Mandalay, Burma ~ 1857
The Kuthodaw Pagoda was "built by King Mindon in 1857" (Mandalay). From then on, it has become one Buddists' most significant temple. Not only is the temple beautiful and reflects the outstanding aestheticism of architectural level, it also houses 729 epigraphs of stones that are inscripted with Buddhist scriptures, giving it the title of the "world's biggest book" (Kuthodaw Paya).
Each of the epigraphs mentioned above are placed inside a small marble pagoda, caged and enclosed safely within. All of these pagodas are spread throughout the temple, aligned perfectly in seemingly endless rows and columns. The central stupa stands out the most because, unlike other individual structures of the temple that are completely white, it is colored with gold as well as the rest of the smaller surrounding stupas; but the levelling terraces surrounding the central stupa remain white.
The Kuthodaw Pagoda was "built by King Mindon in 1857" (Mandalay). From then on, it has become one Buddists' most significant temple. Not only is the temple beautiful and reflects the outstanding aestheticism of architectural level, it also houses 729 epigraphs of stones that are inscripted with Buddhist scriptures, giving it the title of the "world's biggest book" (Kuthodaw Paya).
Each of the epigraphs mentioned above are placed inside a small marble pagoda, caged and enclosed safely within. All of these pagodas are spread throughout the temple, aligned perfectly in seemingly endless rows and columns. The central stupa stands out the most because, unlike other individual structures of the temple that are completely white, it is colored with gold as well as the rest of the smaller surrounding stupas; but the levelling terraces surrounding the central stupa remain white.
