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Moidams – the Mound-Burial system of the Ahom Dynasty

摘要: Justification of Outstanding Universal Value  The Tai-Ahomtribes upon their migration from China established their capital in different parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley (North-East India) between

Justification of Outstanding Universal Value

  The Tai-Ahomtribes upon their migration from China established their capital in different parts of the Brahmaputra River Valley (North-East India) between 12th to 18th CE.Usurping the Barahi tribe, Chau-lung Siu-ka-pha established the first capital of the Ahoms at the foothill of Patkai hills and named it Che-rai-doi or Che-tam-doi, meaning “a dazzling city above the mountain” in their language and consecrated site with a ritual. While the clan moved from city to city, the landscape of Che-Rai-Doi or Choraideo continued to retain its position as most sacred where the departed soul of the Royals could transcend into the after-life. Their unique system of vaulted mounds continued for 600 years, till many Tai-Ahoms converted to Buddhism while others adopted the Hindu system of cremation.

  Choraideo at foothills of Patkai range was the first capital and the most revered landscape of the Tai Ahoms. Believing that their Kings were Gods on earth, the Tai Ahoms chose to bury the deceased Royals in Choraideo, the most sacred core of their Kingdom. The continuity of this funerary for over 600 years has manifested in creating an undulating landscape, reminiscent of the mountains of heaven and reflected the Tai Ahom belief of life, death, spirit and the ‘other world’.The Moidams of Choraideu remains the only area where the largest concentration of these vaulted-mound burial chamber exist together, demonstrating a grand royal burial landscape unique to the Tai Ahoms.

  The series of Moidams at the foothills of the Patkai range together show the sculpted burial landscape reminiscent of the hills. Although to subject to vandalism by treasure seekers in early 20th CE, the group of Moidams in Choraideo has been systematically restored to safeguard its structural integrity.

  The undulating man-made burial landscape of Choraideo demonstrates the funerary traditional Tai Ahoms, a practiced which creased to after its rulers converted to other religions (Hinduism and Buddhism). Described elaborately in their canonical text (Phukan), the landscape created by a series of Moidams together with the material objects recovered from the vaulted chambers shows the Tai Ahom belief of life, death and the appropriation of this belief system to create a landscape that is ’like a dazzling city above the mountain’ befit for their God-like Kings.

  The property and Buffer zones are jointly protected and managed jointly by the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Department of Archaeology under the Ancient Monuments and Sites Remains Act’ 1958 (Amended in 2010) and by the Assam Ancient Monuments and Records Act 1959 respectively.

  Criterion (v): Choraideo at foothills of Patkai range was the first capital and the most revered landscape of the Tai Ahoms. Believing that their Kings were Gods on earth, the Tai Ahoms chose to bury the deceased Royals in Choraideo, the most sacred core of their Kingdom. The continuity of this funerary for over 600 years has manifested in creating an undulating landscape, reminiscent of the mountains of heaven and reflected the Tai Ahom belief of life, death, spirit and the ‘other world’.

  The Moidams of Choraideu remains the only area where the largest concentration of these vaulted-mound burial chamber exist together, demonstrating a grand royal burial landscape unique to the Tai Ahoms.


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