Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Architecture & Arts
For centuries the arts in Myanmar (Burma) were sponsored by the royal
courts, mainly through the construction of major religious buildings that re-
quired the skills of architects, sculptors, painters and a variety of artisans.
Such patronage was cut short during British colonial rule and has never
been a priority since independence. Even so, traditional art and architecture
endures in Myanmar, mainly in the temples that are an ever-present feature
of the landscape. There's also a growing contemporary art scene.
Architecture
It is in architecture that one sees the strongest evidence of Myanmar artistic skill and ac-
complishment. Myanmar is a country of
zedi,
often called 'pagodas' in English. Wherever
you are - boating down the river, driving through the hills, even flying above the plains -
there always seems to be a hilltop
zedi
in view. Bagan is the most dramatic result of this
fervour for religious monuments - an enthusiasm that continues today, as the mass re-
building of temples at the site attests.
Traditionally, only places of worship have been made of permanent materials. Until
quite recently all secular buildings - and most monasteries - were constructed of wood, so
there are few original ones left to be seen. Even the great royal palaces, such as the last
one at Mandalay, were made of wood. All the palaces you see today are reconstructions -
often far from faithful - such as the Bagan Golden Palace made of concrete and reinforced
steel.
Even so, there are still many excellent wooden buildings to be seen. The people of My-
anmar continue to use teak with great skill, and a fine country home can be a very pleas-
ing structure indeed.
30 Heritage Buildings of Yangon
by Sarah Rooney is packed with current and historical
photographs and uncovers the stories behind some of the former capital's grandest edi-
fices.
Zedi Styles
Early
zedi
were usually hemispherical (the Kaunghmudaw at Sagaing near Mandalay) or
bulbous (the Bupaya in Bagan). The so-called Mon-style
pahto
is a large cube with small
windows and ground-level passageways; this type is also known as a
gu
or
ku
(from the
