Borobudur Temple's History and Origin Story

Borobudur Temple is a Buddhist temple in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Borobudur Temple is the world's largest Buddhist temple or temple, as well as one of the world's most significant Buddhist monuments. The temple, built in the eighth century, has been recognized by UNESCO as one of the world's cultural heritage due to its magnificence and majesty (world heritage).
During the time of the Syailendra dynasty, the Borobudur temple was constructed. Mahayana Buddhists built this stupa-shaped structure during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty. Borobudur Temple was established in the eighth century, according to history.
The genesis of the Borobudur temple is still shrouded in mystery, as is who the founder was and what the original aim of creating this temple was. Many myths and stories about the Borobudur temple are known as local folk tales.
The temple structure was constructed in the eighth century AD. On July 15, 1980, this shrine was dedicated as a tourist attraction. In1991, UNESCO declared Borobudur Temple as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Borobudur Temple's History
The foundation of the Borobudur temple has a long history. Until now, no written evidence has been discovered revealing who built Borobudur or why this temple was built. Borobudur Temple is thought to have been built around 800 AD.
The estimated time for the temple's construction is based on comparing the type of writing engraved on Karmawibhangga's closed foot with the script often used in 8th and 9th-century royal inscriptions. Borobudur temple was constructed between 760 and 830 AD during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty in Central Java.
The construction of the Borobudur temple is expected to take between 75 and 100 years. The new Borobudur Temple was built entirely during King Samaratungga's reign in 825 AD. Also, see Prambanan Temple's History.




Construction of the Borobudur Temple
According to the thesis The Relationship of the Meaning of Borobudur Temple Symbols with Buddhist Teachings, Gunadarma was the builder of the Borobudur temple. This temple was constructed in five stages:
1. The initial stage (780 AD)
The first construction was done on a hill. The courtyard was extended once the hillside was levelled. Not all of the temple's materials are made of andesite. A hill is constructed by compacting the earth and covering it with stone.
This rock formation resembles a shell and encloses an earthen slope. Meanwhile, the rest of the hill is gradually being covered with stone constructions. The temple's construction began in stages, similar to a stepped pyramid.
Stages two and three (792 AD)
Two square-shaped steps have been added to the second floor—a section of the ledge fence with a round stair. The stairwell features a single giant stupa.
The third component is a change in the building's design. The circle's summit, including a single central stupa, was demolished. Three circular steps replaced the stupa, and miniature stupas were constructed in a process in the courtyard of the stairs. The main stupa is in the centre.
Archaeologists believe Borobudur was initially intended to be a single, massive stupa. As a result, the stupa is shaped like a crown in the centre. However, the enormous stupa was too hefty, causing the building's structure to collapse.

A large stupa can cause the structure to shift. Borobudur's core is only a hill of earth. Therefore the strain on top can flow downwards, threatening Borobudur with landslides and collapses.
Finally, the great stupa was demolished and replaced by circular terraces adorned with miniature stupas. The main stupa is the sole one that supports the temple walls and keeps them from shifting.
The Fourth Stage (824 AD) and Fifth Stage (833 AD)
Minor improvements were made to the temple building, such as the insertion of the outermost balustrade, the progress of the reliefs, changes to the steps, the enlargement of the toe, and the arch of the gate.

Borobudur Temple's Philosophy
Borobudur Temple represents the entire universe. The building's construction comprises ten levels separated into three groups in the shape of terraces. In Buddhism, each class has a philosophical connotation, which is as follows:
• Kamadhatu, the bottom section that represents the underworld or human behaviour that is bound by worldly wants
• Rupadhatu, the midway half, represents the intermediate nature or human behaviour that begins to depart from worldly interests.
• Arupadharu, the top section represents the upper nature or human behaviour free of worldly wants.
Temple reliefs characterize these three levels. This relief extends for 3 meters. Approximately 1,212 pieces comprise 1,460 frames intermingled with separating fields.

A form of longitudinal fold extends as far as one and a half kilometres above the row of frames. These folds are ornamented, forming a succession of lotus flowers. There are 1,476 pieces of triangular simbar ornament in the bag.
Levels Kamadhatu and Rupadhatu had 1,472 432 stupas and Buddha sculptures that encircled the entire wind. On the last level, 72 stupas circle the great stupa at the summit. This monument was built with over two million pieces of stone.
Borobudur Temple is made up entirely of stupas. The stupa is a Buddhist memorial structure. Stupa signifies a mound or heap of soil in Sanskrit.
This temple sits in the Kedu plain area, surrounded by Mount Merapi and Merbabu in the east, Mount Sindoro and Sumbing in the north, and the Menoreh mountains in the south.
The Temple of Borobudur Borobudur Temple was abandoned between 928 and 1006. At the time, King Mpu Sindok relocated Medang's royal capital to East Java. The capital city was relocated owing to a volcanic eruption, and the Borobudur temple was eventually abandoned.
During the Majapahit dynasty, Mpu Prapanca in the Nagarakretagama text was written around the year 1,365. He cites "Wihara di Budur" in the manuscript.
The Story of the Borobudur Temple's Rediscovery
The next Borobudur temple's history reaches the era of rediscovery. Remember that the Borobudur temple was concealed and ignored for generations. Borobudur was buried behind a layer of earth and volcanic ash, which was later overgrown with plants and shrubs, giving Borobudur the appearance of a hill at the time.
It is unknown why Borobudur was abandoned and left in disarray. Borobudur was abandoned between 928 and 1006 AD when King Mpu Sindok relocated the royal capital of Medang to East Java due to a volcanic explosion. However, this is also questionable.

Borobudur was likewise increasingly forgotten after the arrival of Islamic rule in the 15th century. However, there are stories and traditions regarding the success of the Borobudur temple in the past.

Borobudur temple was only rediscovered in 1814 AD. At the time, the island of Java was ruled by the British, who Governor-General Thomas Stamford Raffles led. Raffles is fascinated with Javanese history and culture.
Raffles learned of a large monument hidden in the forest near the village of Bumisegoro while inspecting Semarang. He then dispatched HC Cornelius, a Dutch engineer, to explore the presence of this massive structure.
Cornelius and 200 of his subordinates pulled down the trees and shrubs that grew on the Borobudur hill and cleansed the layer of earth that concealed this temple in less than two months. He informed Raffles of his discovery and sent him a sketch of the Borobudur temple. Raffles is also credited with unearthing the Borobudur Temple and bringing the existence of this long-lost landmark to the notice of the globe.
Hartmann, a Dutch East Indies government officer at the Kedu Residency, continued Cornelius' work. Finally, in 1835 AD, all portions of the temple tower were unearthed and made visible. FC Wilsen, a Dutch technical engineer, was commissioned by the Dutch East Indies government to research this monument.
Following that, the administration of the Dutch East Indies proceeded to do studies on the Borobudur temple. Borobudur is also becoming more popular as a destination for temple collectors. Borobudur was also a target for thieves who stole temple artefacts to sell at high rates.
Due to unstable conditions, uncertainty, and rampant theft at the monument, the chief inspector of cultural items proposed that Borobudur be demolished, and its reliefs relocated to a museum in 1882. However, a comprehensive assessment of the site by a government-appointed archaeologist named Groenveldt recommended that the building be preserved intact and not disassembled for destruction.
Restoration of the Borobudur Temple
The restoration procedure continues the history of the founding of Borobudur Temple. The Dutch East Indies government attempted to preserve this monument around 1900 AD.

A commission of three authorities, including an art historian named Brandes, a Dutch engineer and soldier named Theodoor van Erp, and a building construction specialist engineer from the Department of Public Works named Van de Kamer, was formed to investigate this monument.
Many details were taken into consideration throughout the temple's reconstruction. Among other things, the drainage system was improved, the corners of the building were fixed, dangerous stones were removed, the first fence was strengthened, and various niches, gates, stupas, and main stupas were restored.
Another thing that needs to be done is to build the temple yard fence and clean up the area. The restoration of the Borobudur temple took place between 1907 and 1911 AD. Following Indonesia's independence, the government carried out various rehabilitation projects, albeit on a minor scale.
The Indonesian government requested a significant renovation of this monument from the international community in the late 1960s. In a massive effort that lasted from 1975 to 1982, the Indonesian government worked with UNESCO to rehabilitate the temple in its entirety.
Following the reconstruction, in1991, UNESCO added Borobudur Temple to the list of World Heritage Sites and included it in the Cultural Criterion.
That concludes the brief history of the Borobudur temple and the origin of the entire Borobudur temple. Borobudur temple tourism is currently one of Indonesia's most popular tourist destinations. Borobudur Temple, one of the world's most famous cultural heritage, attracts local and foreign tourists.

 

 

 

 

Article source :  https://sinaumedia.com/the-history-of-borobudur-temple-and-its-origin-story/

Image source :   https://pixabay.com/id/photos/borobudur-indonesia-budaya-candi-2166750/

# What is the meaning of Borobudur temple?

# What is the history of Borobudur temple?

# Why is the Borobudur temple important?

# Who is the architect of Borobudur temple?