DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9541#0684
660
FURTHER INDIA.
Hook VIII.
without remark in Java if deprived of its portico. It, however, like
all the Chalukyan temples we know of in India, especially in the
Nizam's territory, is subsequent to the 10th century. Most of them
belong to the 13th century, and pillars may probably have been
less frequently used at the time of Deva Kosuma's visit in a.d. 81G.
Be this as it may, it is a remarkable fact that there is not a single
pillar in Java : at least no book I have had access to, no drawing,
and no photograph gives a hint of the existence of even one pillar in
the island. When we think of the thousands that were employed by
the Dravidians in the south of India, and the Jains in the north-west,
it is curious they escaped being introduced here. The early style of
Orissa, as mentioned above, is nearly astylar; but in Java this is
absolutely so, and, so far as I know, is the only important style in
the world of which this can be predicated. What is not so curious,
but is also interesting, is, that there is not a true arch in the whole
island. In the previous pages, the Hindu horror of an arch has often
been alluded to; but then they frequently got out of the difficulty
by the use of wood or iron. There is no trace of the use of these
materials in the island, and no peculiarly Javan feature can be traced
to a wooden original. All is in stone, but without either the pillars
or the arches which make up nine-tenths of the constructive expe-
dients of the mediceval architects, and figure so largely in all the
western styles of architectural art.
It may also be mentioned here, while describing the negative
characteristics of Javan art, that no mortar is ever used as a cement
in these temples. It is not that they were ignorant of the use of lime,
for many of their buildings are plastered and painted on the plaster,
but it was never employed to give strength to construction. It is owing
to this that so many of their buildings are in so ruinous a state. In
an island where earthquakes are frequent, a very little shake reduces
a tall temple to a formless heap in a few seconds. If cemented, they
might have been cracked, but not so utterly ruined as they now are.1
Be this as it may, the Javan style of architecture is probably the
only one of which it can be said that it reached a high degree of
perfection without using either pillars, or arches, or mortar in any of
its buildings.
Suku.
At a place called Suku, not far from Mount Lawu near the centre
of the island, there is a group of temples, which, when properly illus-
trated, promises to be of great importance to the history of architecture
in Java.2 They are among the most modern examples of the style,
1 Col. Yule's visit to Java, 'Journal of
the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' 1861-1S62,
p. 3.
2 Sir S. Rallies' 'History of Java,'
plates 31 and 61, vol. ii. p. 49, ct scqq.
FURTHER INDIA.
Hook VIII.
without remark in Java if deprived of its portico. It, however, like
all the Chalukyan temples we know of in India, especially in the
Nizam's territory, is subsequent to the 10th century. Most of them
belong to the 13th century, and pillars may probably have been
less frequently used at the time of Deva Kosuma's visit in a.d. 81G.
Be this as it may, it is a remarkable fact that there is not a single
pillar in Java : at least no book I have had access to, no drawing,
and no photograph gives a hint of the existence of even one pillar in
the island. When we think of the thousands that were employed by
the Dravidians in the south of India, and the Jains in the north-west,
it is curious they escaped being introduced here. The early style of
Orissa, as mentioned above, is nearly astylar; but in Java this is
absolutely so, and, so far as I know, is the only important style in
the world of which this can be predicated. What is not so curious,
but is also interesting, is, that there is not a true arch in the whole
island. In the previous pages, the Hindu horror of an arch has often
been alluded to; but then they frequently got out of the difficulty
by the use of wood or iron. There is no trace of the use of these
materials in the island, and no peculiarly Javan feature can be traced
to a wooden original. All is in stone, but without either the pillars
or the arches which make up nine-tenths of the constructive expe-
dients of the mediceval architects, and figure so largely in all the
western styles of architectural art.
It may also be mentioned here, while describing the negative
characteristics of Javan art, that no mortar is ever used as a cement
in these temples. It is not that they were ignorant of the use of lime,
for many of their buildings are plastered and painted on the plaster,
but it was never employed to give strength to construction. It is owing
to this that so many of their buildings are in so ruinous a state. In
an island where earthquakes are frequent, a very little shake reduces
a tall temple to a formless heap in a few seconds. If cemented, they
might have been cracked, but not so utterly ruined as they now are.1
Be this as it may, the Javan style of architecture is probably the
only one of which it can be said that it reached a high degree of
perfection without using either pillars, or arches, or mortar in any of
its buildings.
Suku.
At a place called Suku, not far from Mount Lawu near the centre
of the island, there is a group of temples, which, when properly illus-
trated, promises to be of great importance to the history of architecture
in Java.2 They are among the most modern examples of the style,
1 Col. Yule's visit to Java, 'Journal of
the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' 1861-1S62,
p. 3.
2 Sir S. Rallies' 'History of Java,'
plates 31 and 61, vol. ii. p. 49, ct scqq.