Review of RevieicA, IjQ/uS. 



The Temple Ruins of Java, 



243 



temple is probablv derived from Bara Budha, or 

 the " Great Buddha." 



The view from the summit is magnificent. The 

 upper portion of the hill is clothed in an exquisitely 

 wrought mantle of stonework, scarred and seamed 

 by twelve centuries of conflict with the elements. 

 Nestling at its feet in loving homage is the rich 

 green foliage of a tropical clime, as if Nature, re- 

 versing the usual order, were worshipping this mas- 

 terpiece of humanity. Beyond, the simple peasant 

 ploughs his paddy field, or plants his indigo, chil- 

 dren frolic beneath the giant trees, and smiling 

 fields complete a landscape framed by huge moun- 

 tains and smoking craters. 



There are ruins of more than 150 temples in the 

 region lying between Soedakarta and Djokjakarta, 

 some of which surpass in elaboration of detail and 

 arti.stic merit even the great temple of Boro Budur. 

 A little to the north of Parambanan is the Chandi 

 Sevu (' Thousand Temples "). The group consists 

 of 240 minor temples built in four quadrilateral lines, 

 around the central temple. Two huge Temple- 

 Guards protect each of the four entrances. They 

 are generally believed to be " Raksy-asas," or de- 

 mons, although it is contended by some archaeolo- 

 gists of note that they are images of '" Kala," the god 

 of Death, keeping guard over the remains of the 

 departed. Each of the minor temples probably 

 contains the ashes of some notable person, constitut- 

 ing a select Necropolis of priests and princes. The 

 principal temple contains a spacious inner room, 

 with small chapels on every side, except the eastern, 

 which provides the entrance. There is hardly any 



ornamentation in the iiiner room,, but its western 

 half is occupied by a raised dais, upon which the 

 principal image was probably enthroned. Wilful 

 destruction is nowhere more evident than here ; 

 hardly an image remains on the pedestals, fragments 

 of statues ajid mutilated torsos lie around, reproach- 

 ing the wanton vandalism of a degenerate race. 



Further south, at an e!e\'ation of 1000 feet, there 

 is another group of temples on Gunung Ijo. These 

 temples are chiefly interesting from the fact that 

 they seem to be the only purely non-Buddhistic tem- 

 ples in the district. 



Buddhism was completely overthrown in India 

 during the eighth and ninth centuries, and it is at 

 least worthy of comment that the two greatest world- 

 religions, Christianity and Buddhism — whose fol- 

 lowers comprise nearly one-half of the human race — ■ 

 are not practised in the regions of their birth. The 

 Hindus of the Mainland were doubtless in constant 

 intercourse with their fellow-believers in Java, and 

 it is probable that Hinduism became the prevailing 

 cult in Java about that date. This was probably 

 the religion of the last Hindu dynast}' that was ruling 

 when the Arabs commenced their conquest of the 

 island. Their seat of government was at Majapahit, 

 near S'oerabaja, and they ruled not only over Java, 

 but had established their hegemony over parts of the 

 Malav Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and other 

 islands of the Archipelago. It is probable that 

 during the fourteen centuries of Hindu rule in Java 

 Buddhism superseded Brahmanism in the third or 

 fourth century, and was itself overthrown in the 

 ninth or tenth century, being succeeded by a more 

 or less unorthodox Hinduism. 



Essay Competition for Adults and School Pupils. 



TEN GUINEAS in Prizes. See Page 316. 



On page 316 we publish details of Essa^ Competition. Our idea is 

 to stimulate still further the growing desire for universal peace. One 

 Competition is for adults, the other is for State school pupils, or 

 Secondary school pupils under the age of 16 years. I most earnestly 

 request the State school and Secondary school teachers to bring this 

 Competition under the notice of their pupils. The cultivation of kindly 

 sentiments between nations is in the air, and no time could be more 

 appropriate than this for the inculcating of ideas as to what the best kind 

 of Empire should seek to accomplish. May I appeal to them to do what 

 they can to induce their pupils to take the matter up ? — EDITOR. 



