In the Shwedagon, the smoothness of the pagoda can be seen from top to base.
The three basics elements are:
The octagonal base. The bell-shaped dome. The conical- shaped spire.
Height ratio is
base : 22, dome : 33, spire: 55.

Divided into four parts:
1. The lowest part, which is encircled by irregularly shaped seven concentric rings
(' hpaung yit ', "protuberant coils".)
2. Second part is reminiscent of the double lotus throne :
an "upturned lotus", kya lan & an "inverted lotus",
kya hmauk, which serves as pedestal for some Buddha images.
3. Third part of the spire, in the shaped of an elongated teardrop
( nga-pyaw-bu, "banana bud")
4. Fourth part and uppermost part of the spire is the hti, "umbrella".

Consists of :
1. Circular bolts ( Kyi-wun )
2. The bell ( hkaung-laung )
3. The girdle ( yin-zi )
4. Inverted alms bowl (tha-beit- hmauk ) and
5. The festoon ( pan-zwe )

The base is made up of three terraces which recede upwards on :
1. A square plinth ( 6.4m) high,
2. Octagonal terraces (paccaya): where the four sides of the cardinal points are
straight-edged and the other four sides have serrated edges, and above that
3. An Octagonal dais called the shit-hmaung, "eight-edges".