A Burmese wonderland; a tale of travel in Lower and ... - Khamkoo

A BURMESE WONDERLAND. 99
preserved, and which then, and henceforth, became
the wonder and admiration of every generation. Pagan
became the acknowledged metropolis of Buddhism.
Fortunately the dryness of the climate, and the absence
of all jungle except cactus, have ensured the preservation
of these monuments. Men and earthquakes are
their only enemies : and of these, Man has displayed
an unbeHevable perseverance in breaking into the
images and relic chambers of almost every one of the
reputed
5,000 shrines.
A peculiar coincidence of dates and events between
Burmese and English history helps to fix this period
clearly in the mind. The Thaton Conquest occurred in
1057 : the Norman Conquest in 1066 : and both had
the same intellectual significance. In both countries
there was a simultaneous development in art and
letters. Winchester Cathedral was built in 1079, the
Ananda Pagoda in 1090. Curiously enough, while Henri
Beauclerc was translating iEsop's fables in England,
Kyanzittha was moulding them in plaques at Pagan.
To follow the coincidence a step further William Rufus
and Anawratta both met mysterious deaths out hunting,
the one in 1087, the other in 1077.
* * * * *
The early history of Buddhism in Burma is obscure.
Pure Southern Buddhism, we have seen, was introduced
at Thaton probably at the beginning of the Christian
era, but missions were not sent in Asoka's time, as is