Pyatthat (, ; from Sanskrit ; ; also spelt pyathat) is the name of a multistaged roof, with an odd number of tiers (from three to seven).
The pyatthat is commonly incorporated into Burmese Buddhist and royal architecture (e.g.,
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 ...
s, palace buildings, pagodas) and towers above the image of the Buddha or other sacred places (e.g., royal thrones and city gates).
Construction
The pyatthat is made of successive gabled rectangular roofs in an exaggerated pyramidal shape, with an intervening box-like structure called the ''lebaw'' () between each roof.
The pyatthat is crowned with a wooden spire called the ''taing bu'' () or ''kun bu'' () depending on its shape, similar to the
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 ...
, an umbrella ornament that crowns Burmese pagodas. The edges of each tier are gold-gilded decorative designs made of metal sheet, with decorative ornaments called ''du yin'' () at the corners (analogous to the Thai ''
chofah''). There are three primary kinds of pyatthat, with the variation being the number of tiers called ''boun'' (, from Pali ''bhumi''). Three-tiered, five-tiered and seven-tiered roofs are called ''yahma'', ''thooba'', and ''thooyahma'', respectively.
History
The usage of the pyatthat began early in Burmese architecture, with examples dating to the
Pagan period. Prominent examples from this era that feature the pyatthat include the
Ananda Temple
The Ananda Temple (, ), located in Bagan, Myanmar is a Buddhist temple built in 1105 AD during the reign (1084–1112/13) of King Kyansittha(Hti-Hlaing Min) of the Pagan Dynasty. The temple layout is cruciform with several terraces leading to a ...
and
Gawdawpalin Temple
In pre-colonial Burma, the pyatthat was a prominent feature in the royal buildings, which itself symbolized
Tavatimsa, a Buddhist heaven. Above the main throne in the king's primary audience hall was a nine-tiered pyatthat, with the tip representing
Mount Meru
Mount Meru (Sanskrit/Pali: मेरु)—also known as Sumeru, Sineru or Mahāmeru—is a sacred, five-peaked mountain present within Hindu, Jain and Buddhist cosmologies, revered as the centre of all physical, metaphysical and spiritua ...
() and the lower six tiers representing the six abodes of the
deva
Deva may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Fictional characters
* Deva, List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition monsters, an ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monster
* Deva, in the 2023 Indian film ''Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefir ...
s and of
humans
Humans (''Homo sapiens'') or modern humans are the most common and widespread species of primate, and the last surviving species of the genus ''Homo''. They are Hominidae, great apes characterized by their Prehistory of nakedness and clothing ...
. Furthermore, the 12 city gates of Burmese royal capitals were crowned with pyatthats, with the main ones used by royalty possessing five tiers, and the others possessing five tiers.
In pre-colonial Burma, sumptuary laws restricted the usage of pyatthats to royal and religious buildings, and regulated the number of tiers appertaining to each grade of official rank, The nine-tiered pyatthat was reserved solely for the kingdom's sovereign, while the
sawbwa
Saopha (), also spelled Sawbwa, was the title used by hereditary rulers of Shan states in Upper Myanmar. Chaopha and Chao Fa were similar titles used by the hereditary Tai rulers in mainland Southeast Asia and the Ahom kingdom in India.
Nam ...
s of important tributary states were entitled to seven-tiered pyatthats.
Gallery
File:King Mindon's Tomb, Mandalay.jpg
File:Mandalay Palace entrance.JPG
File:Mandalay palace 10.jpg
File:King Thibaw's State Barge on the Mandalay Moat.jpg
References
See also
{{commons category, Pyatthats
*
Prasat (Thai architecture)
*
Prang (architecture)
A ''prang'' (, UNGEGN: , ALA-LC: ; , ) is a tall tower-like spire, usually richly carved. They were a common shrine element of Hindu and Buddhism, Buddhist architecture in the Khmer Empire (802–1431). They were later adapted by Buddhist buil ...
*
Meru tower
A Meru tower, or pelinggih meru, is the principal shrine of a Balinese temple. It is a wooden, pagoda-like structure with a masonry base, a wooden chamber, and multi-tiered thatched roofs. The height of Meru towers represents the Hindu Mount Meru ...
*
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 ...
Roofs
Burmese Buddhist architecture