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ArchitectureLawkananda
The stupa composes of triple bases in octagonal plan. Each of them is decorated with panels and punctuated with staircases leading to the circumambulatory path. The bell-shaped element is ornamented with bands in the centre and the triangular patterns at the top, typical to Burmese art. This stupa is categorized to “Pyu-influenced Stupa” because the bell-shaped element is quite elongate. The square throne on the top of the bell-shaped element is omitted, typical to Burmese stupa. The spire comprises the series of rings (Chatravali) and the lotus-bud-liked pinnacle, which is the sharing character in both Pyu-influenced stupa and the pure-Burmese stupa. Pyu-influenced stupa is the group of stupa which co-existed with the Pure-Burmese Stupa during the reign of King Anawratha.
ArchitectureAbeyadana
The dim interior seems to be the most popular concept for the early Pagan art. That is why the lattice window is so popular during this period. The window-niche is beautified with the short leafs on the top of the pediment, characteristic of the period of Early Pagan. The superstructure comprises the series of sloping roofs, typical to the early period of Pagan art, and the Pāla style stupa as the pinnacle. The Pālal styled stupa is characterized by the multi-angled square Harmikā and the Chatravali decorated with the tiny triangle. Abeyadana is the fine example of the Ku or temple of the early Pagan art.
ArchitectureNagayon
The dim interior seems to be the most popular concept for the early Pagan art. That is why the lattice window is so popular during this period. The series of sloping roofs on the transition zone between the body and the spire are also the typical character of the early Pagan period. However, some characters of this temple anticipates the late Pagan art, including the elongate leafs decorating the tympanum. The series of niches decorating vertically at the central portion of the Śikhara is typical to the reign of King Kyanzittha.
ArchitectureAnanda
Anada is the most significant example of the temple (Gu) in Early Pagan art. The temple was designed as four-sanctum-and-four-Madapa temple, hence cruciform plan. The central core is the solid core supporting the Shikhara spire. This kind of plan has been continued from several temples in Pala art, including Paharpur and VikramShila. The roof of the temple is characterized by the sloping roof with four-cornered Stupika supporting the main Shikhara spire. These identities can be compared to the temple built during the same reign, such as Nagayon. However, the absent of the windowed screen allowing the light to penetrate into the interior circumambulatory path is vey different from other earlier temple.
ArchitectureInterior circumambulatory path of Ananda
The inner circumambulatory paths of Ananda are double in number surrounding the central solid core and the sanctums of the temple. There are also numerous sculptures embedded in the wall of the ambulatory path depicting the life of the Buddha. These sculptures are meant for educating the devotees while ambulating around the temple. The arch of the roof supports the sloping roof of the temple. This kind of inner circumambulatory path can be traced back to Pāla temples, including Paharpur and Vikramshila.
ArchitectureKyubyauk Gyi at Myinkaba
Temple of Early Pagan art is normally squat in shape. The windows here are closed by the screens which make the interior ambulatory path and the sanctum very dim. The short leafs at the pediment edge and the prominent sloping roofs are the characteristics of the period. Shikhara with the column of niches in the central offset bears the style similar to that of other temple of contemporaneous period, including Nagayon and Ananda.
ArchitectureThat Binyu
That Binyu is the first double-storeyed temple in Pagan art. The upper storey is supported by the massive solid core hidden inside the lower storey. The plan of both storeys is in sanctum-and-front-hall scheme. This kind of temple would be very popular during the late period of Pagan art and That Binyu seems to be the prototype of the later double-storeyed temple including Sulamani and Htilominlo.
ArchitectureShwegugyi
Shwegugyi is considered to be the example of the transition period, between the tradition of the dim and the bright interior. The windows of this temple become fully-opened without any lattice allowing the light to penetrate inside the temple. The door at the centre of the body also allows the brightness light to penetrate into the interior. The roof is devoid of sloping roof but it is now designed in the form of the stepped pyramidal roof. These characters anticipate the later style of the temple in Late Pagan art.
