THE UNFOLDING OF THE PLAY: JAVANESE SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN THE RELIEFS OF BOROBUDUR AND LORO JONGGRANG

Abstract

The study combines statistical analysis of personal ornamentation with a contextual analysis of characters, objects, and iconographical and compositional elements to reconstruct social groupings as represented on the Borobudur Lalitavistara reliefs and the Loro Jonggrang Ramayana reliefs of Central Java in the 8th to 9th centuries C.E. After the identification of various segments of society, a comparative approach results in establishing the oft-unspoken codes of conduct between them, as well as determining the extent of social mobility and identifying the insertion of new groups. This allows us to observe subtle changes in the ancients’ views on the issues of divinity, power, status, social hierarchy, gender relations, and the influence of religion and geography on Javanese culture. It is hoped that the preliminary analysis could be applied elsewhere around Southeast Asia for insights into human relations at the liminal space between urban and hinterland practices.