Pilgrims and visitors who come to pay obeisance to the glorious Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon City have an opportunity to observe the magnificent arts and crafts at the pagoda.The great glittering Pagoda and religious buildings surrounding it are decorated with the ten traditional arts and crafts of Myanmar. Moreover the visitors can also study marble statues of Lord Buddha and other statues artistically carved by skilled woodcarvers and sculptors.The carver has to combine his skill together with his vision and perception in carving a relief. The woodcarver or the sculptor must know painting as the basic of his work.

Especially the sculptors on the life of the relief statues of Buddha are essential to thoroughly study the ten jatakas, the life stories of Buddha. Only then the relieves they sculpture will come to life. Species of wood such as Yamaney teak and the gum-kino are used for carving the statues. Different sizes of tools and instruments are used in the carving. It takes time for three to five days depending on the detailed handiwork. The carved statues are then coated with league before they are gilded.

The art of gilding is one of the handicrafts of Myanmar. Woodcarvers and sculptors at the shops along the Shwedagon Pagoda market are still preserving the work as their living by tradition.