How Enlightenment Shapes Architecture
Borobudur is the biggest Buddhist temple to date, built around the 8th century in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple adapted geometric configurations in the style of Mandala.
Mandala is a Hindu and Buddhist graphic representation of the cosmos. In almost all Asian religious practices, there is a belief in the existence of a center form.
Walking around Borobudur’s ground, I felt a tremendous sense of calm and focus. There is an evidence of balance in its design. Like the 4 entrances, so practitioners can come from any point without crowding each entrance.
The temple is decorated with more than 500 Buddha statues and 3000 stone-relief-panels about Buddha’s life and teachings. Working on layers, it represents spiritual journey from the outside to the inner core. The higher ground means more enlightenment.
What’s impressive is the structure used no mortar and cement. Using stone interlocking techniques, its structure has been able to withstand natural elements for centuries.
As of this writing, the tourism company responsible for Borobudur conservation only allows visitors to explore on the ground floor with no specific date to open the 3-level tiers. While the pandemic plays a factor, the temple suffers from vandalism.
Here are some details of Borobudur (these photos below were taken in 2019).
