Bali has justly been called the island of a thousand temples.
And although this may sound a little like a travel brochure,
it is not really so misleading, for the temples on Bali are
of more than mere external importance.
In the Indonesian Archipelago rectangular axes have been
found in central and southern Sumatra, Java, Bali and the
other Lesser Sundas, Borneo, Celebes and the Moluccas. Particularly
amongst the finds in southern Sumatra, Java and Bali history,
one comes across specimens of fine expert workmanship and
exquisite shape.
Indonesian Republic, encompassing the chain of islands from
Sumatra's extreme north to halfway across New Guinea (Irian
Jaya), is far from ethnically homogeneous.
As in all countries near the Equator, Bali has an eternal
summer with even, warm weather, high humidity, and a regular
variation of winds, but the unbearable heat of lands similarly
situated is greatly relieved by sea breezes that blow
constantly over the descending slopes of the four volcanoes
that form the island.
In the first place, an examination of temples and temple
customs affords one in insight into religious thought oil
the island. But in addition to this the temples, with their
varied functions, have one an idea of the complex social
conditions that prevailed on Bali, whilst the architecture
and decoration of these sacred buildings is often on a most
impressive scale.
From this brief historical sketch it can be seen that up
to the latter, half of the 10th century Bali was directly
exposed to Indian culture, that in the subsequent period
Java's influence is clearly discernible and that after the
decline of the kingdom of Majapahit Bali developed along
independent cultural lines.
This is from the Catur Yoga, a popular manuscript that
translated for the sake of practice on the language. It
consists of ideas on cosmogony, mythology, legends of the
creation of man, etc., ending in a confused set of rules
for cremation and Balinese genealogies.
In the first place, an examination of temples and temple
customs affords one in insight into religious thought
oil the island. But in addition to this the temples, with
their varied functions, have one an idea of the complex
social conditions that prevailed on Bali History, whilst
the architecture and decoration of these sacred buildings
is often on a most impressive scale.
Amongst the walls there are two who are of particular importance
in the history of Java as founders of hereditary dynasties,
which exerted authority in both the spiritual and political
fields
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