Aung Zabu Forest Monastery (; Aung Zabu Tawya Dhamma Yeiktha), commonly known as ''Japan Paya'' () is a

Buddhist monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which may ...

(''

kyaung A ''kyaung'' (, ) is a monastery ( vihara), comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of Buddhist monks. Burmese ''kyaungs'' are sometimes also occupied by novice monks (samanera), lay attendants ('' kappiya''), nuns (''thilashin''), and wh ...

'') in Yegya village, Hmawbi Township,

Yangon Region Yangon Region (, ; formerly Rangoon Division and Yangon Division) is an administrative region of Myanmar. Located in central Myanmar, the region is bordered by Bago Region to the north and east, the Gulf of Martaban to the south, and Ayeyarwady ...

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

(Burma). The monastery was opened , using the name of a prominent Buddhist retreat centre in Mawlamyine. The monastery is known for a collection of 301 historic Buddha images from the Pagan, Pinnya, Ava, Toungoo, Nyaungyan, Tagaung and Konbaung eras, although the authenticity of these images has not been verified. The images were donated by a Japanese national named Kumano in 2012. Over 10,000 visitors per week visit the monastery.

Controversies

The monastery has been mired in controversy, criticised for being more a business venture, rather than a religious centre. The monastery grounds now include a shopping arcade, a small zoo, and other attractions. In 2023, the monastery's abbot Paṇḍavaṃsa sparked additional controversy after hosting a lavish 60th birthday celebration at Lotte Hotel in Yangon. He also opened a library, which purportedly doubles as a luxury residence, in Pyin Oo Lwin.

References

Monasteries in Myanmar Buildings and structures in Yangon Region {{Buddhism-monastery-stub

Controversies

See also

References