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Nan Oo Pagoda, Myinsaing
The Nan Oo Pagoda of Myinsaing (Burmese: မြင်စိုင်း နန်းဦး ဘုရား, [mjɪ̀ɰ̃záɪɰ̃ náɰ̃ ʔú pʰəjá]) is a Buddhist stupa located in Myinsaing, Myanmar. Modeled after the Shwezigon Pagoda of Bagan, the over 53-metre (174 ft) tall pagoda is one of the main attractions of the historical old town area. HistoryThe Nan Oo Pagoda[note 1] was constructed alongside the Myinsaing Palace in commemoration of the Burmese victory over the Mongols in 1301.[note 2] Located 15 m (49 ft) south of the palace, the pagoda was founded as the "founding pagoda" (မြေစိုက် စေတီ) of the palace and of Myinsaing,[6] then one of the three de facto capitals of the rump Pagan Kingdom.[7][8] In 1329/30, Athinkhaya's nephew, King Uzana I of Pinya enlarged the pagoda by building a surrounding structure that completely enveloped the original.[6][9] (It was the second such project by Uzana. The first was the Shwezigon Pagoda in Mekkhaya, which too was built by enveloping the smaller Mahtaw Pagoda in 1325.[9]) According to a 1329/30 stone inscription found at the Nan Oo pagoda, the diameter of the outer stupa [not a side of the square base] was 47.09 m (154.5 ft).[note 3] The pagoda was in much disrepair by the early 20th century. A 1925 British colonial era report states that Myinsaing by then was "a brick-strewn area, which [contained] two large but much damaged pagodas", surrounded by "traces of the walls".[10] Restoration work was carried out only in 2004.[9] To be sure, many artifacts had been lost, and could not be restored. For example, only two of the original terracotta votive tablets around the stupa have survived; one of them is chipped on the upper right hand corner.[6][11] Nor were all parts of the restoration historically accurate. A 2017 article in The Irrawaddy reports that modern "shiny" steel railings have been added on both sides of the staircases connecting the terraces.[11] Present dayThe Nan Oo Pagoda is one of the main attractions of the Myinsaing historical area. The topmost terrace of the pagoda is a popular viewpoint of the surroundings, including the nearby Myinsaing palace foundation, the remaining walls, and the moat as well as the paddy fields and small golden pagodas that dot the mountaintops around the Myinsaing valley.[11][12] As of 2017, Myinsaing was still off the beaten path. Only a dirt road connected the pagoda's premises and the ancient ramparts to the main road to nearby Kyaukse.[11] ArchitectureThe Nan Oo pagoda was modeled after the Shwezigon Pagoda of Pagan (Bagan).[6] Unlike the Shwezigon, however, the Nan Oo is an enveloping (encasing) pagoda[9]—more specifically, of the most common "double encased" type.[note 4] According to a 2004 archaeological survey, both inner and outer stupas of the pagoda are solid structures. The survey found no spaces between the stupas, or any embedded relic chambers, shrines or cavities.[9] The outer stupa sits atop a 53 m (174 ft) by 53 m (174 ft) wide square foundation, and has three levels of square-shaped terraces as well as four staircases connecting the terraces (one from each side).[14] At each corner of the base terrace sits a satellite stupa.[9] The nyandaw (ဉာဏ်တော်; architectural height) of the pagoda without its hti spire is over 53 m (174 ft).[6][12] Notes
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