Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

(1st Century A.D. to 19th Century A.D.)

Win Maung ( Tampawaddy ) Classical Architect Myanmar

Myanmar, one of the Theravada countries in South East Asia, had a long history of Buddhism, Buddhist art and Buddhist literature through the centuries. Pyu kingdoms, the earliest civilization in early Myanmar, had contact with both Northern and Southern India countries either by the sea route or the land route. Therefore, the evolution of the stupas in Myanmar must be start with the stupa styles of early India. The same articles1 had been written by many Myanmar study scholars and historian, especially Sujata Sony of Mandalay University and late Professor of history, Dr. Than Tun. This paper was presented only from the vision of the Myanmar classical architect, with the evidence of news and current information. First of all, it should to know about the brief chronology of Myanmar history. The old 2 chronicles said that Pyu period was started since 6th century B.C.3, one hundred year after the Mahaprenirvana of Buddha, and the founding of Bagan dynasty was also started since 2nd century A.D. While the contemporary historian 4 said that the Pyu period was not earlier than 1st century A.D. and Bagan dynasty was only started at 8th century A.D. Between these two theories, there was a gap so called transitional period from 5th century A.D. to 9th Century A.D. This paper is trying to explain about the evolution of the stupas especially in this transitional period between Pyu and Bagan. It brought to light about the architectural influences of Andhra, Gupta and Pala periods from India and also from Sri Lanka.

1 2

Architecture of Buddhist monument or the evolution of stupas, temples and monasteries (a)The great chronical by U Ka Lar, (b)Glass Palace chronicle, (c)New chronicle by U Tun Nyo. 3 The last Pyu capital, Sri Khettara, was founded by King Dut Ta Baung at the Buddhist Era 101 4 The British history professor Dr. G. H. Luce and his followers They said that the arrival of Burmese tribes to Burma was only at 8th century A.D.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

To be digested, the locations of the old Pyu city sites, the map of Major Pyu Capitals of Myanmar will help to know about the earliest and most far Northward capital of Tagaung to the latest and most far Southward capital of Sri Khettara, including Bagan, situated between these two capitals, right on the bank of Ayeyar Waddy River. Although Myanmar Buddhist literature records said that the Shwedagon pagoda, in Yangon, was built contemporary to the Buddha life time by enshrining the hair relic of Buddha, taken by the two merchant brothers, Taphosa and Balika. We could not trace back of the original stupa style. Present Shwedagon pagoda was frequently repaired by the numerous kings5 in different periods by incasing one on top of the others. The earliest evidence for the Buddhist stupas in Myanmar was the foundation of KKG-3, one of the excavated mounts in Beikthano city6, central Myanmar, where we also found the silver image of Buddha, which have strongly influenced by Amaravati style. The terra cotta Sealed impression bearing Sangha Siri, in Brahmi alphabets, may be contemporary to Sunga period of India, earlier than the stupa, where that seal was found nearby. The style of the stupa is more close to the Amaravati style rather than the Sunga style7. The foundation of the stupa of KKG-3 has three concentric rings. The innermost ring and the outermost ring have the extensions of square brick foundations at the four cardinal directions. The outer extensions may be the stair cases and the extensions from the inner ring must be the pedestal for the Ayaka columns, like the great stupa at Amaravati. To compare to the Amaravati, the great stupa of KKG-3 (Beikthano)
5 6

Present Shwe Dagon pagoda was last time enlarged by the Mon Queen Shin Saw Pu in 15th Century A.D. Pyu capital near Magwe founded by the queen Pan Htwa. The carbon dating of Beik tha no is 1st Century A.D. 7 The stupa at Amaravati had five Ayaka columns on each square pedestals at every cardinal directions at the base of the dome. Sunga period stupas, Sanchi and Barhut , had neither square pedestal nor the columns.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

was smaller in stupa size and wider in walkways. Out of two circular walk ways around the central stupa, the inner is higher than the outer. The art of Gandhara8 shared many influence to the Gupta period of India, at Nalanda, near Buddha Gaya. The reconstruction of the great stupa of Nalanda shows central stupa with spherical dome shape body on the cylindrical shape drum, surmounted by the Harmika and Chattravali, sit on the high square platform together with the great staircase and four corner stupas. The exposed stupa at Gwe Bin 9 Tet Kon have the similar form like the great stupa of Nalanda. The central stupa which would be like the stone relief stupa, excavated from Khin Ba Kon mount10. The relic gasket shape central stupa was place on top of the raised square platform, which was beautifully decorated by the terra cotta relief figures11 of the man riding on the horse and holding the sword in his hand. To climb up to the top platform, it has four stair cases from four directions. The other similar excavated mounts in Halin, Beikthano and Maing Maw (Pinle) have only single stair cases, similar to the stupa of Nalanda. Stupa foundations of square base with circular ring at the center together with the trace of stair case on one side were found not only at Nalanda of Gupta period but also at Amaravati and Nagarazuna Konda sites at the Andhra region, East coast of India. So, it can be say that the stupas of Pyu period had influence by Andhara style in early time and later by the Gupta style. The third stupa style in Sri Khettara was the small crystal relic gasket12 decorated by the real gold plates in form of a stupa and miniature stupa13 made of terra cotta, in the technique of pottery technique14. The egg shape body was put on the circular base and surmounted by Harmika and umbrella.

8 9

Formally in Far North West Frontier of India, now in Parkistan. A mount at the South East part of Sri Khettara , so called Ma Thi Kya Kon, outside the city wall excavated by the Archaeology Department in the year 1927. 10 A mount near Gwe Bin Tet Kon, inside the wall, excavated by the Archaeology Department in the year 1926, where they found 20 sheet of gold plate and a stone steal bearing the figure of stupa in relief , which was the upper lid of the relic chamber. 11 Now in the Archaeology Museum, Hmaw Zar, Sri Khettara. 12 Private Collection at Berlin, Germany. 13 Collected by the author and donated to the Museum of Hmaw Zar. 14 Inside of the stupa is hollow.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

These styles can be founded on the few terra cotta votive tablets from Sri Khettara. Although this style of stupa was exactly like the Nga Kyawe Nadaung Stupa in early Bagan, we cant found any stupas or foundation of stupas in Sri Khettara and other Pyu capital site, because it needs hundreds of mount in Pyu sites to be excavated. It was said that there were four great corner stupas at Sri Khettara, but now only three stupas were survived, Payargyi stupa at the North West corner, Payarmar stupa at the North East corner, Baw Baw Gyi stupa at the South West corner. Some said that Moat Htaw stupa may be the South East corner, but it was badly damaged. The foundation was too small to compare to the other three stupas. The dome or the body of Payarmar and Payargyi stupas were in up pointed egg shape15 while the body of Baw Baw Gyi was in shape of tall upstanding cylinder. It may be the later evolved style based on the former two stupas. Upper portions of these stupas were repaired16 by the later peoples. But we can be traced back the original style of the Harmika and umbrella(half open) of those from the miniature stupas 17unearthed from Sri Khettara are. Formally scholars though that the bell shape end dome with the belt at the center was invented only at the time of King Anawratha, round about 10th century A.D. At the year 1926, the archaeological excavation on two mounts near Thaung Pyae Kon18 exposed two bell shape stupas which were the inner one of encased stupa. Outer stupas were badly damaged and removed during the excavation.
15 16

Traditional call the shape of the heap of paddy. Not only repaired in the non original shape but add the metal umbrella on top of it. 17 Crystal relic gasket and the terra cotta miniature stupa mentioned above. 18 A village at the South East part of Sri Khettara inside the wall. Thaung Pyae Kon means the mount full of ten thousand pagodas.

The earliest bell shape stupa style in Asia might be the great Thuparama 19. The bell shape dome and the circular terraces must have same influence by Thuparama but the upper portion, lotus shape finial Chattravali and Harmika were different from that. The Harmika was changed both the size and the form and camouflage between the dome and the Chattravali. This inversion may be created by the local people of pyu and myanmar, where all the Chattravali from stupa and temple of Bagan and later period continuously used this shape. Later people named the combination of Harmica and Chattravali as Phaung Yit20. The last style of Buddhist monument in Sri Khettara was the Gu21 temple. Be Be Gu and Le Myet Hnar Gu22 were the proto types of all the temples in Myanmar. Be Be has no central pillar (central solid core) and only single entrance while Le Myet Hnar has square central pillar and four entrances. The top portion of Be Be was a solid stupa in upward pointed egg shaped with square single terrace at the bottom. Most of the scholars recorded that the arches from these two temples were the earliest brick arch style23 in South East Asia. At solid stupas, the Buddha images put inside the relic chamber cannot be seen. By inventing the Temple (caved pagoda), people can see one or more Buddha images or image steals inside the cave while praying. After studying the different styles of Stupas from Sri Khettara, we would like to move our study to Bagan24. As the first king of Bagan came from the old Pyu capital, Sri Khettara, he may be brought together with him the Buddhism, Buddhist arts and craft men to Bagan.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

19

Thuparama stupa was built during Anuradhapura period at 241 B.C. Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka,. The cemented ringed spire gradually pointed upwards in the conical shape. 21 Divert from Parli word Guha means natural rock cave. Artificial cave temples are also called Gu. 22 Apart from Be Be and Le Myet Hnar, there were also Ya Han Dar Gu, East and West Zay Gu and Phaya Htaung Gu, but they are later than the former two. 23 The other contemporary stupas are not the true arch, either horizontal stone beam or stone arches. 24 Bagan was founded by King Thamudarit, the nephew of the last king of Sri Khettara, at 27 years Buddhist era.
20

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

The earliest stupas in Bagan may be nearly or exactly the same shape as Pyu miniature stupas. The proof is that the glazed stupa, Nga Kyawe Nadaung25, was same as the form of relic gasket and miniature terra cotta stupa from Sri Khettara. There were seven egg shaped body (Bulbus type26) stupas. The earlier stupas stand on the low circular terrace while the later stand on the square and higher terraces. Another early type stupa which is exactly like the Baw Baw Gyi27 stypa, from Sri Khettara, was stupa no.1973 near Taung Bi village in Bagan. These two types of stupas, Nga Kyawe Nadung and stupa no. 1973 were the true Pyu type stupas of Bagan area for the earliest times.

The stupa, slightly change in style from Baw Baw Gyi, was the Myin Kabar Stupa28 (No.1328). Three circular terraces had changed to octagonal shape single terrace. The bell shape end at the bottom of the belt is more prominent and the Chattavali is more taller than the former one. It took some of the style from Thaung Bye Kon encased stupa and also the Chattavali style from Gupta period miniature stupas.
25 26

Nga Kyawe Nadaung means the ear plug of the giant hero, named Nga Kyawe, in early Bagan Mythology. Myanmar name for this type is Bu Thi Pon, in the shape of a gourd. 27 The original form of Baw Baw Gyi pagoda was with the high conical body on top of the three low circular terraces surmounted by the Harmika and half open umbrella in conical shape. 28 Myin Kabar Stupa was built by King Anawratha in his early part in the memorial of the fighting place with his elder brother, the former King.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

The second bell shape stupa of Bagan from the earlier period was the encased stupa (No.1690), called scovell29 encased stupa. The bell shape stupa on the square terrace with two extensions. Stupa and terrace were put again on the square base. These type of stupas from the pre Anawratha period can be found in many place around Bagan area.

After conquered the Mon state of lower Myanmar by the King Anawratha, the stupa styles were change by combined with Mon Architectural styles of using multiple square terraces and stair case to climb up to the top terrace from four directions.

Shwe San Daw pagoda and Loka Nanda pagoda are the sample of the mixture of Pyu, Mon and Myanmar architectural styles. Lawka Nanda pagoda has four stairways30. The three terraces are still in octagonal form, which is the earlier style of Pyu and Myanmar. The belt of the high cylindrical bell shape body was beautifully decorated with eight long diamond shape floral designs within a row of flower.

29 30

Name of civil engineer in Bagan area, in the British colonial time. Now only three stairway were left, North, South and East sides of Lawka Nanda pagoda.

Shwe Zigon 31at Nyaung Oo is bell shape stupa on top of the five terraces32 and decorated with four corner stupas and twelve flower pots (Kalasa) on three set of square terraces at four corners. It has three steps of stairways for three square terraces at four directions. This new style of stupa was so popular for the Myanmar people, so all the royal merit great stupas from later period continue to used the style and proportion of Shwe Zigon pagoda up to the end of Bagan dynasty and later periods.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

Another popular style in early Bagan was the relic gasket type stupas, which has strong Gupta influence. The hemispherical dome, belt, Harmika and Chattravali are not too much different from the Gwe Bin Tet Kon stupa. Some of these type stupas had deep niche for Buddha image at the belt or at the lowest terrace.

Apart from stupas, the earliest type of cave temple in Bagan may be temple No.1075 near new Bagan33. Like Be Be temple, it had the bulbous type stupa on top of the single entranced cave. This type may be the mixture of egg shape stupa and Be Be cave temple of Sri Khettara.
31

It was first started by King Anawratha( late 11th Century) and finished at the time of King Kyan Sitha (12th Century). 32 The lower three square terraces, one in octagonal and another one in circular terrace at the top. 33 The old Bagan was formally inside the fort wall. At 1991, the whole town was shift to the Southward near Thiri Pyit Sayar village and called new Bagan.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

From this earliest temple, old Myanmar architect from Bagan invented various kinds of temples during three centuries (11th to 13th century) nearly two thousand temples34, from very simple and small size temples to very complicated and large temples. Among these temples, no single temple has the same architectural design and decoration styles. Each and every temples and stupas from old Bagan has their own style, different from each other. Although we had already got Sri Lanka influence in the early Pyu and Bagan period, at 12th century we have the second time Sri Lanka influence again brought back by Ashin Sapada35. All the stupas built in this typical period are called Ceylonese type stupa.

There were two types of stupas surmounted by the Harmika in Bagan. The earlier type, which had strong Gupta influence and the later type which had Sri Lanka influence. The Gupta type stupas are earlier then the 11th century and

34

Formally the inventory of Bagan said 2217 stupas, temples and monastery in Bagan are. After excavating the shallow mounts, now the inventory number increased up to nearly 4000. 35 A monk who had studied the Buddhist literature at Sri Lanka for several years and back to Bagan together with four other monks and established a new monastic sect called Sri Lanka Sect.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

the later type is later than the 12th century.

10

The form, proportion and style of Shwe Zigon pagoda was very popular among the Myanmar people and they used the same stupa style up to the end of 19th century and even up to present period. Although the styles of the later stupas are same form and same type of Shwe Zigon, the ratio of the Base and the height was slightly changed. In the early Bagan, it was (1:1), then at Innwa period, it change to (1:1.25) and after that it completely change to (1:1.5). There were two prominent invented styles of stupas in Innwa period. Circular plan from the base to Chattravali type in first Innwa period36 and multiple corner shape37 plan from the base to Chattravali style in second Innwa period38. The evolution of the stupas in Myanmar from Pyu period to Innwa period could be clearly seen if we know about the encased stupas from Tagaung39, called Tagaung Zigon Gyi. The most inner stupa was like Payargyi stupa from Sri Khettara. The most outer stupa was like Shwe Zigon pagoda, but built only at Pinya period40 (14th century). The middle stupa was exactly like the Loka Nanda stupa, build by King Anawratha.

36 37

1364 to 1526 A.D. called first Innwa period. Normal square has only four rectangular corners while multiple corners shape can be 8, 12, 20 or more rectangular corners. 38 1597 to 1751 A.D. called second Innwa period or Nyaung Yan period. 39 Tagaung was the earliest capital in Myanmar founded by King Abhi Rajar who came back from Kapila Vastu, the native place of Lord Buddha, 700 years before the birth of Buddha. Up to 2000 A.D. no evidence earlier than 11th century was found. Now, many burial urns and hand marked bricks, the characters of Pyu culture were found. 40 Pinya period was from 1312 to 1364 A.D., founded by King Thihathu.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

11

Evolutions of the stupas in Myanmar have shown seven different types of stupas and temples from Pyu period and ten different types of stupas from Bagan period.

On conclusion, in earliest time, Pyu and Myanmar got the influences of (a) Andhra period at 1st century A.D. (b) Gupta period at 3rd century A.D. (c) Anuradha period at 5th century A.D. The combination of Gupta style stupas from late Pyu period, bell shape style stupas from Sri Lanka and the multi square terraces style from Mon area at 10th century A.D. was so popular for the Myanmar peoples that this style, like Shwe Dagon pagoda in Yangon, was survived up to present period.

Evolution of the Stupas in Myanmar

12

Reference
1. The Excavations at Beik Thano Aung Thaw 1968, Ministry of culture Myanmar

2. Old Burma Early Pagan Vol 1 to 3 3. Phases of Pre Pagan Burma 4. Indian Architecture 5. The Inventory of Monuments at Bagan Vol 1 to 8 6. Amaravati 7. Evolution of Stupas in Burma

Gordon H. Luce 1969, New York, university G. H. Luce Percy Brown Pierre Pichard 1985,Oxford university press 1942, Bom bay 1993, UNESCO, France

Robert Knox Sujata Soni

1992, British Museum 1991, Madras, India