Wonders of Burma

Network:Smithsonian Channel

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S01E02 - "Myths and Magic"

Aired on Sep 6, 2016, 1:00 AM

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Description

Before Burma was a country, it was a patchwork of kingdoms and dynasties, until one of the greatest religious reformations in Asian history transformed the area into a Buddhist wonderland. See the myths and monuments that united kings and peasants and created the Burmese culture that still exists today. We also show how this devotion to the Buddha is represented in the remarkable golden architecture that dots the cities and countryside with magnificent temples, stupas, pagodas, and statues.

Details

Status: Ended
Language: English
Runtime: 60 min
Premiered: September 5, 2016
Ended: September 5, 2016
Schedule: Monday at 8:00 PM

External Links

Episodes (1 Season · 2 Episodes)

Shrines of Gold

Throughout Burma, temples, stupas, and statues of gold pop out in the lush, green landscape. This golden architecture has become Burma's calling card, but how and why did that become the standard here? Join us as we travel across Myanmar, the jewel of Asia, and reveal the history and myths surrounding these shrines, each one created as an offering to the Buddha. We will visit such treasures as the golden pagoda of Mt. Kyaiktiyo, which rests perilously atop a huge boulder, the 344-foot Shwedagon Pagoda, and the revered Mahamuni Buddha Temple.

Sep 5, 2016

60 min

Myths and Magic

Burma and Buddhism are intertwined, thanks to centuries of ancient mythology and thousands of golden monuments of worship. It all began with the Pagan Kingdom about 1,000 years ago, when Anawrahta, a great king, and Shin Arahan, a Buddhist monk, together incited one of the greatest religious reformations in Asian history. Join us as we explore this spiritual revolution and how it triggered a wave of temple-building in honor of the Buddha.