| Kuthodaw Pagoda | |
|---|---|
 Kuthodaw Pagoda from the southeast terrace | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Theravada Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Mandalay |
| Country | Myanmar |
  Shown within Myanmar | |
| Geographic coordinates | 22°00′17″N96°06′46″E / 22.004712°N 96.112902°E /22.004712; 96.112902 |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | KingMindon Min |
| Completed | May 4, 1868; 156 years ago (1868-05-04) |
Kuthodaw Pagoda (Burmese:ကုသိုလ်တော်ဘုရား,pronounced[kṵðòdɔ̀pʰəjá];lit. 'Royal Merit', and formally titledMahalawka Marazeinမဟာလောကမာရဇိန်စေတီ) is aBuddhiststupa, located inMandalay,Burma (Myanmar), that contains theworld's largest book. It lies at the foot ofMandalay Hill and was built during the reign ofKing Mindon. The stupa itself, which is gilded above its terraces, is 188 feet (57 m) high, and is modelled after theShwezigon Pagoda atNyaung-U nearBagan. In the grounds of the pagoda are 729kyauksa gu or stone-inscription caves, each containing a marble slab inscribed on both sides with a page of text from theTipitaka, the entirePali Canon ofTheravada Buddhism.
Mindon Min had the pagoda built as part of the traditional foundations of the new royal city ofMandalay in 1857. He was later to convene theFifth Buddhist Synod in 1871, but wanted to leave a great work of merit by having the Tipitaka set in stone for posterity, meant to last five millennia after theBuddha. Construction began in 1860, itshti (umbrella or crown) mounted on 19 July 1862, and the inscriptions were laid open to the public on 4 May 1868. They were arranged in neat rows within three enclosures, 42 in the first, 168 in the middle and 519 in the third. One more stands at the southeast corner of the first enclosure making it 730, and this stone records how it all came into being. Thirty four brickzayats (rest houses) stood all around except on the east side of the pagoda.[1]
The main entrance is from the south through massive but open teak doors ornately carved with floral designs, scrolls, andDeva Nats. It is a covered approach orsaungdan as in most Burmese pagodas with frescoes under the roof. Between the rows of stone-inscription stupas grow mature star flower trees (Mimusops elengi) that emanate a jasmine-like fragrance to the entire complex. Burmese families may be seen having a picnic in the cool shade under these trees, picking the flowers to make star flower chains for the Buddha or to wear in their hair, or the children playing hide and seek among the rows of stupas. On the southwest inner terrace is one very old tree believed to be 250 years old, its low spreading boughs propped up by supports.
After theannexation of Mandalay by theBritish in 1885, the walled city withMandalay Palace became FortDufferin, and troops were billeted all around Mandalay Hill in the monasteries, temples and pagodas. They became off-limits to the public and Burmese were no longer allowed to visit their religious sites. One revenue surveyor called U Aung Ban then came up with the idea of appealing direct toQueen Victoria since she had promised to respect all religions practised by her subjects. To their amazement and great joy the British queen promptly ordered the withdrawal of all her troops from religious precincts in 1890. This however turned to great sadness when they found that the pagoda had been looted from thehti, left lying on the ground stripped of its bells, gold, silver, diamonds, rubies and other precious stones, down to the Italian marble tiles from its terraces. Thezayats lay in utter ruin and the bricks had been used to build a road for the troops. All the brass bells from all thekyauksa gu stupas were gone, 9 on each making it 6570 in total. The gold ink from the letters as well as the sides and top of each marble slab had also disappeared. All thebiloos along the corridors had lost their heads, and the marble eyes and claws from the masonrychinthes gone.[1]
%2c_photograph_by_Philip_Adolphe_Klier.jpg)
In 1892, a committee of senior monks, members of the royal family and former officers of the king, including Atumashi Sayadaw (the Abbot ofAtumashi Monastery),Kinwon Min Gyi U Kaung (chancellor), Hleithin Atwinwun (minister of the royal fleet),YaunghweSaopha Sir Saw Maung and Mobyè Sitkè (a general of the royal army), was formed to start restoration works with the help and donations from the families of the original donors according to custom and also from the public.[1]
It was thesitkè who asked permission from the senior monks to plant thehkayei star flower trees as well as somemeze (Madhuca longifolia) trees. Gold letters were replaced with black ink which made it easier to read. The metalhtis of thekyauksa gus were replaced with stone paid for by members of the royal family (155), former officers of the royal army (58),Shan Saophas and Myosas (102), and public donations (414). In 1913 Sir Po Tha, a rice trader ofRangoon, had the pagoda repaired and regilded. The next year, the Society of Pitaka Stone Inscriptions gave an iron gate to the south left open as the carved wooden panels had been destroyed by the soldiers. The west gate was donated by the famouszat mintha (theatre performer)U Po Sein the following year, and the north and east gates by the children and grandchildren of King Mindon in 1932. In 1919 the hermitU Khandi led the rebuilding of the south and westsaungdans (covered approaches).[1]
In 2013,UNESCO plaque indicating that the Maha Lawkamarazein or Kuthodaw Inscription Shrines at Kuthodaw Pagoda, which contain theworld's largest book in the form of 729 marble slabs on which are inscribed theTripitaka, were inscribed on to theMemory of the World Register.
.JPG)
Media related toKuthodaw Pagoda at Wikimedia Commons
