BOROBUDUR TEMPLE: THE INTERCHANGE OF HUMANITY VALUES AND ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

It is without doubt that Borobudur Temple is one of the world’s most exquisite Buddhist landmarks. The temple holds the “ratna mutu manikam” essence of the unparalleled Buddha Mahayana arts. Experts even believe that the highest point of Gupta arts can be located not in the land of India, but in central Java, and that is Borobudur Temple. There are others who also believe that Borobudur Temple is the most magnificent Buddhist creation throughout Asia. Borobodur Temple can be perceived as the climatic point of the Syailendra’s religious thinking and concepts and their people in Java. The temple is a representative case of the zenith of Buddhist civilization that was developed by Syailendrawangsa in Asia and outside Buddha’s place of birth in India. The thoughts and experiences of people of Ancient Java before the building of Borobudur Temple has in fact been gathered together and combined with the Buddhist architectural concept thus creating the Borobudur masterpiece. That being so, all cultural events before the building of Borobudur indisputably serve as the foundation for the building of this temple. This article seeks to examine possibilities of influence from Borobudur Temple which is a sacred building of Syailendra, as well as a monument of reference for many sacred temples in ancient Khmer. This is because for a long time, Borobudur Temple has been acknowledged as a masterpiece of the ingenious Ancient Java society. Borobudur holds knowledge values needed by humanity in the form of Buddhist religious architecture, beautiful art ornaments associated with Buddhism, and the sophisticated technology behind its construction.