Shwegugyi Temple Explained

Shwegugyi Temple
Native Name:ရွှေဂူကြီး ဘုရား
Map Type:Myanmar
Location:Bagan
Coordinates:21.1707°N 94.8624°W
Religious Affiliation:Buddhism
Sect:Theravada
Country:Myanmar
Founded By:King Sithu I
Groundbreaking:17 May 1331
Year Completed:17 December 1331
Heritage Designation:UNESCO Bagan Archaeological Area Monument #1589

The Shwegugyi Temple (Burmese: ရွှေဂူကြီး ဘုရား, in Burmese pronounced as /ʃwèɡùdʑí pʰəjá/; literally, "Great Golden Cave") is a Theravadin Buddhist temple in Bagan, Myanmar. The temple is recognized as Monument #1589 in the Bagan Archeological Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Located just to the southeast of what apparently were the ruins of the former royal palace founded by King Kyansittha (r. 1084–1113), the temple was built by King Sithu I of Pagan (Bagan) in 1131.[1] According to the stone inscriptions at the temple, set up in 1141,[2] construction work on the temple began on 17 May 1331, and was completed on 17 December 1331.[3] Built on an expansive tall brick foundation, the temple is known for its arched windows, and fine stucco and carved wooden doors in the interior.[4]

Bibliography

. George Coedès . Walter F. Vella . trans.Susan Brown Cowing . The Indianized States of Southeast Asia . 1968 . University of Hawaii Press . 978-0-8248-0368-1.

Notes and References

  1. Coedes 1968: 166
  2. Dutton 2014
  3. Maha Yazawin Vol. 1 2006: 199, footnote 1
  4. Fiala 2002