Mindon Min
Encyclopedia
Mindon Min was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878. He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan
, the Second Anglo-Burmese War
in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma
by the British Empire
. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper portion of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom.
, in 1857. His young brother Kanaung proved to be a great administrator and modernizer. During Mindon's reign, scholars were sent to France
, Italy
, the United States
, and Great Britain, in order to learn about the tremendous progress achieved by the Industrial Revolution
.
Mindon introduced the first machine-struck coins to Burma, and in 1871 also held the Fifth Buddhist council
in Mandalay. He had already created the world's largest book
in 1868, the Tipitaka, 729 pages of the Buddhist Pali Canon
inscribed in marble and each stone slab housed in a small stupa
at the Kuthodaw Pagoda
at the foot of Mandalay Hill
.
In 1871 Mindon also donated a new htee ('umbrella' or crown gilded and encrusted with precious diamonds and other gems) to the 343 feet (104.5 m) Shwedagon Pagoda, which is located in then British held Yangon
, although he was not allowed to visit this most famous and venerated pagoda in the country.
With the opening of the Suez Canal
, Mindon assembled a flotilla of steamers
to facilitate trade with the British.
His brother Kanaung is still remembered by the Burmese as an avid modernizer, who would go to the factories early on cold winter mornings with a blanket wrapped around, just to talk to the mechanics about how the machines ran. He was in charge of the Royal Army, as was customarily required of Burmese crown princes, and he imported and manufactured guns, cannons and shells.
King Mindon himself got away in an extraordinary manner, which the Burmese regarded as a sign of his hpon (a sum of past good deeds that affect one's present life). He ran into the very person who was assigned to kill him and whom he recognised, but on encountering the king face to face, the man dropped his sword and dropped on his knees from force of habit. The king was then promptly offered a piggy-back ride by his would-be assassin and escaped towards the barracks of his loyal guards.
One of his queens, Hsinbyumashin, dominated the last days of King Mindon. It was an edict by Hsinbyumashin that ordered almost all possible heirs to the throne be killed, so that her daughter Supayalat
and son-in-law Thibaw
would become queen and king. Close royals of all ages and both genders were mercilessly executed, after being tricked that the dying king wanted to bid them farewell.
Thibaw
, Mindon's son from a lesser queen, succeeded him after his death in 1878. King Thibaw was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Burmese War
in November 1885 resulting in total annexation of Burma.
Pagan Min
Pagan Min , was the ninth king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma. Born Maung Biddhu Khyit, he was granted the title of Prince of Pagan by his father Tharrawaddy in August 1842. Pagan Min became king when Tharrawaddy died on 17 November 1846, with the formal title of His Majesty "Pyinsama...
, the Second Anglo-Burmese War
Second Anglo-Burmese War
The Second Anglo-Burmese War was the second of the three wars fought between the Burmese and the British Empire during the 19th century, with the outcome of the gradual extinction of Burmese sovereignty and independence....
in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma
Lower Burma
Lower Burma is a geographic region of Burma and includes the low-lying Irrawaddy delta , as well as coastal regions of the country ....
by the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper portion of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom.
Achievements
King Mindon founded the last royal capital of Burma, MandalayMandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
, in 1857. His young brother Kanaung proved to be a great administrator and modernizer. During Mindon's reign, scholars were sent to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and Great Britain, in order to learn about the tremendous progress achieved by the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
.
Mindon introduced the first machine-struck coins to Burma, and in 1871 also held the Fifth Buddhist council
Fifth Buddhist council
The Fifth Buddhist council took place in Mandalay, Burma in 1871 AD in the reign of King Mindon. The chief objective of this meeting was to recite all the teachings of the Buddha according to the Theravada Pali Canon and examine them in minute detail to see if any of them had been altered,...
in Mandalay. He had already created the world's largest book
World's largest book
The world's largest book stands upright, set in stone, in the grounds of the Kuthodaw pagoda at the foot of Mandalay Hill in Mandalay, Myanmar . It has 730 leaves and 1460 pages; each page is three and a half feet wide, five feet tall and five inches thick...
in 1868, the Tipitaka, 729 pages of the Buddhist Pali Canon
Pāli Canon
The Pāli Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the only completely surviving early Buddhist canon, and one of the first to be written down...
inscribed in marble and each stone slab housed in a small stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
at the Kuthodaw Pagoda
Kuthodaw Pagoda
Kuthodaw Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa, located in Mandalay, Burma , that contains the world's largest book. It lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon. The stupa itself, which is gilded above its terraces, is high, and is modelled after the Shwezigon Pagoda...
at the foot of Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Hill is a 240 metre hill that is located to the northeast of the city centre of Mandalay in Burma. The city took its name from the hill. Mandalay Hill is known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries, and has been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for nearly two centuries...
.
In 1871 Mindon also donated a new htee ('umbrella' or crown gilded and encrusted with precious diamonds and other gems) to the 343 feet (104.5 m) Shwedagon Pagoda, which is located in then British held Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, although he was not allowed to visit this most famous and venerated pagoda in the country.
With the opening of the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, Mindon assembled a flotilla of steamers
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
to facilitate trade with the British.
His brother Kanaung is still remembered by the Burmese as an avid modernizer, who would go to the factories early on cold winter mornings with a blanket wrapped around, just to talk to the mechanics about how the machines ran. He was in charge of the Royal Army, as was customarily required of Burmese crown princes, and he imported and manufactured guns, cannons and shells.
Palace rebellion
During an unsuccessful palace rebellion on June 18, 1866 by Princes Myinkun and Myinkhondaing (sons of King Mindon, jealous for not being named successor, and backed by the British who were alarmed by Kanaung's modernization of the Burmese Royal Armies), the crown prince was assassinated. The two princes fled to British Burma, and were granted asylum by the British.King Mindon himself got away in an extraordinary manner, which the Burmese regarded as a sign of his hpon (a sum of past good deeds that affect one's present life). He ran into the very person who was assigned to kill him and whom he recognised, but on encountering the king face to face, the man dropped his sword and dropped on his knees from force of habit. The king was then promptly offered a piggy-back ride by his would-be assassin and escaped towards the barracks of his loyal guards.
Succession crisis
The rebellion caused Mindon great reluctance in naming a successor to Kanaung for fear of civil war.One of his queens, Hsinbyumashin, dominated the last days of King Mindon. It was an edict by Hsinbyumashin that ordered almost all possible heirs to the throne be killed, so that her daughter Supayalat
Supayalat
Supayalat was the last queen of Burma who reigned in Mandalay , born to King Mindon Min and Queen of Alenandaw . The British corruption of her name was 'Soup Plate'...
and son-in-law Thibaw
Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....
would become queen and king. Close royals of all ages and both genders were mercilessly executed, after being tricked that the dying king wanted to bid them farewell.
Thibaw
Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....
, Mindon's son from a lesser queen, succeeded him after his death in 1878. King Thibaw was defeated by the British in the Third Anglo-Burmese War
Third Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
in November 1885 resulting in total annexation of Burma.
External links
- The Largest Stone Buddha Image by Dr. Khin Maung Nyunt: http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-culture/stone-buddha.htm