Ngawen
Ngawen (known locally as Candi Ngawen) is an 8th-century Buddhist temple compound in Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. Located in Ngawen village, Muntilan sub-district, 6 km (3.7 mi) to the east of Mendut temple or 5 km (3.1 mi) to the south of Muntilan town center. Ngawen temple compound consists of five temples, however, today only one is successfully reconstructed.
Ngawen is thought to be connected with the other three Buddhist temples nearby — Mendut,
Architecture
The temple was made from andesite stone and built in typical Central Javanese candi temple architecture. The temple complex was built on site measures 3,556 square meter, sandwiched between a village and rice paddies.[1] The temple complex consists of five temples creating a row of temples spanning north to south; two main temples and three perwara (ancillary) temples in between the main temples in alternating order. The temples are numbered according to their order from north to south; so temples no. 2 and 4 are larger main temples, while temples no. 1, 3 and 5 are ancillary smaller temples. Today, only northern main temple or temple number 2, was successfully reconstructed, the other four temples are still in ruins. The temples faces east and stands on a square base.
The northern main temple measures 13 meters by 12 meters base and is 7 metres in height. On each corner of the main temples, stands some exquisite statues of lions in rampant position. These lions of Ngawen temple are quite a unique feature among
There is a headless stone statue of meditating
History
Examination of the style of Ngawen architecture, symbolism and carving, suggests that the temple was built around late 8th-century, slightly older than Borobudur. The original name of this Buddhist shrine is uncertain. "Ngawen" literally derived from
The local Javanese villagers has been aware of the temple's ruin presence since 19th-century. The first official observations were conducted by Dutch archeologist Holpermand in 1874. In 1911, Van Erp mentioned Ngawen temple in his commentary, that the temples were destroyed by a Mount Merapi eruption. PJ Perquin, another Dutch archeologist, studied Ngawen in 1925 and successfully restored one of the five temples; the northern main temple (temple No.2).
The temple suffered looting in the 1970s when two statue heads were stolen. Other looting incidents were reported in 1999.[1]
See also
- Ancient temples of Java
- Buddhism in Indonesia
- Candi of Indonesia
- Indonesian Esoteric Buddhism
- Borobudur
- Mendut
- Pawon
References
- ^ a b c d "Ngawen temple victim of artifact theft". thejakartapost.com. The Jakarta Post. August 13, 2001. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
- ISBN 9004105123. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Drs. R. Soekmono (1973). Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius. p. 46.
- ^ "Candi Ngawen". magelangkab.go.id. Magelang Regency official site. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2013.