Zayat
Azayat(Burmese:ဇရပ်;MLCTS:ja. rap;IPA:[zəjaʔ];fromMonဇြပ်) is aBurmesebuilding found in almost every village. It serves primarily as a shelter for travelers, at the same time, is also an assembly place for religious occasions as well as meeting for the villagers to discuss the needs and plans of the village.TheravadaBuddhist monksuse zayats as their dwelling place while they are exercising precepts onUposatha days.Buddhist monasteriesmay have one or more zayats nearby. Donors mostly build Zayats along main roads aiming to provide the exhausted travelers with water and shelter. Beginning withAdoniram Judson's construction of one in 1818 Christian missionaries have also adopted their use.[1][2][3]
Contributions, in money or labor, towards the construction, running or elaboration of a zayat are seen asdāna(meritorious charity). Thus zayats are generally built in a more durable and costly manner than most private houses. The labor is normally provided by locals, while the financing may be local or remote.[4][5]
Some zayats have evolved other functions over time. For example, the Jivitadana Sangha Hospital for Buddhist monks and nuns began as a clinic at a zayat.[6]
Literature in English[edit]
Because of the importance ofzayatbased evangelism to Adoniram Judson's mission, and the prominence that his first wifeAnn Hasseltine'sletters gave his work, many Christian missionaries in Burma constructed and used one or more zayats, and their letters and journals were widely published by missionary boards and societies in the United States.
The firstFu Manchustory entitledThe Zayat Kisswas published as a stand-alone magazine story in 1912. This and the next nine stories were combined into the novelThe Mystery of Dr. Fu Manchuin 1913, which was titledThe Insidious Dr. Fu Manchuwhen published four months later in the United States.[7]
Gallery[edit]
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A Zayat (pavilion) atKuthodaw Pagoda,Mandalay,Burma -
A roadside Zayat (rest house) atAmarapura,Burma -
A Zayat atSagaing,Burma
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^Howe, Henry (1859).Adventures and Achievements of Americans.New York: Geo. F. Tuttle.as seen atInternet Archive
- ^Robina."The Story of Yawthit".Burma Issues Newsletter, Volume 8 Number 3, March 1998.Retrieved2006-06-04.
- ^Capt. C.J.F.S. Forbes, F.R.G.S., M.R.A.S, &c., Officiating Deputy-Commissioner, British Burma (1878).British Burma and Its People: Being Sketches of Native Manners, Customs, and Religion.London: John Murray.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)as seen atInternet Archive - ^Chambers, William and Robert (1857).Chambers's Information for the People, Vol. II.Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co.as seen atGoogle Books
- ^"Community Service - A Myanmar Tradition".Retrieved2006-06-04.
- ^"Health and Helplines".The Yangon Directory.Retrieved2006-06-04.
- ^"Foreword".The Bookshelf.Retrieved2006-06-04.