Ta Lok Myo
Ta Loat Myo | |
|---|---|
Village | |
  Ta Lok Myo Location in Myanmar | |
| Coordinates: 21°34′05″N 95°22′59″E / 21.568°N 95.383°E | |
| Country | Myanmar |
| Division | Mandalay Region |
| District | Myingyan District |
| Township | Myingyan Township |
Ta Lok Myo is a group of four villages in Myingyan Township of Mandalay Region, Myanmar. It is located a bit east of the Irrawaddy river. There are several historical sites at Ta Lok Myo, including a couple of temple ruins dating back to the Bagan period (11th-13th centuries). The Thone Pan Hla pagoda, which is a prominent pilgrimage center, is also located here.
Geography
Ta Lok Myo is a cluster of four adjacent villages: Ta Lok Myo proper, Myo Gyi Gon, Myauk Ywa Lay, and Ye-daing. It is 3.7 km east of the Irrawaddy River. Immediately east and west of the village cluster are a couple of seasonal lakes (in-gyi), and a canal goes from the northeast corner of Myo Gyi Gon and then goes east for about 3 km before meeting the Pyusawhti Dam.[1]: 212
History
According to tradition, Ta Lok Myo existed as a cluster of four villages until the time of the Mongol invasions around 1300. Ye-daing was supposedly founded in 1300 as Than-Theh-Kyut.[1]: 212
At the turn of the 20th century, Ta Lok Myo was noted as the former headquarters of a wun. Its population as of 1895-96 was about 3,080.[2]: 208
Thone Pan Hla pagoda
The most prominent active pagoda in the area today is Thone Pan Hla, which is located at the northern edge of Myo Gyi Gon.[1]: 212 It is a popular pilgrimage destination.[2]: 208 No Bagan-era artifacts have been found at Thona Pan Hla, but an archaeological survey turned up some Pyu-era brick fragments at the site, which belonged to an earlier structure. Local tradition connects the pagoda to both Ashoka's distribution of Buddhist relics in the 3rd century BCE, as well as to the legendary king Pyusawhti.
At the southwest of the pagoda complex is a shed containing a collection of at least 14 stone inscriptions. The earliest one dates to 1239, and another one dated to 1294 contains a reference to the village of Ye-poke, near Sagu; Ye-poke has been noted for its Pyu-era archaeological finds. Also present is a contemporary inscription recording renovations done in 2008 and the planned construction of a Bodhigaya History Museum.[1]: 214
The compound also has a number of contemporary statues, including ones of Ashoka and Pyusawhti along with many later Bagan kings, including Shin Arahan. The Shin Arahan statue was donated by U Ohn Maw and Daw Than Kyi at a cost of 200,000 kyats.[1]: 214
Other historical sites
The massive abandoned Lay-myet-hna temple is located some 800 m east of Thone Pan Hla and slightly to the south. It faces east and is stylistically dated to the late Bagan or early Pyinya period. There are also at least three large mounds nearby, running from north to south. Midway between Thone Pan Hla and Lay-myet-hna are the undated ruins of a roughly square walled area about 600 m on each side. At one place, this wall runs through a private residence.[1]: 214
Farther south is another abandoned temple, called Set-myet-hna. Located east of Ye-daing, it has 10 sides and an unusual two-story floorplan. Its long ground floor has many individual rooms, and there is also evidence that extra passageways were added at one point. The upper level has traces of four stupas at the corners, as well as the 10-faced structure at its center. The Set-myet-hna temple likely dates to the late Bagan period, with later renovations. South of Set-myet-hna is a monastery compound with a stupa and a renovated three-story structure decorated with several role of bilu (ogres). Based on stylistic grounds, this structure may date to the 12th or 13th century.[1]: 214
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Moore, Elizabeth (2023). Wider Bagan: Ancient and Living Buddhist Traditions. Singapore: ISEAS Publishing. ISBN 9789814951999. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- 1 2 Scott, James George; Hardiman, John Percy (1901). Gazetteer of Upper Burma and the Shan States: Part II, Vol. II. Rangoon: Governmint Printing. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
