Notable Events

In 1203 ME, during the reign of King Tharrawaddy and Queen Myalay, the western corridor of the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed and donated. However, in 1214 ME, the British military dismantled and removed the roofs of this western corridor. Although the general public was allowed to visit the pagoda, the British army restricted access to the western part for 87 years until 1291 ME.
Due to the persistent efforts of the Shwedagon Pagoda trustees, the British authorities finally returned the western entrance on the 4th day of the waxing moon of Tabaung in 1929 AD (1291 ME). A grand reopening ceremony was held to celebrate this event.
During the opening ceremony, among the many constructed pavilions, the U Nagainda Pavilion, built from waste materials, caught fire at 3 PM on the 3rd waning day of Tapaung in the year 1292. This incident led to the destruction of the western wing, including the Shwedagon main pagoda, the main courtyard, and 23 pavilions and pillars on the eastern wing.
The damaged western wing pavilion was redesigned and reconstructed under the leadership of the Gawpaka Committee. The main courtyard’s gatehouse was funded by the market vendors’ families from Theingyi Market, who contributed one kyat per person. Five large buildings, totaling 34 rooms, were built with donations from individual donors.
Other eastern wing pavilions and structures were rebuilt and donated by various individual donors and regular monthly donors. Whenever many kinds of disasters cause damage to the Shwedagon Pagoda, its subsidiary pagodas, and surrounding religious buildings, both kings and the people, with unwavering faith and perseverance, ensure the continuous flourishing of Buddhism. They ensure that the light of the Buddha, represented by the Shwedagon Pagoda, never fades away, maintaining and preserving it according to historical records.

To maintain the venerable Shwedagon Pagoda as steadfast and magnificent as a golden mountain, a tradition of systematically gilding the entire pagoda every five years has been practiced for about 40 years. In the past, the pagoda was sometimes fully gilded, and at other times, only about half of it could be covered with gold leaf. Occasionally, it took two and a half years to complete the full gilding process.
The act of gilding the pagoda serves as a routine inspection of its structural integrity. Before applying the gold leaf, the area to be gilded is coated with a layer of lacquer made from the resin of this tree, which acts as a protective layer.
Gilding the pagoda with gold leaf is akin to encircling it with a protective frame made of a 12-inch-wide bronze band. On this bronze frame, gold plates are affixed, providing additional protection to the pagoda’s structure.
Starting from the year 1898 (Myanmar Era 1260), gold plates have gradually been applied from the topmost part of the Shwedagon Pagoda downwards. By 1980, the gilding had reached the central belt of the Great Bell. Before applying the gold plates, a 12-inch-wide bronze frame is prepared, followed by affixing 12-inch-wide bronze plates.
When creating the bronze frame, the underlying cement plaster (mortar) is fortified to ensure strength. Once the bronze frame is installed, the surface is leveled and filled with cement plaster to make it even. This process results in a more robust and durable surface compared to the original.
Throughout its history, the Shwedagon Pagoda has faced various challenges, including earthquake damage, reconstruction, partial collapses, and cracks. In 1970, an earthquake caused the Holly umbrella of the pagoda to tilt. This incident prompted an inspection of the Holly umbrella’s stability and the straightening of the central pole to ensure the pagoda’s resilience.
In 1973, a significant crack was discovered under a large tuft of grass at the southeast corner of the octagonal base of the Shwedagon Pagoda. The crack was about 10 inches wide and extended to a depth of approximately 18 feet. Based on this finding, special drilling operations were carried out around the entire base of the pagoda using large drills typically used for quarrying stones. More than 4000 bags of cement were mixed and poured into the crack to reinforce and stabilize the pagoda.
Subsequently, 2-inch steel mesh was embedded and reinforced concrete was poured throughout the Nat Gyi area in the octagonal base to ensure its strength and durability. In 1999, when a new golden Holly umbrella was installed, it was discovered that the supporting structure for the hti was insufficient to bear its weight. As a result, the outer layers of the banana bud structure at the top were removed and systematically reinforced with iron rods and concrete, creating a robust structure capable of supporting the new hit.
Additionally, to ensure the structural connection between the banana bud (ngapyaw bu) and the tiers of Holly umbrella area, 2-inch diameter iron rods were embedded around the eight faces. In 1999, along with the installation of the new golden hti, the banana bud was reinforced with iron and concrete, and bronze plates were applied to all the lower tiers. Apart from the topmost tier, the entire pagoda was covered with gold leaf.
During the 2004-2005 five-year maintenance cycle, inspections of the hti’s stability, application of gold plates, and gilding with gold leaf were conducted. Gold coatings, which offer greater longevity than traditional gold leaf, were tested and applied. At that time, it was found that the stability of the hti tiers and the banana bud area was insufficient, prompting reports recommending reinforcement during future maintenance cycles.
In 2009-2010, the next five-year cycle arrived, necessitating another round of gold leaf application and the inspections. However, on May 2-3, 2008, Cyclone Nargis struck, causing significant damage to the gold plates affixed to the Shwedagon Pagoda. The cyclone’s impact resulted in many of the gold plates becoming detached and dislodged.
The detachment of gold plates not only presented an unsightly appearance but also posed a risk of the plates being blown away and lost. Therefore, in 2008-2009, plans were made to reapply the gold leaf and inspect the hti for structural integrity. This decision was based on the damage observed at other pagodas in the delta region due to Cyclone Nargis, where many banana bud structures had collapsed, as well as on reports from the 2004-2005 maintenance cycle.
To address these issues, reinforcement work was undertaken, focusing on the structurally weak areas such as the hti tiers and the banana bud. After removing the damaged gold plates and bronze frames, stainless steel plates measuring 2.5 inches in width were embedded at 19 vertical points from the base of the banana bud to the second tier. Additionally, horizontal reinforcement was done at 10 points using similarly sized stainless steel plates, arranged to ensure maximum stability.
Modern carbon fiber systems were employed to further enhance the structural integrity of the stainless steel plates. This comprehensive reinforcement was aimed at ensuring that all aspects of the pagoda, especially the intricate hti tiers and banana bud area, were robustly supported and protected against future damage.
Steel rods were embedded and reinforced concrete was poured into the areas around the hti tiers, the banana bud, and the second tier to ensure durability. Once the structural reinforcements were complete, the traditional Myanmar craftsmanship was meticulously restored to preserve the pagoda’s original aesthetic.
Historical records reveal that systematic reinforcement of the pagoda with large iron rods dates back to the reign of King Sinbyushin, who ensured the pagoda reached a height of 326 feet. These records, along with subsequent undocumented renovations, indicate the presence of mild steel rods embedded within the structure to enhance its strength.
Reinforcement efforts were carried out again in 1999 for the banana bud and in 2008-2009 for the hti tiers, the second tier, and surrounding areas. This involved embedding steel rods and pouring reinforced concrete, ensuring the long-term stability and resilience of the pagoda while maintaining its historical and cultural integrity.