Bagan Archaeological Museum

Brief Hisotry of Bagan Archaeological Museum

        In 1904, Mr. Taw Sein Kho, Superitending the first Archaeological Museum in Myanmar, near the northern cause- way of Ananda Temple at Bagan.
     
        In October 1979, an octagonal Archaeological Museum building to the south of Gawdawpalin Temple was opened.

        Under the guidance of the Chairmand fo the Stete Peace and Development Council, Senior General Than Shwe, the present Bagan Archaeological Museum was opened on 17th April 1998.

        The Museum is situated within the Ancient City of Bagan on the area of 10.97 acres. Its ground plan measum 380 feet from east to west and 360 feet from north to south. The gound plan is built with the design of projection corners (Kho Nan Choe in Myanmar). The Museum is magnificently adorned with the Myanmar decorative ants. The grand total cost of the Museum building was over 1200 million Kyats.

Museum Show Rooms

1. Pricipal Chamber (Special Display Room)
2. Show Room of Bagan Period Arts and Crafts
3. Show Room of Bagan Period Architecture
4. Show Room of Bagan Period Palace City
5. Show Room of Bagan Period Liturature
6. Show Room of Social Life of Bagan Period
7. Art Gallery of Bagan Period Ancient Monuments
8. Art Gallery of Bagan Period Mural Paintings
9. Show Room of Bagan Period Buddha Images
10. Show Room of Bagan Period Buddhist Art

General Information 

Opening Hour

 9:30a.m to 4:30 p.m
The Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday and close on Monday and the gazetted holidays.

Location

Located at the Sout of Gawdawpalin Temple, Ancient City of Bagan, Bagan- Nyaung Oo District, Mandalay Division.

Contact

Tel: 95-61- 60557
Fax: 95- 61- 60269

Entrance Fee

Foreigner: Kyat 5000/- each
Myanmar Citizen: Kyat 500/ each (Adult)
                           Kyat 250/ each (Child)

緬甸簡史：從早期邦國到現代國家

緬甸早期邦國分佈圖

緬甸是一座擁有悠久歷史的文明古國。在伊洛瓦底江流域及其周邊廣闊地區，考古學家發現了大量舊石器時代的石器與新石器時代的生活器具；在珊邦高原及中部地區，也出土了不少岩畫與繩文陶片。例如珊邦東芝一帶的遺址，顯示出從舊石器時代延續至鐵器時代的文化發展脈絡。

在這一漫長的歷史過程中，緬甸先民逐漸由遊獵生活轉向定居農耕，出現村落與早期邦國；生計方式也由狩獵、捕魚與採集野果，過渡至穀物種植、畜牧飼養與生產經營；社會結構則由無階級的原始社會，逐步轉變為早期階級社會。

A. 早期邦國時期（Early History，至西元1044年）

1. 緬北帖族——太公國（Tagaung）

緬甸北部的帖族，緬語稱 Kadu，以太公（Tagaung）為中心，其勢力由瑞博一帶向北擴展至密支那地區。太公國又稱「頂兌」，最初是中國與羅馬通商路線上的中途休息站，因貿易往來而逐漸發展成邦國。

2. 緬南蒙族直通國（Thaton／Suvannabhumi）

直通國（Thaton）位於緬甸南部沿海地區，地理位置優越，處於連結中國、印度與東南亞各地海陸貿易網絡的要衝，是早期商旅、文化與宗教交流的重要樞紐。學界普遍認為，直通國為蒙族（Mon）所建立並主導，其政治、經濟與宗教發展深刻反映蒙族文化的特徵。

蒙族可能是最早遷入伊洛瓦底江下游與南部沿海地區的族群之一。至主後九世紀以前，蒙族勢力已廣泛影響整個下緬甸地區。在東南亞歷史中，蒙族被視為最早接受並積極傳播小乘佛教（上座部佛教）的族群之一，而直通國正是此一佛教傳統的重要中心。

在宗教文化傳統中，直通國亦常與「杜溫那崩米」（Suvannabhumi，意為「黃金之地」）的稱號相連結，象徵其在佛教世界中的神聖地位。透過貿易往來與僧團活動，小乘佛教自印度與斯里蘭卡地區傳入直通，並以此為據點，逐步向伊洛瓦底江流域及緬甸內陸擴展，對後來蒲甘王朝佛教體制的形成產生深遠影響。

3. 緬西若開——旦迎瓦底國（Dhanyawaddy）

若開地區的旦迎瓦底國，地處孟加拉灣沿岸，因其獨特的地理與文化環境，發展出具有地方特色的政治與宗教傳統。

4. 伊洛瓦底流域的驃族——貝德弄、汗林、室利差但羅國

驃族（Pyu）在中國古籍中被稱為「驃人」，屬於藏緬語系（Tibeto-Burman），是最早遷入緬甸的族群之一。驃族於四世紀進入全盛時期，其中以室利差但羅國最為強盛，其中心位於今日卑謬（Pyi）一帶。

該國農業發達，盛產稻米、甘蔗與木棉；手工業如紡織、雕刻、金銀首飾與銅器製作亦具相當水準，並與中國、印度及東亞各國保持貿易往來。驃族政權最終於西元832年被南詔所滅。

B. 蒲甘王朝（Bagan Dynasty，西元849–1287年）

緬甸第一統治王國：蒲甘（Bagan）

十至十一世紀，緬族勢力逐漸崛起。1044年，阿諾耶塔王（King Anawrahta，1044–1077年在位）即位，正式建立蒲甘王朝。他憑藉強大的經濟與軍事實力，展開統一緬甸的征戰。

1057年，阿諾耶塔親率大軍南下攻陷直通，獲得大量佛教經典、珍寶，以及眾多僧侶與工匠；其後又西征若開、北戰南詔，並征服禪族，完成上下緬甸大部分地區的統一。

蒲甘王朝成為緬甸歷史上第一個統一王國。阿諾耶塔與其繼任者江喜達等君王大力護持佛教，廣建佛塔與寺院，視之為積功德之舉。至十三世紀初，蒲甘達到鼎盛，確立了小乘佛教在緬甸的主流地位，並成為當時整個東南亞的佛教中心。

然而十三世紀中葉後，蒲甘內部分裂，北方禪族、南方蒙族及西部若開相繼自立，不再向中央納貢。1287年，忽必烈率蒙古軍南侵，蒲甘王朝正式滅亡。此時實權實際掌握於「禪族三兄弟」手中，其中最小者僧哥速於1312年建立邦牙城，自立為王。

C. 多邦國時期（Small Kingdoms，1287–1531年）

蒲甘滅亡後，緬甸進入封建割據時期。十四世紀，緬甸主要分裂為四大勢力：中部阿瓦、北部禪族、南部蒙族與西部若開。

東籲王朝版圖 (Taungoo Empire1580)

南部方面，蒙族首領伐麗流於1281年在馬都八建都，1369年遷都勃固，史稱「勃固王朝」。
1364年，拖彌婆耶結束禪族分治局面，建立阿瓦城，自立為王，史稱「阿瓦王朝」（1364–1555）。

自1386年起，阿瓦與勃固為爭奪經濟利益及南部移民問題，展開長達四十年的戰爭。雖然戰爭削弱了國力，卻也促進軍事技術、交通與行政的發展，為日後緬甸再次統一奠定基礎。

D. 東籲王朝（Toungoo Dynasty，1531–1753年）

十六世紀初，緬甸主要政治勢力包括：北部以阿瓦為中心的禪—緬族勢力，南部以勃固為中心的蒙族勢力，以及中部以東籲為核心的緬族勢力。

當阿瓦與勃固因長期戰爭而衰弱時，東籲避開戰禍，得以積蓄實力。特別是在思洪發佔領阿瓦後，實行高壓統治並迫害佛教，大量僧侶、文人與百姓逃往東籲，使東籲勢力迅速壯大。

1531年，東籲首領明吉逾去世，其子德彬瑞體即位，建立東籲王朝。其後在名將奔應龍的輔佐下，再次展開統一戰爭。1562年，奔應龍完成除若開外的第二次全緬統一。

十七世紀初，阿那比隆在位期間，收復失地，完成第三次統一，史稱「良淵時期」（Nyaungyan）。然而十八世紀初，蒙族再度崛起，1740年起義動搖王朝根基，1752年阿瓦陷落，東籲王朝告終。

E. 貢榜王朝（Konbaung Dynasty，1752–1885年）

貢榜王朝最後一位國王：錫伯（Tibow 1878-1885 ）

1752年，蒙族攻陷阿瓦後，緬族首領雍籍牙起兵反抗，自立為王，號阿龍帕亞。他迅速統一上緬甸，並於1757年攻克蒙族首都漢達瓦底，完成第四次全國統一，建立貢榜王朝。

貢榜王朝興起之際，正值英法殖民勢力向亞洲擴張。十九世紀，英緬戰爭爆發，最終於1885年英軍攻入曼德勒，俘虜末代國王錫伯。1886年，英國正式吞併緬甸，納入英屬印度，緬甸完全淪為殖民地。

F. 殖民時期（1824–1942；1945–1948）

• 民族運動時期（1900年代–1948年）
  
• 日本佔領時期（1942–1945年）
  
• 英國重返統治與過渡政權（1945–1948年）
  

G. 獨立以後（1948年至今）

• 多黨民主時期（1948–1962）：吳努
  
• 社會主義／軍政府時期（1962–1988）：奈溫
  
• 新軍政府時期（1988–2011）：鎖帽、丹瑞
  
• 緬甸聯邦共和國（2010年至今）：登盛等

ပုဂံ 蒲甘 Bagan ( Cradle of Myanmar Culture )

Bagan：

Cradle of Myanmar Culture 

Bagan, the city of ancient Myanmar kings, is the cardle of Myanmar culture. In Gagan there were over two thousand pagodas. The ancient mounments consisting of templen, pagodas, stupas and others religious edifices are scatlered in an area of 42square kilometers on the plain along the Ayeyarwaddy River in cultural Myanmar.

     Ruins of all sizes, some glorious temples like the Ananda and the Thatbyinnyu and graceful small pagodas as far as one’s eye can see. Bagan can boast of its richest archaeological sites in the whole of South east Asia.

     Bagan itself is now only a village at the bend of the Ayeyarwaddy River. All tgat remains of the grand palace of King Kyansittha is now a vacant plot of land. The only feature which remains to show the traces of glory that was Bagan is the Sarabba Gateway. Nowadays, our government revuild the new grand palace of King Kyansittha near the Sarrabba Gateway.

     According to the Myanmar chronicles there were small national groups and gradually Myanmar appeared. The Myanmar had founded a small settlement or kingdom of their own whill supporting and merging with the Pyus as the kangan and Thets had done before.

      Myanmar together with the Pyus, Thets and other allied national groups felt themselves confident to build a fortified city of their own. Thus, Bagan came into existence at the fork tof the Ayeyarwaddy River joint below its junction with its great tributory, the Chindwin River. The new kingdom was at first not stable. There were frequent fights for the throne and changes of dynasties until Anwrahta energed in 1044 A.D. His father had been forced to abdicate the throne to a usurper (Sokkate) and became a monk when Anawrahta was only child. When he came of age, he challenged the usurper to a single combat and killed him near Myinkaba. He offered the throne to his father. But the father declined.

      Anawrahta strengthened his army by selecting and appointing for great heros (Kyansittha, Ngaloneletphel, Nyaung Oo Phi and Ngathweyue)as military commanders. The kings and his four warriors led the army by wearing armour of gold and riding on denom horses. Anawrahta felt dissatisfied with the existing religion of the people in his kingdom. He did not like a mixture of Mahayana Buddhism and animism.He resented the enormous power and prestige of the Armonks. He considered then depraved. At their juncture Shin Arahan arrived from thaton and brought with him pure Buddhism. The ascetic and saintly person ality of Shin Arahan was in striking contrast with the Arimonks. Shortly after his arrival he converted King Anawrahta into Theravada Buddhism. The king politely requested king Manuha of Thaton for a copy of scriptures, but also Manuha as captive and also members of his court, monks, scholars, scribes and artists.

In Myanmar chronicles mention is made of Anawrehta’s conquest of some neighbouring countries. His principle aim was to unite the geopraphic region of Myanmar into a single kingdom and then surrounded it with small kingdom and then surrounded it with small kingdom paying tribute to him. Thus, he was the founder of the first united Myanmar Kingdom and also the first Myanmar Wmpire.

      In Making Buddhism as the national religion as the national religion of the people Anawrahta sought advice from Shin Arahan whom he appointed as the primate of his empire. He was confornted with apposition from the Arimonks and so he handled it with skill. He come to some compromise with spirit worshippers. Thur, he was successful in making Buddhism the national religion of his kingdom becane the majority of the people accepted it. As directed by Shin Araham, the monks went to the villagers, built monasteries and tought the people, not only religion but also reading and writing.

        Some famous temples and pagodas in Bagan are:

     Shwezigon Pagoda-Situated at Nyaung Oo, Only three terraces of the pagoda were finished when Anawrahta was killed in 1077 A.D. King Kyansittha supervised completion of the structure in 1089 A.D.

       Arnanda Temple-built by King Alwungsith (grand son of Kyansittha) in about 12^th century. It is the tallest structure in Bagan.

       Gawdawpalin Temple-built by King Navapa thisithuKupyaukgyi Temple Its famous Myazedi is scription was engraved in displicate on two stone pillers, each one featuring on its four faces the same texy in four languages: Pali, Mon, Pyu and Myanmar. This stone inscription gives the date of ascent to King Kyansittha in 1084 A.D. This temple was complited by the King’s son, Rajakumar around 1113 A.D.

       In additional to Shwezigon Pagoda, King Anawrahta also built three other prominent pagodas such as Tuywintaung, Tankyitaung and Lawkanander of which Tankyitaung Pagoda is situated on the hillock on the west bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River.

      Thus , King Anawrahta was the first of the great temple builders and he made Bagan the centre of theravadian learning. He invited scholars from Sri Lanka, India and the Mon country.      

       But there are historical record of several earthquakes in Bagan during the region of King Narapatisitu (1174-211 A.D) in 1286, 1298, 1644, 1768, 1774-75 and 1838 A.D.

       The earthquake of 8 July, 1975 was comparatively more severe leaving only a few monuments totally unharmed.

       There is also a Bagan Museum. This interesting small museum had been shifted about thirty years ago to a new and modernized building along the road towards the Thiripyitsayar Hotel. It contains a large number of Buddha Images, Buddhist scriptures and other fine art works.