The Lion Throne, also known as the Sihasana or Thihathana Palin (Burmese: သီဟသနပလ္လင်, meaning “lion throne”), was the most distinguished of the eight imperial thrones used by the Burmese monarchs. Each throne served a specific ceremonial function within the royal court, but the Lion Throne stood above the others as the principal symbol of sovereignty and kingship.
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| Publisher: D.A. Ahuja |
Its use was strictly ceremonial and governed by elaborate court protocol. The throne was occupied only three times each year: at the beginning of the Burmese New Year, and at the commencement and conclusion of the Buddhist Lent. These occasions reflected both royal authority and religious devotion. Anyone wishing to present a gift to the king was required first to seek permission from the Chief Eunuch and then from the king himself. Once approval was granted, the presenter had to touch the throne with the right hand only—since the left hand was regarded as inferior—before offering the gift.
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| Publisher: American Baptist Mission Press |
Tragically, seven of the eight royal thrones were destroyed by fire during the Allied bombing of Burma in the Second World War. The Lion Throne alone survived. Its preservation was largely due to historical circumstance: following the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885, the throne was transported to India after the fall of King Thibaw. It remained there for more than sixty-two years before being repatriated to newly independent Burma in 1948.
Today, the Lion Throne is preserved and displayed at the National Museum of Myanmar (Yangon), where it remains one of the most important surviving symbols of the Konbaung dynasty and Burma’s royal heritage.
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