Htukkanthein Temple
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Htukkanthein (; ) is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the ancient Arakanese city of
Mrauk U Mrauk U ( ) is a town in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is the capital of Mrauk-U Township, a subregion of the Mrauk-U District. Mrauk U is culturally significant for the local Rakhine people, Rakhine (Arakanese) people and is the location ...
, in
Rakhine State Rakhine State ( ; , ; ), formerly known as Arakan State, is a Administrative divisions of Myanmar, state in Myanmar (Burma). Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State to the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Re ...
, Western Myanmar. The name means "Cross-Beam Ordination Hall". Like most of Mrauk U's Buddhist temples, it is designed as a dual purpose 'fortress-temple'. Although it is a 'thein' (
ordination hall The ordination hall (Pali: ''sīmā'') is a Buddhist building specifically consecrated and designated for the performance of the Buddhist ordination ritual (''upasampadā'') and other ritual ceremonies, such as the recitation of the Pāṭimokkha. ...
), it is one of the most militaristic buildings in Mrauk U, built on raised ground, with a single entrance and small windows. According to Emil Forchhammer, an archaeologist employed by the British Raj to study Mrauk U in the late 19th century, the temples might have been employed as a refuge for the Buddhist religious order in times of war.


History

The temple enshrining the statues of Buddha was built in 1571 by King Min Phalaung. It is located on a small hill a stone's throw away from the Shite-thaung Temple. At the centre of the temple is a dome topped with a mushroom shaped crown or
hti ''Hti'' (, ; ; Shan language, Shan: ), a Burmese language word meaning umbrella, is the name of the finial ornament that tops almost all Burmese pagodas. The chatra umbrella or parasol is an auspicious symbol in Buddhism and Hinduism. As re ...
, surrounded by four smaller stupas at the corners. At the facade base of the central dome is a square window designed in such a manner that, at dawn, the sun's rays shine directly onto the main Buddha image inside the central vault. At the west side of the temple is a small meditation chamber, accessible only via the main temple.


Architecture

The temple is constructed of brick and stone. The Htukkanthein has three chambers, rotating clockwise inwards. The entire temple has a total of 180 Buddha images in niches (179 smaller ones along the corridors, and 1 at the central vaulted chamber). On each side of the niches are sculpted male and a female figures said to represent the donors who made the construction of the temple possible.


Inspiration

The temple has been claimed to be an inspiration of the ruins founded in ''Sanhok'' map of the mobile game PUBG.


See also

* Shite-thaung Temple *
Andaw-thein Ordination Hall Andaw Thein ( ''amtau sim bhu.ra:'', ''Añṯotheiñ hpăyà'') is a Buddhist temple in Mrauk U located at the northeast corner of the Shite-thaung Temple. The name means 'Tooth Shrine'. It contains a tooth relic of the Buddha brought over from ...
*
Koe-thaung Temple Kouthaung ( ''kui:saung:bhu.ra:'' ''Koùthaùñ hpăyà'') is the largest Buddhist temple in Mrauk U, Myanmar. The name means "Temple of 90,000 Buddha Images". The temple was built between 1554 and 1556 by King Min Dikkha, Dikkha.Gutman 2001: 1 ...
*
Le-myet-hna Temple Le-myet-hna ( ''le:myak-hna bhu.ra:'', ''Leìmyeʔhna hpăyà''; ) is a Buddhist temple in Mrauk U located at the northwest corner of the Shite-thaung Temple. It has four entrances, one at each cardinal point and eight seated Buddhas around a ...
*
Ratanabon Pagoda Ratanabon Temple ( , ) is a solid Buddhist stupa in Mrauk U, Rakhine State, Western Myanmar. The pagoda is located at the northeast corner of the Shite-thaung Temple. According to local legends, it is said to have jewels and images enshrined in ...


References

*Pamela Gutman (2001) ''Burma's Lost Kingdoms: splendours of Arakan''. Bangkok: Orchid Press Buddhist temples in Rakhine State Tourist attractions in Myanmar 16th-century Buddhist temples 1571 establishments in Asia 16th-century establishments in the Mrauk-U Kingdom Religious buildings and structures completed in 1571 {{Myanmar-Buddhist-temple-stub