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Pyin U Lwin (Maymyo) began as a military outpost on the Lashio-Mandalay trail between Nawnghkio and Mandalay. In 1897, a permanent military post was established in the town and later, because of its climate, it became a hill station and the summer capital of British Burma.
Remarkable for their military prowess, their receptivity to Christianity, and their intricate all-embracing kinship network, the Kachins are a hardy mountain people living in the remote hills of northern Burma and on the peripheries of India and China.<br/><br/> 'Kachin' is actually a Burmese word that does not exist in any of the local dialects. Each Kachin tribe has a different name for themselves and their neighbours, but no word to describe the whole group. There are the Jinghpaw (known as Jingpo in China and Singpho in India), the Maru, the Lashi, the Atsi (or Szi), the Lisu and the Rawang—but those represent linguistic groups rather than actual nationalities. Far more important bonds are formed by an intricate system of clans, which cuts across tribal barriers.<br/><br/> Every 'Kachin' belongs to one of five original families: Marip, Maran, Lahpai, N'Hkum and Lattaw. These clans are related in an all-embracing kinship network of extreme complexity. In practice, however, this system binds together the Kachins into a remarkably tight-knit society.
The Kumbheshvara Temple a little to the north of the Golden Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in his manifestation as 'Lord of the Water Pots' (kumbha translates as 'water pot' or 'clay pot') and is considered Patan’s most important Shiva sanctuary. Its significance is founded on the belief that Shiva spends the six winter months at this site, returning for the summer months to his cool abode on Mount Kailash.<br/><br/> Notably, the temple is one of only two in the valley with a five-tiered roof, the other being the Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur. Initially the temple had only a double-tiered roof: the upper three tiers were added by King Shrinivasa Malla between 1660 and 1684. In the original construction the roofs were covered with tiles, but over-zealous local politicians had the tiles removed and substituted them with expensive copper sheeting.<br/><br/> The temple was built in its original form in 1392, by a wealthy man named Jaya Bhima, who hoped that the meritorious act would boost the recovery of his ailing wife. She died, however, and after her demise Jaya Bhima and his sons made additions to the temple. The temple features some masterful woodcarvings, including torana and a wooden, brightly gilded Shivalingam with the four faces of Shiva on its sides.
The Kumbheshvara Temple a little to the north of the Golden Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in his manifestation as 'Lord of the Water Pots' (kumbha translates as 'water pot' or 'clay pot') and is considered Patan’s most important Shiva sanctuary. Its significance is founded on the belief that Shiva spends the six winter months at this site, returning for the summer months to his cool abode on Mount Kailash.<br/><br/> Notably, the temple is one of only two in the valley with a five-tiered roof, the other being the Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur. Initially the temple had only a double-tiered roof: the upper three tiers were added by King Shrinivasa Malla between 1660 and 1684. In the original construction the roofs were covered with tiles, but over-zealous local politicians had the tiles removed and substituted them with expensive copper sheeting.<br/><br/> The temple was built in its original form in 1392, by a wealthy man named Jaya Bhima, who hoped that the meritorious act would boost the recovery of his ailing wife. She died, however, and after her demise Jaya Bhima and his sons made additions to the temple. The temple features some masterful woodcarvings, including torana and a wooden, brightly gilded Shivalingam with the four faces of Shiva on its sides.
The Kumbheshvara Temple a little to the north of the Golden Temple, is dedicated to Shiva in his manifestation as 'Lord of the Water Pots' (kumbha translates as 'water pot' or 'clay pot') and is considered Patan’s most important Shiva sanctuary. Its significance is founded on the belief that Shiva spends the six winter months at this site, returning for the summer months to his cool abode on Mount Kailash.<br/><br/> Notably, the temple is one of only two in the valley with a five-tiered roof, the other being the Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur. Initially the temple had only a double-tiered roof: the upper three tiers were added by King Shrinivasa Malla between 1660 and 1684. In the original construction the roofs were covered with tiles, but over-zealous local politicians had the tiles removed and substituted them with expensive copper sheeting.<br/><br/> The temple was built in its original form in 1392, by a wealthy man named Jaya Bhima, who hoped that the meritorious act would boost the recovery of his ailing wife. She died, however, and after her demise Jaya Bhima and his sons made additions to the temple. The temple features some masterful woodcarvings, including torana and a wooden, brightly gilded Shivalingam with the four faces of Shiva on its sides.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
Kathmandu is an unexpected and extravagant mixture of peoples and religions, child-goddesses, bare-foot porters padding in back alleys, and sacred cows. The Kathmandu most people come to see is the Old City, a tangled network of narrow alleys, stores and temples located around central Durbar Square.
Po Nagar is one of the most important and revered Cham sites in Vietnam, dating back to the 8th century CE. It is dedicated to the goddess Yang Ino Po Nagar and was originally constructed on the orders of the Kings of the Cham principality of Kauthara.<br/><br/> Of the original eight towers, four remain standing. There is also a <i>mandapa</i> or meditation hall. The most impressive tower is called Thap Chinh, the ‘North Tower’, built in 817 and housing an image of the Hindu goddess Uma in her incarnation as Po Nagar. At the entrance, her husband the Hindu god Shiva dances on the back of his holy mount, the sacred bull Nandi.<br/><br/> Although a Cham goddess, Yang Ino Po Nagar is now very much a patron goddess for Nha Trang, honoured and venerated by ethnic Viet and Chinese Buddhists as well as by Nha Trang’s surviving Cham Hindu community.<br/><br/> Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. Historically, the city was known as Kauthara under the Champa. The city is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa. Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a centre for marine science based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute.
The Great Mosque of Xian, founded in 742 CE, is the oldest mosque in China. The original structure was built during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) although much of the present day mosque was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).<br/><br/> The mosque is completely Chinese in its construction and architectural style, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations. There are no domes or traditional-style minarets.
The Great Mosque of Xian, founded in 742 CE, is the oldest mosque in China. The original structure was built during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) although much of the present day mosque was reconstructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).<br/><br/> The mosque is completely Chinese in its construction and architectural style, except for some Arabic lettering and decorations. There are no domes or traditional-style minarets.
The Linggu Temple and Pagoda was first built in 515 CE, during the Liang Dynasty (502 - 557 CE). The Linggu Pagoda was built in 1929. The temple is Buddhist.<br/><br/> Nanjing dates back to the beginning of the Warring States Period (403–221 BCE). Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE, Nanjing was the capital of the Southern dynasties at a time when non-Chinese were in command in northern China. After various natural disasters and a peasant rebellion, the new Sui dynasty moved the imperial capital to Xi’an (589 CE) and destroyed Nanjing, along with almost all of its cultural and historical relics.<br/><br/> Nanjing regained national importance at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, when its first emperor, Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang), set up the seat of government here in the Southern Capital until it was transferred to Beijing in 1421.
The Linggu Temple and Pagoda was first built in 515 CE, during the Liang Dynasty (502 - 557 CE). The Linggu Pagoda was built in 1929. The temple is Buddhist.<br/><br/> Nanjing dates back to the beginning of the Warring States Period (403–221 BCE). Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE, Nanjing was the capital of the Southern dynasties at a time when non-Chinese were in command in northern China. After various natural disasters and a peasant rebellion, the new Sui dynasty moved the imperial capital to Xi’an (589 CE) and destroyed Nanjing, along with almost all of its cultural and historical relics.<br/><br/> Nanjing regained national importance at the beginning of the Ming dynasty, when its first emperor, Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang), set up the seat of government here in the Southern Capital until it was transferred to Beijing in 1421.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple (Chinese: 大龍峒保安宮; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tōa-lông-pōng pó-an kiong) also known as the Taipei Baoan Temple (Chinese: 臺北保安宮) is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong district of Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>The present temple was originally built by clan members in the Tong'an District (同安) who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the temple the name Bao'an (保安) in order to 'protect those of tong'an' (保佑同安).<br/><br/>The temple construction commenced in 1804 and replaced a previously existing wooden shrine from 1742 in Dalongdong.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple (Chinese: 大龍峒保安宮; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tōa-lông-pōng pó-an kiong) also known as the Taipei Baoan Temple (Chinese: 臺北保安宮) is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong district of Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>The present temple was originally built by clan members in the Tong'an District (同安) who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the temple the name Bao'an (保安) in order to 'protect those of tong'an' (保佑同安).<br/><br/>The temple construction commenced in 1804 and replaced a previously existing wooden shrine from 1742 in Dalongdong.
The Muslim population of Chiang Mai is not particularly large - according to the 1980 census it comprised a mere 2.5% of the city's overall total - but it is successful, diverse, and (at least in the main Muslim neighbourhoods) very noticeable.<br/><br/> Four main areas of Muslim settlement are readily identifiable by their mosques, halal restaurants, men sporting prayer caps and women wearing head veils. Two of these areas (Chang Pheuak and South Changklan) are predominantly Bengali, or South Asian in character, whilst two others (Baan Haw and Sanphakoi) are predominantly Yunnanese.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.
The Muslim population of Chiang Mai is not particularly large - according to the 1980 census it comprised a mere 2.5% of the city's overall total - but it is successful, diverse, and (at least in the main Muslim neighbourhoods) very noticeable.<br/><br/> Four main areas of Muslim settlement are readily identifiable by their mosques, halal restaurants, men sporting prayer caps and women wearing head veils. Two of these areas (Chang Pheuak and South Changklan) are predominantly Bengali, or South Asian in character, whilst two others (Baan Haw and Sanphakoi) are predominantly Yunnanese.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.
The Muslim population of Chiang Mai is not particularly large - according to the 1980 census it comprised a mere 2.5% of the city's overall total - but it is successful, diverse, and (at least in the main Muslim neighbourhoods) very noticeable.<br/><br/> Four main areas of Muslim settlement are readily identifiable by their mosques, halal restaurants, men sporting prayer caps and women wearing head veils. Two of these areas (Chang Pheuak and South Changklan) are predominantly Bengali, or South Asian in character, whilst two others (Baan Haw and Sanphakoi) are predominantly Yunnanese.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.
The Muslim population of Chiang Mai is not particularly large - according to the 1980 census it comprised a mere 2.5% of the city's overall total - but it is successful, diverse, and (at least in the main Muslim neighbourhoods) very noticeable.<br/><br/> Four main areas of Muslim settlement are readily identifiable by their mosques, halal restaurants, men sporting prayer caps and women wearing head veils. Two of these areas (Chang Pheuak and South Changklan) are predominantly Bengali, or South Asian in character, whilst two others (Baan Haw and Sanphakoi) are predominantly Yunnanese.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai, sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of Chiang Mai Province. It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the Chao. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat.<br/><br/> Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok.
Longhua Si and Longhua Ta (Longhua Temple and Pagoda) is Shanghai’s largest Buddhist temple and is the finest ancient monument in the city. It dates from AD 247 and was built by the Emperor Sun Quan in honour of his mother. It has since been destroyed and rebuilt several times. The temple site consists of seven halls that are all used for religious purposes. The 60-m (197-ft), seven-storey tower was rebuilt in 977.
The Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes (Chinese: mògāo kū, also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas and Dunhuang Caves) form a system of 492 temples 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China.<br/><br/> The caves contain some of the finest examples of Buddhist art spanning a period of 1,000 years. The first caves were dug out in 366 AD as places of Buddhist meditation and worship. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The caves also have celebrated wall paintings
Bach Ma (White Horse) temple is the oldest religious building in the Thirty-Six Streets (Old Quarter) of Hanoi – and dates, in its original form, from the foundation of old Thang Long in the 11th century.<br/><br/> According to legend, when Ly Thai To re-established the capital in 1010, the refurbished city walls kept falling down until a magical white horse appeared and indicated where new fortifications should be built. In reverence and gratitude, Ly Thai To established Bach Ma Temple, and the white horse became a guardian spirit for the capital.
St Joseph’s, Hanoi’s Roman Catholic cathedral was built in the 1880s and accurately characterised by the French writer Gaston Cahen in 1907 as being ‘of a horrible Italian Gothic style’.
The Id Kah mosque (Uyghur: Héytgah Meschit, Chinese: Aitígǎěr) is a mosque located in Kashgar, Xinjiang, in the western People's Republic of China. It is the largest mosque in China. Every Friday, it houses nearly 10,000 worshippers and may accommodate up to 20,000. The mosque was built by Saqsiz Mirza in ca. 1442 (although it incorporated older structures dating back to 996) and covers 16,800 square meters.<br/><br/> In 1933, on August 9, the Chinese Muslim General Ma Zhancang killed and beheaded the Uighur leader Timur Beg, displaying his head on a spike at Id Kah mosque. In March 1934, it was reported that the uighur emir Abdullah Bughra was also beheaded, the head being displayed at Id Kah mosque. In April 1934, the Chinese Muslim general Ma Zhongying gave a speech at Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, telling the Uighurs to be loyal to the Republic of China Kuomintang government at Nanjing.
The Id Kah mosque (Uyghur: Héytgah Meschit, Chinese: Aitígǎěr) is a mosque located in Kashgar, Xinjiang, in the western People's Republic of China. It is the largest mosque in China. Every Friday, it houses nearly 10,000 worshippers and may accommodate up to 20,000. The mosque was built by Saqsiz Mirza in ca. 1442 (although it incorporated older structures dating back to 996) and covers 16,800 square meters.<br/><br/> In 1933, on August 9, the Chinese Muslim General Ma Zhancang killed and beheaded the Uighur leader Timur Beg, displaying his head on a spike at Id Kah mosque. In March 1934, it was reported that the uighur emir Abdullah Bughra was also beheaded, the head being displayed at Id Kah mosque. In April 1934, the Chinese Muslim general Ma Zhongying gave a speech at Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, telling the Uighurs to be loyal to the Republic of China Kuomintang government at Nanjing.
The Id Kah mosque (Uyghur: Héytgah Meschit, Chinese: Aitígǎěr) is a mosque located in Kashgar, Xinjiang, in the western People's Republic of China. It is the largest mosque in China. Every Friday, it houses nearly 10,000 worshippers and may accommodate up to 20,000. The mosque was built by Saqsiz Mirza in ca. 1442 (although it incorporated older structures dating back to 996) and covers 16,800 square meters.<br/><br/> In 1933, on August 9, the Chinese Muslim General Ma Zhancang killed and beheaded the Uighur leader Timur Beg, displaying his head on a spike at Id Kah mosque. In March 1934, it was reported that the uighur emir Abdullah Bughra was also beheaded, the head being displayed at Id Kah mosque. In April 1934, the Chinese Muslim general Ma Zhongying gave a speech at Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, telling the Uighurs to be loyal to the Republic of China Kuomintang government at Nanjing.
Dandan Oilik is a deserted historical town and desert oasis in the Taklamakan Desert of Xinjiang, China. Dandan Oilik was an important (though small) centre of local Buddhism and trade on the Silk Road. Its name means 'Houses of Ivory' and has been the site of a small number of significant archeological finds.<br/><br/> Having been abandoned hundreds of years ago, the oasis was found and lost to shifting desert sands several times. Most recently, a German expedition led by Christoph Baumer found the city based on the accounts of previous explorers such as Sir Aurel Stein, and uncovered relics dating to the 7th and 8th Century. They also marked its GPS position, and the city is now being studied by Chinese archeologists.
Set squarely in the siddhi – a zone of supernatural power where guardian deities dwell and wishes are granted – Bodhnath is located just six kilometres east of Kathmandu, along the long, old trade road to Lhasa. Known to the Tibetans simply as Chorten Chempo, or 'Great Stupa', it has been the Mecca of Tibetans in exile ever since the Chinese occupation of their homeland in 1950. Bodhnath has also developed as a centre for the study of Tibetan Buddhism, numerous monasteries having been built in effective replacement of those destroyed by Mao Tse-tung's Red Guards.<br/><br/>The origins of Bodhnath are lost in the mists of time, but tradition fixes the foundation in the fifth century CE. According to legend, a daughter of the god Indra stole flowers from heaven, and was punished by being reborn the daughter of a poor poultry farmer in a Kathmandu Valley village. To atone for her earlier crime, she lived a blameless life, becoming prosperous enough to build a gigantic stupa at Bodhnath to honour Amitabha, the Buddha of the past age. Whatever truth lies behind this legend, Tibetans attach great importance to it, for it goes on to warn of an invasion of their homeland by a powerful enemy, which would scatter the Tibetans southwards into Nepal and India. In 1950, when China occupied Tibet, and more particularly in 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled from Lhasa to Dharamsala, this prophecy seemed finally to have been borne out.
Set squarely in the siddhi – a zone of supernatural power where guardian deities dwell and wishes are granted – Bodhnath is located just six kilometres east of Kathmandu, along the long, old trade road to Lhasa. Known to the Tibetans simply as Chorten Chempo, or 'Great Stupa', it has been the Mecca of Tibetans in exile ever since the Chinese occupation of their homeland in 1950. Bodhnath has also developed as a centre for the study of Tibetan Buddhism, numerous monasteries having been built in effective replacement of those destroyed by Mao Tse-tung's Red Guards.<br/><br/>The origins of Bodhnath are lost in the mists of time, but tradition fixes the foundation in the fifth century CE. According to legend, a daughter of the god Indra stole flowers from heaven, and was punished by being reborn the daughter of a poor poultry farmer in a Kathmandu Valley village. To atone for her earlier crime, she lived a blameless life, becoming prosperous enough to build a gigantic stupa at Bodhnath to honour Amitabha, the Buddha of the past age. Whatever truth lies behind this legend, Tibetans attach great importance to it, for it goes on to warn of an invasion of their homeland by a powerful enemy, which would scatter the Tibetans southwards into Nepal and India. In 1950, when China occupied Tibet, and more particularly in 1959, when the Dalai Lama fled from Lhasa to Dharamsala, this prophecy seemed finally to have been borne out.
Dalongdong Baoan Temple (Chinese: 大龍峒保安宮; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tōa-lông-pōng pó-an kiong) also known as the Taipei Baoan Temple (Chinese: 臺北保安宮) is a Taiwanese folk religion temple built in the Datong district of Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>The present temple was originally built by clan members in the Tong'an District (同安) who immigrated to Taipei in the early 19th century and gave the temple the name Bao'an (保安) in order to 'protect those of tong'an' (保佑同安).<br/><br/>The temple construction commenced in 1804 and replaced a previously existing wooden shrine from 1742 in Dalongdong.
This Dutch woodcut depicts Ternate mosque (far left) and the palace of Ternate in the foreground. The illustration was first published in the Dutch journal, Het Tweede Boeck.
A Fal-nama is a book of divination that can be consulted at random. Opposite each painting is an explanatory text. This text tells us that the scene is enacted in the 'Azure monastery' - location unknown. The omens associated with the miniature are highly inauspicious. In around 1550, the ruling Shah Tahmasp developed an Islamic aversion to figurative painting, and it is likely that this manuscript was the last to be made in the shah’s studio, probably under the supervision of the painters Aqa Mirak and Abdul Aziz. It is not clear who the 'idolaters' are, but the scene is probably intended to portray Buddhists at worship.
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree and is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.<br/><br/> Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals and famous for its well-preserved ruins. From the 4th century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree and is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.<br/><br/> Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals and famous for its well-preserved ruins. From the 4th century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi is a Sacred Fig tree and is said to be a sapling from the historical Bodhi tree under which Buddha became enlightened. It was planted in 288 BC, and is the oldest living human-planted tree in the world with a known planting date.<br/><br/> Anuradhapura is one of Sri Lanka's ancient capitals and famous for its well-preserved ruins. From the 4th century BC until the beginning of the 11th century AD it was the capital. During this period it remained one of the most stable and durable centers of political power and urban life in South Asia. The ancient city, considered sacred to the Buddhist world, is today surrounded by monasteries covering an area of over sixteen square miles (40 km²).
Viharn Nam Taem is thought to be the oldest surviving wooden building in Thailand.<br/><br/> Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง), the ‘Temple of the Great Buddha Relic of Lampang’, dates back to the 15th century and is a wooden Lanna-style temple found in the Ko Kha district of Lampang Province. It stands atop an artificial mound, and is surrounded by a high and massive brick wall. The temple itself doubles as a wiang (fortified settlement), and was built as a fortified temple.
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง), the ‘Temple of the Great Buddha Relic of Lampang’, dates back to the 15th century and is a wooden Lanna-style temple found in the Ko Kha district of Lampang Province. It stands atop an artificial mound, and is surrounded by a high and massive brick wall. The temple itself doubles as a wiang (fortified settlement), and was built as a fortified temple.
Wat Phra That Lampang Luang (วัดพระธาตุลำปางหลวง), the ‘Temple of the Great Buddha Relic of Lampang’, dates back to the 15th century and is a wooden Lanna-style temple found in the Ko Kha district of Lampang Province. It stands atop an artificial mound, and is surrounded by a high and massive brick wall. The temple itself doubles as a wiang (fortified settlement), and was built as a fortified temple.
The Phra Atchana Buddha at Wat Si Chum is in the posture of 'Subduing Mara' or 'Calling the Earth to Witness'. Sukhothai, which literally means 'Dawn of Happiness', was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom and was founded in 1238. It was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years.
The Phra Atchana Buddha at Wat Si Chum is in the posture of 'Subduing Mara' or 'Calling the Earth to Witness'. Sukhothai, which literally means 'Dawn of Happiness', was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom and was founded in 1238. It was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years.
The Phra Atchana Buddha at Wat Si Chum is in the posture of 'Subduing Mara' or 'Calling the Earth to Witness'. Sukhothai, which literally means 'Dawn of Happiness', was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom and was founded in 1238. It was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years.
According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 4th century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king. The Pali Canon, having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BCE.<br/><br/> Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any Buddhist nation, with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 4th century. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Myanmar and Thailand. Periods of Mahayana influence, as well as official neglect under colonial rule, created great challenges for Theravada Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, but repeated revivals and resurgences - most recently in the 19th century CE - have kept the Theravada tradition alive for over 2,600 years.
According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles (such as the Dipavamsa), Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 4th century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiya Tissa. During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king. The Pali Canon, having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BCE.<br/><br/> Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any Buddhist nation, with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 4th century. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Myanmar and Thailand. Periods of Mahayana influence, as well as official neglect under colonial rule, created great challenges for Theravada Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, but repeated revivals and resurgences - most recently in the 19th century CE - have kept the Theravada tradition alive for over 2,600 years.
Wat Duang Di or 'The Good Luck Monastery' dates from the 19th century and is famed for its carved pediments and other stucco decorations.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. Chiang Mai sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand.
Wat Duang Di or 'The Good Luck Monastery' dates from the 19th century and is famed for its carved pediments and other stucco decorations.<br/><br/> King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning 'new city') in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. Chiang Mai sometimes written as 'Chiengmai' or 'Chiangmai', is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand.
Tham Khao Luang is a large cave consisting of three linked chambers and is distinguished by many hanging stalactites and Buddha images, including a phra non or reclining Buddha. The main bronze image was cast on the orders of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and dedicated to his illustrious predecessors, Kings Rama III and Rama IV. There is a natural opening in the ceiling of the second, main chamber, through which daylight streams illuminating the images within.
Tham Khao Luang is a large cave consisting of three linked chambers and is distinguished by many hanging stalactites and Buddha images, including a phra non or reclining Buddha. The main bronze image was cast on the orders of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and dedicated to his illustrious predecessors, Kings Rama III and Rama IV. There is a natural opening in the ceiling of the second, main chamber, through which daylight streams illuminating the images within.
Wat Kamphaeng Laeng was originally a 12th century Khmer Hindu place of worship, later becoming a Buddhist temple. Phetchaburi probably also marked the southernmost extent of the Khmer Empire.
Wat Ratchabophit (Rajabophit) was constructed during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868 - 1910). The temple blends Eastern and Western architectural styles and is noted for its circular cloister enclosing the large Sri Lankan-style chedi and connecting the ubosot (bot) to the north with the viharn to the south.
Wat Ratchabophit (Rajabophit) was constructed during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868 - 1910). The temple blends Eastern and Western architectural styles and is noted for its circular cloister enclosing the large Sri Lankan-style chedi and connecting the ubosot (bot) to the north with the viharn to the south.
The Vegetarian Festival is a religious festival annually held on the island of Phuket in southern Thailand. It attracts crowds of spectators because of many of the unusual religious rituals that are performed. Many religious devotees will slash themselves with swords, pierce their cheeks with sharp objects and commit other painful acts. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Chinese: Jiǔhuángyé; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Káu-ông-iâ; Cantonese: Kow Wong Yeh) is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is observed primarily in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Wat Chet Lin is said to have been the coronation place of King Mekut Sutthiwong [King Mae Ku, the 17th monarch of the Mangrai Dynasty (1263–1578), who ruled North Thailand from 1551 to 1564, the last six years of his reign as a vassal of the Burman King Bayinnaung of Taungoo].<br/><br/> Chiang Mai (meaning "new city"), sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom.
T. Enami (Enami Nobukuni, 1859 – 1929) was the trade name of a celebrated Meiji period photographer. The T. of his trade name is thought to have stood for Toshi, though he never spelled it out on any personal or business document.<br/><br/> Born in Edo (now Tokyo) during the Bakumatsu era, Enami was first a student of, and then an assistant to the well known photographer and collotypist, Ogawa Kazumasa. Enami relocated to Yokohama, and opened a studio on Benten-dōri (Benten Street) in 1892. Just a few doors away from him was the studio of the already well known Tamamura Kozaburō. He and Enami would work together on at least three related projects over the years.<br/><br/> Enami became quietly unique as the only photographer of that period known to work in all popular formats, including the production of large-format photographs compiled into what are commonly called "Yokohama Albums". Enami went on to become Japan's most prolific photographer of small-format images such as the stereoview and glass lantern-slides. The best of these were delicately hand-tinted.