WD540(21)

‘Panoramic view of Pagân,’ ‘looking E. by S.’

THIS plate embraces a view of the most interesting of the wonder creating temples of Pagan. On the left, flanked on one side by a cluster of ruined pagodas, is the celebrated and marvellous ANUNDA’. (Captain Tripe’s Photograph, No. 19)’. This extraordinary building, with its vestibules, transepts, aisles, and cloisters, conveyed, in a greater degree than others of similar general formation, an irresistible idea, to the minds of the members of the Mission, of the admixture of European with Burman architecture. It appeared an adaptation, as though with ulterior views, of the form of Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical buildings to the requirements of the Boodhist Temple, and is — ‘said to have been built about the time of the Norman conquest of England.’ ‘(Report, page 42)’. A full conception of the singular character and beauty of this mysterious building, and of the Pagan architecture generally, can only be obtained by perusal of the Secretary’s Illustrated Report, page 44 to 62.

The Anunda Temple is kept in thorough repair, — continues to be used, and is the most-frequented as a place of worship.

The loftier temple, of similar architecture to the Anunda, occupying the centre of the drawing, and surrounded by ruins of inferior size, is the THAPINYU, or ‘Omniscient.’ ‘(Photograph, No. 15).’ This is the second in importance of the Pagan buildings; It is 201 feet in height, and believed to date from about the year A.D. 1100. The ‘GAUDA PALEN,’ from the summit of which these drawings were taken, is of similar architecture to the Thapinyu; it dates about sixty years later, and is also kept in repair. A little to the left, and in advance of the Anunda, is seen a smaller and highly elaborated white Temple. This is the SHWE KOO, ‘(Report, page 58, Photograph, No. 14).’ to which the later date of 1552 is assigned. The old wall or rampart of the city is understood to have run outside this and the Thapinyu Temple. The Anunda was therefore beyond the enclosed city. The PUTOH-BUDHO-NYA ‘(Captain Tripe’s Photograph, No. 16)’ described at page 59 of Report as ‘suggestive of great antiquity’ and having a spire of the Ceylon Dagoba form, is seen midway between the Thapinyu and the small modern elaborately ornamented pagoda on the right hand of foreground; whilst immediately over or beyond the former ruin, is the ancient, dilapidated and ‘great Temple of DHAMAYANGYEE’ which at so great a distance presents to the eye little more than a shapeless mass. A full description of this temple, which dates about the 12th century, and contains some remarkable and interesting features for antiquarian research, is given in the Report, page 55 to 57. ‘(Captain Tripe’s Photographs, Nos. 21, 22, and 23).’