Kyauktawgyi Temple

Sutaungpyai Temple

Mandalay Hill Temples:
Seated Buddhas in Kyauktagyi and Sutaungpyai

Kyautawgyi Temple (1865) is located at the bottom of Mandalay Hill. Its huge Buddha is seated in bhumisparsha mudra, the gesture of "calling the Earth to witness." The focus of this statue is the hand; the eyes are severely downcast, if not actually closed. The second Buddha statue is a modern example, in Sutaungpyai temple at the top of Mandalay Hill. Compare also an earlier example in Manuha.

In Thailand, by way of contrast, the hand is moved further out, in front of the knee, and the figure's gaze, while still psychologically inward, is at least half-open (example, from Lan Na).