Thatbyinnyu Temple

MYANMAR, Mandalay, Bagan

Thatbyinnyu is a Burmese word for the Sanskrit term Samyaksambuddha, which means Omniscience, or Knowing Thoroughly and Seeing Widely. It is one of the Ten Titles of the Buddha. The temple was built by King Alaungsithu (reigned circa 1112–1167) in 1114 and is the highest temple in Bagan.
The temple is approximately 60 m high and is square with multiple corners. It consists of two stories culminating in a pagoda structure. The first story is surmounted by three terraces with crenelated parapets and ancillary pagodas at the corners. The second story is structured in a similar way with miniature doorways in between the corner pagodas. There are doorways on the north, south, and west sides of the first and second stories, while on the east side there are porticos, which form the main entrance. Above the vaulted doors there are flame-patterned tympana. The pagoda structure at the top has a square base followed by an inverted bowl, which has multiple corners. It is surmounted by an elegant, intricately decorated, elongated spire.
Inside the temple, the first story consists of two levels, which serve as monastic living quarters and are connected by staircases. The first level has one corridor, while the second level contains two concentric corridors and a staircase leading up to the open terrace. The main shrine is located on the second story and a large statue of seated Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined there. Above the main shrine, there is a three-layer terrace with corner stupas and houses a sutra repository.
The temple is famous for its delicate and detailed decorations, in particular its elaborate use of carvings, which reflects the aesthetic styles prevalent in the Bagan region.