Rare Antique Buddhist Temple Carving Gold Leaf Burma

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This rare temple carving in is known as a Kinnara, referred to in Buddhist mythology as paradigmatic lover; celestial musician, half-human and half-bird. This mythical bird features a human head, arms and torso together with a bird’s wings, legs and tail. It is one of the most striking symbols of Burmese culture and is found almost everywhere in Burma including in temples, royal palaces and in arts and handicrafts.

This Kinnara is a late 19^th century piece and was part of a larger structure. It is carved from teakwood and is covered in genuine gold leaf and in parts is inlaid with stained glass. It is in very good condition, given its age. This piece could be displayed by mounting it on a base or framing it to hang on a wall.

In Southeast Asian mythology, Kinnaras, the male counterpart of Kinnaris, are depicted as a half-bird, half-man creature and is one of the many creatures that inhabit the mythical Himavanta forests. Both Kinnaras and  Kinnaris are renowned for their dance, song and poetry, and are a traditional symbol of beauty, grace and good fortune.

In Burma (Burmese: [kèinnəyì]), Buddhists believe that out of the 136 past animal lives of the Buddha, four were as a Kinnara. The Kinnari is also one of the 108 symbols on the footprint of Buddha.

This piece was bought from outside the teakwood monastery, featured in the last two photographs. It is situated about 1km north of the town , Nyaungshwe, near Inle Lake in Burma. The 18^th or 19^th century monastery, called Shwe Yaunghwe Kyaung, features a venerable wooden thein (ordination hall) with unique oval windows. See below for shipping charges.

Length: 38 cm/ 15 inches

Width:  13 cm/ 5.1 inches

Depth: 2 cm / 0.8 inches

Kinnara in Burma

There are said to be various kinds of Kinnara, including a celestial one. Shan people have a Kinnara dance which features long drums with wonderful movable wings fashioned out of strings. Paintings of slender elegant Kinnaras grace walls of ancient buildings and caves in Burma. The Buddha in his inconceivable number of existences leading to his last birth as the Buddha, is said to have been reborn a Kinnara four times. In one of those lives, the Buddha-to-be, known then as Canda Kinnara, was hit by a hunter’s arrow. His wife, Canda Kinnari, was supposed to have used the miraculous healing power of Truthful Speech to revive him. Old classical songs celebrate Kinnaras as loving couples who, after one night’s separation due to a flooded stream, wept for 700 years.

Perhaps the best known Kinnara story in Burma is Dway Mè Naw, Manaw Hari Kinnara from the Kayah ‘Silver Mountain’ state. The story is about a hunter prince who found seven Kinnari princesses playing in an enchanted lake. Throwing a magic net over them, he succeeded in capturing the youngest princess, who, finding the prince to be gentle and loving, married him, became his queen and consequently the matriarch of the Kayah people. Naturally, the Kayah people consider Kinnara the symbol of their state.

According to stone inscription records, King Asoka, wanting to watch the Kinnara dance and sing, sent a trusted servant to the Himalayas to bring back Kinaras with golden tails, feathers, jewellery and sash to perform for him. Historical records show that during the reign of Sagaing King the donor of the five-storey Monastery, a Kinnara, carried along the Thanawady River, was retrieved and presented to the King. The Kinnara has become a favourite Burmese symbol of enduring love. Kinnara performances receive priority in shows and old classical songs have immortalised the romance of the Kinnaras that loved too much, knowing no end to sorrow, as each partner stood on either bank of a stream catching a glimpse of each other in the lightning while the stream prevented them from reuniting for one whole night.

A well-known dance called the Kinnara Neck-Turning Dance, featuring Kinnaras with wings at their shoulders, wrists, and waist, is based on the memory of the Kinnaras singing and dancing at the time of Buddha’s enlightenment. For this, the Kinnaras are considered to be good omens, gracing thrones of Burmese kings on the left and right for auspiciousness. Sculptures of Kinnaras celebrating the Enlightenment of Buddha make popular decorations.

Google sabai designs gallery to see our full collection of Buddhist art from Southeast Asia

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Reduced postage offered for combined items

Dimensions  

Length: 38 cm/ 15 inches

Width:  13 cm/ 5.1 inches

Depth: 2 cm / 0.8 inches

Weight: 400 grams

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Postage Costs

Registered Airmail: 10-14 days

Australia – AU $38.00

Europe & United Kingdom – AU $40.00

USA & Canada – AU $45.00

Asia & Japan – AU $30.00 

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Postage & Handling

·      We post worldwide from Thailand using registered airmail unless otherwise requested

·     Shipping usually takes 7-14 days (but as little as 4 days for some destinations and up to 3 weeks for others)

·     Items are professionally packed to ensure safe arrival

·     Items bought within a 5 day period can be combined to reduce the cost of postage

·     Customers can request insurance and will be notified of the additional cost (Insurance may not be available for some countries)

·     If an item is returned to us marked ‘Unclaimed’, the cost of sending it again will be the responsibility of the customer

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·     Your items will be sent within 2 days of receiving payment

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Return Policy

·      We agree to refund money paid for an item, less the cost of postage, or offer store credit to any customer not satisfied with an item

·     The item must be returned to us in its original condition, within 14 days of receipt to qualify for a refund or store credit

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About Us

sabai designs offers a dynamic collection of some of the most beautiful and interesting items available from Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Burma, Cambodia and India. Our products are hand made by skilled artists, craftsmen and women and are often ‘one of a kind’ pieces. We are constantly stocking our store with exotic new treasures that reflect the colourful cultures and traditions of the East. We hope to support traditional and emerging skills in developing countries by finding a global market for their rich and diverse creations. sabai designs also supports Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for elephants in northern Thailand.

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Contact Us

For inquires please contact Kristin or Scott at sabai@loxinfo.co.th

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Elephant Nature Park

sabai designs supports Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for injured and mistreated elephants in northern Thailand. The founder of the park, Sangduen 'Lek' Chailert, is an award winning conservationist who has been passionately championing the rights of the Asian elephant for decades.

www.elephantnaturefoundation.org

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