Pottery, earthenware as well as glazed, is still in common use in households in Myanmar – Burmese households.  Most are in the forms of cooking pots, flower pots, drinking water pots and storage pots. Storage pots are mostly glazed and used to store water, oil, fish paste, salt and various pickled food. Drinking water from a river, a well or a bore or from rainfalls is filled into the large water storage pots, especially in the Dry zones (Central Burma). The water settles in the large pot with sediments sinking to the bottom. Then water is usually filtered through a cloth strainer as it goes into the smaller drinking water pot, or just before people drink it, or both. The drinking water pot has a shape pattern which maximizes the surface area. Because it is not glazed, moisture can evaporate slowly from the outside of the pot, taking away heat with it. The water inside the pot is as cool as water from a refrigerator. While people in villages or small farming hamlets in Myanmar may also use some metal pots for cooking, majority still use pottery kitchenware saying that food tastes better if it is cooked in an earthenware pot.

THE ORIGIN

Ceramic Trade 13th-17th century Martaban (Moattama) and Mergui (Myeik), harbors on the coastal region, might have been important links in the ceramic trade between China and India during the Song Dynasty (907-1279 AD), and possible also in the ceramic trade with Southeast Asia through Malacca. Song ceramics have been found in the Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) area and from shipwrecks offshore.

The town of Martaban (Moattama) was first mentioned in an old Burmese inscription of 1326 where it is called ‘Muttama’, the name which until now is often used by the Burmese (Martaban is now named Moattama – webmaster). The name Martaban might be derived from the Tai names for Mergui and Tenasserim, “Marit” and “Tanan”.

THE TRADE

By the middle of the 15th century Ayuthia (Ayutthaya of Thailand) had lost control of Martaban, and the Mon capital of Pegu (now known as Bago) of the Pegu kingdom dominated the ports of Bassein (Pathein), Syriam (Thanlyin) and Martaban which were well known to Chinese merchants by that time. Peguan merchants, mostly Moslems, traded with India, Malacca and Indonesia. That considerable tradings subsisted between the Peguans and Malays before the arrival of the Europeans is testified by the fact that the Portuguese found a considerable number of Peguans settled at Malacca when they captured it in 1511.

BURMESE POTTERY IN PRESENT DAYS

In rural areas of Burma, almost all of the daily containers are of unglazed and glazed earthenware: plastic or cement containers have not yet dominated. Most likely the manufacturing of pottery, their shapes and styles of decoration have not changed much since early times. The Burmese still produce only glazed and unglazed earthenware. In general pottery is an occupation pursued only in dry-weather months when there are no agricultural operations going on, but there are a few traditional pottery centers which manufacture pots the whole-year round. The pottery villages which we have visited are Twante in the south, Sagaing, and Shwe Nyein in the Shwebo region, Upper Burma.

THE MASTERFUL POTTERS

The Shans from the Shari State are considered the best potters and Kengtung and Mongkung are traditional pottery centres. Green glazed ware of a light green colour are still produced there. But the wares from Papun in the Karen State are considered to be the best.

In Pegu (Bago) there are only a few small private kilns which produces only small vases, jarlets and flowerpots. The clay comes from Twante and the glaze from the Shan State. Here they use the yellow slip decoration and it is interesting to note that the decoration of stripes found on the 11th century Pagan sherds is still used on the jarlets of Pegu. Tubular and spur pontils are used for stacking.

Sources: Pottery Center, The Epi Source, Myanmar Pottery Makers.

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This is the very first step of pottery.  CLAY is the single main ingredient of pottery in Burma.  Thus, this very step is bringing different grades of clay in accordance with the ratio and mixing up to have a homogenous blend…  These workers manually step on and off the clay for couples of hours…

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This second step is MOLDING the raw pot.  Many potters in Burma still utilize a kickwheel or hand-turned wheel.  The potter put a certain amount of RAW CLAY on the kickwheel and try to get the shape she wants by one hand while turning the base by another hand or by feet…

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This particular step is called TRIMMING where the potter uses a wooden paddle to beat the pots to to smooth and make it thinner. A small clay tool called an anvil is held inside the pot so it does not collapse. The anvil is dipped in sand now and again so it does not
stick to the inside of the pot.

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Followed TRIMMING is another detailing step called ENGRAVING.  The potter masterfully put the shapes or lines or even flowery engravings using the series of different tools (paddles)…

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DRYING process is just a simple step.  The pots are being exposed to the ambient room temperature to occur the dehydration of the moisture in the raw clay…

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The pots are fired in an open area, with wood, grass and possibly old broken pots piled around them…  This step can be referred to as FIRING process… It is to make the pots free from WATER and MOISTURE content…

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This final step is called FINISHING or BAKING.  Yes, the potters bake the pots inside a kiln.  It is a cross-draft kiln, beehive-shaped with a domed roof, made of unfired bricks and mud with a sloping floor. There is no division between the fire and firing chamber.  The kiln is supported at each side by a high brick wall and each is protected by a bamboo roof. The baking temperature is probably about 1,000°C.

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This is DISTRIBUTION stage.  People vastly transport the finished pots on the yolks…

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This is a giant POTTERY SHOWROOM on YANGON – BAGO Highway…

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Credits: My beloved Dad, Aung Kyaw Hein, and Naing Naing Tun (Exposure).

In the post war days, the Allies had erected the Allied War Memorial Cemeteries all over the world.  There were 3 Allied War Memorial Cemeteries in Burma.  One in Htauk Kyant of Yangon Division, another in Thanbyuzayat of Mon State and the other in Yangon.

Built in 1951, the Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery is beautifully kept ground and being the home of 27,000 honorable stone-graves of Commonwealth and Allied Forces Fallen Soldiers in the Myanmar Campaign. It is located in Mingaladon Township, Yangon Division about 32 km from Yangon, on the road to Bago.

Every year, families and relatives of the Allied Forces Fallen Soldiers from different parts of the world visit Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery to pay homage to their loved ones. Though Japan used to colonize Burma, Burmese people never destroyed the graves of the Japanese Imperial Fallen Soldiers with hatred. Throughout Burma, Burmese people kept not only the graves of Japanese Imperial Fallen Soldiers but also all the Fallen Soldiers of different nationalities from heartfelt humanitarian ground.

Among 3 war cemeteries in Burma, Htauk Kyant war cemetery is the largest. It was built in 1951 for the reception of graves from four battlefield cemeteries at Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktila and Bahmaw which were difficult to access and could not be maintained. The last was an original ‘Chindit’ cemetery containing many of those who died in the battle for Myitkyina in Kachin State. The graves have been grouped together at Htauk Kyant to preserve the individuality of these battlefield cemeteries. Burials were also transferred from civil and cantonment cemeteries, and from a number of isolated jungle and roadside locations. Because of prolonged post-war unrest, considerable delay occurred before the Army Graves Service were able to complete their work, and in the meantime many such graves had disappeared. However, when the task was resumed, several hundred more graves were retrieved from scattered positions throughout the country and brought together here. The cemetery now contains 6,374 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 867 of them unidentified.

Htauk Kyant War Cemetery also contains: The Yangon Memorial, which bears the names of almost 27,000 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the campaigns in Burma and who have no known grave.

SHOOTING

I was a fine sunny day in OCT 2009.  I was with our big shooting gang for portrait shooting.  Ma Gu Lu (Crystal Macro Shots), Zaw Latt (Sea Dragon), Wai Thit Lwin, Boothee (Astrophoto), San Ba, Zaw Myint Thu (Nova Creations), Thiha Soul, Htun Nay Win, Naing Naing Tun (Exposure), Nyi Min San (Bagan Nat), Wynn Thein and me.  Ko Ne Ne Hlwan Moe (Ko Ei Si) as guest photographer and Phyu Mar Naing & Zin Mar Naing as our models.  My notorious friend, San Ba, drove so fast that we arrived there early and I happened to make this series for my blog.  Friends, I really miss those shooting days.  I truly mean it…

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Built in 1951, the Htauk Kyant War Memorial Cemetery is home of 27,000 honorable stone-graves…

It is the biggest war cemetery among 3 similar cemeteries in Burma…

Burmese people take a good care of this cemetery from heartfelt humanitarian ground…

Every year, thousands of Japanese people come to this cemetery to pay respect to their loved ones…

The giant poles engraves the names of the warriors whose names LIVE FOREVER…

It is only an hour drive from Rangoon, the former capital of Burma.  Very easy to commute and it is a nice travel spot for foreigners…

Dedicated to those who had invested their lives for PEACE…

It is a perfect granite structure with hundred of giant poles, a fantastic place for photographers…

]]> http://yelwinoo.com/landmarks/htauk-kyant.html/feed 40 http://yelwinoo.com/landmarks/the-dhammayangyi-temple.html http://yelwinoo.com/landmarks/the-dhammayangyi-temple.html#comments Sat, 01 May 2010 08:24:12 +0000 Ye Lwin Oo http://yelwinoo.com/?p=2320 THE DHAMMAYANGYI TEMPLE

The Dhammayangyi Temple is well known for its massive structure. It is the biggest structure of all buildings and temples in Bagan. The Dhammayangyi shares a similar architectural layout to Ananda Temple. The Dhammayangyi Temple is one, among the four notable monuments of Bagan.

BACKGROUND

The Dhammayangyi Temple was built and donated by King Narathu, also known as Kalagya Min (1167-1170). Kalagya Min in Burmese language means “the king killed by Indians”. The temple is located roughly a kilometer to the southeast of the city walls.

After murdering his own king father, Prince Narathu ascended the throne of Bagan and built this temple in celebration of his success. According to the records, it is said that Narathu supervise the construction of the temple himself.  He pay a great attention to the durability of the temple that masons were executed if a needle could be able to push in between bricks they had laid. But he could not been able to complete the construction since he was assassinated before the completion. The history said that he was displeased by the Hindu rituals.

STRUCTURE

There are two ambulatories in the interior floor plan of the temple. Only the outer corridor is accessible as all the entire innermost passages were intentionally blocked with brick debris for unknown reason. Three out of the four Buddha sanctums were also sealed with bricks. What very eccentric to see at The Dhammayangi is that two Buddha images in side-by-side position. Yes, the shrine at the western gate features two original side-by-side images of Gautama and Maitreya, the historical and future Buddhas. The interlocking, the mortarless brickwork at Dhammayangyi, best appreciated on the upper terraces, is said to rank as the finest masterpieces in Bagan. To prevent deterioration and corrosion, the trustee decided to lock up the highest terraces and hidden stairways leading to them.

SHOOTING

This is my old shots from Bagan road trip (June 2009).  I went there with my first hand photography teacher, Kyaw Thura Htun (TKG) and Htin Lin Aye (Mg Hla).  It was just a short trip.  I requested both of them to join me the road trip which I had scheduled 2 weeks before I left Burma.  Bagan is the land of fantasy for me.  I love shooting there.  And my gratefulness goes to TKG for his guidance and councils.  Without his supports, there won’t be Bagan series here on my blog.  I owe you a big time, bro…

Personally, this set is one of a few sets on my blog, which I would say “SATISFIED”.  Yes, I have been opportune to shoot the temple from different spots, and the nature gifted us with a cloudy blue sky. Truthfully, I have put a big amount of afford both in terms of shooting and post shooting tasks.

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The Dhammayangyi Temple is biggest structure of all buildings and temples in Bagan…

The Dhammayangyi Temple is the best brick work you can see in Bagan…

It is very eccentric to see two Buddha images in side-by-side position…

Only the outer corridor is accessible as all the entire innermost passages were intentionally blocked with brick debris for unknown reason…

A pilgrim offering gold leaves to the Buddha image on the eastern gate of the temple…

King Narathu paid a great attention to the durability of the temple and he summoned that masons were executed if a needle could be able to push in between bricks they had laid…

I have captured this from a horse drawn cart…

The Dhammayangyi Temple.  I have made this picture from Shwesandaw Pagoda the upper platform…

Bagan, formerly Pagan, is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the ancient capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma. It is located in the dry central plains of the country, on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Mandalay.

The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles. The majority of its buildings were built in the 1000s to 1200s, during the time Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire. It was not until King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in AD 874 that it became a major city. However, in Burmese tradition, the capital shifted with each reign, and thus Bagan was once again abandoned until the reign of Anawrahta. In 1057, King Anawrahta conquered the Mon capital of Thaton, and brought back the Tripitaka Pali scriptures, Buddhist monks and craftsmen and all of these were made good use of in order to transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. With the help of a monk from Lower Burma, Anawrahta made Theravada Buddhism a kind of state religion, and the king also established contacts with Sri Lanka. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Bagan became a truly cosmopolitan centre of Buddhist studies, attracting monks and students from as far as India, Sri Lanka as well as the Thai and Khmer kingdoms. Among many other works, Aggava?sa’s influential Saddaniti, a grammar of the language of the Tipi?aka, would be completed there in 1154. In 1287, the kingdom fell to the Mongols, after refusing to pay tribute to Kublai Khan. Abandoned by the Burmese king and perhaps sacked by the Mongols, the city declined as a political centre, but continued to flourish as a place of Buddhist scholarship.

SHOOTING & POST EDITING

It’s been my hectic dream to stand on Bagan’s soil, feel the breeze of this legendary land and shoot around the city.  June 2009, my dream came true.  My heartiest thank to my Dad and Mom for allowing me for this 3-day trip.  I got friends coming down from Mandalay.  I made my Bagan trip just 1 week before I left my beloved country.  And yes, this trip has been a blood stream for me to continue blogging with photos from Burma.  On 4th July, I silently left Burma.  Even some of my fans do not know I am struggling here in Singapore.

So, this is very post of Bagan titled MAJESTIC BAGAN.  There will be 30+ post i.e. famous stupas and pagodas coming along.  Mostly HDR (High Dynamic Range) and some are light / shade, seldom framings.  Sorry for uploading this post late.  My sincere apology to my big fans who have been thrilling to see and finally here it comes, MAJESTIC BAGAN.

The Panoramic Glance from SHWESANDAW PAGODA…

A Birdeye View from  PYA THA DAR PHAYA / PYA THUT KYI PHAYA

A Majestic Sunset of BAGAN, the biggest dream of all Burmese photographers…

Saint Mary’s Cathedral, also known as Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin, is a revered Catholic cathedral located in Bo Aung Kyaw Street, Botahtaung Township, Yangon, Capital of Myanmar. It is located next to the compound of Basic Education High School No. 6, Botataung (formerly the famous “Saint Paul’s Catholic Boarding School”, before nationalization by the government).

The cathedral is the largest Christian institution building in Burma. It is said to be designed by one Dutch architect named Jos Cuypers, son of Pierre Cuypers. Construction began in 1895 in Rangoon (the previous name of the capital) and was completed 19 November 1899 under a land grant from the colonial British ruler whilst Lower Burma was a province of British India.

The cathedral’s exterior of red brick, consists of spires and a bell tower.  The interior of the cathedral is also richly decorated.  The architectural design is magnificently elegant.

The cathedral is listed among Top 200 buildings on the Yangon City Development Committee’s Heritage List and it’s been one of the major tourist attractions in Yangon downtown.

SHOOTING

Since my Dad is an old Paulian (a St.Paul’s graduate), I have heard of this cathedral every now and then.  Yes, he spent nearly a decade in St.Paul’s Catholic Boarding School from 3rd Grade to his Matriculation Year.  So, my Dad always shares me how majestic the cathedral is.  And the cathedral is near my late great grandmother’s house. Whenever I passed by the cathedral, the sense of myself reminded me of going inside the cathedral. On 31 May 2009, I have compelled my dreams into my camera and translated as this post. I have been opportune seeing the SUNDAY mass after shooting.

Credits: Thank my dearest Dad for insisting on this post. He is the one who introduced me of this St.Mary Cathedral.

I really adore these spires and the bell tower.  No wonder this is a remarkable Dutch architectural achievement…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – SIGMA 10-20mm Wide Angle Aspherical
Aperture – f/5.6
Exposure Time – 1/320s
ISO Speed – 160
Focal Length – 10mm

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A glance to interior, the magnificence of Saint Mary Cathedral…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – SIGMA 10-20mm Wide Angle Aspherical
Aperture – f/6.3
Exposure Time – 1/2s
ISO Speed – 160
Focal Length – 10mm

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After seeing this particular shot, I told myself that the SIGMA wide lens is just simply the ONE…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – SIGMA 10-20mm Wide Angle Aspherical
Aperture – f/6.3
Exposure Time – 1/6s
ISO Speed – 160
Focal Length – 10mm

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It’s been a popular tourist attraction in Ygn downtown and yes listed in Top 200 Heritage List by YCDC (Yangon City Development Council)

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – SIGMA 10-20mm Wide Angle Aspherical
Aperture – f/5.6
Exposure Time – 1/400s
ISO Speed – 160
Focal Length – 10mm

WESTERN APPROACH of THE GREAT SHWEDAGON…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D90
Lens – SIGMA 10-20mm Wide Angle Aspherical
Exposure Time – 1/25s
ISO Speed – 200
Focal Length – 10mm

ABOUT THE LIONS

A pair of giant mythical lions (in Burmese, Chinthe) stands guard at the entrances of Shwe Dagon Pagoda. Chinthes almost always in pairs, and serve to protect the pagoda around Burma. They typically appear as animals, but are sometimes found with human faces.

The story of the Chinthe goes something like this: A princess had a son through her marriage to a lion, but later abandoned the lion who then became enraged and set out on a road of terror throughout the lands. The son then went out to slay this terrorizing lion. The son came back home to his mother stating he slew the lion, and then found out that he killed his own father. The son later constructed a statue of the lion as a guardian of a temple to atone for his sin.

The Chinthe is revered and loved by the Burmese people, and it is used symbolically on the royal thrones of Burma.

SHOOTING

As usual, I went Shwedagon Pagoda to have some shots with my new Sigma Wide Lens.  It was a bright Sunday, 26th April 2009.  Yes, I went there with my best friend, Wynn Thein.  We both got hundreds of shots and I fell in love with this one. Love the sentiment of Chinthes in this photo which demonstrate power, energy, bravery, and also as a royal symbol. I uploaded this shot on my Facebook account.  So, I am sharing here again for those who do not have Facebook account.  For those foreign fans, I would strongly recommend you to go Shwedagon pagoda at early morning.  You are enabled to capture great shots with amazing sky and also be able to see some rare rituals of fanatic Buddhists.  That’s the reason I never feel tired of going there every Sunday.

That’s a new taste I got with my new Nikon D90 and Sigma Wide Angle lens.  They rock!!!

Credits: Thanks WYNN THEIN for his early morning call and kind accompany…

SHWEDAGON PAGODA, an early morning shot by a serious amateur, 5:30AM Local Time…  That’s one of my favorite shots so far…

Photo Information
Camera – Nikon D40
Exposure Time – 1/20s
ISO Speed – 800
Focal Length – 18mm

HISTORY

According to legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda is 2,500 years old. Archaeologists believe the stupa was actually built sometime between the 6th and 10th centuries by the Mon, but this is a very controversial issue because according to the records by Buddhist monks it was built before Lord Buddha died in 486 BC. The story of Shwedagon Pagoda begins with two merchant brothers, Taphussa and Bhallika, from the land of Ramanya, meeting the Lord Gautama Buddha and receiving eight of the Buddha’s hairs to be enshrined in Burma. The two brothers made their way to Burma and with the help of the local king, King Okkalapa, found Singuttara Hill, where relics of other Buddhas preceding Gautama Buddha had been enshrined.

DESIGN & STRUCTURE

There are four entrances (Mouk, in Burmese) to the Paya that lead up a flight of steps to the platform (Yin Byin, in Burmese) on Singuttara Hill. The eastern and southern approaches have vendors selling books, good luck charms, Buddha images, candles, gold leaf, incense sticks, prayer flags, streamers, miniature umbrellas and flowers. A pair of giant chinthe (leogryphs, mythical lions) guards the entrances and the image in the shrine at the top of the steps from the south is that of the second Buddha, Konagamana. The base or plinth of the stupa is made of bricks covered with gold plates. Above the base are terraces (Pyissayan, in Burmese) that only monks and men can access. Next is the bell-shaped part (Khaung Laung Bon, in Burmese) of the stupa. Above that is the turban (Baung Yit, in Burmese), then the inverted almsbowl (Tha Beik, in Burmese), inverted and upright lotus petals (Kyar Hmauk Kyar Hlan, in Burmese), the banana bud (Nga Pyaw Bu, in Burmese) and then the crown. The crown or umbrella (Hti, in Burmese) is tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies. The very top, the diamond bud (Sein Bu, in Burmese) is tipped with a 76 carat (15 g) diamond.

The Gold seen on the stupa is made of genuine gold plates, covering the brick structure attached by traditional rivets. Myanmar people all over the country, as well as monarchs in its history, have donated gold to the pagoda to maintain it. It was started in the 15th century by the Mon Queen Shin Sawbu who gave her weight in gold and continues to this day.