History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c33.s8.11

v2.c33.s8.11

curved termination in front, shown in the woodcut (No. 455). The steps, the walls carrying them and the balustrades are all in brick, whilst the rest of the structure is entirely in timber. On the eastern side is a shrine, in which is a statue of Gaudama, above which is the Pyâtthat, a lofty structure with three, five or seven roofs according to the importance of the Kyaung; thus in the Royal monasteries and the King's Palace there are seven roofs, as in Woodcut No. 456. The monastery at Mandalay (Woodcut No. 457) was not completed when the photograph was taken, but not being masked by the elaborate carving as shown in Woodcut No. 455, the scheme of its design is easier to read. There are four storeys of roofs, the upper one covers a lantern only; the roof below covers the central hall which is enclosed with double aisles all round covered over by the two other roofs. Virtually there is only one room in a Burmese Kyaung, at the east end; and next to the Pyâtthat is the Pôngyi's quarter, where he receives visitors, teaches in the school and sleeps; at the west end are the students' quarters and the store-rooms, and the school-room, if it may be so termed, is in the central hall.¹