandoned by the Burmese king and perhaps sacked by the Mongols, the city declined as a political centre, but continued to flourish as a place of Buddhist scholarship.

Rulers of Bagan
Name Relationship Reign (AD) Notes
Thamudarit 107-152 founder of Bagan†
Pyinbya Son of Khelu 846-878 moved capital from Tampawadi (modern Pwasaw) to Bagan
Anawrahta 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 of Pagan Son 1250-1255
Narathihapate 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

† Although Anawrahta is accounted for the founding of Bagan, Thamudarit is listed as the "traditional" founder of Bagan in The Glass Palace Chronicle (Hmannan Yazawin).

Cultural sites

Neighbours

More photos

A Bagan Buddha, 12th century

Gate tower of Ananda Temple

Thatbyinnyu Temple

See also

References

  1. ^ Tourtellot, Jonathan. "Dictators "Defacing" Famed Burma Temples, Editor Says", National Geographic Traveler, 2004-09-03. Retrieved on 2006-05-27. 
  • 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.
  • [The Map of Bagan]Bagan Map. DPS Online Maps.
  • " Pagan: The Origins of Modern Burma", Micheal Aung-Thwin, University of Hawaii Press, 1985.
  • "The Mists of Ramanna: The Legend that was Lower Burma", Michael Aung-Thwin, University of Hawaii Press, 2005. This is a critical examination of the role of the Mon in the Pagan kingdom.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Coordinates: 21°10′N, 94°53′E

v • d • e
Mandalay Division
Capital: Mandalay
Mandalay District
Pyin Oo Lwin District
Kyaukse District
Myingyan District
Nyaung-U District
Yamethin District
Meiktila District
Main cities and towns
The original article is from Wikipedia. To view the original article please click here.
Creative Commons Licence

 
Custom Search