Brunei Museum

Last updated

Brunei Museum
Muzium Brunei
BRUNEI NATIONAL MUSEUM, BRUNEI.jpg
Brunei Museum
Brunei Museum
Established1965 (1965)
Location Kota Batu, Brunei-Muara, Brunei
Coordinates 4°53′06.9″N114°58′07.6″E / 4.885250°N 114.968778°E / 4.885250; 114.968778
Website www.museums.gov.bn

The Brunei Museum (Malay : Muzium Brunei) is the national museum of Brunei. It is located in Kota Batu in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The museum has exhibits of Islamic art, historical period of the 16th century and archaeology and ethnography. [1] It is the largest museum in Brunei. [2] The museum has been closed since 2014 for repairs and upgrade, and was expected to reopen in 2020, but remains closed in 2022.

Contents

The museum published the first Brunei Museum Journal , an academic journal in 1969, which is an annual feature now. [3]

Location

The museum is located in Kota Batu, about 4.5 kilometres or 3 miles from the capital's city centre. [4] [5] It sits on a hill overlooking the Brunei River. [1] [5] It is located near the Kota Batu archaeological site, [4] as well as the royal mausoleums of Sultan Sharif Ali and Sultan Bolkiah,[ citation needed ] the 3rd and 5th Sultans of Brunei respectively.

History

The museum was established in 1965 and initially housed at the Civic Centre in the capital (then known as Brunei Town). [6] [ additional citation(s) needed ] It was then decided to be relocated to a permanent site in Kota Batu. The construction of the new building began in 1968 and was completed in 1970 at a cost of M$4.39 million at that time. [1] [5] It was inaugurated on 29 February 1972 by Queen Elizabeth II. [1] [5]

Building

The museum building is decorated with traditional Malay motifs, similar to that on the tomb of Sultan Bolkiah, ruler of the Bruneian Empire in the 15th century. [1]

The museum has three floors. [5] An area of 39,000 square feet (3,600 m2) has been dedicated for exhibits, 9,000 square feet (840 m2) for research and administration, and 5,000 square feet (460 m2) for storage. [5] The building sits on a site with a total area of 48 hectares (120 acres) which also includes the park. [2]

Exhibits

The museum has a number of galleries such as Islamic-art gallery, a natural history gallery, and a gallery to hold temporary exhibitions. The History gallery is where the displays relate to the history of Southeast Asia with relevance to Brunei from the time of the Spanish and Portuguese occupation in the 16th century. [4]

Exhibits of the history of the ancient period of the Negara Darussalam and the latest period are part of the history gallery. Exhibits cover traditional life pattern of the many communities in the country, and of the natural history of its flora and fauna. [7] The 9th and 10th centuries exhibits are pottery from Iran and Central Asia, blown glass from Egypt and the Levant, a miniature manuscript of Quran, woven textile, gold ornaments, the ceremonial cannons used within the country, and weaponry of the sultanate. [2] [4] [8]

Most artefacts are the personal collections of the Sultan of Brunei including the silver and gold coins collected from a broad spectrum of the Islamic world. Another notable exhibit is a display titled "The Spirit of Budo: The History of Japan's Martial Arts" which consists of replicas of the suits of armour and weapons used in Japan during the 8th to 14th centuries. [8] There is also a display of the oil industry in Brunei created by the local Brunei Shell Petroleum, which shows discovery of oil, as it has significant impact on the economy of Brunei. [7] [2] Exhibits of large size are on display in rooms at the back of the museum building in the park area. The administrative and technical sections of the museum are located in the basement floor. [2]

Closure

The museum has been closed since 2014 to make way for structural repairs due to severe termite infestation. [9] The closure has also been intended to make way for upgrade, which includes redesigning the interior and exhibits, incorporating more interactivity and modern technology, and creating a new open-concept gallery. [9] The museum was expected to open by the end of 2020, but remains closed in 2022. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei</span> Country in Southeast Asia

Brunei, formally Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2020 the country had a population of 460,345, of whom approximately 100,000 resided in the capital and largest city Bandar Seri Begawan. The government of Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan of Brunei, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandar Seri Begawan</span> Capital city of Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei-Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 per cent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omar Ali Saifuddien III</span> Sultan of Brunei from 1950 to 1967

Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien was the 28th Sultan of Brunei, reigning from 1950 until his abdication from the throne in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei River</span> River in Brunei

The Brunei River is a river which flows through Brunei and empties into the Brunei Bay towards the north-east direction. The Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, stands on its banks. The Brunei River is the shortest major river in Brunei. It is the major river basin within the Brunei-Muara District, the smallest but most populous district. It flows through the country's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. It is home to Kampong Ayer, the Brunei's traditional village on stilts above the river water.

Melayu Islam Beraja was officially proclaimed as the national philosophy of Brunei on the day of its independence on 1 January 1984 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

Sharīf ʿAlī ibn ʿAjlān ibn Rumaithah ibn Muḥammad, also known as Blessed Ali, was the fourth Sultan of Brunei and son-in-law of the second Sultan of Brunei, Ahmad. He was also a scholar of Arab descent, originating from Ta'if, Sharifate of Mecca, present-day Saudi Arabia.

Bolkiah ibni Sulaiman, also known as Nakhoda Ragam, was the fifth Sultan of Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruneian Sultanate (1368–1888)</span> Malay sultanate centred in Brunei from 1368 to 1888

The Sultanate of Brunei or simply Brunei was a Malay sultanate, centred in Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo island in Southeast Asia. Brunei became a sovereign state around the 15th century, when it grew substantially after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines, before it declined in the 17th and 18th centuries. The first ruler or sultan of Brunei was a Muslim. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castilian War</span> Military conflict between Brunei and Spain

The Castilian War, also called the Spanish Expedition to Borneo, was a conflict between the Spanish Empire and several Muslim states in Southeast Asia, including the Sultanates of Brunei, Sulu, and Maguindanao.

Sulaiman ibni Sharif Ali, also known as Senior King and Adipati Agung, was the fifth Sultan of Brunei, according to Silsilah Raja-Raja Berunai.

Muhammad Hasan ibni Saiful Rijal Nurul Alam, also known as Marhum di Tanjung, was the tenth Sultan of Brunei from 1582 to 1598. Under him, the Bruneian Empire had apparently full control of the island of Borneo and Northern Philippines, including Sulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malay Technology Museum</span> Ethnographic museum in Brunei

The Malay Technology Museum is a museum in Kota Batu, a historical area in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. It was opened in 1988 and contains exhibits on the traditional technologies used by the indigenous people of Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Regalia Museum</span> Museum in Brunei

The Royal Regalia Museum, previously known as the Royal Regalia Building, is a museum located in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It mainly houses the regalia of the Sultan and the royalty, as well as exhibits related to the commemorations of the Silver and Golden Jubilee celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's rule of Brunei. It was officially opened on 30 September 1992 by the Sultan himself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brunei Darussalam Maritime Museum</span> Maritime museum in Kota Batu, Brunei

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sultanate of Sarawak</span> Minor Malay kingdom

The Sultanate of Sarawak was a Malay kingdom, located in present-day Kuching Division, Sarawak. The kingdom was founded in 1599, after the invasion of the preceding Santubong Kingdom and the later Sultanate of Brunei. It witnessed the reign of a sole sultan, Sultan Tengah, Prince of Brunei, known as Ibrahim Ali Omar Shah Ibni Sultan Muhammad Hassan of Sarawak. The state established a close relationship with Brunei and Johor. It forged dynastic rules with the surrounding Malay kingdoms in western Borneo including the Sultanates of Sambas, Sukadana and Tanjungpura-Matan. The kingdom was dissolved following Sultan Tengah's assassination in 1641. The administration of the territory was then replaced by the local Malay governors appointed from Brunei, reunifying the area into Brunei prior to the White Rajah era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kota Batu, Brunei</span> Village in Brunei-Muara, Brunei

Kota Batu is a historical as well as populated area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is home to the Kota Batu archaeological site, a few of the country's museums and two mausoleums of the earliest Sultans of Brunei. However, the place is still populated and at present it is a neighbourhood of the capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batu Satu</span> Area in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Batu Satu, also known as Kampong Parit, is an area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is also a designated village in Brunei-Muara District, within Mukim Kianggeh. The population was 1,509 in 2016. It encompasses a commercial area of the capital. It is also home to the country's Supreme Court, as well as some of important Islamic religious educational institutions of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cermin Island</span> Islet at the mouth of the Brunei River

Cermin Island is an islet at the mouth of Brunei River in the Mukim Kota Batu, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. During the Brunei Civil War, a battle unfolded on the island and it's sometimes referred to as the Peperangan Pulau Cermin. A proposal for an 5 hectares protection status to be implemented on the island. The island is home to sundry vegetation and swamp forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Aziz Umar</span> Bruneian politician

Abdul Aziz bin Umar GBE, also sometimes referred to as Pehin Abdul Aziz Umar, is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom had a wide range of positions in the Government of Brunei. Before to that, he served as the Minister of Communications, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Health. His last position was as Minister of Education, which he held from 1988 until 24 May 2005. His Excellency served in the civil service beginning with his first appointment in 1964 and held a number of roles from that time until Brunei's independence in 1984, including acting Chief Minister.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Brunei Museum". Asia Europe Museum Network. Archived from the original on 23 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Brunei Darussalam, A Guide". Brunei Shell Group of Companies. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ↑ Office 1972, p. 266.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Brunei Museum". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Harrisson 1972, p. 119.
  6. ↑ "Meet Brunei Museum's first taxidermist". Borneo Bulletin . 22 February 1969. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021– via Borneo Bulletin Online.
  7. 1 2 Publications 2007, p. 127.
  8. 1 2 "Press-Release:Russian Embassy visits Brunei Museum". Embassy of the Russian Federation in Brunei Darussalam. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 Wardi Wasil (8 February 2019). "Brunei Museum set to reopen in 2020". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.