Buddhist Archaeology and the
ISEAS Archaeological Unit
Buddhism came to Southeast Asia almost 2,000 years ago. Chinese pilgrims such as Faxian in the fifth
century and Yijing in the late 7th century travelled between China and the holy places of Buddhism in
northeast India by sea, through Southeast Asia. They travelled on merchant ships, and stayed in major
ports such as Srivijaya and Malayu, where they saw large monasteries.
Historical records on early Buddhism in Southeast Asia are very scarce. Archaeological materials for the
study of early Southeast Asian Buddhism are much more common, and include huge quantities of
Buddhist sculpture and architecture from Burma (Myanmar), Java, and Sumatra. Singapore in the 14th
century was also a Buddhist kingdom, and was an important seaport for a century before the foundation of
Melaka.
Borobudur
Nalanda
Xi’an
• The ISEAS Archaeological Unit will form part of the NalandaSriwijaya Centre.
• Research Projects: Early Buddhist sites in Myanmar, Indonesia,
and Singapore.
• Study of the spread of early Buddhism along maritime trade
routes.
• The Archaeological Laboratory at NUS .
• Displays on Buddhist archaeology at ISEAS.
• A Modern Buddhist Monument: a book on the Buddhist Lodge.
The Malay Annals and the Founding of Singapore
The two widows and the miracle on Bukit Seguntang Mahameru, Palembang.
The young prince Sang Nila Utama
becomes ruler with the title Sri Tri Buana.
Sri Tri Buana goes to Temasek and founds
a city which he names Singapura.
1825 map of Singapore, depicting the Malay Wall, probably a 14thcentury fortification
Mahāyānika
Golayantritasri
Gautama Sripada
Southeast Asia in 430 CE
Kedah inscription, 5th century
Yijing 635-713 A.D. Travelled over 30 countries in 20 years collecting over 500,000
Buddhist verses. Translated 61 scriptures.
Xi’an: (Chang-an) Big Wild
Goose; Small Wild Goose
Qing Long Si: master and disciple bid
farewell
Nalanda copper-plate, mid-9th century:
There was a king of Yavabhumi who was the
ornament of the Sailendra dynasty.
He had a son, who possessed prudence, prowess,
and good conduct... He was the foremost warrior in
battle-fields and his fame was equal to that earned
by Yudhishthira, Parasara, Bhisena, and Arjuna.
Tara was the queen consort of that king, the
illustrious Balaputra.
With the mind attracted by the manifold excellences
of Nalanda and through devotion to the son of
Suddhodana (i.e. the Buddha) and having realised
that riches are fickle like the waves of a mountain
stream, he … built there a monastery which was the
abode of the assembly of monks of various good
qualities and was white with the series of stuccoed
and lofty dwellings.
Palembang
Bukit Seguntang:
ancient Buddhist centre
Padmapani from
Nalanda, 9th century
Avalokitesvara
Palembang
Statues From Palembang
Maitreya
(shown in ACM),
Dipankara
Solok
Sipin
makara
AD1064
Makara from St. Paul’s Hill, Melaka
2005 survey,
Sponsored by
Orchard Marine
Singapore
Muara Jambi
Candi Gudang Garam
Candi Kembar Batu
Candi Tinggi
Candi Gumpung
Intan Shipwreck,
ca 930
Kota Cina
Kota Cina, North
Sumatra
Coexistence of
Buddhists, Vaisnavite,
Saivite worshippers:
Kota Cina, north
Sumatra, 12th century
Angkor, 12th century
Bayon ship relief, possibly late 12th century: Chinese Junk?
The “Chinese House” relief
Chinese Ceramic Finds at Angkor
The Travels of Ser Marco Polo
Dieng Plateau
Trowulan
Tribhuwanatunggadewi
Shamatara
Prajnaparamita
Manjusri
Amoghapasha
Bhairawa
Alopyi Hpaya
GOALS
Online repository of digital images of murals of 11th- through
13th-century Bagan temples for both educators and researchers
Web-based 3-D Virtual Ancient Bagan for educational and
research purposes