As Thai experts have completed the renovation of the historic Kyun Kyaung (teak monastery) donated by King Mindon in Mandalay, it will be opened this month, according to Ko Htake Tin Aung, King Mindon's great-great-grand-son, who helped in the renovation.
It is situated in the compound of the Dhammikarama Shwegyin monastery in Mandalay, and merit-sharing ceremony will be held on 18 February to mark the completion of the renovation with authentic preservation.
"After this monastery was built, it was donated to the first founder Sayadaw of Shwegyin Sect along with the land. For the Shwegyin Sect, this place is its original auspicious ground. Its damages were repaired by the State Law and Order Restoration Council and the Mandalay City Development Committee in 1992. But it continued to deteriorate and worsened in 2014-2015. While the Sayadaw was considering repairing the monastery, he contacted Thai well-wishers. Dhammakaya Monk from Thailand sent a repair team. Both donors and workers are coming from the Thai side," said Ko Htake Tin Aung.
Pitawon Prontawon, the chief architect of the Thai maintenance team and a well-wisher, died of illness during the work, and his memorial statue will also be unveiled at the opening ceremony.
"Thai people renovated it, but there is no Thai style or Thai work. Based on the duplicates of all the original works, the maintenance team just renovated with authenticity," he explained. — Htet Oo Maung/ZN
