• Early Pyu Period (2nd century B.C. to A.D. 1050) Architecture

Beikthano is the oldest urban site so far discovered in Myanmar and the oldest of the three ancient centers of Pyu civilization (the other two being Srikestra and Halin). The structures, found there date from 200 B.C. to 100 A.D. The foundations of a number buildings made of large, kiln-fired bricks were unearthed, among them are two halls with wooden pillars, possibly audience halls; a large rectangular monastery building containing multiple cells; and the foundations of several circular, stupa-like structures, a few of them situated on square bases. These stupa-like foundations were in several cases closely associated with numerous burial urns containing the ashes and bones of cremated human bodies

Srikshetra: Later Pyu Period (2nd century B.C. to A.D. 1050) Architecture

The Bawbawgyi, the tallest of the stupas is 153 feet high and consists of a massive cylindrical column that rests on a base of five concentric terraces. The upper portions of the main cylinder have fallen away over time and the truncated form has been fitted with a tower that resembles the Burmese crown or hti (hti: umbrella).

Believed to represent a closed lotus. The stupa in the form of a lotus bud can be seen in its entirety on many of the numerous votive tablets found at the site.

Pyagyi Pyama

• Shwezayan

The two stupas situated between the palace site and south wall, the Shwezayan is the largest. The original form of the Swezayan, stupa, said to have been built in the 5th century B.C., is difficult to ascertain since it has been repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. As it stands today, the stupa has a circular base and its overall structure resembles that of a bell. Found within the compound of the Swezayan stupa are several inscribed stones, five in the Mon language of the 11th century. These stones are now preserved within the stupa compound.

Kalyani Sima, a hall built especially for the ordination of monks. On the sandstone boundary pillars that surround the Kalyani Sima, the stories known as the Ten Great Jatakas may be seen. These carvings illustrate the last 10 lives of the Buddha before he was reborn as Gautama, the historical Buddha who gained enlightenment. An inscription on one of the pillars dates them to the 11th –13th centuries.

• Pagan Architecture (A.D. 1044 to 1287)

Temples and stupas, even though adjacent to one another, were generally designed to stand alone as single buildings without planned relationships between one another. A boundary wall, thought be a protection against fire, surrounded the largest and most important buildings.

These enclosing walls were usually square with an entrance in the middle of each side. The main buildings, at times raised on a platform, were located in the center of this large enclosure with smaller structures placed around them.

Yangon

There, a huge stupa, almost a hundred meters in height, towers above its surroundings. The stupa is adorned with 8,688 solid gold slabs, each worth more four hundred U.S. dollars, as well as over five thousand diamonds and more than two thousand rubies, sapphires and topaz.

Ananda Temple towers

The Ananda Temple is "in the shape of a perfect Greek cross," with four large niches. Each niche houses a Buddha, with Gautama Buddha facing west. The statue of him, covered in gold, towers above visitors as he expresses his "Be not afraid" hand gesture. Other temples and pagodas are home to other Buddhist sculptures, but the ones in the Ananda temple are indeed the most impressive.

• Another part of Myanmar is also famous for its Buddhist architecture. In the city of Pagan, erected in the middle of the eleventh century CE, about thirteen thousand pagodas and temples were built, little more than two thousand of which still remain. Many of the temples and pagodas were constructed of red brick, but the Ananda Temple towers above the others in white. (see fig. 2) The Ananda Temple is "in the shape of a perfect Greek cross," with four large niches. Each niche houses a Buddha, with Gautama Buddha facing west. The statue of him, covered in gold, towers above visitors as he expresses his "Be not afraid" hand gesture. Other temples and pagodas are home to other Buddhist sculptures, but the ones in the Ananda temple are indeed the most impressive.

• The majesty of Myanmar architecture is clearly represented in the millions of pagodas and temples around the country. The most impressive of these religious buildings, Shwe Dagon and the Ananda Temple, with their awe-inspiring sculptures, testify to the devotion of past Myanmar kings to Buddhism.

Bagan is an ancient city located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar . From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan, the first kingdom to unify the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar.

Kyanzittha (r. 1084-1113), Anawrahta's second successor, was also deeply religious and continued without interruption the pace of Buddhist construction. During the 12th century Bagan became known as the land of four million pagodas. Although an obvious exaggeration, it reflects both the wealth and religious foundations of the new kingdom. A highly developed system of irrigation canals for a while supported a thriving rice culture.

Bagan today, in reality, is little more than an archaeological site—far less known than the Angkor complex in Cambodia, in part because of the restrictions long imposed on tourists by Myanmar's military government. Yet it is every bit the equal of the Khmer temple-region for its historic and archaeological significance. This short essay provides a brief introduction to the historic regions and its architecture. Succeeding sections on this site feature a precious few of its major t emples and stupas.

• Myanmar's architecture begins with the Bagan Empire, who took power in the 800s, but didn't blossom until they took over the Mon Empire to their south and imported their artisans. This led to the growth of Buddhism and the city of Bagan, from which nearly all traditional Myanmar architecture has evolved.

• The style moved to other cities beginning in the 1200s, including Mandalay and Yangon, however these cities primarily built in wood. Despite this, the most important and significant stupas in these cities have been well maintained by the people and survive today in great numbers.

MANDALAY Yangon

• Religious monuments, palaces and colonial buildings

• The theme of renewal looms large in Myanmar culture – as can be seen in the large number of capital cities the country has had over the centuries – so traditional forms of architecture have not always stood the test of time.

• A (massive) exception to this are the Buddhist temples and pagodas that can be found in every corner of Myanmar. The sheer number of them – leading Myanmar to be called ‘the land of a million pagodas’ – leave visitors in no doubt as to the deep religious tradition and devotion of Myanmar’s people.

The gigantic golden monument to Buddhism, the Shwedagon Pagoda, and the thousands of temples on the plains of Bagan are perhaps the most breathtaking and famous examples, but they can be found in almost every village, and on every street corner, road or riverbank throughout most of central Myanmar. home to eight hairs of the Gautama Buddha, and therefore is incredibly sacred.

• There are essentially three kinds of Buddhist structures:

1) stupas, bell-shaped structures that contain a holy relic or scripture;

2) temples, place of worship somewhat similar to a church; and

3) monasteries, which contain living quarters and meditation cells for monks.

STUPA

Monasteries and other temples can also usually be visited, allowing travellers to witness something of the traditional lives of monks and nuns in Myanmar – but these visits can sometimes only be done a pre-set times.

Royal palaces which pre-date the colonial era were often made of teak (an abundant tropical hardwood), and Myanmar’s sometimes violent history has meant that most are now dust. Recently reconstructed palaces, done with sometimes patchy attention to detail and quality, can be found at Mandalay and Shwebo.

The temple is another primary example of Buddhist architecture in Myanmar. The word “temple” is the same as cave in many languages and indeed many early Buddhist temples were inspired by the caves of Buddhist India. They are places where sacred shrines and images are worshipped and contain numerous Buddha statues and images.

• Bagan temples used both barrel vaults and pointed arches. It has been said that the builders of Bagan knew how to use the “true” arch, an arch which was not used at the time throughout the rest ofSoutheast Asia. The outer terraces of the temples represent Mount Meru, the symbolic home of the Gods.

• Ananda Temple in Bagan was the first of the great temples and is known for its beauty and symmetry. It was built by King Kyanzittha to reflect the endless wisdom of Buddha and inspired the temple building of future rulers. The central tower is 167ft tall with six terraces rising to it. The lower terraces have a complete numbered set of 537 scenes from the lives of the Buddha

• The majesty of Myanmar architecture is clearly represented in the millions of pagodas and temples around the country. The most impressive of these religious buildings, Shwe Dagon and the Ananda Temple, with their awe-inspiring sculptures, testify to the devotion of past Myanmar kings to Buddhism.

http://www.go-myanmar.com/art-architecture

http://birmania-viajes.com/english/architecture.htm

http://www.ternar.com/asianart_98/BUDARCH.HTM

http://www.myanmarburma.com/attraction/534/myanmars-magnificent-buddhist-architecture

http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Myanmar/sub5_5e/entry-3088.html

http://www.safaritheglobe.com/myanmar/

http://www.safaritheglobe.com/myanmar/culture/architecture/

http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/myanmar/bagan/