Wall tile for the Mingun Pagoda

Title
Wall tile for the Mingun Pagoda
Year/Period
late 18th century
Region
Burma
Dimension
Object size: 23.5 x 23.5 x 3.5 cm
Accession No.
2014-00578

This green-glazed tile depicts a kneeling figure, hands clasped in prayer, within a shrine. The inscription in Burmese below identifies it as “a yahanda (enlightened being) within a pyathat (temple)”. The tile is framed by 24 wheel-like rosettes. This was one of some 2,000 tiles commissioned by King Bodawhpaya (r. 1782 – 1819) of the Konbaung dynasty, to be set in the roof terraces of the pagoda at his royal retreat of Mingun, in Upper Burma. The tiles were not installed, possibly due to the falling out of favour of the king’s advisor, Nanabhivamsa, who was closely involved with the project. This tile is of a sub-category within the 2,000 that commemorates the 230 shrines (shwegu) throughout Burma which Bodawhpaya is associated with.