Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - Borobudur

Starting point is 00:00:00 Located in central Java, just outside the modern city of Yogyakarta, lies the world's largest Buddhist temple, Borobador. Borobador doesn't get as much attention as other great monuments in the world, but it certainly should be included among them. And unlike the other great monuments, Borobador has the distinction that no other monument has. It disappeared quite literally for several centuries. Learn more about Borobador, its history and its significance,

Starting point is 00:00:29 on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Fear is the virus is trending on TikTok. Vaccines are poison. Then your yoga teacher says that sex traffic children are being sacrificed by satanic liberals, but it's all okay. The Great Awakening is coming. What is happening? Every week on Conspiratory Podcast,

Starting point is 00:01:04 we explore the fever dreams that suck friends, family, and wellness gurus down the right-wing cult spiral in a search for salvation. There's a good chance that many of you aren't familiar with Borobador, but you should be. It's one of the largest and most significant religious monuments in the world, but it's often overlooked due to its location. The history of Borobador dates back almost 1,200 years. The temple was constructed during the height of the Shilandar dynasty's power in central Java, most likely between the years 780 and 840, although some scholars suggest construction may have begun as early as 750. The Shailindras were ardent Mahayana Buddhists, who ruled over a prosperous maritime kingdom with strong cultural and trade connections to India and other Buddhist centers across Asia.

Starting point is 00:01:59 At the time, Java was a mix of Hindu and Buddhist depending on the region of the island. The monument was built without mortar, using an interlocking system of approximately two million cubic feet of stone quarried from nearby rivers. The builders demonstrated remarkable engineering skill, constructing the temple, on a hill and creating an elaborate drainage system with a hundred spouts to prevent water damage during Java's heavy monsoons. The entire structure was estimated to have taken 75 years to complete and involve thousands of workers, including stone carvers, laborers, and artisans. The temple's design follows a mandala pattern representing the Buddhist cosmos. It consists of nine stacked platforms comprising six square bases and three circular terraces with a central dome or

Starting point is 00:02:47 stupa at its summit. The monument measures approximately 123 meters or 403 feet on each side, and originally stood around 35 meters or 115 feet tall. Walking the entire circuit of all the levels covers nearly 5 kilometers. Borobador functioned as a place of Buddhist pilgrimage and likely served as a center for religious education as well. The structure itself is a three-dimensional representation of Buddhist cosmology in the path to enlightenment. Pilgrims would begin at the base and walk clockwise through each level, a process called Prodoxena, experiencing a symbolic journey from the realm of desire at the base, through the realm of forms on the middle terraces, to the realm of formlessness at the top. The temple walls feature 2,672 relief panels, including

Starting point is 00:03:39 1,460 narrative panels that tell stories from Buddhist texts, particular, the life of Buddha, stories of Buddha's previous lives, and the pilgrimage of Sudhana, a disciple of the Buddha. These reliefs stretch for the approximately five-kilometer spiral to the top and represent one of the most complete ensembles of Buddhist relief sculptures in the world. Additionally, the structure originally contained 504 Buddha statues, each positioned according to specific hand gestures corresponding to different directions and levels. Everything I've described so far is just a description of a very large and important religious monument. However, the story of Borobador took an interesting turn.

Starting point is 00:04:22 Sometime around the 10th century, Borobador was mysteriously abandoned. There are several theories that attempt to explain why it was abandoned. The most accepted explanation involves the shift in political and religious power in Java. The center of Javanese civilization moved eastward, and Hinduism began. began to supplant Buddhism as the dominant religion under the new ruling dynasties. A massive eruption of Mount Morapi around the year 2006 may have accelerated this process, covering the monument with volcanic ash and forcing the population to relocate. Another theory suggests that the conversion of the ruling class to Islam around the 15th and 16th centuries

Starting point is 00:05:03 led to the temple's neglect. Whatever the reason, Borobadur became gradually covered by volcanic ash and jungle vegetation, eventually disappearing from collective memory. Local Javanese people knew of the site, but it became associated with folklore and was considered unlucky or haunted, which further discouraged visits. The temple remained buried and forgotten for centuries while Islamic sultanates rose to prominence across Java. European travelers occasionally heard of a great monument hidden in the jungle, but

Starting point is 00:05:35 these reports were vague and unverified. Boro Bador's modern rediscovery is credited to Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the British lieutenant governor general of Java during the brief period when the British ruled the island from 1811 to 1816. In 1814, Raffles heard reports of a mountain of Buddhist sculptures in stone near the village of Busimi Goro. He dispatched Dutch engineer H.C. Cornelius to investigate, who led a team of 200 men to clear the site over a period of two months. Cornelius documented his findings, though the monument remained partially buried. Over the following decades, various officials and scholars conducted further clearing work.

Starting point is 00:06:17 In 1835, the site was fully uncovered for the first time in centuries, revealing its extraordinary scale and artistry. Unfortunately, this period also saw significant looting, with many statues and sculptural elements removed by colonial officials, collectors, and souvenir hunters. Some pieces ended up in museums abroad, including the National Museum of Ethnology in the Netherlands. The Dutch photographer Isidore van Kinsberg documented Boreobador in the 1870s, creating some of the first photographic records of the monument. These images sparked international interest and helped establish Bore's reputation as one of Asia's great archaeological treasures. By the late 19th century, having been excavated, Borobador's condition had deteriorated significant

Starting point is 00:07:04 The structure was unstable with many stones out of place and vegetation continuing to damage the monument. In 1885, the Dutch government finally recognized the need for systematic conservation and appointed archaeologist Jan Eiserman to conduct a thorough survey. The first major restoration was undertaken between 1907 and 1911, under the direction of Theodore Van Erp, a Dutch army engineer with archaeological training. Van Erp's team dismantled and reconstructed the monument's three circular upper terraces in central stupa, addressing structural problems and improving drainage. They restored over 300,000 stones, cleaned the reliefs, and documented the entire process photographically. This restoration was considered groundbreaking for its time and saved the monument from collapse. However, Van Erp's work, though well-intentioned, had limitations.

Starting point is 00:07:59 The restoration focused primarily on the upper levels, and fundamental structural issues in the foundation remained unaddressed. Additionally, some restoration techniques viewed with modern knowledge, were not entirely appropriate for long-term preservation. After Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands in 1945, Borobador took on new significance as a symbol of national identity and cultural heritage. The Indonesian government recognized the monument's importance, not just as a Buddhist site, but as a symbol of Indonesia's ancient civilization and architectural prowess. During the 1950s and 60s, the government conducted maintenance work, but by the 1960s, it became clear that comprehensive restoration was urgently needed. The structure continued to

Starting point is 00:08:44 deteriorate due to water seepage, stone displacement, and the effects of tropical weathering. The porous volcanic stone was particularly susceptible to moisture, which caused structural weakness, and encourage the growth of biological organisms. In 1973, the Indonesian government, with support from UNESCO, launched an ambitious international restoration project. This eight-year undertaking, which cost approximately $25 million, represented one of the largest archaeological restoration projects ever attempted in Asia. The project was funded by contributions from multiple countries and coordinated by UNESCO

Starting point is 00:09:21 specialists working with Indonesian archaeologists and engineers. The restoration involved completely dismantling and cataloging over one million stones from the monument's base and lower levels, addressing the fundamental drainage and structural problems that earlier restorations had left unresolved. Engineers installed a modern drainage system with vertical and horizontal channels, placed stones on concrete foundations when necessary, and created a detailed photographic and written record of every stage. The team also addressed the problem of biological growth by treating stones with chemicals and improving water runoff. Throughout the process, restores adhered to the principle of anastylosis, using only original

Starting point is 00:10:04 materials and methods wherever possible. The restored monument was inaugurated in February of 1983, and Borobador was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Since its restoration, Borobador has become one of Indonesia's most visited tourist attractions, drawing over three million visitors annually in recent years. The tourism brings economic benefits, but also creates conservation challenges. The constant foot traffic, touching of reliefs, and general wear have necessitated ongoing maintenance and monitoring. The monument has faced various threats in the modern era. In 1985, nine stupas on the upper terrace were damaged in a terrorist bombing attributed to Islamic extremists, though the structures were successfully repaired. Volcanic eruptions from

Starting point is 00:10:51 nearby Mount Marapi, particularly the major eruption in 2010, have deposited ash on the monument requiring extensive cleaning operations. While Boro Bador was built as a Buddhist monument, Indonesia today is primarily Muslim, with Buddhists comprising only about 1% of the population. Nevertheless, the monument has experienced a religious revival. Since the 1980s, Indonesian Buddhists have been permitted to hold ceremonies at Boro Bador, particularly during Vesasas. the celebration of Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. This annual event, held during the full moon in May or June, attracts thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from Indonesia and abroad.

Starting point is 00:11:32 The Indonesian government has worked to balance Borobador's identity as both a religious site and a secular cultural monument. While religious ceremonies are permitted, restrictions are placed on overtly religious activities to maintain the site's character as a place for all visitors. Recent archaeological surveys of the surrounding area have revealed that Borobadur was part of a larger complex of religious structures, including the nearby Buddhist temples of Pawan and Mendat, which appear to have been connected by a ceremonial pathway. Excavations have also uncovered

Starting point is 00:12:04 evidence of the workshops, settlements, and infrastructure that supported the monuments' construction and use. I had the pleasure of visiting Borobudor in 2008, and it was most certainly one of the highlights of my trip to Indonesia. Visiting was an easy day trip from Yogi Karta, and you can sufficiently experience a site in half a day. I'd recommend arriving as early as possible so you can experience the morning sun, and there's often a mist in the air in the mornings, which makes for great photography. You can also visit the nearby former Hindu religious site of Prambanon, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Borobadur's influence extends far beyond Java. The monument has inspired Buddhist architecture throughout Southeast Asia,

Starting point is 00:12:47 and represents a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site, as well as a tangible link to the historical spread of Buddhism from India to Asia. For Indonesia, Broda Badoor serves as a secular symbol, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Although Boro Bador isn't as well known as other iconic landmarks, such as the Taj Mahal or the Coliseum, perhaps it should be, as it's one of the greatest and most important historical sites on Earth. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel.

Starting point is 00:13:21 The associate producers are Austin Otkin and Cameron Kiefer. Today's review comes from listener Ricardo on Apple Podcasts in the United States. They write, An Intellectual Oasis. I like to listen to a wide variety of podcasts to learn new things from cycling to economics. Gary's podcast is by far my favorite. Everything Everywhere Daily has been a starting point to learn more on topics that were off my radar. It's also been great to remember things I learned before, but I'd forgotten. gotten, at least partially. The things I love the most about the show, it's clean,

Starting point is 00:13:52 no foul language, and it's apolitical. The history episodes describe the facts without the bias of some of the history podcasts out there. The time allocated to each episode is perfect, and it fits in my daily commute. I still have about 1,600 episodes to go, and if some of these following topics may have been covered already, if they haven't, could they be added to the show? The invention of the derailer, the St. Patrick's Battalion, the Tortoise Treaty, why viruses are not loving organisms, grease, cotton, air carriers in Lake Michigan during World War II, and the polar bears expeditionary force, just to name a few. Well, thanks, Ricardo. You have quite a few recommendations.

Starting point is 00:14:29 Some of those are already on my list of potential episodes to do in the future, and some of those I'll look into. And at least one has already been covered in a previous episode that you might not have gotten to yet. Remember, if you leave a review or send me a boost to gram, you two can have it read on the show. Thank you.

Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - Borobudur

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.