The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-05
TEMPLES OF JAVA. y
Built in Centre ofj1sland in Eighth or
Ninth Century. - =.

=
If most people were asked to name
those countries Of the world in which
are still to be found splendid architecc-
tural remains of bygone civilizations,
the names of Egypt, India, Syria and
Mexico would at once be forthcoming;
but few would place the Island Of Java
on the list; yet not one of these. sould
show more numerous or more splendid.
This may seem an exaggeration, but
the same opinion has been universally
expressed by the most eminent writer's
on the subject AS the date and rise
and fall of a civilization which has
left behind it such splendid memorials
authorities are much at variance, but
for the most part they are placed be-
tween the beginning ana the eighth or
ninth century of our era. Certain 1t
is, however that at one time the Island
must have been ruled by a Hindu or
Buddhist people far advanced in the
arts of architecture and sculpture.
Among the finest and best preserv-
ed of these ruins Is the great temple
known as the Tyandl Barabudur, situa-
ted near the centre Of Java IN the suit
anate of Djokjakarta. Originally design
ed probably as a dagaba, or resting
place. for a portion Of the ashes Of
Buddha, this building rises in the form
Of terraced pyramid, the part at pre-
sent above ground being about $50 feet
square by about 100 feet high. The
terraces at present visible are seven in
number, the whole being surmountd
a dome 80 feet In height.
Each Of these terraces is covered on
the inner wall formed by the terrace
above, and in the lower terraces also
on outer walls running round them, by
a series Of bass-reliefs, which for ex-'
tent, variety and artistic merit have
probably not their equals In the world.
Running in double tier round the
lower galleries and In single tier
round the upper ones, they are esti-
mated to have a total length over three
miles, and represent by a continuous
series of pictures not only the birth
and life of the Lord Buddha in his fin
al incarnation, BIT also a large nmber
of the ''jatakas,' or previos lives, of
the master In the gradally ascending
forms Of animals and Of men in various
positions in life, and record his good
deeds in each Of those lives.
Thus we have the story of hte Bud
hisatva when on earth in the form of
a hare. Indra the lord of heaven, in
the form of a traveller, weary and
hungry, comes down to test the vir-
tues of the various beasts. He receives
fish from an otter a dish of suds from
a iackal and fruit from monkey; but
the poor hare, having nothing else to
| offer, presents his own body to the
hungry traveller and throws himself
on a fire to be roasted. Interrupted
now in many places BY the work of a
thousand years of earthquakes, tropi-
cal storms and fanatical Mathometan
destroyers, this wonderful picture
.. story runs through gallery after gall
cry to where, in the central dome, en-
tirely closed in and hidden, stood the
final image of the master, free from
any ornament, crown or aureole, the
Buddha raised above all earthly desires
| or passions.
In the whole of the series at present
above ground, there were originally no
fewer than 2,141 complete bass-relief
pictures. of which 1888 are still in q
fair state Of preservation. There were
in addition, in inches round the terrace
walls AL statues ofaS Buddha larger
than life, besides smaller ones past