HISTORY
King Minbin was a man of brain and brawn who paid special attention to the security and defence of his kingdom. Ancient Mrauk U City as it stands today testifies to it. He could assess and utilize for defence purpose the strengths and weaknesses of the geographical location and natural environment of his domains. As the kingdom occupied a narrow coastal strip with on open sea front and being criss-crossed by several rivers and creeks, these physical features were put to use for building security and defence.
Most ancient cities in Myanmar have normally three kinds of moat - shunt kyon, Nyun Kyon and Kyon Chauk defending them. But in the case of Mrauk U, there were two more types of moat namely Kyon Shin and Kyon Pinlei in addition to the usual three types. So Mrauk U was unique in her defence system for it was defended with 5 types of moat. Mrauk U is situated within the seacoast. It is encircled with a natural water system. Rivers and creeks are fed and activated by the ebb and flow of the tide. For defence purpose some bodies of natural water were drained off and land-filled, some were widened and extended, yet some were deepened so that water flow could be regulated to form Kyon Shin to obstruct the invaders.
King Minbin who made security and defence top priority in his national policy even turned to occult science for reassurance. Two of his guru monks Venerable Shin Mya Wa and Venerable Maha Panna Kyaw who were expert in vedas astrology, charm and cabalistic diagrams were consulted. Under their instruction and supervision, a hundred large fences and a thousand small fences with cabalistic diagrams affixed to them were installed on the summits of hills and mountain ranges around Mrauk U. These mystic fences arranged by the two monks were believed to have potent supernatural power to ward off the enemies. Many caves and pagodas were built near them.
After the security and defence systems were established naturally, artificially and supernaturally, King Minbin did his best in food storage for his subjects for normal times as well as for emergencies. Special sites were chosen to build granaries. Historical records tell us that there were 41 granaries at Mrauk U alone. Right now archaeologists have discovered and compiled an inventory of 13 granaries. It is expected that more will be found. Of the 13 granaries, Win Ma Na Granary is now being preserved by Archaeology Department, Mrauk U Branch.
City gates that provided entry into the city were built in accordance with their strategic importance. They are strong gates built of stone. Water gates and sluices built of the same material are in good condition till today. Contemporary of Kings Tabin Shwe Hti and Bayint Naung of Taungoo and Hamsawadi respectively, King Minbin ranked equal to them, in that he provided strong security and defence, and sufficient food storage for his people. His kingdom was a modern and developed kingdom of the time. He left a strong united, consolidated, prosperous and progressive kingdom for generation, of 49 successor kings after him who ruled and reigned for 354 years.
Mrauk U is the only site in Myanmar where there is an assemblage of many stone buildings. The Rakhing king Minzawmon founded Mrauk-U in1433. A Deutsch man who visited Mrauk-U in the 16th century described it as one of the richest cities in Asia, and compared with Amsterdam and London in size and prosperity. Tour highlight include Kothaung Temple; it is the thousand of small Buddha bas-reliefs on the walls of which make the temple so interesting, Sakyamanaung Stupa, the bells reverts to a layered circular shape which is mounted a decorative umbrella, Mahabodi Shwegu Stupa; scenesf rom Jataka line( the past lives of Buddha have 550 Stories.) the inner side of the passage, and Pitakateik; Buddhist library, the monument's most distinguishing features are its five tiered roofline and beautifully |
CULTURE AND HISTORY
Marauku