Htidaw: Sacred Umbrella Hoisted on Pagodas in Myanmar

Before we can understand the role of umbrellas in life, we need to continue to understand each of their presences. Thus, as I learn today, preparations are "under way to consecrate and complete a replica in Naypyidaw of Burma's famous Shwedagon Pagoda." The inauguration ceremonies will be marked by hoisting its Htidaw (sacred umbrella) and Seinbudaw (diamond bud). So, now what can I find out about "Htidaw"?

By one definition, it is "Holy umbrella like steel structure mounted on top of the temple usually covered with gold leaves and decorated with jewelleries." According to an article by Min Zin in Irrawaddy:

The practice of co-opting religious symbolism for political ends literally reaches its pinnacle with the ceremonial hoisting of the htidaw ("umbrella") on the top of pagodas that have been newly constructed or renovated. This act is regarded as the ultimate merit-making event, and yet it has no basis whatsoever in Buddhist doctrine. According to historian Dr Than Tun, "This practice began in the 15th century, when a Mon king invaded Burman-dominated territory and put a big crown made like his own on top of each pagoda in the land he conquered." As retaliation, "The Burmese king put a likeness of his own crown on top each pagoda when he re-seized his land."

In early 1999, Burma’s military rulers held a htidaw-hoisting ceremony to mark the completion of a major renovation of the country’s most sacred religious edifice, the Shwedagon Pagoda. The ceremony, which was treated as one of the most important religious events of the 20th century, culminated with the generals shouting "Aung Pyi! Aung Pyi!" ("We won! We won!"). Far from sharing in the generals’ sense of victory, however, local people were left feeling more defeated than ever.

So, are we talking politics or culture? Searching for images on Google finds that they are almost all on official Myanmar releases, certainly lending weight that the symbolism is completely political. That still begs the question of what the symbolism is, except some aspect of coopting history. Reading more, the Htidaw is made from gold, so there is a whole cultural aspect of donations of gold to make the Htidaw and soliciting moneys for it.