Chaung-U

Chaung-U (Burmese: ချောင်းဦးမြို့) is a town in central Myanmar. It is located in Monywa District, Sagaing Division. It is the principal town of Chaung-U township. In the Bagan dynasty, when King Popa Saw Rahan (also known as King Taungthugyi) governed the country, it was named "San Tauk Village". It was a large village where different natives of the Union of Myanmar, like Kayin, Shan and Lawah (Wah) natives, lived happily together.[1] Then, King Kyansit founded the city, gathering ten villages together, for example, Ywa Thit and Ywa Ma, naming it Chaung Oo (or Chaung-U). It is situated 231.46 feet (70.55 m) above sea level at north latitude 22° 45' and east longitude 95° 8' to 95° 25'.[2] The Monywa–Mandalay highway road passes it, so the communication to it is good, quick and easy. The Monywa–Mandalay railway meets that of Chaung-U–Pakokku in the town's station, so you can get there by train. Its official township boundary touches the boundaries of other townships: Myinmu is in the east, Myaung is in the south and south-east, Salingyi is in the west, and Monywa is in the north. The Chindwin River is in the west of the township and the town is six miles away from the river. In Chaung-U there are historical ancient pagodas. Besides, its township has other historical villages, streams, and hills.

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Yadana Shwe Gu Kyi Pagoda which was built by King Alaung Sithu in Chaung-U by Chaungoothar Zaw Win Htet
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Shwe Gu Kyi Pagoda by Chaungoothar

History

It was a village in the early age of the Bagan Dynasties before King Ah Nawyahtār. To be exact, it was a crowded village, so King Taung Thu Kyi transferred there from Poppa when he was a farmer before he became a king. When he became the King in Bagan, he founded the village as an ideal village surrounded by ten villages, and he called it Than Tauk in ME 187. The village was named Than Tauk (San Tauk) because holes flared up when some holes were dug to traditionally bury the abracadabra copper sheets in the ground and to make the village fence. Then, King Kyansit founded the city with ten villages including San Tauk and named it Chaung-U. He called it so because some waves of the Nwe Chway stream were ahead of him there, although he tried to jump across it. When he was a prince, he had always been there and he stayed for a while. After that, the prince Kya Swar and his mother stayed and prayed in Saman Daja (Thaman Daza) Pagoda in Chaung-U to become a king. When he became the King, he offered to gild the pagoda.[3] There is still an inscription on flat stone for his gilding and offering to the pagoda and donating to the monastery.

There are many historical ancient pagodas and monasteries in Chaung-U. It has over 200 pagodas and 60 monasteries. Among them, the most distinctive pagoda is Yadana Shwe Gukyi Pagoda built in the downtown in ME 288. Some people say that it was built by King Ah'laung Sithu and some people say that King Popa Saw Raham built it. Throughout all dynasties in Myanmar, Chaung-U has been a town but it was sometimes a village. When King Sin Phyu Shin governed in Innwa and the country, Ramma Siri Kyaw Htin, the Librarian of Pitakkat and headman of ten villages of Chaung-U, was a famous doctor of literature. Moreover, Min Latwah who served King Mindom was also a famous headman of ten villages of Chaung-U and mayor of A Myint. In the age of the British Colony, Venerable Abbot Ven. D Pa of Maha Dhmmayone Pali University was honored as the Agga Maha Pantita by the British Government of Myanmar. Later abbots were also granted that certificate of honour by the National Governments. In ME 1365 or 2004, the centenary ceremony of the university was celebrated.[4] Many famous poets, politicians and intellectuals have been born in Chaung-U. Now, it is a crowded town located on important highways.

Directory

The Monywa–Mandalay and Chaung-U-Pakokku trains provide access to Chaung-U. You can also get there from Mandalay or Monywa, and from Pakokku by car, bike, motor bike or by other vehicles. It is 84 miles away from Mandalay, and 14 miles away from Monywa. Moreover, there is a good highway from Chaung-U to Pakokku. Chindwin river is in the west. Perhaps you may use it, too.

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Location of Chaung-U in map Coordinates 21°57′30″N, 95°16′32″E Sagaing Division, Central Myanmar

Economy

Since there is much farmland all over the township and the town is located at the junction of two highway roads, public business goes quite well and it is abundantly rich with vegetables, fruits and other foods. One can abundantly and cheaply get any sort of vegetables. The communication is so easy, thus the commerce or trade and transportation are good enough to say that a high percentage of population in the town have got enough good business and a comfortable living standard.

Weather and climate

It is in a central zone of Myanmar. Its weather is fair. Chaung-U features a tropical wet and dry climate.

Geography

In the east of the town, there are long rocky hills, namely, "Nwechway Hills". The town is situated in a plain. In the west, there have many green basin farms near the Chindwin river. Those farms in the east are irrigated by Nwe Chway Dam near Nwe Chway village.

Education

Technical High School (THS)/Institute of Technical and Vocational High Education

Chaung Oo
ေခ်ာင္းဦး
Chaung Oo

Location of Chaung-U, Burma

Coordinates: 21°57′30″N 95°16′32″E / 21.95833°N 95.27556°E / 21.95833; 95.27556
Country Myanmar
Region Sagaing Region
District Monywa District
Population (2010)
 • Ethnic groups Bamar, Burmese Indians
 • Religions Buddhism, Christianity, Islam
Time zone MST (UTC+6:30)

Places of attractions

*Htee Hlaing Shin Pagoda

Distinction

Chaung-U is a town that was not totally destroyed by the World Wars.[5] It had one of the earliest National Institutes in the Age of British Colony. Sa Khin Kodaw Hmaing, a great poet and politician, wrote about the town in "Ten Villages of Chaung-U".[6] Venerable Bago Myoma Shweku, abbot Ven. Eindarsara, Venerable Mandalay Myoma Masoeyane, abbot Ven Siri Nandar Vivansa (Thiri Nandar Bi Won tha), Venerable Monywa Thahtone Vansa (Thahtone Wontha), and abbot Ven Pyin'ya Won sa learnt their Pari yatti Buddhist literature in the Maha Dhmma Yone Pali University in Chaung-U.[7][8] Moreover, Venerable Maha Bodhi Tahtaung Abbot Ven Nãrǎda also learnt the Buddhist literature in Kyi Kone in Chaung-U township.[9]

Another distinction of the town is having the oldest festival of the whole township, Maha Pawah Rāna, on Thidingyut Full Moon Day every year. In 2012, the 70th Maha Pawah Rāna Festival of the whole township was celebrated. In the festival, all Buddhist monks in the whole township meet each other and make the Pawah Rāna in the only Buddhist Pawah Rāna Hall of the township, and Buddhist people offer some articles to them in every Thidingyut Full Moon Day. The festival has been successfully celebrated yearly since 1942. As the 70th festival of Maha Pawah Rāna was recently celebrated last Thidingyut Full Moon Day in 2012, Chaung-U is one of the towns and cities having the longest Maha Pawah Rāna festival tradition.

Notable people

Transport

It is served by a station on the Myanmar Railways.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The History of Chaung Oo by historians
  2. ↑ The monograph Agriculture in Chaung U'
  3. ↑ The stone inscription present in Saman Daja pagoda
  4. ↑ The monumental magazine published in the Centenary Ceremony of Maha Dhmma Yone Pali University
  5. ↑ Myanmar Encyclopedia; Myanma Swe Sone Kyan Volume II
  6. ↑ Poems composed by Sakkin Kodaw Hmaing: Chaung Oo Sal Ywar and A'nyar Mingalarsaung Laycho Gyi
  7. ↑ The biographies of the Venerable Abbots
  8. ↑ The Arahats and Noble Buddhist Monks written by Maung Pan Hmway
  9. ↑ The magazine of honor published in the second Diamond Jubilee and the biography Life Journey in 60 years written by Venerable Migada Wone Abbot

Coordinates: 21°57′30″N 95°16′32″E / 21.95833°N 95.27556°E / 21.95833; 95.27556

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