Bagan

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Bagan
ပုဂံ
formerly Pagan
Temples in Bagan
Bagan is located in Burma
Bagan
Location of Bagan, Burma
Coordinates: 21°10′N 94°53′E / 21.167°N 94.883°E / 21.167; 94.883
Country Burma
Division Mandalay Division
Population
 • Ethnicities Bamar
 • Religions Buddhism
Time zone MST (UTC+6.30)

Bagan (Burmese: ပုဂံ; MLCTS: pu.gam, pronounced [pəɡàɴ]), formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Region of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma. It is located in the dry central plains of the country, on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, 90 miles (140 km) southwest of Mandalay.

Contents

[edit] 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

[edit] History

Main article: Pagan Kingdom
A view of Bagan

The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles (41 km2). The majority of its buildings were built in the 11th century to 13th century, 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. Among many other works, Aggavaṃsa's influential Saddanīti, a grammar of the language of the Tipiṭaka, would be completed there in 1154. 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.

After the earthquake in 1975, there are only 2,217 pagodas left in Bagan, in contrast to more than 5,000 during height of the political centre. [1]

Although an application was submitted,[2] UNESCO does not designate Bagan as a World Heritage Site. The main reason given is that the military junta (SPDC) has haphazardly restored ancient stupas, temples and buildings, ignoring original architectural styles and using modern materials which bear little or no resemblance to the original designs. The junta has also established a golf course, a paved highway, and built a 200-foot (61 meter) watchtower in the southeastern suburb of Minnanthu.[3]

[edit] Kings of Bagan

Apart from the 14 historically documented monarchs who ruled Bagan starting from Anawrahta, The Hmannan Yarzawin provides a list of unverifiable legendary monarchs who continuously ruled the area of Bagan from 107AD - said to be the founding of Bagan by Thamudarit up to Anawrahta's ascension.

Rulers of Bagan
Name Relationship Reign (AD) Notes
Thamudarit 107-152 founder of Bagan†
Yathekyaung Preceptor of Pyusawhti 152-167
Pyusawhti Son-in-law of Thamudarit 167-242
Htiminyin Son 242-299
Yinminpaik Son 299-324
Paikthinli Son 324-344
Thinlikyang Son 344-387
Kyaungdurit Son 387-412
Thihtan Son 412-439
Thuyai Usurper 439-494
Tharamunhpya Grandson of Thihtan 494-516
Thaiktaing Son 516-523
Thilikyaungnge Son 523-532
Thinlipaik Brother 532-547
Hkanlaung Brother 547-557
Hkanlat Brother 557-569
Htuntaik Son 569-582
Htunpyit Son 582-598
Htunchit Son 598-613
Popa Sawrahan Usurping Priest 613-640
Shwe Onthi Son-in-law 640-652
Peitthon Brother 652-660
Peittaung Son 660-710
Minhkwe Brother 710-716
Myinkywe Usurping son-in-law 716-726
Theinkha Court nominee of blood 726-734
Theinsun Son 734-744
Shwelaung Son 744-753
Htuntwin Son 753-762
Shwemauk Son 762-785
Tun Lat Brother 785-802
Sawkhinhnit Son 802-829
Khelu Son 829-846
Pyinbya Son of Khelu 846-878 moved capital from Tampawadi (modern Pwasaw) to Bagan
Tannet Son 878-906
Sale Ngahkwe Usurper of the blood 906-915
Theinhko Son 915-931
Nyaung-u Sawrahan (Taungthugyi) Usurper 931-964
Kunhsaw Kyaunghpyu Son of Tannet 964-986
Kyiso Son of Nyaung-u Sawrahan 986-992
Sokkate Brother 992-1017
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 of Narathihapate 1287–1298 Mongol vassal
Sawhnit Son 1298–1325 Viceroy of Pagan to Myinsaing
Uzana II Son 1325–1369 Viceroy of Pagan

† 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).

[edit] Cultural sites

The Payathonzu Temple is built in the Mon style.
Bagan at dawn, 1999.
Bagan at sunrise, 1999.

[edit] Neighbours

[edit] Gallery

  • A Bagan Buddha, 12th century

  • Gate tower of Ananda Temple

  • The panorama of Bagan as seen from the Nann Myint Viewing Tower

  • Thatbyinnyu Temple

  • Buddhist Stupas in Bagan, Burma

  • Buddhist Stupa in Burma

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Stories From Afar (II) - Myanmar, Documentary films produced by Asia Television, Hong Kong, 1999
  2. ^ http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/819/
  3. ^ Tourtellot, Jonathan (2004-09-03). "Dictators "Defacing" Famed Burma Temples, Editor Says". National Geographic Traveler. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/09/0903_040903_travelwatch.html. Retrieved 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.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bagan

Coordinates: 21°10′N 94°53′E / 21.167°N 94.883°E / 21.167; 94.883
Capital: Mandalay
Kyaukse District
Flag of Mandalay Division.svg
Burma Mandalay locator map.png
Mandalay District
Meiktila District
Myingyan District
Nyaung-U District
Pyinoolwin District
Yamethin District
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