Borobudur

Borobudur or Boroboeder (both: bōˌrōbŏdōrˈ) [key], ruins of one of the finest Buddhist monuments, in central Java, Indonesia. Built by the Sailendras of Sumatra, this magnificent shrine dates from about the 9th cent. It is a huge, truncated pyramid covered with intricately carved blocks of stone that illustrate the life of the Buddha and his teachings according to Mahayana Buddhist doctrine. A seated Buddha within may be seen from three platforms above the seven stone terraces that encircle the pyramid.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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