Not on display

Manuthiha, Guardian at the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda

Photograph
1852 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
McCosh, John (Dr) (photographer)
Place of origin
Burma (photographed)

A manuthiha is a seated creature with a human head and the body of a lion. Believed to ward off danger, they are sometimes found guarding the corners of a pagoda. The Shwe-Dagon Pagoda,where this is one of many such figures, is dated to about 600 AD.

John McCosh was a doctor and amateur photographer stationed in Burma during the Anglo-Burmese War of 1852. This rare photograph is one of the earliest surviving images of the region.

Object details

Categories
Photographs
Buddhism
Object type
Photograph
Titles
  • Manuthiha, Guardian at the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda (generic title)
  • Corner of great pagoda (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
calotype
Calotype
Brief description
'Corner of great Pagoda' by John McCosh, calotype, Burma, 1850s
Physical description
This photograph shows a European man in uniform standing infront of a manuthiha, a seated creature with a human nead and the body of a lion.
Dimensions
  • Image height: 15.8cm
  • Image width: 12.7cm
  • Mount height: 33.2cm
  • Mount width: 26.8cm
Gallery label
Manuthiha, Guardian at the Shwe-Dagon Pagoda
Rangoon (Yangon), About AD 600
By John McCosh (1805–85)

A manuthiha is a seated creature with a human head and the body of a lion. Believed to ward off danger, they are sometimes found guarding the corners of a pagoda. John McCosh was a doctor and amateur photographer stationed in Burma during the Anglo-Burmese War of 1852. This rare photograph is one of the earliest surviving images of the region. [60 words]

Albumen print, 1852–3
Museum no. 85,300
Subject depicted
Buddhism
Place depicted
Burma
Summary
A manuthiha is a seated creature with a human head and the body of a lion. Believed to ward off danger, they are sometimes found guarding the corners of a pagoda. The Shwe-Dagon Pagoda,where this is one of many such figures, is dated to about 600 AD.

John McCosh was a doctor and amateur photographer stationed in Burma during the Anglo-Burmese War of 1852. This rare photograph is one of the earliest surviving images of the region.
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
85300

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Record createdDecember 12, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130026/manuthiha-guardian-at-the-shwe-photograph-mccosh-john-dr/
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