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I N T E R E S T I N G P L A C E S
Hna-Kyeik-Shi-Su Wut ( also called the Alai wut or Middle Shrine)
This shrine was built in 1888 by U Nar Auk. It consists
of two parts. The front and back buildings. The front portion, consists of
the main hall surrounded by a corridor and is roofed by a 9 tiered pyathat or spire, while the back portion is the shrine proper which has a
lower pyathat roof of 5 tiers.
The front building
The corridor outside the hall has a series of relief carvings displayed just
under the ceiling depicting the life of the Buddha. Similar carvings
depicting the histories of Bagan and Thaton, an old Mon capital city, are
also displayed on the inner sides of the hall proper. The many pillers
inside and outside the hall are all covered by glass mosaic work of varyimg
patterns. Festoons of carved floral patterns stretch across the upper
portions of the spaces between the pillers. Similar floral carvings stretch
as a band between the pillers just above the relief carvings. The ceilings,
like those in the Theingyi, are decoratively subdivided into square and
triangular patterns; those over the central hall being decorated with glass
mosaic and variously painted in gold and other colors while those over the
corridors uses traditional floral patterns painted in red and gold.
The Shrine proper
The arch over the door leading into the shrine room is also specially
decorated. The arches, as
well as the walls above it are decorated with delicately cut, curved and
slender glass pieces embedded
into plaster representing coiling and intertwining network of vines, replete
with leaves and flowers. The doors and windows are painted with traditional
designs in gold.
In the shrine room are numerous Buddha images laid out in 3 tiers of
decorated platforms. The walls are elaborately gold painted with varying
forms of traditional designs. The decorations on the
ceilings are similar to those in the Theingyi. On the outer surfaces of the
shrineroom, the supporting pillers are all covered in glass mosaic. The door
arches are also decorated with reticulated network of slender cut pieces
embedded in plaster. The weather had taken its toll and the artwork has
degraded to some extent. Remnants of gold paints can still be seen on the door
surfaces. A series of paintings depicting mythical events can be seen on the
front and sides of the outer part of the main hall building just under the
roof.
Condition of shrine
- The glass mosaic over much of the building are peeling off and, because of
the nature of artwork and the materials used, it will be difficult indeed to
restore them.
- The painted artwork on the wall have deteriorated especially at the
weather exposed external surfaces of the shrine.
- There had been damage to the wooden beams supporting the main pyathat
caused by an earthquake. This had recently been repaired by reinforcement
with steel beams.
- Much of the woodwork of the doorframes have rotted.
- On the external part of the shrine the glass mosaic work on the pillers
have faded. Only remnants of the gold paintings on the doors can still be
seen.
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The Hna-Kyeik-Shit-Su shrine built
by U Nar Auk in 1888.
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Festoon of floral carving in wood at main
entrance. |
Overview of inner wall and part of ceiling
of mail hall. |
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Part of the ceiling over main hall. |
The decorative arch at the entrance to the
shrine room. |
The shrine room with Buddha images in different
poses. Note the red and gold designs on the walls. |
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Exterior of shrine room with faded
decorative arches and glass mosaic on pillers. Note remnants of
gold paint on doors.
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The teak relief carvings depicting events
in the Buddha's lives.
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Close-up of some of the pillers in the
main hall. Note the varied glass mosaic patterns and the peeling-off of these in many places.
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