Details
Name
Rakhine Pavilion (U Ba Htaw, U Doe Aung Pavilion)
Location
အနောက်ဘက်မုခ်နှင့် တောင်ဘက်မုခ်ကြား
Category
ဇရပ်တန်ဆောင်းများ | ဖူးမြော်ရန်နေရာများ
This pavilion is located near the Saturday planetary post of the Shwedagon Pagoda. It was constructed and donated in the 1272 (Myanmar Calendar) (1911 AD) by the families of prominent Rakhine traders U Ba Htaw and Daw So, and U Doe Aung and Daw Eain Soe May. During its construction, funds were raised from Rakhine merchants in the Western region by collecting donations at a rate of 2 kyats for every shipload of goods. The pavilion was constructed with intricate and grand craftsmanship by artisans from Mandalay, led by the famous sculptor Sayar Saing and his father, Sayar Khin Nyo. Their expertise is evident in the exquisite carvings of vine designs, flower motifs, blossoming flowers, artistic sculptures, and figures, all contributing to the majestic beauty of the pavilion. It is one of the four pavilions donated by Rakhine people at the Shwedagon Pagoda platform, and it is over 100 years old.
The pavilion’s various tiers are adorned with detailed Myanmar wooden carvings and statues depicting the Janaka Jātaka, Upaka Jātaka, and Suvaṇṇasāma Jātaka, showcasing ancient Myanmar art. On May 12, 1966, a strong wind damaged a section of the roof, which was later repaired by the board of pagoda trustees. The wooden carvings and decorations of the pavilion were coated with crude oil until 1996, and since 1997, they have been treated with resin (varnish). In the 1999 multifaceted renovation plan, original wooden carvings were preserved while some wooden parts were replaced, and the roof was reinforced. In 2001-2002, despite efforts to preserve the original work, deteriorating wood necessitated the creation of new carvings and decorations. After the Cyclone Nargis in 2008, damaged the pavilion’s roof was restored to its original state. In 2011, further repairs included fixing deteriorating wooden pillars and replacing carvings and decorations. In 2018, the floor was polished as part of ongoing maintenance efforts.