History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s3.6

v2.c33.s3.6

the projections are greater than in later ones, but their appearance can best be judged from Plate XXXVII., representing the Shwe-Dagôn at Rangoon, where the four planes on each face have resulted in seven projecting angles at each corner of the platform. These projecting angles which occur so frequently, not only in the platforms, but sometimes in the superstructure, may have arisen from a desire to enrich and give more interest to the original square plan. Assuming A (Woodcut No. 444) to be the first structure, and B and C successive applications on each face, the result on the plan would be three angle projections; an entrance porch D added on each face would give five angle projections, and so on.¹ The platforms on which the structure was raised would necessarily follow the same plan, and its repetition in the superstructure would result in the *sikhara* of Hindû origin which has usually three angle projections. In the diagram here given the applied projecting plane on each face and its return are equal in dimension; this is not usually the case, and sometimes the former is only about half the latter. The nearest approach to the diagram is that shown in the temple of Vât Sisavai at Sukhodaya in Siam (Plate XLVII.), where these angle projections form prominent features in the design. In the Shwe-Hmaudau pagoda (Woodcut No. 445) the plan of the platform is octagonal, and here the projecting planes, three in number on each face, have given five angles.