NSC #6 HIGHLIGHTS SEP - NOV 2017

FEATURES: Uncovering a Hidden Temple: Ta Mok Shwegugyi, Kyaukse Legislation on Underwater Cultural Heritage in Sema Stones and Mountain Palaces from the Dawn of Book Review: Nalanda, and Beyond: Re-exploring Buddhist Art in Asia

UPCOMING EVENT: Imperial Rice Transportation of Nguyen (1802-1883) by Tana Li

A Dusun-type jar, extricated from the sediments covering the 9th century Belitung Wreck. Several were smashed by looters to access Changsha bowls within. (Photo: Michael Flecker) ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace Pasir Panjang 119614 Tel: (65) 6778 0955 Fax: (65) 6778 1735 Stones and Mountain Palaces from the Dawn of of Palaces from the Dawn Stones and Mountain New Visiting Researchers Public Outreach - pg 12 Archaeology Programme for Students Upcoming Events - Recent Publications and pg 13 Book Review - pg 10 Book Review Buddhist Art in and Beyond: Re-exploring Nalanda, Srivijaya Asia People - pg 11 (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian (formerly Institute of Southeast Asian The ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute is a regional Studies) is an autonomous organization established It in 1968. centre dedicated to the study of socio-political, economic security, and trends and developments wider geostrategic and in Southeast Asia and its economic environment. The Institute’s research programmes are grouped under RegionalRegional Economic Studies (RES), Strategic and Political Studies (RSPS), and Regional Social and Cultural Studies (RSCS). The Institute is also home to the ASEAN Studies Centre (ASC), the Nalanda- Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) and the APEC Centre. The Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore, pursues research on historical interactions among Asian societies the comprehensive of the study forum for serves as a and civilisations. It through have interacted over time which Asian polities and societies ways in The religious, cultural, and economic exchanges, and diasporic networks. Centre also offers innovative strategies for examining the manifestations of hybridity, convergence and mutual learning in a globalising Asia. Editorial - pg 1 Editorial - pg 2 Features Shwegugyi, Kyaukse Ta Mok a Hidden Temple: Uncovering in Southeast Asia Underwater Cultural Heritage Legislation on Sema Angkor ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute is not responsible for facts represented and views expressed. Responsibility rests exclusively with the individual author(s). No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without permission. Comments are welcome and by the author(s). Copyright is held the to may be sent author(s) of each article. CONTENTS ISSN: 2424-9211 Editorial Committee Nicholas Chan Fong Sok Eng Kao Jiun Feng Lim Chen Sian David Kyle Latinis Hélène Njoto Managing Editor Foo Shu Tieng Executive Editor Terence Chong Editorial Chairman Tan Chin Tiong is published by the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute and available electronically at www.iseas.edu.sg. NSC HIGHLIGHTS 1 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

The NSC Archaeological Field School participants enjoyed a site lecture conducted by the National Authority of Preah Vihear at Preah Vihear Temple in November 2016 (Credit: D. Kyle Latinis).

NSC archaeological field school team at Angkor Thom Gate. (Photo: D. Kyle Latinis) EDITORIAL

NSC Highlights carries contemporary discussions about history, heritage, and culture, at times underlining their inherent instability, be it physical or epistemical. Artefacts can be stolen or destroyed, ideas and concepts can be challenged, norms and cultures are never fixed.

The idea that concepts and artefacts are never stable need not be a demotivating one. To begin with, it allows for contestation, which in turn stimulates discourses and scholarship–the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre (NSC) being one amongst many active participants. History as a discipline, for example, revels in claims and counter-claims, bringing the truth close to view yet revealing the boundaries of each knowledge- claim at the same time. Heritage, too, can be a subject of intense contestation, be it in form (tangible vs intangible), ownership (public vs private), or method of preservation (conservation vs restoration).

A reminder of the ‘unstable’ nature of tangible and intangible heritages also encourages action, hopefully, from both the public and private sector. In this issue, Elizabeth Moore writes about “the role of localised social memory in the sustenance of Buddhist traditions” in the story of Ta Mok temple. Michael Flecker canvasses the legislation on underwater cultural heritage in Southeast Asia, an area that will arguably require much attention, action, and investment from governments. The article on sema stones by Kyle Latinis and Stephen Murphy also allows NSC Highlights to not only create awareness over the existence of heritage, but also to serve as a form of a publicly-accessible digital archive to document them.

These are, of course, lofty goals and the NSC can by no means do it alone. This is why we have developed networks with agencies and scholars throughout the world, something we hope can be reflected in the diversity of contributors in our many publications, including the NSC Working Paper Series and the NSC Archaeology Unit (AU) Archaelogy Report Series. In any case, regional and trans-regional interactions are not new to Southeast Asia. Indeed, the fascination towards such historical linkages forms the basis of the NSC mandate. By striving to preserve traces and records of cross-fertilisations in the past, we hope it provides greater context, richness, and options to the present.

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Top: The top of the temple emerging from the brick stupa during disassembly. Left: Elevation showing the encasement of the two storey 11-13th century CE temple within the 14th century stupa. (Photo: E. Moore and U Win Maung (Tampawaddy), Drawing Courtesy of U Win Maung (Tampawaddy)) FEATURE: Uncovering a Hidden Temple: Ta Mok Shwegugyi, Kyaukse By Elizabeth H. Moore Visiting Senior Fellow, NSC

During the 11th to 13th century CE, sunflowers, where villagers support the influence of Bagan kings covered local temples such as Ta Mok much of present day Myanmar. At Shwegugyi. ‘Ta Mok’ is a measure that time, political assimilation was of about 18 inches (45.72 cm), with marked by religious patronage where Shwegugyi meaning ‘great golden donations to support Dhamma, the cave’. According to epigraphic and teachings of the Buddha, accrued chronicle accounts, the canals and merit towards re-birth. This concept sluices that fed the Kyaukse rice is demonstrated in more than 3,000 fields were augmented from pre- brick monuments spread across existing hydraulic systems by the 45 km2 along the banks of the Bagan King Anawrahta (1044–1077 Ayeyarwaddy River. A small walled CE). Enhancement of the water inner enclave, where the remains of management went hand-in-hand with ‘palaces’ have been excavated, is religious donation, with the temple thought to have housed the king and of Ta Mok Shwegugyi (based on its his court. There is however, no outer location and chronicle history) likely wall marking the border of Bagan. to be one of the nine shwe-gu or Where did it end? The answer lies ‘golden caves’ within a clan system in areas far from Bagan such as of hereditary lordships. Kyaukse. Ta Mok’s temple construction began The temple of Ta Mok in Kyaukse is in the 11th century CE of the Bagan a good example of how resources period and consisted of a one-storey Detail of the stucco work on the two-storey and local innovations far from temple and ordination hall. Based temple. (Photo: E. Moore) the court empowered the Bagan on excavation and stylistic analysis kingdom.Ta Mok’s location, of the temple by traditional architect architecture, art, and continued patronage since the Bagan period U Win Maung (Tampawaddy) and illustrate this regional originality. The the author, it appears that the final area is rural with fields of rice and structure was enlarged a hundred ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 3 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

Left: Ta Mok temple today. Above Left and Right: Detail of the stucco work on the two- storey temple. (Photos: E. Moore and U Win Maung (Tampawaddy))

“While many examples exist of a stupa encased within a later stupa, nowhere else is there a temple that has been encased within a stupa.”

years later by adding a second storey. was chosen over terracotta but as the In the 14th century, Ta Mok was This renovation included decorative two-storey temple was covered in its encased for a third time within a stucco plaques of the Jataka tales, entirety by fine stucco work, it may stupa (27.9 m high). At this time, which depict the previous lives of the have been local availability of material the two-storey temple was carefully Buddha. Most plaques from the same and skilled artisans. coated with a layer of mud, with period were made of terracotta and small terracotta votive tablets stuck onto the surface to enshrine the glazed. It is not yet known why stucco contents. While many examples exist of a stupa encased within a later stupa, nowhere else is there a temple that has been encased within a stupa. It is not yet clear why the site was so well patronised over many centuries but it may indicate the fertility of the surrounding rice fields or the cumulative reputation of the temple as a wish-fulfilling site accrued with each successive donation. Three Andagu or dolomite carved plaques with scenes from the life of the historical Buddha, finely made terracotta votive tablets, a gold-repoussé image of the Buddha and numerous bronze images were among the objects excavated during the process of the temple’s documentation and renovation described below.

Stucco plaque, Jataka no. 7 (Katthahāri) on the two-storey temple. (Photo: T. Tan) ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 4

Over the centuries, the stupa slowly Yunnan during the 11th to 12th turned into a hill, part of meditation centuries and the Mongol Yuan monastery. A small stupa was erected dynasty by the end of the 12th and on the summit in 1905 and local monks early 13th centuries. In the 14th NSC HIGHLIGHTS went into the cave-like cell on the century, the centre of power shifted interior. In 1993, a monk by the name east from Bagan to areas around of Ashin Sandawbatha noticed some Mandalay. Patronage of Ta Mok bricks behind him after completing continued, however, seen in the his meditation and notified a local encasement of the temple within a historian. A request was filed with stupa during the 14th century Pinya the Department of Archaeology and dynasty and continued patronage in 2008, permission was received to during the 16th–17th century Inwa conduct sub-surface excavation as and 18th–19th century Mandalay well as uncover the temple within the dynasties. hill. Local villagers volunteered en masse and the dismantling of the ‘hill’ The story of the Ta Mok temple and began. its current resuscitation testify to the role of localised social memory Stucco-covered turrets and terraces in the sustenance of Buddhist began to emerge from the process. traditions. Ta Mok continues to be The temple rapidly became a local a meditation monastery with the pilgrimage destination with mini-vans formal ownership lying with the and pick-up trucks making a constant Sangha. In December 2015, Ta Mok flow of donations to preserve the was designated as a Notified Zone, ancient temple and renovate the Triple encased image of the Buddha at Ta Mok. a nationally recognised cultural (Photo: E. Moore) images for veneration. One proved heritage protection zone under the “The temple of Ta Mok in Kyaukse is a good example of how resources and local innovations far from the court empowered the Bagan. Ta Mok’s location, architecture, art and continued patronage since the Bagan period illustrate this regional originality. [...] The story of the Ta Mok temple and its current resuscitation testify to the role of localised social memory in the sustenance of Buddhist traditions.”

to be a triple-encased image of the Ministry of Religious and Cultural Buddha, the outer image measuring Affairs. At least a decade is needed 1.8 m high. Stylistic comparison to assess the long-term benefits to of the throne or palin of the image both the monastic community and likewise showed additions made archaeological interests but those over the 11th to 13th centuries as dynamics echo the fluid process the temple continued to receive of localisation that enabled the patronage. The research and expansion of the Bagan kingdom. architectural work from 2008–2014 enhanced both pilgrimage and Prof. Elizabeth Moore is a Visiting Senior donation to the temple and images Researcher at the NSC. Her current project of the Buddha, as well as sparking on ‘Wider Bagan’ at the NSC compares local interest in the area’s role in the selected quantitative and qualitative criteria Bagan kingdom. between regions, showing the regional variation supporting the Bagan Empire. As the kingdom of Bagan grew, The quantifiable data includes sites, new lands were acquired, each walls, temples, stupas and monasteries, bringing new population groups and agricultural, defensive and hydraulic commodities to support and sustain resources as criteria within a cartographic prosperity. Bagan’s affluence and output. The qualitative data includes social stability was threatened by internal memory and pilgrimage to interpret the rivalries and perhaps more crucially, changing temporality of the criteria within by fluctuating external powers in the Buddhist cultural tradition of Myanmar.

Andagu (15 cm) excavated from Ta Gu, Ta Mok. (Photo: E. Moore)

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 5 NSC HIGHLIGHTS Legislation on Underwater Cultural Heritage in Southeast Asia By Michael David Flecker Visiting Fellow, NSC

commercial enterprises.

In the licensed companies receive a reward of 50% of the recovered artefacts for funding and managing excavations. The National Museum retains the other 50% for their collection. In the past the companies could sell their share. Now only multi-duplicate artefacts can be shared and they can no longer be permanently exported or sold. This limits partners to generous international institutions although they must still pay various fees and bonds. The aim is noble but so far no such institution has come forward, while looting continues at an alarming rate.

In the National Committee A late 16th century wreck found in 2004 off Melaka, designated M1J, is potentially the oldest for Excavation and Utilisation of European wreck in , and yet it has never been excavated. (Photo: Michael Flecker, Maritime Explorations) Valuable Objects from Sunken (locally known as PaNas) is Apart from land-locked Laos and never sold. , as the responsible for issuing licences. reforming Myanmar, Singapore is the only Southeast Asian signatory to Shipwreck cargoes are split 50/50 only Southeast Asian country without the UNESCO Convention on the based purely on the proceeds of Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH) Protection of UCH, has a fledgling sale. Artefacts are rarely retained by legislation, and yet there are likely Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit but museums. Presidential Decrees treat to be many historical shipwrecks shipwrecks as resources rather than in Singapore waters. Some now lie UCH, while the Ministry of Culture under reclaimed land. Some lie in “Apart from land-locked recognises them as cultural property. busy anchorages where ground- Laos and reforming Due to frustration over decades of tackle may have caused damage. Myanmar, Singapore is the poor outcomes and the obvious Some lie at the bottom of Singapore need to rationalise legislation, the Strait, one of the busiest fairways only Southeast Asian country government declared a moratorium in the world. They may still be in without Underwater Cultural on the issuing of salvage licences pristine condition but would only be Heritage (UCH) legislation, in 2010. It remains in place. As a accessible by mini-submarine, with and yet there are likely to be result, looting has intensified, with an exceptionally brave pilot. And once-opportunistic fishermen now some surely lie scattered around many historical shipwrecks in becoming full-time salvors. the great navigational hazard at the Singapore waters.” eastern entrance to Singapore Strait, Five of the six official excavations Pedra Branca. in Vietnam have been funded and no funding. So far efforts have been managed by private companies, Elsewhere in Southeast Asia limited to surveying the coastline usually through joint-ventures with UCH legislation varies markedly. and rivers, with UNESCO support. the state-owned salvage company, Thailand is the only country that The governments of the Philippines, Visal. Terms are negotiable, with self-finances the survey and Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia sales proceeds split between excavation of shipwrecks, through chose not to fund the archaeological the company, Visal and the the Thai Underwater Archaeology excavation of shipwrecks within government. All unique artefacts and Division. There is no question of their jurisdiction, although there are representative sets are retained by commercial involvement, either exceptions. Instead they rely on various museums. The Underwater foreign or local, and artefacts are joint-venture type arrangements with Archaeology Department of the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 6 NSC HIGHLIGHTS

Looter’s signature - all that remained of the c.1300 Jade Dragon Wreck three months after it was first discovered off northern Sabah. (Photo: Michael Flecker, Maritime Explorations)

Vietnamese Institute of Archaeology paper nor a journal article discussing a Chinese , heavily laden has recently come into being. So the survey or excavation of a newly with blue-and-white porcelain is a far the focus has been on training discovered shipwreck in Southeast prime example. Some looters were and capacity building, but funding is Asian waters for the past five years. eventually caught, but Indonesia’s lacking. Joint-venture proponents typically moratorium on licensed excavation published within a year or two of has eliminated the chance of rescue In Malaysia cargoes from wrecks completing fieldwork, implying a six archaeology. It may indeed have deemed to be unrelated to national to seven year hiatus. Presenters forced the looting in the first place, heritage can be sold and the at the International Symposium on as the finders perceived no legal proceeds split, with the National Past, Present and Future of ASEAN alternative. Museum usually retaining part Maritime Heritage (sic) held in Singapore can afford institutional investigation and excavation, “Singapore can afford institutional investigation and thereby avoiding the pitfalls of excavation, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of private private partnerships. Singapore partnerships. Singapore can afford enforcement. Now is the can also afford enforcement. Now time to legislate, by cherry-picking the most effective policies is the time to legislate, by cherry- picking the most effective policies from like-minded governments and moulding them to fit from like-minded governments and Singapore’s unique circumstance.” moulding them to fit Singapore’s unique circumstance. A Maritime Archaeology Unit should be launched of their share as artefacts. The Thailand on 15–16 June 2017 did to implement new legislation. funds so obtained are used to not mention one new site, apart Singapore can go from non-starter excavate wrecks that are of direct from the Phanom Surin Wreck which to leader through a single act of relevance to Malaysia’s historical is buried 8 km inland. The flow of parliament. past. In 2006 the newly established publications is a KPI, an independent National Heritage Council assumed and objective measure of policy. The Michael Flecker is a Visiting Fellow at responsibility for issuing excavation current dearth reflects an appalling the NSC. His recent publications include licences. Subsequently, the National state of affairs, made infinitely worse contributions in Chong, A. and Murphy, Museum’s Maritime Archaeological by a marked increase in looting. S. A. (eds.), (2017), The Tang Shipwreck: Unit was disbanded and foreign-held Legislation intended to protect UCH Art and Exchange in the 9th Century. Singapore: Asian Civilisations Museum, permits were not renewed. There has not been effective. It has not Shipwrecked: Tang Treasures and Monsoon have been no official archaeological been enforced. Winds (2010). His doctoral thesis was excavations in Malaysian waters published by the British Archaeological since then. And in some cases the legislation, Series as The Archaeological Excavation of or lack thereof, has imperilled the 10th century Intan Shipwreck (2002). Indeed there has not been an UCH. The recent looting of an early archaeological report, a conference 18th century shipwreck, probably

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 7 NSC HIGHLIGHTS Sema Stones and Mountain Palaces from the Dawn of Angkor By D. Kyle Latinis1 and Stephen Murphy2 1Visiting Fellow, NSC 2Curator (Southeast Asia), Asian Civilisations Museum

Left: Unearthing sema stone with floral-like cakra at Dons Meas. Above: Ornate sema stone with spoked cakra motif, Don Meas. (Photos: D.Kyle Latinis)

In 2015, the NSC Archaeology The Banteay site comprises several LiDAR and ground survey also Unit and APSARA National terraces, platforms, pavements, revealed that Don Meas and Peam Authority conducted archaeological and other landscape modifications. Kre are located at the perimeter research at two sema stone sites Banteay is now considered to be the of the Banteay site. Previously, in Cambodia. Further support was ruins of Jayavarman II’s early 9th the spatial connections between provided by the Asian Civilisations century mountain palace after LiDAR the sema stone sites and the Museum. analysis revealed the ancient urban palace were unknown, primarily The sema stone sites, because the extent and Peam Kre and Don Meas, nature of the Banteay site are located adjacent to the had not been established Banteay site atop Phnom until recently. The close Kulen (Kulen Mountain; proximities of the sites along ) in the with their contemporaneous Angkorian homeland at Siem nature (8th/9th century CE) Reap. is widely were likely no coincidence, considered to be the holy suggesting that Jayavarman mountain and birthplace of II also supported Buddhist the Angkorian Empire under the reign of Jayavarman II—a religious groups. Saivite king—where he first orchestrated the renowned Interestingly, Buddhist Dr. Ea Darith photographing a sema with unique design, Peam monks and perhaps whole devaraja ritual in 802 CE. The Kre. (Photo: D.Kyle Latinis) ritual has critical symbolic and communities possibly migrated political importance. It remains a landscape and palace-like grounds from the Khorat Plateau. They may topic of great debate concerning (Evans 2016; Evans et al. 2015). have arrived to seek royal patronage possible ‘god-king’ interpretations Archaeological research by the NSC and perhaps solidify socio-political and the ensuing implications. and APSARA teams also confirmed and economic alliances between the subsurface palace architecture newly formed Angkorian kingdom Peam Kre and Don Meas during the 2014 excavation sema and neighbouring Dvaravati polities stone sites consist of carved stone campaign at Banteay (brick stairs, slabs ritually arranged to demarcate pavements, and postholes for among other explanations. sacred Buddhist structures or wooden structures). spaces. Ancient sema stone traditions dating from the 7th–10th centuries CE are

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Left: Map of Siem Reap and Phnom Kulen (areas in red indicate LiDAR survey zones; map courtesy of APSARA). Right: Google Earth satellite image of site locations with the LiDAR outline of the Banteay site superimposed; normally invisible from aerials or satellite. (Photo: D. Kyle Latinis) predominantly found in the Khorat unfashioned shapes. Sandstone is and descriptions within a broader Plateau of modern day Thailand the most typical material. Stones inventory of archaeological sites and to a lesser extent in Cambodia range in size from approximately at Phnom Kulen. Both sema sites and Laos. Most are affiliated with 50–300 cm tall and 20–80 cm thick. exhibit double stone arrangements a Dvaravati tradition. The definition Some are plain, others have simple (16 slab style sema stones each). of Dvaravati is not consistent. motifs, and many have highly ornate carvings of symbols, narrative Many of the stones are ornately Different researchers varyingly refer panels, and inscriptions. carved with stupa-kumbha, to Dvaravati as an art tradition, dharmacakra (Wheel of the Law), archaeological remains, ancient and other unique designs. A few polities, and past cultures belonging “Sema stones are portray intricate scenes from to ancient Mon-Khmer ethno- important narratives. linguistic groups with Buddhist boundary strongly represented in the material markers that demarcate The stones were still upright and culture. ritual space. They may mostly intact during the original assessment by Boulbet and Dagens. Sema stones are Buddhist boundary have had additional A few broken stones were repaired. markers that demarcate ritual space. functions related to The sites have since been looted They may have had additional spiritual protection or with almost all stones having functions related to spiritual been disturbed and moved. At protection or assigning other types assigning other types of least one beautifully carved stone of spatial boundaries. Specific sema spatial boundaries.” depicting Gaja Lakshmi—the goddess stone arrangements likely defined the Lakshmi flanked by elephants—has perimeters of ubosot (uposathaghara disappeared. Fortunately, most stones in Pali)—a structure where ritual The Peam Kre and Don Meas sites still remain. ceremonies such as ordinations took were first recorded by Boulbet and place. Dagens (1973) who described Subsequently, Dr. Stephen Murphy several of the more ornately (2010) researched the sites in The stones are generally sema carved stones. They provided plan conjunction with his greater doctoral placed upright in rectangular or views, photographs, drawings, focus on the ancient sema stone square arrangements with tradition in northeast Thailand the stones located at each of the corners and midpoints. and central Laos. An In some cases, stones are APSARA team also reviewed doubled for a total of 16. the sites during a more recent There are also sites where Phnom Kulen archaeological 20 or more stones occur. The assessment. greatest length of a site’s long axis does not usually Many of the motifs on the exceed 20–30 m. Some sema from Phnom Kulen sites are built on a platform, depict dharmacakra and/or foundation or terrace made of stupa motifs. These designs hard enduring material such have their origins in the as rock, sand, and clay fill sema of the Khorat Plateau, or paving. Centrally placed particularly the stupa form. ubosot were presumably The dharmacakra found at made of perishable wood and Phnom Kulen, however are organic materials, but not more elaborate. The rim of brick, stone, or laterite like the wheel is decorated with typical Hindu temples and either one or two bands of shrines of that period. small circular motifs. Some of the wheels are flanked by Common morphological elaborate floral or flame-like Above: Sema stone with stupa motif being excavated by local labor types of sema stones include manager who also worked with Boulbet in the 1970s. (Photo: D. Kyle patterns which appear to be slab, pillar, octagonal, and Latinis) almost enveloping the whole ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 9 NSC HIGHLIGHTS dharmacakra. On some examples, Mapping and test excavations the dharmacakra is placed on stupa- indicate that Don Meas was built kumbha (pot) motif. In some cases atop a rock outcrop on a rubble the kumbhas are depicted with ample filled platform with a simple stone vegetation issuing forth which end alignment. Don Meas has a in volute type designs reminiscent commanding view of the valley and of those found on the spokes of floodplains. Peam Kre was built three-dimensional cakras from close to the existing stream at the central Thailand. In these cases, the base of the peak that contains the dharmacakra appear to be emerging Banteay site. Peam Kre had no hard platform or foundation, and was likely from the mouth of the kumbha pot built on soil fill. The archaeological along with the floral motifs. team also discovered a sema stone quarry adjacent to the Don Meas site. Two unfinished or rejected sema stone blanks were partially carved out of sandstone outcroppings—the channeling marks of the quarrying techniques are clearly visible. Incidentally, there is an ancient brick Another sema stone with dharmacakra motif and stone Hindu shrine site near Don and monkey motif on the right. Peam Kre, Meas which bears the same name. Phnom Kulen, Cambodia. (Photo: D. Kyle However, it may be completely Latinis)

at the Banteay site. Surface surveys do “This strongly points not indicate any significant stoneware towards the idea that a scatters as well, although they are group of Buddhist monks abundant at other Phnom Kulen and craftsman decided sites. This leads us to hypothesise that the Banteay palace site and the to move from this region, sema stone sites were abandoned perhaps in the vicinity of the by the mid-9th century or earlier—the Sema stone with a dharmacakra motif, Mun River, and settled on space not being subsequently reused Buriram province, Thailand. (Photo: Stephen Phnom Kulen in an attempt (perhaps considered taboo). Murphy) to establish a Buddhist References On another example, the kumbha community there.” pot is flanked by a lion and a boar, Boulbet, J. and Dagens, B. (1973). ‘Les sites while on a further example the pot is unrelated to the Don Meas or archeologiques de la region du Bhnam Gulen’, shown with a monkey climbing up its Banteay sites. It has been heavily Arts Asiatiques XXVII: 1-130. side. The fact that the stupa-kumbha looted and damaged. motif is present alongside, or at times Evans, D. (2016). Airborne laser scanning as part of the dharmacakra motif, Artefact content at both sema sites, as a method for exploring long-term socio- illustrates that the artists responsible notwithstanding the sema stones ecological dynamics in Cambodia. Journal of for the carving of these sema were themselves, were minimal—yielding Archaeological Science 72:1-12. extremely familiar with the existing 160 potsherds in 7 trenches at Peam motifs from the Khorat Plateau. This Kre (approximately 60 m2 in total were Evans, D., Kasper H., and Roland F. (2015). strongly points towards the idea excavated) and 110 potsherds in 1 The story beneath the canopy: an airborne that a group of Buddhist monks and trench at Don Meas (approximately lidar survey over Angkor, Phnom Kulen and craftsmen decided to move from this 15 m2 were excavated). However, Koh Ker, northwestern Cambodia. In Across region, perhaps in the vicinity of the most of the potsherds are fine paste Space and Time. Selected Papers from the Mun River, and settled on Phnom earthenware. A spout from a kendi 41st Conference on Computer Applications Kulen in an attempt to establish (spouted ritual water pot) was also and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology a Buddhist community there. The recovered. These wares are typical 25-28 March 2013, Perth:38-46. ed. Arianna conflation of the stupa-kumbha motif of assemblages from the late Funan Traviglia. Amsterdam University Press: 38-46. with the dharmacakra was most period (4th–6th centuries CE) and, likely a conscious choice, perhaps less robustly, the period Murphy, S. A. (2010). The Buddhist Boundary in an attempt to forge new and more (7th–8th centuries CE). Makers of Northeast Thailand and Central dynamic religious symbolism. Laos, 7th-12th Centuries CE: Towards Interestingly, despite Phnom Kulen an Understanding of the Archaeological, Our recent archaeological research harbouring a vast glazed and unglazed Religious, and Artistic Landscapes of the was intended to record further details stoneware kiln industry beginning in Khorat Plateau. PhD. Diss. School of Oriental of the sema stones, assess current the 9th century (particularly Khmer and African Studies, University of London. conditions, and conduct excavations green glazed ware) with a massive Electronic version available at http://eprints. to determine the nature of set of kilns at Anlong Thom only a soas.ac.uk/12204/. structural remains, material culture, few kilometres from Peam Kre, no stratigraphy, geomorphology, and the stoneware was recovered from either extent of looting. site. In fact, we know of no stoneware

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Bodhisattva in 10th-century China, and by Rajeshwari Ghose on the BOOK REVIEW: impressive caves of Kizil all strike me as well researched.

Nalanda, Srivijaya and Beyond: A positive aspect of the volume NSC HIGHLIGHTS is that it does not fulfill a mere antiquary or academic interest but Re-exploring Buddhist Art in Asia tries to actualise the networks of premodern intra-Asian contacts pivoting around Nalanda to our By Andrea Acri time, namely by elaborating on the Associate Fellow, NSC re-creation of Nalanda University in Rajgir, Bihar (India), which officially Review of Nalanda, Srivijaya paper on Mainamati (Southeastern opened its doors to students in 2014. and Beyond: Re-exploring Bangladesh) presents new data on This international project, supported Buddhist Art in Asia, edited by this important yet enigmatic medieval by several Asian countries including Gauri Parimoo Krishnan. 2016, Buddhist centre, while Frederick Singapore, aims to foster a new The National Heritage Board, Asher re-interprets Xuanzang’s age of intra-Asian cultural relations Singapore, 296 pp. account on Nalanda in the light of and revive the excellence that the contemporary historical context once characterised the scholarship This volume gathers ten among the and the monk’s own cultural biases. produced at Nalanda and made papers presented at a conference it a renowned centre visited by held in conjunction with the exhibition intellectuals coming from all over ‘On the Nalanda Trail: Buddhism in Asia. India, China and Southeast Asia’, at the Asian Civilisations Museum Another positive aspect is the (Singapore) in 2008. As such, it markedly translocal approach of focuses on the premodern (mainly nearly all the papers, which strike 7th–13th centuries) cultural, artistic, a good balance between micro- and religious networks connecting history/regional specificities and the centres of monasticism across transregional links and connections. South, Southeast, and East Asia. The reader should be alerted that, regrettably, the map of All the papers in the volume explore Asia reproduced on p. 8 grossly some truly fascinating material on misrepresents several of the key the extraordinary age of trans-local localities (such as the very Nalanda circulation of people and ideas along and Bodhgaya, , and the “Nalanda-Srivijaya trail”. As per names of states such as Nepal and the editor’s own description (p. 10), Pakistan; Dunhuang and Kizil are they are divided into three groups: placed in Siberia and Northwestern new findings and interpretations of Russia instead of Central Asia, while Buddhist art, architecture, epigraphy, Xian somewhere between Mongolia history and literature from India, and Russia). Also, the transliteration Bangladesh, Central Asia, China, of words throughout the and Southeast Asia (4 papers); Peter Skilling in what is the longest book does not follow one and the archaeological research on the and overall best paper in the volume same standard (diacritics are used Buddhist heritage of the Malay explores the relationship between erratically and unsystematically), Peninsula during the Srivijayan writing and material culture in South thus creating a potential source of period (3 papers, including that of and Southeast Asia in the light of confusion. In spite of these minor the editor, which actually spans donative inscriptions. John Miksic’s shortcomings, this lavishly illustrated a wider geographical scope); paper does a good job in surveying and well researched book will be a and the Chinese assimilation of Buddhism in the Straits on the rewarding read for anyone interested Avalokiteśvara into Guanyin (2 basis of the archaeological and in the long-standing artistic, papers; the final paper on Kizil on inscriptional findings in the Srivijayan intellectual and cultural connections the overland Silk Road does not fit domains of the Malay Peninsula and across Buddhist Asia. into this arrangement). Sumatra, and usefully complements the paper by Nik Hasan Shuhaimi Andrea Acri is an Associate Fellow at the The majority of the papers, written in on Buddhism in the Bhujang Valley NSC and a lecturer in Tantric Studies at a plain style and rich in illustrations, (Malaysia). Gauri Krishnan’s second the Section of Religious Studies, École present short general surveys or paper is an informative art historical Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris. His syntheses of the current knowledge, overview of Nalanda-inspired recent publications include Spirits and making them accessible to a wider Buddhist sculptures found along Ships: Cultural Transfers in Early Monsoon audience of non-specialists. Yet, the commercial, diplomatic, and Asia (2017), co-edited with Roger Blench they do not lack scholarly rigour, and religious trails linking Eastern, South and Alexandra Landmann and Esoteric some stand out for their originality. India, the Malay Peninsula, and Buddhism in Mediaeval Maritime Asia: Gauri Krishnan’s first introductory Srivijaya. The papers by Teoh Eng Networks of Masters, Texts, Icons (2016). paper on transmission of Buddhist Soon on the Chinese assimilation of ideology across Asia sets the stage Avalokiteśvara, by Hon Puay-Peng for the volume. Suchandra Ghosh’s on the colossal images of the same

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 11 NSC HIGHLIGHTS PEOPLE: New Visiting Researchers

This section profiles the new visiting researchers and their research projects at the Centre.

Tana LI (Visiting Senior Fellow) Dr Tana Li is Visiting Senior Fellow at NSC. She is currently a senior fellow at the College of Asia and Pacific Studies, the Australian National University. She is interested in maritime and environmental histories of Vietnam and southern China from the 2nd BCE to the late 19th centuries. Her works include The Nguyen Cochinchina (SEAP, Cornell 1998); Water Frontier: Commerce and the Chinese in the Lower Mekong Region, 1750-1880 (co-ed. with Cooke, 2004), Gulf of Tongking Through History (co-ed. with Cooke and Anderson, 2011), and Anthony Reid and the Study of the Southeast Asian Past (co-ed. with Geoff Wade, ISEAS, 2012). Since 2010, Dr Li has developed interests in the environmental history of Vietnam and has been a Chief Investigator of two Australia Research Council Linkage Grants, on ‘Southeast Asia’s global economy, climate and the impact of natural hazards from the 10th to 21st centuries’ (2010-2013), and ‘Hazards, Tipping Points, Adaptation and Collapse in the Indo-Pacific World’ (2015-2019). Both projects are led by James Warren of Murdoch University. In ISEAS, Dr Li will be working on a manuscript about the maritime history of Vietnam. She will lead an international collaborative project, ‘The Making of the Red River’, which is financially supported by the Chiang Chingkuo Foundation, . This study of the ecological history of the Greater Red River region is carried out by a team of historians, geologists and GIS experts based in Austria, France, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Research Period at ISEAS: 26 May 2017 – 25 November 2017 Research Interests: History Research Topic: Coasts and Commodities: The Sea in Vietnam’s Maritime Pasts

SHOW Ying Ruo (Visiting Fellow) Dr Show Ying Ruo has been Visiting Fellow at NSC since July 2017. She received her PhD in Chinese Studies from National University of Singapore (2017) and M.A from SOAS, London (2010). Her PhD thesis explores the vernacular expression and gendered narrative in Chinese religious corpus Baojuan (Precious Scrolls). She is interested in the historical trajectory of lay Buddhist movement and local configurations of religious ideas, ritual practices, and texts. She is currently working on a manuscript examining Buddhist linkage and transregional religious network in Southeast Asia through the study of a specific kind of Chinese temple, the Vegetarian Hall (zhaitang).

Research Period at ISEAS: 3 July 2017 – 2 July 2018 Research Interests: Chinese Religious History and Literature Research Topic: Lay Buddhist Linkages and Transregional Religious Network in 19th Century Nanyang: A Case Study on Chinese Sectarian Vegetarian Hall (zhaitang) in Southeast Asia

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 NSC HIGHLIGHTS ISEAS – YusofIshakInstitute For moreinformationonAPS,pleasecontactMichael Ngat the importanceofarchaeologyandhowitcanbenefit society. the chronologyofChineseceramics.Throughthese activities,studentsreceivedafirst-handappreciationof explore plausiblenarrativesofthepast.NYJCstudents alsowentonafieldtriptotheNUSMuseumstudy and cognitivearchaeology.UndertheAU’sguidance,studentsinterpretartefactstheyarecleaning and excavation techniques,basicceramicsidentification,underwaterarchaeology,geo-archaeology, andsocial interpret theartefact’smeaningandsignificance.DiscussiontopicscoveredbyAPSinclude survey and process ofcleaningrevealsdecorationsandcharacteristicstheartefacts.Thisenablesresearchers to work doneinSingapore.Studentshelpcleanartefactsexcavatedfromthe2015EmpressPlace Project.The With APS,studentsreceiveanintroductorylectureongeneralarchaeologyaswellthearchaeological Secondary School(BGSS)andNanyangJuniorCollege(NYJC). 2016. BetweenMaytoJune2017,theArchaeologyUnit(AU)playedhost39studentsfromBedok Green the disciplineandtolearnaboutpast.Almost100studentshavebeenthroughProgramme since The mainobjectivesoftheArchaeologyProgrammeforStudents(APS)aretonurtureanappreciation for Michael NgandthestudentsfromSt.AndrewsJuniorCollegeonlastdayoftheirprogramme.(Photos: MichaelNg) Left: Thementorexplainingabouttheproceduresandcontextbeforecommencinghandlingofartefacts. Right:Mr. archaeology andhistoryinrecoveringsuchhistories. Such activitiespromotetheimportanceofSoutheastAsia’spremodernhistory,aswellpivotalroleplayedby Beyond researchandpublications,theNalanda-SriwijayaCentre(NSC)iscommittedtopublicoutreachactivities. ProgrammeforStudentsArchaeology PUBLIC OUTREACH: 12 [email protected] . #6 •Sep-Nov •2017 13 NSC HIGHLIGHTS RECENT PUBLICATIONS: NSC Working Paper Series

The Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre Working Paper Series was established for the swift publication and wide dissemination of research conducted or presented within the Centre, and of studies engaging fields of enquiry of relevance to the Centre.

NSC Working Paper No. 25

The Mongol Navy: Kublai Khan’s Invasions in Đại Việt and Champa Author: Vu Hong Lien

Abstract: During his campaign in southern China and following his final victory over the Southern Song in 1279, the Yuan Emperor Kublai Khan launched a series of naval campaigns to conquer East and Southeast Asia. The chain of attempted conquests began with Japan and ended with , and all ended in failure. Although Kublai Khan did not succeed, the Mongol intervention seriously affected the dynamics of the region and left long- lasting consequences. Based on historical accounts by the Persian historian Rashid-al-Din, who had access to Kublai Khan’s papers, the Yuanshi, Vietnamese pro-Mongol documents, the Vietnamese official annals, and analyses by modern historians, this Working Paper focuses on the series of crucial events that took place in the late 13th century, when the Mongols actively and violently interfered in Đại Việt and Champa. It highlights the first-ever failure of the Mongols worldwide in Đại Việt, a hitherto less known fact due to the lack of cross-study on the Mongols in the East and the West. As events gradually unfold, we can see why Kublai Khan paid such close attention to Southeast Asia, how the Mongol Navy was created, the Mongols’ own reaction to its function, and why they failed repeatedly in their attempts at expansion down the South China Sea/Bien Dong.

The complete set of the NSC Working Papers can be accessed via: https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-commentaries/nsc-working-papers UPCOMING EVENTS:

Brown Bag Dialogue - Monks and Kings: Marking NSC Lecture Series - Imperial Rice Out the Landscape of Wider Bagan (11-13th Transportation of Nguyen Vietnam (1802-1883) century CE), Myanmar (by invitation only)

Speaker: Professor Elizabeth Moore Speaker: Dr Tana Li Date: 13 Sep 2017 Date: 1 Nov 2017 Time: 12.30–2.00 pm Time: 3.00–4.30 pm Location: Seminar Room 1, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Location: Seminar Room 2, ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute Institute

Wider Bagan is a landscape of 11th to 13th century Victor Lieberman compared three geographically-based CE temples, images and stone inscriptions, fluid in regions of Mainland Southeast Asia and points out substance and local meaning. Sites mark construction that Vietnam’s integration was neither complete nor in strategic rice and agricultural lands, of water sustained as Burma and Siam. Instead of three sustained features and defensive forts. Continued veneration has integrations, he saw two and a fraction. Vietnam lacked remodelled forms and embellished meanings; social one dominant integrating river system like the Irrawaddy memory of the monks and kings who built or to whom or Chao Phraya. Yet it has a 3260 km coast line which lands were donated enlivens today’s Buddhist landscape could play a compensatory role in integration. Why did throughout Central Myanmar and outlying regions. The such potential positive fail to promote closer integration? aim of the session is to generate discussion on ways to This paper focuses on imperial rice transportation, a major define Wider Bagan. cornerstone of Nguyen policy which was implicated in that failure.

ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute #6 • Sep-Nov • 2017 NSC Highlights is published by the Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute

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