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 some different natives of the Union of Myanmar, like kayin, shan and lawah(wah) natives, lived warmly together.[1]Then, King Kyansit founded the city gathering ten villages together, for example, Ywa Thit and Ywa Ma, naming Chaung Oo (or Chaung-U). It is situated 231.46 feet (70.55 m) above the sea level during North Latitude 22° 45' and from East Longitude 95° 8' to 95° 25'.[2] The Monywa-Mandalay highway road passes it, so the communication to it is so good, quick and easy. Railway of Monywa-Mandalay meets that of Chaung-U-Pakokku in the town's station, so you can get it by train. Its township boundary is officially divided, touching with 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. Chindwin River is in the west of the township and the town is six miles away form the river. In Chaung-U, there are historical ancient pagodas. Besides, its township has got other historical villages, streams, and hills.
History
It was a village at the early age of 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 hoes flared up when some holes were dug to bury traditionally the abracadabra copper sheets in the ground and to make fence of the village. Then, King Kyansit founded the city with ten villages including San Tauk and named it Chaung-U. He called so because some waves of Nwe Chway stream was ahead him there although he tried to jump across it. When he was a prince, he had ever 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] Hitherto, there is still inscription on stone flat for his gilding and offering to the pagoda and donating to the monastery. There are a lot of historical ancient pagodas and monasteries in Chaung-U. It's got over 200 pagodas and 60 monasteries. Among them, the most distinct 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. At the age of the British Colony, Venerable Abbot Ven.D Pa of Maha Dhmmayone Pali University was honored the Agga Maha Pantita by the British Government of Myanmar. Next abbots were also honored that certificate of honour by the National Governments. In ME 1365 or in 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
By the trains of Monywa-Mandalay and Chaung-U-Pakokku, you can get Chaung-U. You can also get there from Mandalay or Monywa, and from Pakokku by cars, bikes, motor bikes 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.
Economy
Since there have many farmlands 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 of vegetables, fruits and other foods. One can get abundantly and cheaply any sort of vegetables. The communication is so easy, thus the commerce or trade and transportation are too good enough to say that many percentage of population in the town have got enough good business and convenient 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 plain. In the west, there have many green basin farms where are 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 | |
| Coordinates: 21°57′30″N 95°16′32″E / 21.95833°N 95.27556°E | |
| Country | Myammar |
| 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
- Sin Phyu Shin Bridge
- Shwe Gu Kyi Pagoda
- Htee Hlaing Shin Pagoda
- Nwe Chway Dam
- Maha Dhmma Yone Pali University Yar Pyae Temple
Distinction
Chaung-U is a town where were not totally destroyed by the World Wars.[5] It had got one of the earliest National Institutes at the Age of British Colony. Sa Khin Kodaw Hmaing,a great poet and politician, composed about the town; "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) and Venerable Monywa Thahtone Vansa (Thahtone Wontha) 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 of having the most aging festival of Maha Pawah Rāna of the whole township 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. Such festival has been celebrated successfully and yearly since 1942. As the 70th festival of Maha Pawah Rāna was recently made in last Thidingyut Full Moon Day in 2012, Chaung-U is one of the towns and cities having the most aging Maha Pawah Rāna festival.
Notable people
- Pi takkat Librarian Ramma Siri Kyaw Htin who served King Sin Phyu Shin in Innwa
- Min Latwah, the Mayor of A Myint and headman of ten villages of Chaung-U, who served King Mindom
- Venerable Abbot Ven. D Pa of Maha Dhmma Yone Pali University
- U Wisara(Ven.Wisara), a national hero and martyr of the nation of Myanmar, who was also one of the prominent activists against British rule in Burma and born in Kam Naint village in Chaung-U Township.
- U Nyo Mya who wrote the famous historic article Hell Hound at Large in Oh Wai magazine(born in Thawtapan village in the township) (See also A Myint Village)
- U Maung Gyi,Laeti Pantita, born in Nyaung Phyu Pin village(before, Chaung-U Township)(now, Monywa Township)
Transport
It is served by a station on the Myanmar Railways.
See also
- Transport in Myanmar
References
- ↑ The History of Chaung Oo by historists
- ↑ The monograph Agriculture in Chaung U'
- ↑ The stone inscription present in Saman Daja pagoda
- ↑ The monumental magazine published in the Centenary Ceremony of Maha Dhmma Yone Pali University
- ↑ Myanma Encyclopedia; Myanma Swe Sone Kyan Volume II
- ↑ Poems composed by Sakkin Kodaw Hmaing;Chaung Oo Sal Ywarpoem and A'nyar Mingalarsaung Laycho Gyipoem
- ↑ The biographies of the Venerable Abbots
- ↑ The Arahats and Noble Buddhist Monks written by Maung Pan Hmway
- ↑ 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
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