History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s5: Thatôn or Thahtûn.
History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s5
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Thatôn or Thahtûn.
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The earliest really authentic notice we have of these countries is in the 'Mahâwansa.' It is there related that, after the third convocation—B.C. 246—Asoka despatched two missionaries, Sono and Uttaro, to Suvarna-Bhûmi, the Golden Land, to carry the glad tidings of the religion of the Vanquisher.¹ It is now perfectly ascertained that this place was almost certainly the Golden Chersonese of classical geographers, situated on the Sittang river, and now called Thatôn, about forty miles' travelling distance north from Martaban.¹ Since it ceased to be a place of importance, either by the silting up of the river or the elevation of the land, it is now no longer a port; but there can be little doubt that for some centuries before and after the Christian Era it was the emporium through which a very considerable portion of the trade between China and the western world was carried on. The line of passage was apparently across the Bay of Bengal from the deltas of the Krishnâ and Godâvarî; and it was to this trade route that we probably owe the rise and importance of Amarâvatî till it was perhaps superseded by the direct sea-voyage from Gujarât and the west coast of India in the 6th century. The place was sacked and entirely destroyed, according to Sir A. Phayre, about A.D. 1050, by Anaurahtâ, King of Pegu; but long before that time it had been dwindling, from the growing importance of Pegu or Hansâwatî, which was founded about A.D. 633.²
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¹ Turnour's 'Mahâwanso,' p. 71. In Burma the two missionaries are known as Thawna and Uttara.
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¹ R. F. St. John, in the 'Phœnix,' vol. ii. pp. 204, *et seqq.* Sir Arthur Phayre, in 'Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' vol. xlii. pp. 23, *et seqq.*
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² In 1116 Buddhavarsha; — Sir A. Phayre, 'History of Burma,' pp. 29, 30; P. W. Schmidt, 'Buch des Râjâwan,' pp. 20 and 101.
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The only description of its ruins is by St. Andrew St. John, in the second volume of the 'Phœnix' above referred to; but they seem even now to be very extensive, in spite of neglect and consequent decay. The walls can still be traced for 7700 ft. in one direction by 4000 ft. in another, enclosing a regular oblong of more than 700 acres. In this enclosure are several old pagodas, some, unfortunately, recently repaired, but all of a form we have not yet met with, though we shall presently when we come to speak of Jâva.
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The principal pagoda here, like all the others, is built of hewn laterite. Its base is a square, measuring 104 ft. each way, and 18 ft. high; the second storey is 70 ft. square and 16½ ft. high; the third 48 ft. square and 12 ft. high. On this now stands a circular pagoda, making up the whole height to 85 ft. Mr. St. John fancies this circular part may be much more modern than the rest, but he adds, "the whole face of the pagoda has been carved in patterns; but the most remarkable part is the second storey, to which access is given by four flights of steps, one in the centre of each face. The whole was apparently adorned with sculptures of the most elaborate character."
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There seem to be no data to enable us to fix with certainty the date of this or of other similar pagodas in this place, and no photographs to enable us to speak with certainty as to their details, which is to be regretted, as it is just in such an old city as this that we may expect to find those early forms which may explain so much that is now unintelligible in subsequent examples. Thatôn was coeval with Anurâdhapura in Ceylon, and if examined with care, might do as much for the square form of temple as the island capital may do for the round form. Their greatest interest would, however, arise from the light they might throw on the square temples of Pagân and other Burmese cities, whose origin it has hitherto been impossible to explain. Meanwhile it is a fact worth bearing in mind that we find here square three-storeyed pagodas, which certainly were erected before a.d. 1080, when the city was destroyed, and possibly before the 7th century, when it was practically superseded by the rise of the new city and kingdom of Pegu.
Cites (1)
- Mahāvaṃsa — Pāli