page_title: Zayat
hierarchical_section_title: Zayat
caption_attribution_description: Thudhama Zayats at the foot of Mandalay Hill on the northeast corner of the old city wall and moat. Used as exam halls for monks and novices during the reign of the last Konbaung kings of Burma, they still provide accommodation for large parties of pilgrims in bullock-carts from villages around Mandalay at annual pagoda festivals. Photographer en:User:Wagaung.
context_page_description: A zayat is a Burmese building found in almost every village. It serves primarily as a shelter for travelers, at the same time, is also an assembly place for religious occasions as well as meeting for the villagers to discuss the needs and plans of the village. Theravada buddhist monks use zayats as their dwelling place while they are exercising precepts on sabbath days. Buddhist monasteries may have one or more zayats nearby. Donors mostly build Zayats along main roads aiming to provide the exhausted travelers with water and shelter. Beginning with Adoniram Judson's construction of one in 1818 Christian missionaries have also adopted their use.
  Contributions, in money or labor, towards the construction, running or elaboration of a zayat are seen as dāna. Thus zayats are generally built in a more durable and costly manner than most private houses. The labor is normally provided by locals, while the financing may be local or remote.
  Some zayats have evolved other functions over time. For example, the Jivitadana Sangha Hospital for Buddhist monks and nuns began as a clinic at a zayat.
context_section_description: A zayat (Burmese: ဇရပ်; MLCTS: ja. rap; IPA: [zəjaʔ]; from Mon ဇြပ်) is a Burmese building found in almost every village.  It serves primarily as a shelter for travelers, at the same time, is also an assembly place for religious occasions as well as  meeting  for the villagers to discuss the needs and plans of the village.  Theravada buddhist monks use zayats as their dwelling place while they are exercising precepts on sabbath days.  Buddhist monasteries may have one or more zayats nearby.  Donors mostly build Zayats along main roads aiming to provide the exhausted travelers with water and shelter.  Beginning with Adoniram Judson's construction of one in 1818 Christian missionaries have also adopted their use.
  Contributions, in money or labor, towards the construction, running or elaboration of a zayat are seen as dāna (meritorious charity). Thus zayats are generally built in a more durable and costly manner than most private houses. The labor is normally provided by locals, while the financing may be local or remote.
  Some zayats have evolved other functions over time.  For example, the Jivitadana Sangha Hospital for Buddhist monks and nuns began as a clinic at a zayat.
caption: The Thudamma Zayats in Mandalay were built during the Konbaung Dynasty.
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