Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c46.25

c46.25

It is significant that some of the sculptures at Prambanam are left unfinished, and it is not improbable that the period of Brahmanical supremacy, with the architectural movement that this temple exemplifies, ended at this date. It represents therefore the passing of the "Golden Age," the conclusion of an era, an event which took place in the first half of the tenth century. For not only was this Hindu Buddhist site, with all its varied types of religious structure abandoned, but the region of Mid-Java, as the main administrative centre of the island, for the time being in its history ceased to function. When next the ruling power comes into view, a transfer has taken place, for the seat of the government has been moved to a position in East-Java, and from here the third and last period of the building art was developed. This period began about A D 950, and continued until the latter half of the fifteenth century, when it was gradually submerged by the approach of Islamism, finally coming to a prolonged and attenuated end. During this eastern phase, extending over nearly five centuries, the art still maintained evidences of being a living force, yet compared with the grand monuments of the Golden Age, it falls short of the same high standard, and has rightly been designated the "Silver Age." Apart from the fact that no buildings of outstanding importance were produced in East-Java, there is a noticeable decline in the quality of the designs, although on occasion some of the old spirit was revived, as for instance in the Kidal temple (1250), and even as late as the Jaboeng temple (1354), it is obvious that in spite of these transient efforts the style was drawing towards its close.