A conductor at the highest point
The Shwemawdaw Pagoda stands 114 meters tall, making it the highest pagoda in Myanmar. Its great height makes it a natural target for lightning. To protect the structure, the finial at its apex, an ornamental spire known as a hti—is engineered to be a lightning rod. A lightning rod does not prevent a strike but offers a safe, low-resistance path for the immense electrical current to travel to the ground.
This system intercepts the lightning, guiding the electrical discharge away from the vulnerable masonry of the main structure. The current passes harmlessly through conductive materials to the earth, preventing the explosive damage that occurs when electricity superheats moisture trapped inside brick or stone. The metallic composition of the hti makes it an ideal conductor for this purpose. This application of electrical principles protects the ancient brickwork below from catastrophic failure during thunderstorms.
A history of reconstruction
The Shwemawdaw Pagoda's existence is marked by repeated destruction and rebuilding, primarily due to its location in an active earthquake zone. Major earthquakes in 1917 and 1930 caused severe damage, with the 1930 quake leveling much of the structure. The current 114-meter version was the result of a reconstruction completed in 1954.
The pagoda's form derives from the ancient Indian stupa, a structure built to house sacred relics. Shwemawdaw is believed to enshrine two hairs of the Buddha, brought from India over a thousand years ago. The main body of the stupa is a solid, brick-built structure. The history of damage and repair is so integral to the site that a massive fragment of the spire that broke off during the 1917 earthquake is preserved on the pagoda grounds for visitors to see. This visible remnant reveals the internal brick construction and shows the immense forces—both seismic and atmospheric—that the pagoda must withstand.