Burma/ Myanmar: Woodcarvings at a Buddhist monastery in Monywa, Upper Burma, c.1920s.

The Burmese city of Monywa is in Sagaing Division, located 136 km northwest of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin.

Legend attributes the first Buddhist doctrine in Burma to 228 BCE when Sohn Uttar Sthavira, one of the royal monks to Emperor Ashoka the Great of India, came to the country with other monks and sacred texts. However, the era of Buddhism truly began in the 11th century after King Anawrahta of Pagan (Bagan) was converted to Theravada Buddhism. Today, 89% of the population of Burma is Theravada Buddhist.

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