Borobudur Temple Compounds

Last updated
Borobudur Temple Compounds
Native name
Indonesian: Kompleks Candi Borobudur
001 View of Borobudur.jpg
Borobudur Northwest View
Location Magelang, Central Java
Coordinates 7°36′29″S110°12′14″E / 7.608°S 110.204°E / -7.608; 110.204
TypeCultural
Criteriai, ii, vi
Designated1991 (15th session)
Reference no. 592
Region Southeast Asia
Includes Borobudur
Mendut
Pawon
Indonesia Java location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Java
Indonesia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Borobudur Temple Compounds (Indonesia)

Borobudur Temple Compounds is the World Heritage designation of the area of three Buddhist temples in Central Java, Indonesia. It comprises Borobudur, Mendut, and Pawon. The temples were built during the Shailendra dynasty around the 8th and 9th centuries CE and fall on a straight line.

Contents

Approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Yogyakarta, Borobudur sits on a plateau between two twin volcanoes, Sundoro-Sumbing and Merbabu-Merapi, and two rivers, the Progo and the Elo. According to local myth, the area known as Kedu Plain is a Javanese sacred place and has been dubbed 'the garden of Java' due to its high agricultural fertility. [1]

Alignment

Three temples - Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut - fall on a straight line Borobudur Map en.svg
Three temples Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut fall on a straight line

During restoration in the early 20th century, it was discovered that three Buddhist temples in the region, Borobudur, Pawon and Mendut, fall on a straight line. [2] This may be coincidence, but is in agreement with a native folk tale that there was an ancient brick road from Borobudur to Mendut with walls on both sides. The three temples have similar architecture and ornamentation, which suggests a ritual relationship between them to form a sacred unity, although the exact ritual process is unknown. [3]

Museums

There are two museums within Borobudur Temple Compounds, Karmawibhangga Museum and Samudra Raksa Museum.

Other archaeological sites

View of Borobudur Temple Compounds Borobudur Temple Compounds-111359.jpg
View of Borobudur Temple Compounds
Borobudur Temple Compounds Borobudur Temple Compounds-111336.jpg
Borobudur Temple Compounds

Other Buddhist temples and Hindu temples are scattered in the area. The earliest is Gunung Wukir or Canggal Hindu temple dated 732 CE. According to an Canggal inscription discovered in the temple complex, the Shivaite King Sanjaya commissioned a Shivalinga sanctuary to be built on the Wukir hill, only 10 km (6 mi) east of Borobudur. [4]

Ngawen temple is found to the east of Mendut temple.

The ruin of Banon temple, a Hindu temple, is several hundred meters north of Pawon temple. It could not be reconstructed because many stones are missing, but several stone statues of Hindu gods were found in good condition. Those of Vishnu, Brahma, Shiva, and Ganesha are now at the National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta.

See also

Notes

  1. Soekmono (1976), page 1.
  2. N. J. Krom (1927). Borobudur, Archaeological Description. The Hague: Nijhoff. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
  3. J. L. Moens (1951). "Barabudur, Mendut en Pawon en hun onderlinge samenhang (Barabudur, Mendut and Pawon and their mutual relationship)" (PDF). Tijdschrift voor de Indische Taai-, Land- en Volkenkunde. Het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen: 326–386. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-08-10. trans. by Mark Long
  4. W. J. van der Meulen (1977). "In Search of "Ho-Ling"". Indonesia. 23: 87–112. doi:10.2307/3350886.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borobudur</span> 9th-century Buddhist temple in Java, Indonesia

Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the city of Magelang and the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world's largest Buddhist temple. The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhist temple</span> Buddhist place of worship

A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represent the pure land or pure environment of a Buddha. Traditional Buddhist temples are designed to inspire inner and outer peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shailendra dynasty</span> Dynasty in Java from about 750 to 850 CE

The Shailendra dynasty was the name of a notable Indianised dynasty that emerged in 8th-century Java, whose reign signified a cultural renaissance in the region. The Shailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism with the glimpses of Hinduism, and covered the Kedu Plain of Central Java with Buddhist monuments, one of which is the colossal stupa of Borobudur, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mataram Kingdom</span> Former Javanese country

The Mataram Kingdom ; also known as Medang Kingdom was a Javanese Hindu–Buddhist kingdom that flourished between the 8th and 11th centuries. It was based in Central Java, and later in East Java. Established by King Sanjaya, the kingdom was ruled by the Shailendra dynasty and Ishana dynasty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddhism in Indonesia</span> Overview of the role of Buddhism in Indonesia

Buddhism has a long history in Indonesia, and is recognized as one of the six recognized religions in Indonesia, along with Islam, Christianity, Hinduism and Confucianism. According to the 2018 national census roughly 0.8% of the total citizens of Indonesia were Buddhists, and numbered around 2 million. Most Buddhists are concentrated in Jakarta, Riau, Riau Islands, Bangka Belitung, North Sumatra, and West Kalimantan. These totals, however, are probably inflated, as practitioners of Taoism and Chinese folk religion, which are not considered official religions of Indonesia, likely declared themselves as Buddhists on the most recent census. Today, the majority of Buddhists in Indonesia are Chinese, however small communities of native Buddhists also exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjaya dynasty</span>

The Sanjaya dynasty was an ancient Javanese dynasty that ruled the Mataram kingdom in Java during the first millennium CE. The dynasty was an active promoter of Hinduism in ancient Java.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candi of Indonesia</span> Hindu and Buddhist temples and sanctuaries in Indonesia

A candi is a Hindu or Buddhist temple in Indonesia, mostly built during the Zaman Hindu-Buddha or "Hindu-Buddhist period" between circa the 4th and 15th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kedu Plain</span> Fertile volcanic plain in between Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro

Kedu Plain, also known as Progo River valley, is the fertile volcanic plain that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west, and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi to the east. It roughly corresponds to present-day Magelang and Temanggung Regency of Central Java, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pugung Raharjo</span> Archaeological site in Lampung, Indonesia

Pugung Raharjo is a 30 hectares archaeological site in the regency of East Lampung regency of Lampung Province in South Sumatra in Indonesia. The site was discovered in 1957. There is an ancient terraced megalithic structure, also known as Pugung Raharjo Pyramid. There other megalithic structures from the 12th to 16th century CE, including Menhirs and Dolmen, as well as prehistoric remains dating back to 2500 BC. It is locally known as the "Taman Purbakala Pugung Raharjo". It is situated approximately 50 km from the provincial capital, Bandar Lampung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pawon</span> 9th-century Buddhist site in Indonesia

Pawon is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mendut</span> 9th-century Buddhist site in Indonesia

Mendut is a ninth-century Buddhist temple, located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple is located about three kilometres east from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are Buddhist temples, are located in one straight line. There is a mutual religious relationship between the three temples, although the exact ritual process is unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanjaya of Mataram</span> King of Mataram

Sanjaya was the founder of Mataram Kingdom during the eighth century. His name was revealed in the Sanskrit Canggal inscription carved in a stone found at Gunung Wukir temple that stood on Wukir or Ukir hill on the southern Kedu Plain in Central Java.

Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism or Esoteric Buddhism in Maritime Southeast Asia refers to the traditions of Esoteric Buddhism found in Maritime Southeast Asia which emerged in the 7th century along the maritime trade routes and port cities of the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra as well as in Malaysia. These esoteric forms were spread by pilgrims and Tantric masters who received royal patronage from royal dynasties like the Sailendras and the Srivijaya. This tradition was also linked by the maritime trade routes with Indian Vajrayana, Tantric Buddhism in Sinhala, Cham and Khmer lands and in China and Japan, to the extent that it is hard to separate them completely and it is better to speak of a complex of "Esoteric Buddhism of Mediaeval Maritime Asia." Many key Indian port cities saw the growth of Esoteric Buddhism, a tradition which coexisted alongside Shaivism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prambanan Temple Compounds</span> Group of temples in Indonesia

Prambanan Temple Compounds is the World Heritage designation of a group of Hindu temple compounds that lie on the border between Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia. It comprises Prambanan, Lumbung, Bubrah and Sewu temple compounds, all are located within Prambanan Archaeological Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banyunibo</span> 9th-century Buddhist site in Indonesia

Banyunibo is a 9th-century Buddhist temple located in Cepit hamlet, Bokoharjo village, Prambanan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The temple, dating from the era of Mataram Kingdom, sits in a narrow valley surrounded by paddy fields about two kilometers southeast of the Ratu Boko archaeological park on the east side of modern Yogyakarta. Further north is the Prambanan temple, and to the south are the Gunung Sewu hills, extension of Gunung Kidul hills.

Karangtengah inscription is the inscriptions written on five pieces of stones dated 746 Saka or 824 CE, discovered in Karangtengah hamlet, Temanggung Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The inscription was written in ancient Javanese script in two languages; Old Javanese and Sanskrit. The lines 1-24 was written in Sanskrit, the rest of the lines was written in old Javanese. The inscription is linked with the temple Borobudur and Mendut

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngawen</span> 8th-century Buddhist site in Indonesia

Ngawen is an 8th-century Buddhist temple compound in Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Located in Ngawen village, Muntilan sub-district, 6 km (3.7 mi) to the east of Mendut temple or 5 km (3.1 mi) to the south of Muntilan town center. Ngawen temple compound consists of five temples, however today only one is successfully reconstructed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunung Wukir</span> Hindu temple in Indonesia

Gunung Wukir temple, or Canggal temple, or also known as Shivalinga is a Shivaite Hindu temple dated from the early 8th century, located in Canggal hamlet, Kadiluwih village, Salam subdistrict, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple dates to the year 732, making it the first structure attributed to the ancient Mataram kingdom, which ruled Central Java from 732 to around the middle of the tenth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Archaeology of Indonesia</span>

The archaeology of Indonesia is the study of the archaeology of the archipelagic realm that today forms the nation of Indonesia, stretching from prehistory through almost two millennia of documented history. The ancient Indonesian archipelago was a geographical maritime bridge between the political and cultural centers of Ancient India and Imperial China, and is notable as a part of ancient Maritime Silk Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karyamukti, Campaka</span> Place in Campaka, Indonesia

Karyamukti is a village in district of Campaka in Cianjur Regency, West Java, Indonesia. It is the location of Gunung Padang Megalithic Site, which lies on a hill made of mouth of an extinct volcano.