Bagan (Pagan) History

                

                                       

Thatbyinnyu Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple
Location	: East of Gadawtpalin Temple
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: King Alaungsithu
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	:
Photo Gallery	: View 16 Photos

Towering above the other monuments of Bagan, the magnificence in white which is the Thatbyinnyu takes its name from the Omniscience of the Buddha. Thatbyinnyutanyan in Myanmar language, Sabbannutanana in Pali, omniscience is given further explanation in contemporary inscriptions as "knowing thoroughly and seeing widely."

Built by King Alaungsithu (1113-1163), the Thatbyinnyu is a transitional temple, standing between the Early Style of the Ananda, half a mile to the northeast, and the Late Style of the Gawdawpalin, half a mile to the northwest. It is one of the earliest double-storeyed temples, but the arrangement is different from that of later double-storeyed temples, much as if it were still an experiment in the new form.

The plan of the Thatbyinnyu is not unlike that of the Ananda-square, with porticoes on all four sides-but the eastern portico projects further than the others, breaking the symmetry. This plan is followed in such later temples as the Sulamani and the Gawdawpalin.

interior view:

Three receding terraces rise above each storey, ornamented with crenellated parapets and corner stupas. Above the terraces of the upper storey rises a curvilinear spire, surmounted by a slim, tapering stupa which takes the temple up to a height of 201 feet. The great height of the temple and the vertical lines of the ornamental features-the plain pilasters, the flame-like arch pediments, the corner stupas-give a soaring effect to the Thatbyinnyu.

The eastern portico has a central stairway guarded by two standing door-guardians. The stairway leads to an intermediate storey where a corridor runs around the central mass. Two tiers of windows along the walls make the interior bright and airy, but the walls are bare of painting except for some traces in the western portico.

door-guardian

Two stairs built into the thickness of the walls provide access to the terrace above the eastern portico, from where an external flight of stairs leads to the upper storey. Here, a huge image of the Buddha is seated on a masonry throne. A further flight of narrow stairs built into the thickness of the walls leads to the terraces above the upper storey.

The terraces of the Thatbyinnyu provide a good panoramic view of Bagan- of the green and brown landscape, the innumerable monuments, the broad Ayeyarwaddy river, and the distant hills to the east and west.

To the southwest of the Thatbyinnyu, in a monastery compound, are two tall stone pillars with foliations in an inverted V pattern. They were the supports for a huge bronze bell of which the chronicles say:

"King Alaungsithu offered two great bells, one at the Thatbyinnyu and one at the Shwegugyi. They were cast of pure copper, 10,000 adula in weight, larger by far and nobler than the five great bells offered by his grandfather, King Kyansittha."

To the northeast of the Thatbyinnyu is the small gayocho or "tally" temple. To keep count of the bricks in the building of the Thatbyinnyu, one brick was set aside for every 10,000 used, and this small temple was built with the bricks thus set aside.

LAYOUT PLAN

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Thetkyamuni Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: East of Chaukphala
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: Narapatesithu
Date	: 13th Century
Monument Number	: 147

Thetkyamuni temple is situated at Chaukphala, in Nyaung U region. The temple appears to have been built in early 13 century A.D. The complex provided Thetkya and Kondogyi were built at the 12th century on a platform dominating Ayeyarwaddy.

It is a square structure with a porch projected on one side. Above the main square block are three receding terraces on which stands the sikhara and a stupa finial. The flame-like arch pediments over the the doorways, the pilasters and friezes are adorned with stucco carvings. The interior walls are covered with panels, of painting which depict scenes from the life of Asoka, Convenor of the third Buddhist Council and of the introduction of Buddhism to Ceylon.

They are two small temples very harmonious and equipped with pretty paintings of time. Wall paintings represent the former lives of Buddha or Jatakas in particular in the hall on the walls and the vaults. Paintings reflect conventions of the 12th century and represent scenes of the Indian everyday lifestyle.

It is considered that the animal representation of Thetkyamuni is the most important of any temples in Bagan. The animal representations include pigeons, corbels, peacocks, parrots, hares and elephants. In the hall, there are 28 Buddha images are drawn. The cornices are painted geometrical reasons. Between North and the south, the walls are painted of the 550 Jatakas, while in the West one can admire a whole of 16 Buddhas including six in large scenes.

LAYOUT PLAN

Thinganyone Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: Northwest of Minnanthu Village
Region	: Minnanthu
Built by	: Po Thu Gyi
Date	: A.D 1244
Monument Number	: 712

Thiganyone Temple is a cave-type and Indian style monument. Po Thu Gyi or the chieftain of Po village donated this temple.

There is a stone tablet inscribing the chieftain's donation of the land and donation of slaves to the temple. As by the legend, the name of the temple was taken from the place where the Aris where they put their Thingan or robe, after playing.

On the walls of the temple are beautiful paintings of the Buddhas and the lives of Gotama Buddha.

LAYOUT PLAN

Thitsawadi Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Cave type)
Location	: West of West Pwasaw Village
Region	: West Pwasaw
Built by	: King Saw Monnit
Date	: A.D 1334
Monument Number	: 918

Thitsawadi Temple is a three-storey building, which is a rare monument in Bagan. Most of the temples in Bagan are found as two-storey buildings.

It is a large temple with ancient architectures of Bagan. Beautiful stuccos and interesting mural paintings can be found in this temple. There is also a stone inscriptions dating back to A.D 1334, written about the donation of the temple, land and slaves to maintain and protect the temple from other harms. And also there are ink inscriptions about maintenance of the temple in A.D 1484.

LAYOUT PLAN

Upali Thein

Type of monument	: Ordination Hall
Location	: Across Htilominlo Temple
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: Monk Upali
Date	: Mid 13th Century
Monument Number	:
Photo Gallery	: View 7 Photos

Named after Upali, a well-known monk, this ordination hall was built in the mid-13th century and stands across the road from the Htilominio Temple.

The rectangular building has roof battlements imitative of Burmese wooden architecture and a small central spire rising from the rooftop. Most buildings of this type were made of wood and have long since disappeared.

TWO BUDDHA IMAGES PLACED BACK-TO-BACK INSIDE UPALI THEIN
 

Inside there are some brightly painted frescoes on the walls and ceilings from the late 17th and early 18th century.

ANCIENT MURAL PAINTINGS
 

The building is usually kept locked in order to protect them. The Upali Thein was renovated during the reign of the Konbaung Dynasty in 1794 abd 1795. The walls now represent the previous 28 Buddha images, as well as scenes from the life of Guatama Buddha.

Winido Temple Type of monument : Type III Temple (Zedi Pauk Gu) Location : North of Minnanthu Village Region : Minnanthu Built by : Thamana Konhtin Couple Date : A.D 1243 Monument Number : 659 Winido, it is a group of temples. This place is seldomly visited and difficult to access. However some of these temples are interesting. Inside the Winido Temple are very remarkable paintings. These paintings are in the style of the late period of Bagan, decorative, delicate but also rather extravagant. BUDDHA IMAGES INSIDE THE TEMPLES   They are in the contents similar to other paintings of the zone of Minnanthu. There are paintings of Jatakas on the walls of the entrance and the footprint of the Buddha on the vault of entry. BEAUTIFUL MURAL PAINTINGS INSIDE   Brahma and Sakka protect the entry. Two Bodhisattvas keep the furnace bridge, whereas the horoscope of the life of the Buddha appears on the vault. In the furnace bridge the life of the Buddha is distributed on 3 wings. In the part of the Northern wing on the walls East and West, Buddha vis-a-vis Paranirvana. Buddha teaching 2 monks. Finally a usual scene of the combat against the army of Mara, and of paintings showing the teaching Buddha will sutras them. These temples are in general of small size with a square base. A 13th Century stone inscription tablet was found on which the donation of the temples were described. LAYOUT PLAN . Yet Saunt Temple Type of monument : Type III Temple (Indian Style Zedi) Location : Southeast of Kyaukgu Umin Region : Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In Built by : Thuwunna Pisi & Thuparit Date : 13th Century Monument Number : 155 As the design of most of the monuments of Bagan, Yet Saunt Temple has many of the same properties. The temple has a large sitting Buddha Image inside it, and lots of mural paintings too. But the mural paintings found in this temple have been ruined by many causes. This temple can be reached after visiting the Kyaukgu Umin. LAYOUT PLAN

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Taung Guni Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: Southwest of Dhammayangyi
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: M  inister Thinkha Thura
Date	: A.D 1190
Monument Number	: 765

Taung Guni Temple is located in Old Bagan. It was built by the Minister Thinkha Thura during the reign of King Narapatisithu.

A stone inscription was found inside the temple on which the Minister described about the donation of the temple, land and slaves. The donation took place during A.D 1190.

LAYOUT PLAN

Tayok Pye Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple
Location	:
Region	: Minnanthu
Built by	: King Narathihapate
Date	: 12th Century
Monument Number	:

Tayok Pye is a large temple in extreme cases of the group of Minnanthu. It was built by Narathihapate (1256-1287) also known as the king who fled from the Mongolian invasion. This is the meaning of Tayok Pye in Myanmar. The king was not able to complete the temple. It is a beautiful temple decorated with much smoothness, and which does not show this king directing an empire in crumbs. The temple has two levels. It can be imagined surrounded by a superstructure out of wood. The enamelled decoration is particularly interesting with many plates intended to receive the jatakas. The characters in stucco who decorate his frontage are enough rare to be mentioned.

Thagya Pone Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: West of Wetkyi-In Village
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: King Kyansitthar
Date	: 13th Century
Monument Number	: 235

Thagya Pone Temple is a two-storey building with a large passage on the first floor.
 

There is a large sitting Buddha image in the lower level of the building and the first floor has a large corridor.

THE UPPER LEVEL VIEWS
 

The beautiful scenes of Bagan can be seen from this corridor.

PANORAMIC VIEWS

 

 

LAYOUT PLAN

Thambulla Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Zedi Pauk Gu)
Location	: North of Minnanthu
Region	: Minnanthu
Built by	: Thambulla
Date	: A.D 1255
Monument Number	: 482

Thambulla Temple was builted by Queen Thambulla, the wife of King Uzana during 1255.

The monument is a square type and is decorated with faded jataka frescoes. On the eastern wall of the southern transept is an apparently secular painting of a boat race.
 

BUDDHA IMAGE INSIDE THE TEMPLE AND THE BEAUTIFUL STUCCOS
 

LAYOUT PLAN

Hmya tha & Thamiwhet Umin

Type of monument	: Cave Temple
Location	: Southeast of Nyaung U
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: Unknown
Date	: 13th Century
Monument Number	:

These twin cave-temples are about half a mile southeast of Nyaung U and are subterranean passages which were used as residences of the Buddhist monks in the almost torrid climate of Bagan. The cave created a place of cool tranquility conductive to prayer and meditation.

Thamiwhet is a cave fromed by digging into the side of a hill and contains a stone inscription.

SITTING BUDDHA IMAGES INSIDE THE CAVE
 

It is constructed with zig-zag corridors as the principal features of the building. Dug into hillsides of the sandstone hills, the caves date from the 13th century.

STANDING BUDDHA IMAGES INSIDE THE CAVE
 

Thamiwhet Umin contains an image of the Buddha, murals and a stone inscription belonging to the 15th century

CAVE PASSAGES AND ANCIENT MURAL PAINTINGS
 

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Thandawgya Buddha Image

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Gu Paya)
Location	: North of Thabyinnyu
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: King Narathihapate
Date	: A.D 1284
Monument Number	: 1592

Northeast of the pagoda stands a small 'tally zedi', which was built of one brick for every 10,000 bricks used in the main temple.

This six meter-high stone image of the Buddha was built in 1284, just before the Mongol invasion. The image was built by the tuff from Mount Popa. It was in poor condition even before the earthquake.

THE HUGE STONE IMAGE INSIDE THE TEMPLE
 

The image was erected by Narathihapate who was also known as "Tayoke Pyay Min" (the king fleeing from the Mongols). The Buddha image is in a form of Bhumisapra mudra, signifying the moment of enlightenment. The plaster has crumbled away over the centuries, leaving only greenish sandstone blocks which give the image a mystical appearance.
 

LAYOUT PLAN

Tharabar Gate

Type of monument	: Ancient Wall of Bagan City
Location	: Northeast of Pitakak Taik
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: King Pyinbya
Date	: A.D 849
Monument Number	:

Tharabar Gate is the main gate of the east wall and the only structure left of the old city built by King Pyinbya. It was built in 849 A.D during the 9th century. The western and northern part of the city wall were washed away by the river. There was originally twelve gates during that time. Tharabar is derived from the Pali term "Sarabhanga" meaning "shielded against arrows".

Although most of the structure is ruined, stucco carvings of the ogres can still be found. The gate is known to be guarded by spiritual beings. On the left is the side of the gate is the brother "Lord of the Great Mountain" and on the right side is the sister "Golden face".
 

 

BROTHER AND SISTER NAT, GUARDIANS OF THE CITY
 

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