Bagan & Shwedagon : The Cosmic Geometry of Myanmar’s Buddhist Temple /

Across the vast Asian continent, temples and sanctuaries stretch out in harmony with the land, their horizontal lines reflecting a deep connection to nature and the living world. At their core lies an intricate geometry inspired by the cosmos, the elements, and the human form—a fusion of spirituality and design that transcends time.

In Myanmar, this connection reaches its zenith. The Shwedagon Pagoda, gilded with nearly 60 tons of gold, rises as a beacon of faith and devotion, shimmering under the sun. Its spire points to the heavens, yet its base remains firmly rooted in the earth—a symbol of the link between the divine and humanity. Meanwhile, the plains of Bagan, with their breathtaking expanse of over 2,000 ancient temples, showcase an unparalleled architectural legacy. These temples, born of devotion and ambition, reflect a civilization’s desire to immortalize its beliefs in stone and art.

his profound bond between humanity and the cosmos, visible in Asia’s sacred structures, invites us to marvel not only at the beauty of these monuments but also at the resilience and creativity of the civilizations that built them. From the serene plains of Bagan to the golden splendor of Shwedagon, these sacred spaces stand as timeless testaments to the spiritual quest for harmony with the universe.

Documentary: Sacred Spaces – Asian Temples. Humans, Nature and Gods
Directed by: Véronique Legendre
Production : ZED, ARTE FRANCE, CuriosityStream

We fully own the rights to the use of the published content.
Any illegal reproduction of this content will result in immediate legal action.

SLICE wants to fill up your curiosity!
Accessible to anyone from anywhere at any time, this channel is your weekly dose of short docs about curious facts, discoveries, astounding info, unusual stories, weird, fun and instructive. Be smart, have a slice!

Subscribe now ►►► / @slicedocumentary

Become a fan ! / @slicedocumentary

SHWEDAGON Pagoda – 2500 Years of Myanmar’s Buddhist Legacy / FULL DOCUMENTARY

According to legend, Shwedagon Pagoda was built 2,500 years ago at the top of the Myanmarese capital Yangon, and its aura still protects the city today. The stupa, which contains eight strands of Buddha’s hair, is the most symbolic and sacred site in the country, of which 90% of the population are Buddhist.

Its architecture is made up of circles and squares, which in Buddhist cosmology represent heaven and earth respectively, and is further evidence of how sacred it is. The pagoda’s vibrant atmosphere is created by the 20,000 gold plates that cover the building and the precious stones that adorn it. Workers and volunteers spend every day at the site continually restoring it and keeping the stupa beautiful. They do this in the hope that their dedication will cultivate good karma for their future reincarnation.

Documentary: Wonders of Men EP1: Myanmar, The Shwedagon Pagoda (2018)
Directed by: Véronique Legendre & Alexis Barbier-Bouvet
Production: ZED & ARTE

documentary #freedocumentary #wondersofmen #shwedagonpagoda #myanmar #monument #yangon #buddhism

https://youtu.be/U-8ojvNcozE?si=

Myanmar’s Unifying Kingdom / The Mark Of Empire /Bagan

he Bagan Empire was first to unify the territory of present-day Myanmar under Burmese language and culture, that grew into a world-renowned centre of Buddhist learning. Host Peter Lee learns how its fabled king, Anawrahta, overcame the dry conditions of his land by taming rivers into canals and weirs which are still used today. As a bigger harvest grew his population, Bagan was ripe for expansion, and Peter takes part in the traditional elephant dance that celebrates a Buddhist pilgrimage of King Anawrahta’s. While the Bagan king wished to turn Bagan into a new Buddhist state, Peter heads to a sacred mountain to see the battle that unfolded between Buddhism and Myanmar’s indigenous animist gods, called Nats. It’s expansion transformed Bagan into a capital of diverse peoples, who each brought their own in founding a new Burmese culture and identity. And the legacy of its temple building still lives on in a strong faith that’s practiced among the Burmese people today.

r more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! / cnainsider

About the series: Host Peter Lee explores the history of four Southeast Asian empires that made their mark on the world. Travelling from Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia to Indonesia, Peter explores ancient ruins, epic legends and vibrant traditions to chart the rise and fall of four distinct empires, and how their legacy still shapes cultures and identities in the region today