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ArchitectureShwezigon
The Stupa comprises the stepped triple bases decorated by terracotta plaques depicting Jatakas. These bases provide the circumambulatory paths as the staircases in every direction. At the corner are the groups of miniature Stupa. The bell-shaped Anda is punctuated be the band and the triangular motifs. The Anda is topped by the rings of Chatravali without any Harmika. The lotus is inserted between Chatravali and the banana-liked bud. The shortness of banana-liked bus is a characteristic of Pagan art. This Stupa became the prototype for other Stupa in Pagan and the later periods. The style of this Stupa corresponds to the historical evidence of the date of construction of this Stupa.
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.
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.
PaintingMural in Abeyadana
Pala artistic influence can be noticed from the red tone that occupies the painting. The niches for enshrining Buddha images that cloister at the wall of the temple are flanked by Mahayana Bodhisattvas. The dress and regalia of these figure are very similar to those of Pala sculpture, including the diadem with three pointed leafs, the S-shaped Yajnopavita and the folded lower garment.
