Ashin Sumangal (Sagaing) - Three Jasmine Garlands

Introducing Han Lin

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When discussing ancient history, there are many different opinions and different opinions, so there is always a lot of disagreement, such as "his is wrong, mine is right." There is even a saying that goes, "We talk with sticks and swords." Because there are often controversial issues,

“Don’t deny with a stick, deny with a hoe,” said U Pe Maung Tin, a Buddhist monk. This means that only stone tablets, broken statue arms, broken bricks, and broken pottery found underground can provide the most accurate historical information and conclusions.

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New discoveries are providing a great deal of support in examining the true history of ancient cities that have long since disappeared. These data can be used to trace the development of human history. Sites where ancient human artifacts have been unearthed, proving that ancient cities once existed, or where religious and cultural structures have survived intact, as they were built by ancient people thousands of years ago, have become a major source of inspiration for researchers around the world.

It is not that those places and regions belong only to that country. They are related to the development of human history, but they are related to all mankind. They are valuable historical information that belongs to all mankind. However, those places and regions have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and have been carefully preserved.

The 38th session of the World Heritage Committee held on June 22, 2014, recognized three ancient Pyu cities in Myanmar as World Heritage Sites. The three ancient cities are “Bishnoi Ancient City” in Taungdwingyi Township, Magway Region, “Hanlin Ancient City” in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region, and “Sri Khetra Ancient City” in Pyi Maw Za, Bago Region.

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Among the three ancient Pyu capitals, the first one I visited was “Hanlin.” More than 30 years ago, when I visited the village of Mo Soo Sung, a local family took their three young U Zin to the ancient city of Hanlin. I remember the trip by ox cart. We had lunch at a monastery in Hanlin. That time, we saw hot and cold water springs. Another thing was the large brick walls along the edge of the old city wall.

Until then, Han Lin had not yet come to my mind. I had heard the word “” when I first started talking, but I had only heard “Han Lin” at that time. Then, I read the first book of Saya Shwe U Daung’s “Saya Thein”. I was amazed to read about Han Lin’s Nagagyit Ai. When I read Saya Naing Win Swe’s Mahura Metta, I saw the old city of Vishnu, Yanpae Chaung and Queen Pan Hwa. It can be said that I was once again influenced by the old Pyu capital. Thus, my interest in ancient cities gradually increased.

Last year I visited Sri Kshetra. Sri Kshetra, an old Pyu capital, is located near Pyay. I think Sri Kshetra is more vibrant than the old Pyu city of Hanlin that I visited when I was young. There is a museum. There are souvenir shops. I visited the “Baw Baw Gyi” pagoda, which is said to be the oldest among the pagodas. I also had a new feeling of being in the ancient capital.

Last week was my second visit to the ancient city of Hanlin. The transportation system is much better than before. Hanlin now has electricity. There is also a new museum. The museum was closed when we arrived, so we didn't see what was inside. We did get to visit the tombs. Looking at the stone walls, old pagodas, old coconut trees, palm trees, and palm fronds, I imagined the once magnificent city.

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On the right side of the Shwebo-Mandalay highway, there is a Hanlin junction. It is about 11 miles from the Sai Naing Kwai junction to Hanlin. The distance between the Mu and the Ayeyarwady Rivers is 27 miles from east to west. The Mu River supplies water to the Hanlin farms. It is said that both rivers have changed their course many times over the centuries, leaving behind lakes and ponds.

A large pile of pottery shards has been excavated from the site of the ancient city of Hanlin. Radioactivity measurements of the bottom layer of charcoal indicate that humans lived in the area as early as 4,500 years ago, and more than a dozen giant piles of pottery shards are evidence that ancient people lived continuously in the Hanlin area. Experts say that Hanlin is a place that has gone through all the periods of the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age.

The existence of Hanlin was linked to India. The original name of the capital was “Hansanagara”. The middle son of the Grand President, Prince “Karabaw”, arrived in the region and established the “Golden Land of Hanlin”. The number of kings who ruled in Hanlin is (96), (there is also a claim that it is 799). The last king was named “Pyu Saw Htee” according to historical texts.

King Rajadhiraja and Queen Saw Yu Nwe had two sons named Pyu Saw Htee and Pyu Saw Htee. They were called Min and Pyone Min. After their father passed away, their elder brother Pyu Min became king and his younger brother Pyone Min became crown prince. It was said that whenever Pyone Min smiled, a rain of jewels would fall from the sky. When the Chinese Emperor U Tsing heard this news, he sent an envoy to investigate. When Pyu Min invited Pyone Min to attend the conference, Pyone Min was unable to smile and refused. His elder brother, who misunderstood the incident, executed Pyone Min.

King Pyone's younger son, Saw Tissa, also left Nay Pyi Taw and entered the religious order under the name of Shintissa. After a while, Shintissa came to Hanlin Nay Pyi Taw to preach the Dhamma to his elder brother Pyu. Pyu, who mistakenly thought that he had come to usurp the throne, had him put to death in a furnace, but Shintissa did not die. He escaped by flying away in a celestial vehicle. Because of this unwholesome deed, the city of Hanlin was destroyed by a rain of sand. It is said in the "Hanlin Chronicles".

The ancient city of Hanlin seems to have been destroyed by fire sometime between the eighth and ninth centuries AD. Historical accounts say it was caused by a fire. There is no mention of an enemy attack. There is no evidence of an external attack, but it is unlikely that the fire was caused by an enemy attack. There is no evidence of the city being rebuilt after the fire, according to U Myint Aung’s “Hanlin Old City.” According to Robert Hudson’s radiocarbon dating, there was no fire and no major war, according to Dr. Tin Maung Kyi’s book “Hanlin” (Mandalay).

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There was a queen in the Han Lin Dynasty who was very intelligent and brilliant. The 53rd queen of the Han Lin Dynasty was called “Shin Sing Mauk”. She is known in history as a queen who was able to unite the 12 Pyu kingdoms into one. The 12 kingdoms were Han Lin, Ngamanta, Asiri, Mawza, Alaw, Maw, Moe, Moenai, Pandaung, Kyauk Kree, Teim Mae (Pagou), Pilin (Sea) and Tanintharyi.

The “Hanlin Great Chronicle” states that Hanlin Queen Shin Sing Mauk was older than the Mon Queen “Shin Saw Pu” who appeared more than 500 years ago, and therefore she was the first queen of Myanmar.

The Pyu coins were often called “nine-city coins” by the Han Lin people. It is noted that the nine cities were combined with the Han Lin. The eight cities were “Myo Hla, Ko Pin, Kyauk Myaung, Sha Kwe, Shein Ma Ka, Sing Kut, Hla Hung and Min Kyi”.

Daily Eleven ( 20-2-2016)

(Reference - Han Lin's Chronicle (U Thin Maung, Mandalay, Myint Oo)

- Hanlin (Doctor Tin Maung Kyi) - Hanlin Old Town (U Myint Aung)