It is the architecture that one sees as the strongest evidence of Burmese artistic skills and craftsmanship. The religious architecture of Myanmar is probably the most independent of the Indian architectural style, which is predo-minant in many parts of Southeast Asia. Burmese buildings take two basic forms – pagodas and temples. Traditionally only the latter have been made of permanent materials; monasteries and all secular buildings were, until recently, constructed of wood, and thus, only few non-religious buildings of former times remain to be visited.
Pagodas are found almost everywhere in the country in big numbers. They are basically seen as a focus for meditation or contemplation, and are supposed to house holy relics from the Buddha. The great Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon enshrines some of his hair, as it is said.
Over the centuries, the architectural style has grown more elaborate, depending on the region and cultural influence of other cultures nearby. All pagodas, however, have in common a bell-shaped structure, which in later centuries was erected on top of a foundation.
Temples are constructed mainly to house images of the Buddha. The walls are often decorated with beautiful paintings depicting episodes from the lives of the Buddha.
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