The Lion Throne of Myanmar on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Lion Throne (also known as Sihasana or Thihathana Palin; my, သီဟသနပလ္လင်, derived from sa, सिंहासन, siṃhāsana, lion's seat, throne) is one of the eight historic thrones used by the
As small lion figurines are placed inside the niches of the throne, it is called the ''Thihathana Throne'' or ''Royal Lion Throne''. It is made out of yamane wood ('' Gmelina arborea''). The upper portion of the throne is called "U-gin". There are eleven 
It was believed that Burmese kings descended from Solar and Lunar dynasties. There are two guardian gods of the world ( Lokanat) figures on each side of the door. By representing the Trāyastriṃśa ( the abode of gods), 33 figures of Nats (Devas) are installed at the U-gin, the door and door jamb of the throne. At the left and right sides of the throne, there is each a Lokanat figure, together with a flying lion and a flying elephant, as symbols of peace.
In total, there were nine thrones of only eight different kinds in the time of the monarchs of Burma. The Lion Throne was used for judicial affairs at the Supreme Court (Hluttaw) of the Myanansankyaw Golden Palace in Yadanabon period (1800s). All of the thrones were constructed during the time of King Bodawpaya (1816) by Shwetaung Nawrahta, the minister of that king, who was in charge of building the palace, including the thrones. There were two Lion Thrones, the original one located at the audience hall and a replica of it, located at the Supreme Court.
After King Thibaw was dethroned in 1885, the Lion Throne was taken by the British to India in 1902, where it was displayed at the Indian Museum, Kolkata. After Burma (now Myanmar) regained independence in 1948, it was returned by
The throne was only used three times a year. At the beginning of the
The Lion Throne (also known as Sihasana or Thihathana Palin; my, သီဟသနပလ္လင်, derived from sa, सिंहासन, siṃhāsana, lion's seat, throne) is one of the eight historic thrones used by the Burmese monarchs
This is a list of the monarchs of Burma (Myanmar), covering the monarchs of all the major kingdoms that existed in the present day Burma (Myanmar). Although Burmese chronicle tradition maintains that various monarchies of Burma ( Mon, Burman, ...
. Seven of them were destroyed by fire during the allied bombing of World War II, but the Lion Throne was saved, because the throne was transported to India in 1885 after the Third Anglo-Burmese War, and later returned.
Decorative elements of the throne
As small lion figurines are placed inside the niches of the throne, it is called the ''Thihathana Throne'' or ''Royal Lion Throne''. It is made out of yamane wood ('' Gmelina arborea''). The upper portion of the throne is called "U-gin". There are eleven Chakra
Chakras (, ; sa , text=चक्र , translit=cakra , translit-std=IAST , lit=wheel, circle; pi, cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or ...
and Devas at the both sides of U-gin floral carvings. There are the peacock figurines, which represent the sun, and the hare figurine, which represents the moon, depicted on the proper left and right sides of the door jambs.
It was believed that Burmese kings descended from Solar and Lunar dynasties. There are two guardian gods of the world ( Lokanat) figures on each side of the door. By representing the Trāyastriṃśa ( the abode of gods), 33 figures of Nats (Devas) are installed at the U-gin, the door and door jamb of the throne. At the left and right sides of the throne, there is each a Lokanat figure, together with a flying lion and a flying elephant, as symbols of peace.
History and safeguarding of the last Lion Throne
In total, there were nine thrones of only eight different kinds in the time of the monarchs of Burma. The Lion Throne was used for judicial affairs at the Supreme Court (Hluttaw) of the Myanansankyaw Golden Palace in Yadanabon period (1800s). All of the thrones were constructed during the time of King Bodawpaya (1816) by Shwetaung Nawrahta, the minister of that king, who was in charge of building the palace, including the thrones. There were two Lion Thrones, the original one located at the audience hall and a replica of it, located at the Supreme Court.
After King Thibaw was dethroned in 1885, the Lion Throne was taken by the British to India in 1902, where it was displayed at the Indian Museum, Kolkata. After Burma (now Myanmar) regained independence in 1948, it was returned by Lord Mountbatten
Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British naval officer, colonial administrator and close relative of the British royal family. Mountbatten, who was of German ...
and housed at the presidential residence on Ahlone Road in Rangoon. On 12 September 1959, the throne was moved to the National Museum
A national museum is a museum maintained and funded by a national government. In many countries it denotes a museum run by the central government, while other museums are run by regional or local governments. In other countries a much greater numb ...
for public display, where it remains today.
Use and protocol
The throne was only used three times a year. At the beginning of the Burmese New Year
Thingyan (, ; Arakanese: ; from Sanskrit '' saṁkrānti,'' which means "transit f the Sun from Pisces to Aries) is the Burmese New Year Festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Thingyan is the first ever water festival celebrated in ...
, the beginning and the end of the Buddhist Lent. Whenever a member of the royal court or the royal family wished to hand the king a present, they had to ask permission from the Chief Eunuch and then from the king. When allowed, the giver had to touch the throne with his/her right hand only, as the left hand is thought to be inferior, and the present was given.
See also
* Palin (throne) * Thibaw Min - Burma's last kingReferences
{{reflist Thrones Burmese monarchy Material culture of royal courts