1S60.] An ancient Buddhist Monastery at Pu-c/an. 349 



a prejudice against living in brick edifices, whether sacred or profane. 

 Close to the Ananda temple at Pu-gan is a monastery called Ananda 

 monastery. It was, when I visited it in October, 1859, about eight 

 years old. The building, of which a plan is annexed, rests on a plat- 

 form of teak plank, supported by about two hundred massive teak 

 posts, each not less than eighteen inches in diameter. The floor or 

 platform is raised about eight feet from the ground. The monastery 

 itself is 60 feet long from east to west and 45 feet from north to 

 south. The outer portion of the platform on which the building 

 rests, is left unroofed, being an open space from 14 to 16 feet broad ? 

 all round the monastery. A reference to the accompanying ground 

 plan will show, that the arrangement of this modern building bears 

 no resemblance to that of the ancient one. The outer walls of teak 

 plank, are seven feet high. The roof rises with three gradations or 

 tiers. The eaves, gables and ridge ornaments are elaborately and 

 beautifully carved. No gilding appears in the building. The Abbot 

 of this establishment was upwards of eighty years of age. His 

 apartment would properly have been the state room (No. 4) but his 

 great age rendered it irksome to him to move, so he passed his time, 

 during the day, in the long northern apartment, (No. 2) half reclined, 

 leaning against one of the great pillars and enjoying the air. About 

 half of the north side of the outer wall of the building and the whole of 

 the eastern side consisted of shutters working on hinges, which could 

 be raised up and supported on poles, or closed at pleasure, usually 

 only those on the northern side were kept raised during the day. 

 At night the aged Abbot had his bed on the floor, near to where he 

 sat during the day, though there was a handsomely carved bedstead 

 for him close by, had he wished to use it. Near him slept one of 

 the two pazens or deacons, of whom two were attached to the 

 monastery. This arrangement also was with reference to the great 

 age of the Abbot. Under ordinary circumstances, one or both of 

 these pazens would have occupied the room south of the state room 

 (No. 5). The long room called western apartment (No. 6) I found 

 occupied by one of the pazens and the young probationers, of whom 

 there were some half dozen. Usually also this would have been the 

 school room for those boys who attended daily for instruction, but 

 the old Abbot could not bear the noise of these youngsters, and the 



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