A Fifteenth-Century Royal Monument in Burma and the Seven Stations in Buddhist Art

Abstract

A group of fifteenth-century monuments in Burma commemorates a special seven-week period associated with the Buddha's Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in India. The layout of the shrines, or stations, was determined by a formal plan that was considered to be a replica of the original temple complex at Bodh Gaya. The adoption of the plan in Burma reflects the process by which a venerated religious site in India and its interpretation were transmitted to Southeast Asia. The royal patronage of the site was motivated by a regional myth that legitimized the foundation of Buddhism in Burma.