Ritual and Belief
Bisj Poles of the Asmat: Ancestors, Ritual, and Monumental Woodcarving
Explore how Asmat bisj poles transform a tree into a memorial sculpture through named ancestors, skilled carving, and communal ritual.
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Browse by letter: B
- Architecture and Maritime Culture
Borobudur Reliefs as a Gallery of Early Javanese Life
Borobudur's carved galleries preserve Buddhist teaching while also revealing courtly, village, maritime, and craft worlds in early Java.
Read article - Weapons and Regalia
Betawi Golok and Urban Martial Heritage in Jakarta
This article examines the Betawi golok as a practical blade, a sign of neighborhood authority, and a reminder of Jakarta's layered martial heritage.
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Balinese Keris and Ritual Authority in Court and Temple Life
This article examines how the Balinese keris became a charged object of status, ritual protection, epic memory, and disciplined authority in palace and temple settings.
Read article - Kingdoms and Courts
Bali's Gelgel Kingdom and the Formation of Courtly Tradition
This article examines how the Gelgel kingdom shaped Balinese courtly tradition through political memory, ritual authority, literary culture, and the later prestige of Klungkung.
Read article - Textiles and Craft
Batik Beyond Java: Regional Textile Traditions Across Indonesia
Across Indonesia, batik has grown into a regional textile language where local landscapes, ancestral symbols, trade histories, and civic identities appear in wax-resist cloth.
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Balinese Offerings: Canang Sari, Materials and Daily Devotion
Balinese offerings explained through canang sari, plant materials, household and temple practice, placement, and the limits of symbolic interpretation.
Read article - Masks and Sculpture
Balinese Influenced Carved Wooden Storage Box from Lombok with Guardian and Naga Motifs
An analysis of a carved wooden storage box from Lombok featuring guardian figures, a gecko motif, and a naga inspired dragon, reflecting strong Balinese artistic influence and regional craftsmanship.
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