History Of A Place : The Remarkable Architecture of Borobudur in Indonesia

Yihaaaawww.. Today I would write of our national and international pride temple. Architectural of Borobudur in Indonesia. If Peru has Inca temples, Egypt has pyramids, Greece has Meteora and we are Indonesian has Borobudur and many more where later ( I hope so ) can share with you in different blog special about Indonesia. In this article today is about Borobudur's architectural technology.


We should understand and proud of our ancestors that long time back, with simplicity and minimalist tools, they can build something that ever lasting. Parts of universe to remember that technology of ancestors architectures always remarkable and need to be conserved for the world to see.


The great things in using materials for building Borobudur is that the ancestors used stone and is not like any other old historical building which used chicken eggs as an adhesive material. Borobudur used locked-stone system : inter-linked and locked mutually the stone each other. In short way is like three dimensional structure resembles jigsaw puzzle in aim to strong and solid the building.


Borobudur construction is not known in time exact. It was estimated between 750 - 850 century and was estimated to build this has taken 50 years to complete the works.  Borobudur area is 15,129m squares and being made by using 2 millions rocks; locked-rocks ( lego blocks stones ). Average size of each stone was 25cm x 10cm x 15cm. Overall length  of 500 km stone pieces, and total weight is 1.3 millions tons. The consideration, why the ancestors made Borobudur on hill was about to cost-controlling of stones usage. And in the other way, there was philosophy behind that why Borobudur had built on the hill for reason to worship the gods to be near to heaven sky.


According to study: there were two ways that ancestors used in splitting the rocks:

• At first stone would be marked by sculptured sides. Then, above the sculpture, they lit the fire. When the stones was being fired and became very hot, then the stones was poured-over by water. The hot stone with sudden chilled would burst and split.
• Thee stones which wanted to be split marked with carving holes. Every holes filled with a kind of wooden pegs. The wooden pegs were then flushed with cold water. Wet wood would hit the stones until it breaks and splits. 

Borobudur Building Structure & Its Philosophy

• Borobudur has the basic structure such as staircase, with six yards shape as like square and conical shape-up, three circular courtyard and a main stupa ( shrines to gods ) as a peak and in the yard spreads with many stupa as well. Initially built storey apartment lay-out at first.  The Borobudur's architect chose to build it on a hill, which is distinguished this Borobudur than other temples in Java or other places where are mostly was built on flat-ground. 
• Borobudur has 10 yards as thesecond structure which describing the court of Mahayana philosophy : ten levels of Bodhisattva   that must be accomplished to be a perfect Buddha.
• The feet area as the third structure of Borobudur which represent Kamadhatu, which means the world still dominated by ' kama ( bad-desire ). This area is covered with pile of stones that allegedly made to strengthened the temple's construction. There are additional closed sections, there are 120 panels which talking about Kammawibanggha story.
• The fourth floor with reliefs on the walls which called Rupadathu, The shape of this area is rectangular. Rupadhatu has meaning that a world that can be able to break free from lust, but still bound by the appearance and shape. This fourth level is describing the above nature ( minds ) and bottom nature ( desire ). You will find Buddha statues in the recesses of wall above breezeways. 
•  Starting to the fifth to the seventh floor, the walls not have reliefs. This level called Arupadhatu ( means no tangible form ). The shape of floor  is circular. In this part of level has meaning that the nature where already free from desire with no bound of shapes and forms of appearance. But still not in heaven-nirvana yet. Buddha statues are placed inside the stupa which covered with holes as like in cage.
• The upper levels has many stupa , and the biggest and largest stupa is describing the absence forms of human, and unite with the universe and already in heaven. The stupa depicted plain and without holes.

The amazing facts of Borobudur structure is that its was built by maths concept in each area of feet, body, and the head of temple has ratio 4 : 6 : 9. And by the study special for Borobudur temple has found that it has Mandala shape, which I would refer you to this link to know better ( because it is more details information by experts and good for you too to know better ).  Here is the Special about Borobudur 

http://kikizahara.wordpress.com

History Of A Place : Today is China

I would write about history of a place first, not to continue awhile about philosophy due to my interest today 

:-). 

I don't understand why my blog spot look likes wikipedia ? I have too many interests guys. So, that's okay right If i write all my interests in here? This is my dream too to go to China, because they have good history and good system to keep their history. Here are a small knowledge about China. 

• Great Wall 

This wall is the longest building which ever made by humans in our beloved earth. One of the seven wonders in the world. This wall was made to prevent the invasion of  Mongols at the time. With 6400 km of length and 8m of height, this wall was built in for hundreds years in different dynasty era. As we do know too, that Chinese culture is one of the eldest ones in the world, they have progress advent technology even for the architecture of this wall. 

The building was starting since Qin's  Dynasty in 220 BC ( even before already had the based of the wall building structure ), they continue made this wall with soil, soil mixed with gravels and simply with by a mound of big-large stones and again the same process of made continued in Han's dynasty.

Continued in Tang's era, they already produced and made advanced the walls with simple bricks. Due to the cost, the usage of bricks just limited in city gate area and the nearest walls where was strategic to withstand the enemy's attack.

Then in Ming's dynasty, the progressive technology of material base was done in making the walls became solid by mixing the limestone and glutinous rice as the cement as the adhesive material to solid the bricks that time. However, to strengthened the wall building; they still used stones in some part of  the Great Wall.

The Picture of Great Wall 

• Panda

Panda is a mammal; a signature animal from China, even more WWF ( World Wild Foundation ) using this animal as their symbol and also Google ( Google Panda-red; :P ) and of course China's country as symbol itself  and also in their money. Panda is originated from central China. We should know too that panda is one of species which is including endangered species in universe with estimated only 1,600 pandas has been living in the world. Then, why this panda is so special for the world even put panda as their symbols?

Panda is categorized in bear family. In Hanzi literature is called pinyin-mao xiong which means ' bear-cat '. In Latin, it called Ailuropoda melanoleuca ( which means: the black-white paws cat ). Why panda is so special because per-taxonomy, panda is a carnivore but its attitude is like vegetarians. Panda almost eat only bamboo even sometimes eats eggs or insects. Because the way it is, same alike a vegetarian ( herbivore-red ), while he etas its ears always moves, looks funny and also panda seems don't hunt; only lay down or sit and eating bamboo, its popularity image as a peaceful animal was created.

Look even They make Kungfu Panda and Panda 2 is Funny !!!

• The Lion dance ( In Indonesia it called Barongsai )

This is a traditional Chinese ( you can watch movie of Jet Lee. LOL.. He always perform this dance, and I love it because so sportive and artistic ). The dancers would wear cloak or robe which resembles a lion face and body ( sometimes I think it was a dragon image? ). This dance already exist for thousand years now, based in Mr. wikipedia ( the window of knowledge website-red ) : the dance start can be recorded in Chin's dynasty in 3rd century and become popular in the year of  420-589.

At first this dance as a strategic maneuver of Song Wen Di's army against Fan Yang's elephant troops. They almost lose against Fang's troops. Then the warlord named of Zhong Que created derivative lion king stuffed to repel the Fang's troop. And then after, the effort was successful and then being legendary as a dance. And if we do pay attention of the moves in the dance of lion or Barongsai, it is really look like army troops' moves. Full of martial arts. 

 

Okay until here only I can share a bit about China. In Indonesia, the art of lion dance ( Barongsai ) is famous. I love it though. I always wait and love when Chinese New Year celebration, because most of time I can watch this  dance in this occasion only.

The Lion Dance - Barongsai

Thought of Descartes

Yesterday, I was writing about quick summary the basic thoughts in philosophy and which science inventions as an aspect have had urged the philosophy in revolutionary way  and could changed the mind and view of the world globally. Today, I will write a bit about the thought of  Descartes, so it will be like a serial articles which can have deduction at the end to how the philosophy, science and religion can have such of points to unite.

Rene Descartes was a French actually, which born in 1596. Once upon a time, he was became a soldier in Germany and he got a vision via his dream in 1619; a vision that given by God, one parent of science, in management of one person, and accordingly to one method. He thinks and feels that he must carry out that vision.

" Cogito, ergo sum " ( I think, and therefore I exist )

Important writings 

• Discours de la methode ( Description of Method ) in 1637
• Meditationes de prima philosophia ( Meditations of Metaphysics ) in 1641
• Principia philosophiae ( Fundamental Philosophy ) in 1644

Thoughts 

• Skeptical method: Descartes wasn't satisfied with the philosophy which had been exist at his era. A philosophy in less of systematically. He emphasized that the old philosophy was lack of scientific method. Descartes offers " methodical doubts ". With skepticism of all things in universe, could ultimately result in something which is really valid, sure and acceptable in human mind. Therefore, a system of philosophy would be formed as a system of exact science. A method with based on axioms and arranged accordingly by logical steps.
• ' Cogito, ergo sum ' : If I skeptic about a thing, only 1 thing that ca not be denied : the skepticism itself. The newest fresh air brought by Descartes in this term was about the subject's mind as the starting point in his philosophy.
• Subject as the center; Before Baroque's era begins, the truth was always based on power beyond humanity ability-such as church authority, holy book, tradition, state power. In Descartes' minds which making it revolutionary philosophy that human himself who become the power whom carry out and bear the facts. The human, who is thinker is the the world center. Human as the subject of  thoughts.
• Clearly, Positive and Optimistic Opinion : " I think, therefore I exist " ( sounds like '' To Be or Not To Be " ). The optimistic statement of  Descartes. He noted that ratio and intelligence are the big helper to achieve the truth. All things can be seen by eyes being clear and positive opinion, it called the truth.
• Dualism : Descartes relied that there are 3 substances : God, Thoughts ( cogatio ) which refer to soul: the psychological terms, Extent ( extensio ) which refer to science, the materials. Thoughts and Extent in Decrates' opinion that is one unite, but located in different separate facts, but influencing each other through a small gland deep underneath the brain ???

By his minds, the view of universe has changed due to his influence in Copernicus', Newton's, Galileo's which had been strengthened of their theories and scientific inventions of universe.

Philosophy and Science

Yesterday I wrote a simple article about philosophy in general terms. Today, I would like to share the philosophy in many ages of genres which still related nowadays. In this article, I would just make a quick summary the history of philosophy where become a base later on to the recently minds and thoughts of philosophers and science itself in aim for us to get clear views about the terms.

In Europe, we knew about ' rennaissance ' era ( year of 1400 - 1600 ) which has meaning ' re-born/enlightenment ' after 1,000 years Europe had been in static condition culture. The most factors which made rennaissance era becoming a starting point the development of philosophy and due to the advent of scientific discoveries which are :

• Nicolas Copernicus; with his theory ' heliocentric cosmology ' in 1543 which bring world into science revolution in seeing universe that ' sun is the center of universe '. 
• Galileo Galilei ; he was completed and make perfect the telescope into 3x up- zooming-which this completion had supported Copernicus that Aristoteles era has done. Also, with his completion of telescope works and others navigation devices has brought human specially Europe to have bigger horizon of universe. It bring more capability for people to adventure the world, around the globe. 
• Leonardo Da Vinci ; with his works in arts, anatomy of human body and also which important was his steam cannon, this steam cannon  indicating that the feudalism power was on threat. 
• Johanes Gutenberg : with his printing press machine. This invention has bring definite revolution for people that knowledge and science was no longer owned by certain intellectual circles, knowledge and science is for everyone.

With a major of revolution in development knowledge in science, arts & literature, impact the social life; people begin to think anew, that is about himself. Human no longer sees himself as ' viator mundi ' ( the person who make pilgrimages in the world ) but as ' faber mundi ' ( the person who created the world ). It crossed clearly that modern philosophy era is having ' anthropocentric ' patterned.

The thing of Greece era and mid-era philosophy were about seeking ' substances ' and main principal that God who was the main principal; which always stated that 'main principal' is above of 'substances' from all over the facts happens in life refer to cosmology-paths.
But in modern-philosophy; the role of  ' substance ' was taken over by human as ' subject ' which were conditioned placement below the realities and who ' carry on ' those realities. So, the main principal is us, the human-being.

Following era after rennaissance, the development of in many aspect has happened globally in reformation of thoughts in rationalism, the changes of intellectual & social development, has been declared that human beings as " adult ". The following keywords has been found after subsequent revolving development around ' ratio ',
' empiric ', ' tolerance ' ( in the field of religion and politics ),  ' progress', ' freedom ' and ' the worldly hood '.

In the view of  Baroque era ( year of 1600 - 1700 ); subjectivity term is almost alike to ' rationality '. Descartes tried to make a philosophy system  with ' human thought is in the head '. Rationalism is the intellectual, the intelligence, ingenuity as the main-key to understand the world and universe and in aim to arrange his/her own life. In this era, Descartes was being important as being called ' The father of  Modern Philosophy '

And in the year of 1750, there were born " Roman era " where delivered as the feed back reaction to words of  ' ratio ' and ' empiric '. In this ' roman philosophy ' emphasized the role of feelings  and fantasy. Roman philosophy has influenced most people that time specially in religion, arts and literature.


Then in  modern philosophy era, the subjectivity is the main role key in philosophy. Which has been a main link in developing the thoughts and minds with ' I ' as the center in discovering the thoughts, the minds, the actions, the will and the feels as the first fundamental reformation in next movement of developing philosophy.

To be continue okay..

Philosophy, Science & Religion: Are they connected to each other?

These past few days, I was reading many books and references all over the internet about philosophy, science and religion. Some people knocked my head with all these terms few years ago, since then I love to dig in this scheme. Seems interesting once science and philosophy can not be go along together, in any religions; the philosophy can go along. Which part then in all those three musketeers' have the missing points of views ? Once, I realize those 3 has to go along together in the name of universe's wisdom.

Then, " what is philosophy ? " ; " What is science ? "; and then "  What is religion ? ".

Philosophy is a form systematically science which formulating questions related to knowledge of science, causal relationship, thoughts/minds, language and religion.

Science is a systematic efforts by minds that build and organize the knowledge in the scheme of testimonial explanation and predictable all about universe that can be logically and rationally acceptable for human kinds.

Religion is a series collection of cultural system, belief, world views which establishes symbols in earth explicit or implicit relate to humanity and has value as spirituality in moral attitude values and most put the religion as a limitation for private area which having views bigger at first in public aspects.

The Random Thoughts of  My Views in Progress of Science, Philosophy and Religion

Science is now advancing rapidly, and the philosophy seems like just stay calm in its place is like there is no progress ( don't you think so ? ). And what we can notice lately that some particular science is less important for some people, because the questions of science  had have been answered and corrected time to time specially refer to philosophy in 17th, 18th and 19th century. It were answered one by one and seems as like  '' classic-paths " for those 3 centuries philosophers. 

Meanwhile, the questions of philosophy in the 20th century schemes still remains actual for human being and I think even all time centuries. Nothing wrong, nothing good: all have same importance. 

And what about religion? The development of religion has been taking variety and diversity in cultural of a nation cultures background which having deep intellectual perception parameter in each person or community. That's why I said before religion is a kind of private sector due to the way  of views in narrowing from public aspects to private area.

The philosophy itself arguably similar to a world collection museums which have scientific inventions, the minds and thoughts of the world philosophers, and the opinions of scientist experts and philosophers about the universe's life mistery.

Then, that's the reason behind why philosophy is divided into 3 big philosophy traditions.

• Indian Philosophy
• Chinese Philosophy
• Western Philosophy

And we knew that east philosophy and west philosophy having big huge differences. We can see that in Indian & Chinese ( global view-red; because there are many from east philosophy ) is refer to belief, tradition, religion, culture which are reading the system by symbolization & literature where exist in the holy books of religion, literature, cultures genres to next genres, which talking a lot about soul and the real action of human beings. Which then, west thought that it couldn't be just only by literature, symbols etc once the belief system has to be acceptable in scheme of rationally and logically systematic in human's mind. The facts has to be in  knowledge of science empirically, such as maths, metaphysics etc; which has meaning having a real object in scheme of science.

In western philosophy there were 3 golden eras :

• Cosmocentric in Greece era
• Theocentric  in mid century era
• Anthropocentric & contemporary  in modern era 

Very clear mentioned above that  some centuries already ' classic ' and the 20th century is becoming critical issues, and then now and in future as the time being, the 20th century philosopher would have the answers by inventions, empirical science or what and would proof which one among the 20th century philosopher would remain as the issue that their issues scheme: is it so important for human mankind and universe? 

In next post, I would share to you the modern and contemporary philosophy and what essentials substance minds and thoughts which has been being ' critical issues ' until nowadays specially about the father of philosophy: Descartes. ( I really dislike long article, it drive mad too in writing it.. LOL ) and maybe would look like flash back history and then up-front and the red-line scheme to each philosophers; this will be my type of article in this philosophy matters. 

Books Are The Windows to The Knowledge Part II

I am back to write about books reference as my promise to share what books that I think nice to read. This post today related to previous post about books too. Here is the Part II about books;

Children Books

• Picture  and Coloring Books ; I include these kind of books because I have many nieces and nephews and few kids that I take care at home. So my family and I, used to buy them these books and read them story about what inside the books for 2 kids who still can not be able to read at the moments. Mostly, we bought them fairy tale books about beauty & Kindness such as Cinderella, Snow White, Princess etc even more with fairy tale-legendary folks story from our own country Indonesia such as Red Onion & White Onion ( entitle in Indonesia ; Bawang Merah & Bawang Putih - red ), Golden Apple Snail ( Keong Mas - the title in Indonesian ) those books for girls specially but often I read these books for the boys too.  At the other hand they can learn how to coloring it, to grow their sense of art also and the the good thing message from the books are about the kindness and how to be sportive in doing things in many ways.

Books of Cinderella, Red & White Onion, Golden Apple Snail

• Story Books for Kids; Although above already mentioned and included in story books, but in this part, I emphasized the story books only for children. In this type of books often found lots of words, at mentioned above: inside the books are mostly with simple words and emphasized in coloring. Mostly, I accustomed the children with the folks legendary story from my country. Such as; 

• Malin Kundang: the story is about the kid who rebels against his own parents specially to his mother whom already deliver him as a success person. But once he has everything, he didn't admit the existence of his own parents and the mother was disappointed to his manner and then she condemned Malin Kundang to become a rock. The rock resembles a person. This story comes from West Sumatera, Indonesia. Below the pictures of book cover and the rock.

The Book Cover of Malin Kundang

The Rock which Resembles a person refer to Malin Kundang Legendary

• Sangkuriang; this folk comes from West Java, Indonesia. This Sundanese folk-legendary story was talking about the history of  Tangkuban Perahu, the lake of Bandung, Buranggang mountain, and Tunggul cliff and the city of Bandung. This folklore has written references which had been found  from ' Manik Poet ' ( Poet = Pujangga in Indonesian language, we called it ' Pujangga Manik ' ) manuscript that he wrote down in a palm leaf. From here, the experts could be able to determine that Sundanese people has been living in highland of West Java, Bandung, Tangkuban Perahu since thousand years before century and was talking about Hindu and Buddha development its religion in some parts in Indonesia.

The folk was telling about a beautiful princess which named Dayang Sumbi, who married a dog which named Tumang. tumang was a tangible reincarnation of god in actual shape was a dog. From the marriage of Sumbi and Tumang, they have 1 child whose named Sangkuriang. Anyway, Sangkuriang did not know that Tumang was his daddy. 

Oneday, Sangkuriang went for hunt a boar and did not get any result in the hunt. Sangkuriang put on blame to Tumang that Tumang incompetent to arrest the boar. So, Sangkuriang killed Tumang ( his daddy ) and took Tumang's heart for the dinner at home. Dayang Sumbi was so pissed off, once she knew that the dinner food was Tumang. Sumbi knocked on Sangkuriang's head and injured and also ask Sangkuriang to go out from house. So, Sangkuriang left and went around the world. 

After following years, Sumbi had bless from Gods that she would be young and beautiful forever. She would never get old. 

One day, Sangkuriang got back to its own home land which already changed a lot. Sumbi met with Sangkuriang. It was telling in the folk that they both were not acknowledge that they were family, mother and son. Sumbi did not know about this at first. And they both fell in love and planned to get married together. Until one time, Sumbi found out the scar in Sangkuriang's head which was exactly the scar of her son. But, Sangkuriang denied it and still insist Sumbi to marry with. 

Sumbi later on, made a plan to thwart the marriage to Sangkuriang. Sumbi asked Sangkuriang to make a big ship on a lake by stemming Citarum river in just 1 night. Because Sangkuriang was a descendant of god ( the blood of Tumang ), he was able to execute the demand of  Sumbi. 

Sumbi was afraid if sangkuriang could be able to do this. She prayed to god ( Sang Hyang Tunggal -red ), she asked how to avoid Sangkuriang's effort in making Sumbi's demands. The god gave her sign that she would throw her own white woven material which called ' irisan boreh rarang ' , so then the dawn would come sooner.

The works of Sangkuriang which were almost done became failed because the dawn had came. The deal was over. he was so mad and kick the ship and it changed becoming Tangkuban Perahu, and the stemming river was dried the water and change into the city of  Bandung. He ran and tried to catch Sumbi which she was running away to Putri mountain and suddenly changed herself becoming  a ' jaksi ' flower in purpose that Sangkuriang would not recognize her. ( jaksi flower is narcissus flower, a type of daffodil ).

Below here are the pictures : 

The Book Image of  Sangkuriang
Picture taken from : http://sangkuriang.com

It's the Picture of Tangkuban Perahu
Picture taken from: http://giovanny-king.blogspot.com

A picture of  Narcissus Flower

Will be continue in next post. I don't want you read this article with too much words though.

Happy Monday guys !!!

Equatorial Area in Our Beloved Universe are Getting Thicker

Based on new facts found recently by NASA GRACE that the earth in equatorial region is getting bulged. Experts and community already knows that earth is not perfectly spherical. This caused by ( the unknown massive? ) speed of rotation of earth in its axis: causing the water on earth surface's more gathered at the equator areas.

To add as a note that some knowledge invention found that before 20,000 years ago that the ice-water still covered most located in the earth at north area, then slowly in time-line humans' history that the ice starting melting. Humans know technology and the global warm start builds itself on earth and space due to humans activities. Due to melting activity of  ice, weight of ice is decreased and the pressure is being increase so then the side effect of  it , was bringing the soil ( which before stayed underneath the ice glaciers ) went up slowly to the upper surface of earth. And we do agree the weight mass of soil is heavier than ice. And logically if the melted ice ( water-red ), flowing around together with soil and we do know too that water and soil always following down to its container shape and which is the equator area is the gravity center which has the strongest magnetic power; make the water and soil collaborating together become the loyal equator's follower due to its gravity which owned by the equator. It is perhaps the answer why the earth is getting thicker in equator areas.

We do all know by the news that global warming was the most contributor which is causing the melting of glaciers in earth such as in Greenland and Poles and making the equator area is getting fatter. But then is there any affects because of this terms?

'' Yes, there are affects ".

• According to the data, the 2 hemispheres of earth loses 382 billions tons ice per-year. Because of decreased burden of continent would allow the soil to rise up and make the planet earth more rounded even would take thousands years to form this. At the meantime, the thickness growth at equator reaches 0.7 cm/decade. Meaning is by the time, earth is slowly change the shape. ( Will it be look like an egg or ball or what? )
• When there is changes of earth shape especially in equator area ( where equator is the biggest magnetic area ), then there will be changes to its gravitation due to the changes mass distribution of  ice-melting through ocean and the gravity is related to oceans activity and depending to the mass distribution of ice-melting water flow-speed can make things changed as its habits before. Meaning what? If, ice melting and flowing around with soil and if the soil is bigger number than the number of ice-melting water: there would be shallowing seas or oceans, shortened oceans which will be more creating new lands, the changes of equator area gravity, and  the time-rate globally.
• But then due to mentioned above, once the number of ice-melting water is bigger than soil; and the huge wave of oceans which lately can not be detected properly, can drown a land. It would be like Atlantis history ( you know about Atlantis right ? )
• We do know, that we have 3 % of proper water that we can drink which lay at front of us by the universe. And most of this proper water, was kept in glaciers as iced; then can you imagine what will be happen? The proper water would mixed with the water ocean; the salty one and the number of ocean in earth is 97% of total water in this universe. Don't we understand this? Meaning the water would be salty then, because it mixed with huge mass of salts by the oceans and seas. Meaning is? Start respect the water lately and now on and use water as wisely as we can. 
• Related to point number 3, once the number mass of ice-melting water is bigger than soil; it would depends on the speed-rate bit of water oceans flows. We do know too that these cold poles, beneath their glaciers exist pro-active comma volcanoes ( based on recently inventions ). Have you seen and read and understand the connection of these? Once, the volcanoes active and ready to blast, we should think the potential which might happen once its happens in future ahead. Why? It is oceans, volcanoes, glacier melting, bit-rate of mass distribution and the changes in good and bad.  Let us think together and sort it out by doing wise things to this beloved universe then. 

If you want to know more about this scheme of article, kindly visit : earth-visionary