Mandalay, the capital of the last kingdom of Burma, was founded in 1857 by the deeply religious king Mindon performed by the prophecy of Gautama Buddha. As legend has it, Gautam Buddha prophesied that on the 2.400th anniversary of his enlightenment the great city and center of Buddhist teaching was found at the foot of the hill when he visited the sacred hill of Mandalay. However, King Mindon’s motives for creating and building a new royal city were not purely disinterested religious; he also wanted to atone for the injustice committed during his reign from 1853, when he replaced his brother King Pagan until 1878, when he died, and his son Thibault took the throne. This, by the way, opened the end of the Burmese kingdom.
King Mindon from the last dynasty of Burma - the Konbaung dynasty - believed that in order to establish the injustices committed during his reign, it was necessary to build the temple grounds of great magnificence. for this reason he founded Mandalay the Golden City in 1857. He officially completed it in 1859 and relocated his government and the "Imperial Court". which is still referred to as “Aw Court”; from Amarapura (12 km / 7 miles from Mandalay, located in the royal city, built by King Bodapaya) to the new capital in 1861.
His move from Amarapura to Mandalay was accompanied by the dismantling of the previous palace and the relocation of about 150,000 people to the new capital, also known as “Ratanabon-Neupydo”, “City of Jem”. This should not be confused with “Rathapura”, “City of stones”; (which refers to the ancient capital "Ava") and, of course, not to the current capital of Burma Naypyidaw.
Mandalay, contradicting the impression of the ancient city, that its name creates a much younger city than, for example, pagans and Yangon, or the former ancient capitals of Ava and Amarapura, nevertheless, are considered by the Burmese as the real center of Burmese culture and Buddhist teaching and the only city , truly a representative of Burma. However, the dream of Mandalay as a royal city was a total of 28 years very short-lived.
Obviously, King Thibault was completely incapable of being as merciless as was one of the main kings of King Mindon and Thibault's stepmother, Xin Beau Ma Shin. She raised to the throne a very small prince Thibault (who loved one of his daughters very much and under normal circumstances never approached the throne). To keep her strength strong, she had many older princes, with certain rights to the throne, killed. At the end of his ruthless and destructive reign for Burma, only 7 years old (from 1878 to 1885), King Thibault admitted his famine defeat by the British army in the third Anglo-Burmese war, capitulation to the British general Prendergast on November 29, 1885. After that, Mandalay and his palace are now renamed Fort Dufferin. and later Fort Mandalay. - became another British-Indian outpost.
King Tibau and his wife, Queen Supayalat, were exiled to India, more precisely formulated by Ratnagiri, which meant the end of the Konbaung dynasty. On January 1, 1886, Burma not only ceased to exist as an independent kingdom and became a province of British India, but also never again became a kingdom. Moreover, Burma - Nowdays is called Myanmar's name, which is not certain - lost the ability to properly develop in a successful country; Worse even, Burma collapsed, guided by the conditions of proper government control of incapable and corrupt warlords down to the group of the poorest countries on earth, did it remain for all the changes? which took place in recent years to this day.
The Mandalay Palace built by King Mindon as the “Center of Peace” based on the “Brahman-Buddhist cosmology” model to represent the legendary Mount Meru formed the perfect square. Its outer walls, facing the four main points, each had three shutters, which were marked by signs of the zodiac. The “Throne Room”, also called the “Room”, was located in the exact center of the palace, surrounded and covered with a tower of 256 feet / 78 meters or “Pyatet”. Phetat was seven-story and gilded. It was - believe it or not - I believed that because of this, the wisdom of the Universe was directed directly to the King’s Throne, & quot; to assist him in making decisions with great consensus. Perhaps it worked as long as Mindon Min was king, but, of course, he did not work at all after his youngest son, Thibault, ascended the throne.
The “Lion” room was surrounded by the king’s chambers, a watchtower and a number of major and minor buildings. The location of the palace and its ensembles of the building can be seen on a large-scale model. of the original Mandalay Palace inside the palace.
Nowadays, very little remains of the glory of the old palace (or of what remains of it). In the 1990s, the former composition of the palace served as the headquarters of the Burmese army. In addition to a) 8 meters / 26 feet in height and at the bottom of 3 meters / 9.8 feet, the brick walls of the palace (each of its four sections is 2 kilometers / 1.3 miles in length) using Pateat and # 39; (pavilions) above the gate, b) with a width of 70 meters / 225 feet and a depth of 3 meters / 10 feet, remaining untouched, you can only see c) the mausoleum of King Mindon, d) the palace model and # 39; f) an empty raised platform — the remains of the king’s quarters — to which leading stairs with cannons (which never shot a single shot) at their feet; and f) somewhat in poor quality and with forced labor reconstructed the palace structures inside the old palace walls.
But the original palace structures, which were built almost entirely of teak, were not (as some people are still trying to try to believe) deliberately destroyed by the British army and the US air force as an act of aggression against Burma. They became a reliable measure of the shelling of the palace and Mandalay Hill, both of which were turned into citadels and fiercely abandoned by Japanese troops in 1944/45.
However, the main damage was inflicted by the Japanese, who, when the show ended for them, burned most of the wooden buildings to destroy the shops that they had in them, and left nothing that could bring them to the enemy.
In March 1945, British troops under the command of Field Marshal William J. Slim (with the support of Chinese troops and the United States Army) were able to liberate Burma from the terror of the Japanese invaders. On the contrary, despite some local fairy tales that say otherwise, very little or practically no help to any Burmese forces. For more information, see the Burma War Reports by WJ Slim. Win a victory.
Mandalay is of great interest to visitors. In addition to the Royal Palace, Mandalay’s attractions include: A) Kutodava Pagoda, B) Maha Laika Pagoda, M), C) The world's largest book, D) Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, E) Schwenandau Kyaung, F) Atumashi Kyaung, G) Sudaungpya Pagoda H) Statue Buddhas Shweyattaw, I) Maha Muni Pagoda and J) Shaw Kyi Myint Pagoda.
A) Kutodavskaya pagoda
At the foot of Mandalay Hill, which rises 774 feet / 236 meters above Mandalay and its surroundings, stands the Ma Ha Lo Ka Ka Ra Jin Pagoda, which is often called the Kutodau Pagoda. The pagoda was built by King Mindon in 1857. Located in the center of the Kutodov Pagoda, this is the Maha-Loka-Marazein Pagoda.
B) Maha-Loka-Marazein Pagoda
The Maha-Loka-Marazein Pagoda is a pagoda 98 feet / 30 meters high, which is modeled after the Pagan Pagoda No. 1.
C) The biggest book of the world
Inside the “Kutodava Pagoda” complex, surrounded by four walls, there is not only the Maha-Loka-Marazein Pagoda. There are also 729 Pitaka Pagodas. which is surrounded by Maha Laka Maraziin. They were recorded on the occasion of the Fifth Buddhist Synod in 1872 for the individual placement of 729 marble helmets, or 1,398 pages of what is called and known as “The Biggest Book of the World”; or “The Biggest Book of the World,” which is at the same time the heaviest book in the world.
All three bikes from the Buddhist Pali-canon. engraved on these marble slaps / tablets that were broken in a quarry on Sagain Hill, 20 miles / 32 km south-west of Mandalay. & Quot; was open to the public since it was completed on May 4, 1868, eight years after King Mindon began on October 4, 1860, so that the book was built because he wanted to perform a worthy act that had never been done before any king. Originally with gold leaves, the veneered letters were finally removed with blue color. To get an idea of the enormous volume of the book - the recording of the whole period of “Sasana”, or five thousand years beginning with the time of the Enlightenment of Gautama Buddha - it helps to find out that he took 2,400 ponies (monks) for almost a month and a half to read his text unquestioningly .
The first paper version of the Tripitaka was made by Mr. Philip H. Ripley and printed in 1900. One volume of “Paper Pitaka” (Royal Octavo Size) has 400 pages, and the entire work consists of 38 volumes.
D) Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Another pagoda, located on the Mandalay Hill, near the Kutodava Pagoda, is the Kyauktaugi Pagoda. or "Pagoda of the Great Marble Buddha." A large Buddha image is sculpted from one large block of Sagiina marble and is accompanied by 40 figures (20 on each side) to represent the eighty students of the Buddha. In 1853, King Mindon began to build the Kyauktaugi pagodas, and it was completed in 1878, the year of the death of King Mindon.
E) Schwenandau Kyaung
Located south of the Kutodau pagots — east of the palace moat — this is Schwenandau Kyaung, a monastery originally built by King Mindon as part of the Golden City, so it was originally located within the walls of the royal palace. Since King Thibault had after the death of his father, King of Mindon, the monastery dismounted and gathered at its present location, Schwenandau Monastery is the only building of the majestic palace city in which misfortunes lived, the victims of which were other buildings made of teak wood. With this king, Thibault, though unintentionally, did something good.
Schwenandau is the building in which King Mindon really died - once decorated with glass mosaics and covered with gold, now the most famous because of its very intricate wood carvings. Decorative flowers and mystical figures cover every bit of available space. The monastery, which holds a copy of the royal throne and the couch of King Thibault, from 1879 the monastery provided to monks after the first king of Mindon, and then king Thibault used it as a place for private meditation.
F) Atumashi Kyaung
Atumashi Kyaung & or the Incomparable Monastery, located near Schwenandau Kyaung and near Kutodov, was restored in 1996. The original monastery of Atumashi, which was named one of the most beautiful structures in Mandalay, was built by King Mindon in 1877/78 and burned down in 1890.
G) Sutaungpä Pagoda and H) Shweyattaw Buddha
1.729 (!) Steps lead to the top of Mandalay Hill. The roof of the Thaung Dance or the covered stairs keep the stone steps cool and protect visitors climbing up on their way up from the burning sun. About two-thirds of the hill stands a gilded statue of Buddha Shvaytatva.
What does the image of the Buddha Shweyattaw? Unique is that he is the only Gautama Buddha image in the world with an outstretched hand, arm and finger. All other Buddha images are known in famous mudras. positions. The outstretched hand and index finger of the Buddha Shvaytatwa image, pointing to the place where King Mindon wanted to build the city of the palace, is indeed something outstanding. The statue was erected by King Mindon before he laid the cornerstone for his Golden City. and symbolizes the prediction of Gautama Buddha, which he, King Mindon, was about to fulfill.
Sutaungpya Pagoda on the top of Mandalay Hill offers a fantastic panoramic view of Mandalay and its environs from the Shan Plateau in the east, the Imperial Palace City, and Mandalay in the south, Sagaing and Mingun Hill with the Ayyavaddi River flowing in front of them in the north, a vast area of rice fields west and almost everywhere where your eyes, pagodas and temples can appear. The most revered pagoda in Mandalay is the Maha Muni Pagoda.
I) Maha Muni Pagoda
The Maha Muni Pagoda was built in 1784 by King Bodapaya. This pagoda is also called the Pagoda. or the Arakan Pagoda. It contains an image of Buddha, Maha Muni, 13 feet high / 4 meters high. This is due to the fact that by the present moment a layer 3 inches thick of thin golden leaves has been pasted on it by faithful devotees again and again, becoming irregular.
The Buddha Maha Muni statue was part of the booty that King Bodapayi took out of Arakan when they raided Arakan (Rakhine State) in 1784. Currently, the Maha Muni Pagoda is a replica of the original pagoda, which burned down in 1884. The pagoda is located between 81st and 82nd streets in the south of Mandalay in the direction of Amarapura, Ava and Sagaing.
J) Shwe Kii Myint Pagoda
The oldest Mandalay pagoda, located on the 24th road, between 82nd and 83rd streets, in 1167 is the son of the King of Alangsite king, Prince Minnshinshow, built by the Shwe Kyi Pagoda Myint and # 39;
The pagoda contains a collection of Buddha images, adorned with precious stones and made of gold and silver, as well as a statue of the Buddha, consecrated by Prince Minshinson himself.
Other attractions are Mandalay’s most important market, Zegyo Zay, Diamond Watch, created in honor of 60-year-old Queen Victoria and the National Museum and Library. Mandalay is also famous for one of the most recognizable crafts of Burma - the most prominent of them - the brightest "Kalaka". tapestries. The origins of tapestries date back to the 17th century and reached the zenith of their beauty during the reign of Mandalay King Mindon. Kalaki - very skillful embroidery of various sizes. They can cover a small pillow or the entire wall. These bright embroideries, made on a strong protective fabric - traditionally velvety, consist of silver and gold spangles, glass pearls, glass mirrors, beats, colored fabric and sometimes precious stones depicting elephants, mythical figures and “Yakas”. telling stories about the life of Gautama Buddha, as well as historical events, festivals, etc.
Another very excellent art Mandalay renamed the "Art of Puppet Theater." Burmese puppets first appeared in the 15th century, and the golden age of Burmese Yoke-Thay Pwe (puppet theater) was the reign of King Mindon. Puppet Theater received a higher status than live theater.
One of the few still active traditional puppet groups and theaters in Burma that promote and perform the art of puppet art is the Mandalay Puppet Theater. from Ma Ma Naing, who is himself a puppeteer. Attached to the theater is also a workshop in which all sorts of traditional Burmese puppets skillfully and according to old traditions. For more information on Yoke-Thay Pwe, see my Ezine article. - Tei Pwe Burmese Puppet Theater.
Besides Mandalay, which is the second largest city of Burma and its religious and cultural center, Mandalay is also the economic center of Upper Burma. Linked to all parts of the country by road, water, air, and rail, and being the main link between China and India, Mandalay will become increasingly commercial in the coming years.
But not only Mandalay City offers much interest to the visitor. It is also the Great Mandalay, which includes, for example, Amarapura as the ancient capital, and the center of silk weaving art, V-va (Ava) and Sagaing as the ancient capital and village of Iwatown as the center of silver affairs. I will tell you more about this soon. Follow my articles.
