By Maung Thar (Archaeology)
“ DAGE” defined in Myanmar Dictionary as the backdrop of a throne is Myanmar traditional artistic handiwork of wood carving and decorative work of floral arabesque in relief with stucco. In Myanmar architecture, ‘Suu-litmun-chun” called finials used to be made of wood, stone, cement, gold, silver, brass or iron. Myanmar architects usually shape finials in various ways such as relief, figure or statue in the round, as well as sculpt motifs of ogre, garuda, kinnara, Indra/ Sakka, peacock, elephants and lion in floral arabesque.
Out of these finials, wooden ornamental backdrops of Myanmar traditional handiwork can be found mostly in religious edifices such as pagodas, stupas, temples, monasteries and roofs of terraced streets across the country. “Dage” is called “Palin Dage” in combination with “Palin” which is defined in Myanmar Dictionary as the high seat made for noble ideals to sit. Accordingly, “Dage” is the ornamental backdrop of a throne decorated with floral arabesque.
“Palin Dage” consists of 12 parts, namely, lion, flying elephant, deity revered by the world, fan made of peacock tail feathers, net-like ornamentation on each side of Lion throne, Dagar Taing, Indra/Sakka, Kinnara, Virtuous Deva, stylized figure resembling a lion with flowing mane, Lotus, Floral motif on either side of the Indra figure on the upper part of the Myanmar throne. Lion is mostly sculpted on the lower part of the throne.
In addition to wooden ornamental backdrop of a throne, “Mok-kat Dage” / backdrops attached to the entrance of Ceti and pagoda can be found. မုခ် “Mok” is descended from Pali မုခ meant for the entrance. There can be seen cement ornamental backdrops at the places of arched ones at the upper parts of the entrances. Cement ornamental backdrops decorated with floral arabesques and lotus flowers are fastened at the window and doors of the entrance as “Mok-kat Dage”.
“Mok-Dages/ornamen tal backdrops attached to entrances” of ancient monasteries were mostly made of wood and in floral arabesques of those backdrops statues of Indra/ Sakka, Deva, Peacock and others were sculpted. The plots of Jakata/ Buddha’s life stories and Niparta/birth stories of Buddha had been described in floral arabesques in those wooden ornamental backdrops of thrones made of 5 layers of planks of wood. These were delicate Myanmar Traditional Artistic handiworks. Now that most of the wooden backdrops of thrones made in the Eras of Bagan, Innwa and Nyaungyan had fallen to decay we can mostly see those of Konbaung Era’s handiworks presently.
Ornamental backdrops of thrones in statues in the round and those in relief
In wooden ornamental backdrops of thrones, statues used to be sculpted in the round, in relief and in arched forms. Statues in the round can be seen from 6 directions—left and right, in front and from backward & upward and downward. Statues in relief cannot be seen from all 6 directions likewise statues in the round but they are remarkably prominent as the former ones. Arched statues are the sculpted ones so that they can be made visible from the front side only whereas statues in the round have been sculpted so that the whole can be viewed in detail. Statues in relief and arched ones are usually sculpted attached to the places they are to be placed.
The ornamental backdrops of thrones with floral arabesques sculpted statues in the round, in relief and arched statues on wood differ in decoration depending upon the time and places. Since prior to the Konbaung Era, wooden and ornamental cement backdrops had been sculpted, those of Konbaung Era’s handiwork had been full of delicate description, hence becoming the most artistic handiwork.
Out of the holy ornamental backdrops of the thrones decorated by making in layers “Shwegu Dagetaw” in Pakkoku is famous and always crowded with those who come to view. The original holy Dagetaw at “Thihoshin” Pagoda was the one of extremely artistic handiwork but it was burnt to the ground. Thus, today we can view its photograph only.
Pakkoku in Magway Region is the second largest town where there are famous Dages situated.
Located on the west bank of the Ayeyawady River, Pakkoku Township touches the borders of Myaing, Yesagyo, Nyaung U, Hseikphyu and Pauk townships. 75 miles far from south west of Mandalay abounds with religious edifices and monastic Buddhist literature teaching schools. “Thihoshin alias Payagyi” “Shwegu Pagoda” and “Shwe Mokehtaw Pagoda” are the famous pagodas in downtown area of Pakkoku, as is the “Shwe Tant Tit Pagoda” in the township.
Two holy ornamental backdrops of Thihoshin Pagoda
“Thihoshin Pagoda” in Pakkoku is the Buddha Statue donated by King Alaung Sithu in AD 1117. King Asoka had the holy wood ‘Dakkhina Tharkhar Maha Bodhi’ which was presented by King Thiho/ Ceylon/ Sri Lanka sculpted, hence naming after ‘Thihoshin Pagoda’. At the Thihoshin Pagoda there are 3 Buddha images, one donated by King Alaung Sithu and the other two by the village-head.
Till 1964, Thihoshin Pagoda had holy wooden ornamental backdrops of thrones, with the eastern one situated at the entrance to the 3 Standing Buddha Statues and the western one behind the said 3 Statues. In April 1964, the two ‘Dages’ were burnt to the ground, together with ‘Ganda Gudi/ special chamber for the use of Buddha and roofed passage of ‘Thihoshin Pagoda’. In place of the burnt ‘Dages’ the new one had been built with the present day’s architectural handiwork, standing as a grandeur.
The original eastern ‘Dage’ sculpted beautifully with finials had been as if hanging a big festoon to worship the Buddha by beings, deities and Brahma. It was sculpted on the full moon day of Waso, 1275 ME, by the sculptors named U Kan Gyi and son U Tay. The donors were U San Hla and wife Daw Kyu of Mezaligon Village of Pakkoku Township who commissioned U Kan Gyi and U Tay to have sculpted it, at kyat 1000 charge of service rendered.
It took the two sculptors one year to have sculpted the ‘Dage’ in the form of a festoon by combing 3 logs of Yamanay wood/Gmelina Arborea, on which plots of Buddha’s life— from preaching Dhamma Cekka Sutta to the Demise of Buddha were shaped in nearly 1000 figures in the round, in relief and in arched form of those including the King, the Queen, deities, Indra and Celestial Beings.
The western ‘Dage’ of the ‘Thihoshin Pagoda’ was donated by Daw Ein Min, Poedan Street in Pantaw Quarter of Pakkoku, who commissioned U Kan Gyi ad U Tay as well, at the charges—3000 kyats. It took 3 years to finish sculpting it, completing on the full moon day of Tabaung, 1271 ME. On 8 floral layers made on one log of Yamanay wood, out of 25 scenes in total, acts of renunciation of the world in Buddha’s Life & acts of Vidura Zat Taw the sculptors sculpted, 15 in the left and 10 in the right part. Amaegyioh U Aung Sein, the famous writer made Shwe Mann U Tin Maung play the act by looking at these sculptures, it was learnt.
Shweku Dage
The world-famous backdrop of a throne in which most visitors from home and abroad are greatly interested, has been restored in the glass box in the eastern part of the special chamber of Shweku Buddha Statue.
The wooden ornamental backdrop made of Yamanay wood with 5 feet 10 inches in length, 12 feet 10 inches in height and 8 inches in width is situated behind the Standing Buddha Statue of 5 feet 2 inches in height. Dagetaw on which 136 sculptures and 18 animal images had been sculpted on 8 tiers has exquisite handiworks.
The sculptors of the Shweku Dage were U Kan Gyi and his son. In the record, “Shwe Ku Dagetaw of the wonders of the world” posted nearby, it has been recorded that the sculptors who had been commissioned to make it accepted 4000 pieces of silver coins on 3rd Waning Day of Tabaung Month, 1269 ME, taking over 4 years period to make it, by linking with 5 pieces of logs.
Donors of this Dage were U Hinngar & wife Daw Zee Zan, their daughters Mae Thit & Mae Myit who resided in building no 575 of Kyaungtawyar Street, Old Market, in Pakokku. On the left floral arabesque of Shweku Dage the names—Sayar U Kan Gyi, son Maung Tay were written whereas on the right floral arabesque of the Dage the donors’ names—Ma Zee Zan, Ko Hinngar, Ma Mae Thin were recorded.
U Sheinn, father of U Kan Gyi was a famous sculptor in the reign of King Mindon. The village, “Thitgyitaw Laytan” in which U Kan Gyi lived is the one who produced famous sculptors in the consecutive eras. U Kan Gyi and his son U Tay made over 50 tools for sculpting Shweku Dage, by themselves.
The two sculptors managed to sculpt 12 crucial scenes from the plays such as ‘Deva Rawhana’ ‘Naymi’ ‘Thardina’ & Bhimmi Sara’. On the uppermost tier of Shweku Dage 21 sculptures had been sculpted, describing the Lord Buddha preached Abhidhamma’ to Mae Taw Mi god & audience in Tarwateinthar Celestial Abode, and thence the Buddha descended to Human Abode through the Gold, Silver & Ruby Stairways.
In carving the images describing that the Buddha descended to the human abode’s southern gate of Theingathanago City through the Middle Ruby Stairway, there are 33 sculptures comprising of Martali, Visakyone god, Brahmas, conch shell blower, parasol holder, fan waver and musical troupe. Being greatly animated, the Shweku Dagetaw became a world-famous one.
In the right upper side of the Dagetaw the scene of Naymi Zat and in the left upper side scenes of Thardina can be seen respectively. In carving the images describing Naymi King & Thardina King had been brought to the Celestial Abode by 3-horse-drawn-carriage, it looks as if the cart is coming out of the 8-tier-flower. It makes us feel that we are being in the forest to see a mother bird feeding her young.
Images sculpted in the act of Bimmisara King were extremely exquisite that Amaegyioh U Aung Sein suggested to Shwe Man U Tin Maung to play as described in Dagetaw. It was learnt that the latter did in his dramas as suggested by the former.
Sculptor U Kan Gyi made a replica prior to carving Shweku Dage, showing it to the Venerable Sayardaws and donors. Devoting himself to carving his work to the best of his calibers and he had thrown away tools used in carving the Dage into the Ayeyarwady River after finishing his work, it was learnt.
Shwe Tant Tit Dagetaw
Shwe Tant Tit pagoda is situated 3 miles far from East of Pakkoku. In the special chamber of the pagoda, a sacred Buddha Image made of sandalwood had been placed on the throne shouldered by 14 elephants, being one of similar six ones. Its Dage is 13 feet 3 inches long and its breadth 10 feet. Its donors were U Toe, Daw Oh, son U Pe, Daw Bwint, grandson Ko Ngwe Zone and Ma Mya residing in the village of Shwe Tant Tit.
Sculptors, U Chan Thar of Shwe Tant Tit village & Sayar Aye of Pakkoku sculpted it from 1895 to 1898, lasting for 3 years 2 months and 10 days. They got paid silver coins 1500 for the work. It was carved by combining 13 logs—teak and Yamanay wood.
Including Dage in Pakkoku wooden backdrops of thrones of Myanmar Cultural Heritage were delicately carved. In the gates of Innwa Verkara Monastery and Pakhangyi Monastery wooden dages were attached at the entrances.
Wooden backdrops were made of wood. For them to last for long, they need to be placed under roof and shelter. Woods are prone to destruction due to weather, insects and human-made disaster such as fire. Only if wooden backdrops can be maintained by protecting them from various kinds of dangers will Myanmar cultural heritages be able to be relayed to generations to come. References: - Myanmar Encyclopedia - History of Shweku Buddha Statue (Ashin Kelarsa) -Backdrops of thrones (Hlaing Win Swe) Translated by Khin Maung Oo
