4 JANUARY 2020
By Maung Tha (Archaeology)
ANCIENT Pinya city established in 674 Myanmar era lasted for 51 years. Among six kings ruling the city, King Taseeshin Thihathu reign over the city from 1319 to 1322 AD, King Uzzana from 1322 to 1344, King Ngaseeshin Kyaw Swa from 1344 to 1350, King Kyaw Swa Nge from 1350 to 1359, King Narathu from 1359 to 1365 and King Uzzanapyaung three months in 1365. King Thadoeminphya occupied Pinya to end the Pinya dynasty.
Sagaing city was established by King Athinkhaya Saw Ywam in 1315 AD. Seven kings governed Sagaing during the 50-year period. King Athinkhaya Saw Ywam reigned over Sagaing from 1315 to 1327 AD, King Tayaphya from 1327 to 1336, King Shwe Taung Tet from 1336 to 1339, King Kya Swa from 1339 to 1348, King Nawrahta Min Ye seven months, King Hsinbyushin Tayaphyange from 1349 to 1352, and King Min Pyauk from 1352 to 1365. As King Thadoeminphya of Inwa occupied Sagaing in 1365, the Sagaing dynasty ended.
Pinya Shwezigon
Sagaing and Pinya, contemporary with Bagan, were established near Inwa. Sagaing and Inwa were located on each bank of Ayeyawady River but Pinya in southern part of Ayeyawady River was parallel to Inwa on same bank. Now, TadaU is located between Pinya and Inwa. TadaU and Pinya are situated on either side of Yangon-Mandalay Expressway.
Shwezigon Pagoda, three caves and NanU Pagoda were located as ancient buildings in 51 years lasting ancient Pinya city. The triangle shape walls of the city were not significant but it can be seen as a long mound. The length from the north to the south was shorter than that of from the east to the west.
Pinya Shwezigon Pagoda was based on triple terrace with the passage ladder and corner pagodas. Twinthin History mentioned that ancient Pinya city was established together with royal palace, city, moat, lake, inner monastery, golden cave and Shwezigon Pagoda in 1313 AD at the same time.
Some said King Thihathu passed away before finishing construction of Shwezigon Pagoda, so his son King Uzzana continued construction of the pagoda to finish. But, Cetiyakatha (Combined History) written by Monyway Abbot mentioned King Thihathu could build Shwezigon Pagoda and hoisted a gold umbrella atop it. King Uzzana enveloped the pagoda and hoisted the umbrella atop it. In the reign of King Sinku, the pagoda collapsed. When the pagoda was cracked, the structure of the pagoda built by King Thihathu was seen together with the gold umbrella. Although stupas and temples were not hoisted umbrellas in Bagan era, the pagodas in Pinya era were hoisted umbrellas.
After the Pinya era, Shwezigon Pagoda was gilt by King Swa Saw Ke and King Sanay of Inwa era and King Myedu in Konbaung era donated land plots for the pagoda. King Sinku, son of King Myedu, gilt the pagoda from spindle-shaped pieces to circumference in 1138 ME. On 20 October 1781, as the pagoda collapsed, King Sinku cleared old bricks to build the new pagoda.
Mural paintings depicting Buddhological events were expressed in a small temple, southeast corner of Shwezigon Pagoda. Although a picture of lotus flowers with hundreds of petals could be seen in the ceiling inside, mural paintings were damaged at the temple. There remain many mural paintings in a small cave in northern part of east stairway of the pagoda.
Three great caves in Pinya
Locals said there were three temples in the walls of ancient Pinya city located in west of TadaU-Kyaukse road. So, these temples were famous as three great caves in Pinya. According to the oral history, southern temple of the three was built by King Thihathu.
Two stone plaques between the middle and northern temples mentioned that King Uzzana donated the land plots for the temples. As stone inscriptions mentioned land plots were donated after building three caves, some said King Uzzana built these caves. Due to the fact that stone inscription mentioning that King Uzzana built the cave in Einneint Ward in 712 ME, writer Bo Shake reviewed Einneintkan Village was located, more than three miles southeast of ancient Pinya city. Princes lived there before ascending the thrones. So, anyone cannot know whether Einneint Ward mentioned in the stone inscription was Einneintkan Village or venue of three great caves.
Moreover, it is not sure to know whether stone plaques were posted near the temples as original or not because the stone plaque chamber was built in current era. So also, it is not sure whether these stone plaques were moved from other places.
Three great temples were in same form. They were located 120 feet to each other. The middle temple was the largest, and two others were formed with cave circular roads and ladders up to the temples.
Four dimensions of three temples had arches where Buddha images were kept. These temples can be assessed as the works after Bagan era. There remains concrete works in the southern temple. Mural paintings at the southern temple disappeared.The places of glazed cups can be seen at the temples but there was no glazed cup.
NanU Pagoda
Pinya NanU Pagoda was built in the paddy field, north of three great caves but the pagoda can be seen as the brick mound. The royal palace site of Pinya city was located in west of NanU Pagoda. Although donor for NanU Pagoda was not mentioned exactly, many assumed well-wisher might be King Thihathu because NanU Pagoda was included on the list of seven structures for establishment of Pinya city.
Collapsed NanU Pagoda can be seen as just square foundation. As a marble Buddha image in Nyaungyan era was found from the pagoda, it was assumed that the pagoda might be renovated in Nyaungyan era. Such Buddha image is displayed at Inwa Museum.
The Department of Archaeology and National Museum excavated Pinya royal place mound, west of NanU Pagoda, from July to September 1994 and fenced it with barbed wires. More than 120,000 square feet Pinya royal palace facing the south was formed with ground tier-roofed hall, Zetawun Hall, Baungdaw Hall, South Samok Hall and North Samok Hall.
According to the evidences found in excavation, the royal palace of Pinya city was destroyed by outbreak of fire. Bricks of the palace were 18 inches in length, nine inches in width and three inches in thickness. Some bricks were impressed with paddy husks.
The Department of Archaeology and National Museum has been preserving 20 buildings including the triangle shaped royal palace, brick walls, three great caves, Pinya Shwezigon Pagoda, post shoe and NanU Pagoda.
Places of seven champak monasteries assumed as built by King Uzzana were one of historic venues in ancient Pinya city. These monasteries were made of champac timber. Writer Bo Shake noted one of champak monasteries was located on a mound west of Mingun Pagoda and Saka-in Village. The precinct of the monastery can be seen there clearly. There remains a ladder made of shale. It was assumed such place might be middle one of champac monasteries.
End of Pinya
After assassinating Pinya King Min Pyauk and Sagaing King Uzzanapyaung, King Thadoeminphya temporarily came onto the throne in Pinya.Sagaing broke down in May 1364 AD and Pinya in June the same year. King Thadoeminphya also ruled Pinya and Sagaing. He assumed Pinya was not in good condition to attack enemy and then established Inwa on 26 January 1364.
King Saw Mon Nit, last king of Bagan dynasty, ruled Bagan at a time when Pinya and Sagaing had broken down but King Thadoeminphya established Inwa with large strength. So, King Saw Mon Nit surrendered to the Inwa King in 1368 AD. That was why Bagan, Pinya and Sagaing eras came to an end. Ancient Inwa city established by King Thadoeminphya lasted for about 400 years from 1364 to 1751 AD, and Inwa became royal palace four times.
Six kings ruled Pinya in its era, seven in Sagaing and 31 in Inwa. Whatever it maybe, Pinya became an ancient city with Myanmar cultural heritages between Bagan and Inwa eras.
Translated by Than Tun Aung
Reference:Myanmar Encyclopaedia Volumes (VI) (IX)
New Twinthin Great History (First Volume)
Briefed Myanmar History (Hla Tha Mein)
Kings of Inwa and historical sites (Bo Shake, Yadanapura)
