Borobudur temple
By Isabell Martinez Where
● Have, Indonesia ● c.750-842 ce ● Built by Rulers of the śailendra dynasty ● Sailendra means “Lord of the Mountain” ● Near volcano
● A monument to the Buddha ● Relief sculptures narrate the Buddha’s teachings (Dharma),depict various events related to his past lives (jataka tales), and illustrate didactic stories Function taken from important Buddhist scriptures (sutras) ● The idea from the darkness into the light Context
● The idea of path is an important concept in Buddhism and essential to understand the Borobudur ● The temple fell into disguise 1oo years after completion when for unknown reasons the Java moved the governing center to another part of the island ● British Lieutenant Governor on Java, rediscovered it in 1814 ● Design by poet, thinker, and architect Gunadharma, “man of many visions” ● Devotees circumambulate clockwise around walkways that ascend to the uppermost level ● geometry , geomancy, and theology instruct adherents toward the ultimate goal of enlightenment ● Sculptures mediate a physical and spiritual journey that guides pilgrims toward higher states of consciousness ● Structure resembles pyramid ● Referred to as a caitya (shrine), a stupa (reliquary), and a sacred mountain ● Characteristics of all these architectural elements it's all over plan is a 3 dimensional mandala (diagram of the cosmos used for meditation) Form ● In sense where the richest understanding of the mountain occurs ● Set high upon a hill vertically enhanced by its builders to get better elevation ● Series of open air passageways that radiate around a central axis mundi ● …(cosmic axis) ● Relief sculptures ● Pathways takes one from the early realm of desire (kamadhatu), documented on hidden narratives of the structures base through the world of forums ( rupadhatu) as on the narratives carved along the four gallaries set at right angles, until one emerges into the realm of formlessness (arupadhatu) as symbolized in the open circular terraces crowned with 7z ... stupas Content
● 504 statues of the Buddha ● 1460 stone reliefs on the walls and opposite balustrades decorate the first four galleries, with additional 1212 decorative reliefs augmenting the path ● 160 relief sculptures adorn the base of the monument, but are concealed behind stone buttresses that were added after the buildings construction in order to further support the structure's weight ● After the 4 galleries there are upper terraces, encountering 72 stupas each containing a 3D sculpture of a seated Buddha within a stone lattice work ● At the temples apex is the large central stupa, a symbol of the enlightened mind ● Iconography complex and intricate ● 6 terraces ● 4 cardinal points of the compass Importance in religion
● Buddhism has engaged what is sees as a paradoxical nature of human existence ● The transient nature existence is very important ● Transcendental wisdom/ Dharma (noble eightfold path) exists on the idea that a fixed immutable self is a delusion ● Enlightenment is the concept of “no-self” (anatta), at te heart of eliminating the suffering and dissatisfaction (dukkha) of sentient beings ○ This is the main message expressed in sacred scriptures along the stone walls and railings of the borobudur temple ● Circumambulating the structure symbolizes the non physical spiritual path of enlightenment ● Concept of path within the temple monumentalize the impermanent ● Meditating on the spiritual message of the sutras is meant to help one fully embrace the Buddha's message of impermanence ● text illustrated on the walls refer to pathways as well ● Repetition of form and circu,ambulatory progress of pilgrims mimic ...
● The cosmological as a micronism ● Going clockwise around the cosmic center represents the macrocosmic path of the sun ● Dark galleries represent desire ● Walking into the light, the main goal ● Crowning stupa is dedicated to the great sun Buddha, Vairocana stupas ● Spiritual technologies that harness spiritual energies in the creation of sacred space Queen Maya Riding a horse Carriage retreating to Lumbini to give birth to prince Siddhartha Gautama
● Densely packed scene; horror vacui ● Queen majestic and at rest before giving birth ● Brought to city in great ceremonial procession