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ArchitectureCandi Plaosan
Candi Plaosan, same as Candi Sari, is the rectangular temple which is unique to the later phase of Central Javanese art. This type of temple has never been found before in the earlier period. Inside the temple there are three rooms in double storey. The wooden floor of the second tier does not survive nowadays. This kind of temple seems to be the indigenous type, possible to be the temple for 1 Buddha image and 2 Bodhisattva attendants in the central and the side chambers respectively. Candi Plaosan comprises twin temples of the similar style, different form the single temple of Candi Sari. Moreover, the temple is surrounded by the numerous subsidiary temples arranged in diagram-liked complex. The latter character is comparable to Candi Sewu.
ArchitectureCandi Sewu
The main temple of Candi Sewu is laid in cruciform plan, similar to Candi Kalasan and Candi Parambanan. The main temple composes of five chambers, with the central sanctum and the other ones at the cardinal directions. This reminds us of Paharpur temple in India, Early Pala art. This kind of plan , extremely popular during the later phase of Central Javanese art, was designed for enshrining Dhyāni Buddha in accordance with the iconographic program. There is an archaeological report yield the data that there was a curly hair discovered from the temple. This testifies that the temple used to be the temple for huge Buddha image, now lost. The superstructure of the temple comprises several miniature stupas, typical to Central Javanese art.
ArchitectureBody of the main Tower: Candi Sewu
During the later period of Central Javanese art, the house of Śailendra still patronized several Buddhist temples. These temples locate at Klaten, between Yogyakarta and Solo.
ArchitectureSubsidiary Tower: Candi Sewu
The complex of Candi Sewu is very complicate as it comprises the main temple and numerous surrounding subsidiary towers. The complex of Candi Sewu is therefore conceived as Maṇḍala-liked diagram in which the abodes of Buddha and Bodhisattva are allotted in the specific directions. The name “Candi Sewu’, literally means one thousand temple s, derives from this complexity, even though the actual numbers of the subsidiary towers are 240. The origination of this complexity should be the cloisters of Vihāra, the residential units, in Indian art, as exemplifiable at Paharpur in Bangladesh. However, the subsidiary towers at Candi Sewu are detached from each other, unlike the Indian prototype. The spire of these temples is ornamented with miniature stupas. On the top there is the stupa in bigger size attached in every direction by the cloisters of miniature stupas. The complexity of the superstructure decoration is unique for the later phase of Central Javanese Art.
ArchitectureStupa: Wat Si Meuang
Stupa at Wat Si Meuang is made of laterite, which is different from stupas in other arts that are normally made of bricks. The remains include the inverted lotus base with the plain middle element decorated with a pointed moulding. This stupa is often mistaken as a Khmer architecture. However, the laterite is smaller than that of Khmer and the use of pointed mouldings consolidates that this is definitely not a Khmer architecture.
ArchitectureThat Luang
The huge mound in the center seems to be the most ancient element of the Stupa. After some renovations, the top element and the subsidiary Stupas were added. These subsidiary Stupas seem to be connected with either the perfections of the Buddha (Paramita or Baramee) or the Tamavimsa paradise. This Stupa was entitled as Lokachulamani, imitating the name of the stupa in the paradise inside which the hairy relics was enshrined, suggests that the city is comparable to the heaven and the king himself is comparable to Indra, the lord of deities.
ArchitectureMaha That
This stupa comprises the square Lanna-fashioned broad bases supporting the multi-angled body, the series of sloping roofs in octagonal plan and the small bell-shaped spire. The style of this stupa is closely similar to that of Lanna Stupa in 15th-16th century, such as the Stupa at Wat Lokmoli which was built for containing the mortal remain of King Muang Ketklao. However, the architectural details of Wat Mahathat Stupa is slightly different from those of Lanna Stupa. These differences suggest the later renovations.
ArchitectureWat Saen Stupa
This stupa is of genuine Lan Chang style. It consists of Bua Khao prom base that has continuously curving lion’ feets. This was inherited from Lion base (Singha base) in the middle Ayutthaya. The middle element is removed and the inverted and the overturned lotus bases meet each other. These lotus bases also flicking up to sooth witg the outer line of the base. The middle part is the angled lotus with a soothing outer line. This angled lotus is a distinctive feature of stupa in Lan Chang art appearing both in Luang Phra Bang and Vientiane schools of art.
