Indonesia is a Muslim country. Approximately 2 hundred million people are muslims and their belief in God is beyond what we can imagine. Prayers 4 times a day show their everyday life and mesjids (masque) you can see almost everywhere in Indonesia tell their passion for religion. One masque located right under volcanic vents of Mount Merapi which is now changed into ashes due to a volcanic eruption, so no one can live there any more is awe-inspiring. I think people might live not their lives but for worship and praises to their God.
Indonesia is not a just Muslim country. That’s why Indonesia shatters all perceptions and misunderstanding on a theocracy, exclusive religions and serious sexual discrimination of Islam. Holy cities of Islam and Yogyakarta are the evidence. Keraton (a royal palace) a sultan lives in is designed based on traditional Indonesian styles with symbols of Hinduism and Buddhism. These symbols and patterns show not only religious beliefs of Islam in Indonesia, ‘Human should follow the divine providence and their life will end up with eternal peace’ but also spirit of coexistence of humankind.
<Styles of columns in Keraton are designed based on traditional patterns of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam together
UNESCO World Heritage sites scattering all over Yogyakarta display spirits of coexistence of the ancient Indonesians more vividly. Prambanan (a Hindu temple) well-known for ‘Ramayana’ Ballet has a little chaitya (a Buddhist shrine) inside the temple.
<Prambanan and a Sculpture in Borubudur Temple>
Walls in Borobudur (Buddhist shrine) are carved with Buddha’s life, daily lives of the ancient Indonesians, nature and the world. In other words, these buildings have Indonesians’ passion for the religion and their life beyond geometric originality and significance of world history.
<Family and shipbuilding of the ancient Indonesians on the wall in Borubudul Temple>
Indonesia, a country of the god, tells us a story of ‘peace’. It is unclear how Islam was preached, and how it was integrated with Hinduism, Buddhism, and even indigenous beliefs. However, it is quite obvious that the history of Indonesia gives us the ‘spirit of peace’ such as generosity, consideration and coexistence through their people and religions.
From the Center for Korean Studies of UGM, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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