This method of judgment was so fearsome that people did not dare to swindle one another or break contracts. Eventually, a monk figured out a way to cheat the system. A merchant who was planning a journey gave the monk a measure of gold for safekeeping until his return. Wanting to cheat the merchant, the monk melted the gold and poured it into a hollow wooden staff, skillfully sealing the end so nothing appeared unusual. When the merchant returned to Pagan, the corrupt monk claimed that the gold had already been returned.

Brought before the great pincers, both men stated their case. The merchant gave testimony without incident and stood aside for the monk to take his turn. The crook casually handed his cloak and the staff he had been leaning on to the merchant and placed his hands between the pincers. His testimony was, of course, that he had returned all the gold to the merchant. The pincers did not move. The judges were nonplussed. Even the people looking on were upset when the pincers failed to reveal the truth.

A weathered Buddha from the Ananda Temple.

Eventually, the judges realized what had taken place. The monk was arrested, and the stolen gold was discovered in his staff. Although the monk was duly punished and justice was served, the power of the great pincers had been broken. Never again would they reveal falsehood. From that point on, justice had to be served by men. Because liars can convince most people, however, the city’s business affairs became liable to corruption, cheating, and thievery.

A great gift is lost

Today, it is difficult to imagine life in Pagan’s heyday. Nothing of the city, its homes or its thorough fares, remains except for the seemingly random scattering of monoliths. With the exception of a few special centers, like the Ananda temple complex, most of the relics are individually unremarkable. They follow the same basic design: solid pagodas protect alcoves containing statues of Buddha, each facing a cardinal direction, and temple interiors give access to similar impassive icons. But the sheer multitude of these steadfast stone sentinels is awe inspiring.

I am told that a prophecy given in Anawrahta’s time dispelled all vanity in the city’s creation.