Takashi Sakai

RELIGIOUS BATHING MONUMENTS WITH FEMALE DEITY STATUES IN INDONESIA - AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Introduction

Religious bathing monuments with female deity statues in indonesia - an archaeological perspective. Explore Java-Balinese religious bathing monuments in Indonesia through an archaeological lens. This comparative study analyzes structural changes in fountain systems with female deity statues.

Abstract

This study aims to understand the development of Java-Balinese religious bathing monuments/petirtaan from the point of view of comparative archaeology in particular the structural changes of the fountain system with female deity statues. Firstly, I have divided the major monuments into two categories based on the condition of the spout, and each category was respectively classified into five types according to basic forms. By comparing similar water monuments in Angkor and India, I considered the meaning of the transformation of these monuments during the Central and East Java periods, and hypothetically discussed the birth of female deity statues as fountain spouts.

Review

This paper proposes a systematic archaeological investigation into the development of Java-Balinese religious bathing monuments, or *petirtaan*, with a particular focus on the structural evolution of their fountain systems and the emergence of female deity statues as spouts. The study's stated aim is to understand these developments from a comparative archaeological perspective, specifically analyzing structural changes over time. The abstract outlines a clear methodological approach, beginning with a two-tiered classification system: major monuments are initially divided into two categories based on spout condition, which are then further sub-classified into five basic forms, promising a detailed morphological analysis. A key strength of the proposed research lies in its comparative framework, extending beyond the immediate Java-Balinese context to include similar water monuments in Angkor and India. This broader perspective is crucial for contextualizing regional developments and for elucidating the "meaning of the transformation" observed during the Central and and East Java periods. The intention to explore the "birth of female deity statues as fountain spouts" suggests a promising interpretive dimension, offering potential insights into changes in religious iconography, ritual practice, and sculptural traditions within the region. The systematic classification, coupled with cross-cultural comparison, positions this study to make a significant contribution to Southeast Asian archaeology. While the abstract clearly articulates the study's scope and methodology, some areas could benefit from elaboration within the full manuscript. The discussion regarding the "birth of female deity statues as fountain spouts" is described as "hypothetically discussed," implying that the conclusions might be speculative rather than definitively proven. The paper would benefit from a robust presentation of the specific archaeological, iconographical, and historical evidence used to support these hypotheses. Additionally, providing more specific chronological markers within the "Central and East Java periods" and detailing the precise criteria for the two initial categories and five types of monuments would further enhance the precision and replicability of the proposed analysis.

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