 Muaro Jambi Temple was built estimated earlier than Borobudur Temple, it
can be seen from the journal of a famous Chinese scholat named I Tsing
who visited Jambi in the seventh century. The information about Borobudur itself was written on the stone in the 800s. Sriwijaya
became the important place for the Buddhist from China to learn about
their religion . It is proven by the discovery of chinaware and coin
originated from Tang, Sung and Ming dynastes . Muaro Jambi temple has
become more than just a sacred place to visit. The site is
located 25 kilometers away from Jambi municipality. This temple may not
be as attractive as Borobudur which was made of volcanic stones
displaying the great work of art and whose statues and relief are still
intact, but Muaro Jambi was built, just like any other Sumatran temples,
with terra cotta bricks, which undoubtedly prone to weather. Yet, the
remains speak of its glory during its heyday
There are several
temples that can be found in Muaro Jambi Temple site and some of them
have been restored; Gumpung temple where the statue of Pradjnaparamita
was found. It is the second most beautiful statue after Ken Dedes statue
in Singosari, Tinggi temple, Kembar Batu temple, Gedong I and Gedong II
temple where Dwarapala statue and Gajah Singa statue were found,
Kedaton and Koto Mahligai . There are still hundreds of stones
buried in this site that occupies an area of 120 hectares. Muaro Jambi
is a complete theological site. Besides having hundreds of worshipping
temples, the remains of monks dormitary and reservoir known as Telago
Rajo can also be found here.
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