Sequol Pagoda, Rangoon, Burmah.
" The pagodas in Burmah," says Mr. Boardman, " are the most prominent and expensive of all the sacred buildings. They are solid structures, built of brick, and plastered. Some of them arc gilt throughout, whence they are called (/olden pagodas. The largest pagoda in Tavoy is about fifty feet in diameter, and perhaps one hundred and fifty feet high. That which is most frequented is not so large. It stands on a base
somewhat elevated above the adjacent surface, and is surrounded by a row of more than forty small pagodas, about six feet high, standing on the same elevated base. In various niches round tlie central image are small alabaster images. Both the central and the surrounding pagodas are gilt from the summit to the base, and each one is surrounded with an umbrella of iron, which is also gilt. Attached to the umbrella of the central pagoda is a row of small bells or jingles, which, when there is even a slight breeze, keep a continual chiming. A low wall surrounds the small pagodas, outside of which are tem- ples, pagodas of various sizes, and other appendages of pagoda worship, sacred trees or thrones, sacred bells to be rung by worshippers, and various figures of fabulous things, creatures, and persons mentioned in the Burman sacred books. Around these is a high wall, within which no devout worshipper presumes to tread without putting off his shoes. It is considered holy ground. Outside this wall are perhaps twenty Zayats^and a kyung. The w hole occupies about an acre of ground. The total number of pagodas in Tavoj' is immense. Large and small, they probably exceed a thousand. Before leaving America, I used to pray that pagodas might be converted into Christian churches. But I did not know that they were solid monuments of brick or stone, without any cavity or internal apartments. They can become Christian churches only by being demolished and built anew." The Dagong pagoda at Rangoon is the most magnificent in Burmah. A de- scription of it is given by Mrs. Judson, See her Memoir, and the Christian Offering.
The mode of worship in these heathen temples is as follows : When a Hindu comes to a pagoda to wor- ship, he walks round the building as often as he pleases, keeping the right hand towards it; he then enters the vestibule, and if there be a bell in it, as is usually the case, he strikes upon it two or three times. He then advances to the threshold of the shrine, presents his of- fering to the Brahmin in attendance, mutters inaudiblv a short prayer, accompanied with prostration of the body, or simply with the act of lifting his hands to his forehead, and straightway retires. The ceremonies ob- served by the Hindus in building a pagoda are curious. They first enclose the ground on which the pagoda is to be built, and allow the grass to grow on it. When the grass has grown considerably, tliey turn an ash-col- ored cow into the enclosure to roam at pleasure. Next day they examine carefully where the cow, which they reckon a sacred animal, has condescended to rest its body, and having dug a deep pit on that consecrated spot, they place there a marble pillar, so that it may rise a considerable distance above the ground. On this pil- lar they place the image of the god to whom the pagoda is to be consecrated. The pagoda is then built quite around the pit in which the pillar is placed. The place in which the image stands is dark, but lights are kept burning in front of the idol.
" The term pagoda is, in a loose way, also applied to those Chinese buildings of a tower- form which consist of several stories, each story containing a single room, and being sur- rounded by a gallery covered with a protruding roof. These buildings, however, diflTer mate- rially from the Hindii pagodas, not only so far as their style and exterior appearance are con- cerned, but inasmuch as they are buildings intended for other than religious purposes. The Chinese call them Ta, and they are generally erected in com- memoration of a celebrated per- sonage or some remarkable p,„.celnin Tower of event; and for this reason, too, Nankiu.
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they are placed on some elevated spot, where they may be conspicuous, and add to the charms of the scenery. Some of tliese buildings have a height of 100 feet ; the finest known specimen of them is the famous Porcelain Tower of Nankin. The application of the name pagoda to a Chinese temple should be discountenanced, for, as a rule, a Chinese temple is an insignificant building, seldom more than two stories high, and built of wood ; the exceptions are rare, and where they occur, as at I'ekin, such temples, however magnificent, have no ar- chitectural affinity with a Ilindii pagoda." (Chambers). See Williams, Middle Kingdom, i, 82, 101, 132; ii, 17; Hue, Chinese Empire, ii, IGG sq. ; Bohn's India ; Trevor, India, p. 89-92.