Cultural Travel Guides to Java, Indonesia
We have hand-selected Approach Guides relevant to travel in Java, Indonesia.
Focus sites include the ancient temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.
The Temples of Java
In Central Java, two massive temples rise as witness to the greatness of two empires – one Buddhist and one Hindu. This Approach Guide to the Temples of Java will explore the sites of Borobudur (Buddhist) and Prambanan (Hindu) in detail, helping visitors understand the importance of each site and draw linkages between these seemingly disconnected architectural landmarks. Read more
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Religion: Buddhism
Buddhism, along with Hinduism, was once prevalent in Java. Buddhism began as a rebellious offspring of Hinduism in India, “Hindu Protestantism”, if you will, and migrated out of India to the rest of Asia via the Silk Road and other trade routes. This guide seeks to provide a framework for understanding the faith and help readers gain an understanding of this religion’s rich, global cultural legacy. Read more
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The Stupa Form’s Transformation over Time
While no longer a Buddhist island, Java once was and the wondrous stupas from days gone by remain. The stupa in Sanchi (located in Central India) is the original stupa, serving as the prototype for all others that followed, both in India and throughout Asia. Using this Approach Guide, travelers will be able to identify stylistic changes in stupa/pagoda architecture as Buddhism migrated out of India, to China and Japan (via the Silk Road) and to Southeast Asia (via sea trade routes). Read more
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Historical East-West Trade Connections
Ever wonder who was trading with the Venetian Empire when it ruled Europe’s trading networks? Equally powerful Southeast Asian empires — the most powerful of which were based in Java — supported Europe’s increasing demand for exotic Eastern goods and spices. Although fundamentally economic in orientation, this worldwide trade network spawned vast cultural, artistic and religious exchanges. We encourage our readers to use this ApproachGuide to discover the nature of these exchanges, which served as the underlying (and often overlooked) inspiration for many of the world’s greatest cultural landmarks. Read more
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Indian Art & Architecture: Buddhist
India’s Buddhist traditions had a far-reaching impact on the formative period of Southeast Asia’s artistic and architectural development; Buddhism as Hinduism, was once a prevalent faith in Java. In this Approach Guide we provide a condensed, yet comprehensive overview of Buddhist architecture and sculpture, that is helpful to anyone studying the historical influence of Indian Buddhist art and architecture on that of Southeast Asia. Read more
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Indian Art & Architecture: Hindu
Hinduism has exerted arguably as powerful an influence as Buddhism on historical Southeast Asian art and architecture; Hinduism, as Buddhism, was once a prevalent faith in Java. Hindu architecture, while structurally simple (no arches are ever used in its construction), exhibits some of the most ornate decoration and symbolic design elements in the world. This Approach Guide offers travelers an approach to understanding Hindu architecture and sculpture and be able to easily answer questions like, “What’s the main difference between Hindu architecture in the North and South” and “What Mediterranean culture influenced Indian sculpture?” (Hint: think Alexander the Great). Read more
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Note that free previews reveal only a small, yet representative, portion of the content available in the complete Approach Guides document. All images and photos in these Approach Guides and on www.approachguides.com were taken on location by David and Jennifer Raezer.
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