“The National Cultural Heritage Area (KCBN) of Muaro Jambi Temple, Jambi Province, used to be an educational center for medicine, philosophy, architecture, and the arts,” President Jokowi stated during his visit to Muaro Jambi Temple, Jambi Province, on Thursday.
Jokowi explained that Muaro Jambi Temple was an educational center in the seventh century, including the largest and oldest in Asia.
While entering the temple area, it becomes apparent from the presence of rocks piled up to form a building.
The stacked stones make up the structure that is built without the use of cement and adhesives. At that time, Indonesia was familiar with technology in the field of development.
The National Cultural Heritage Area (KCBN) of the Muaro Jambi Temple has an area spanning 3,981 hectares. Several temples, including the Kedaton Temple, Tinggi Temple, and Gumpung Temple, are used as educational centers.
In fact, several temples are still in the process of restoration and have not been restored.
"This is history that needs to be preserved, so that traces of our civilization are not lost," Jokowi stated.
Related news: Ministry builds Swarnadwipa education center at Muaro Jambi Temple
President Jokowi explained that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology would again conduct restoration of the old canal that surrounds the Muaro Jambi Temple compound.
The restoration is expected to showcase the magnificence of the Muaro Jambi Temple compound.
During his visit to the Muaro Jambi Temple compound, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana Jokowi walked through Kedaton Temple, one of the temples in Muaro Jambi.
On arriving at Kedaton Temple, President Jokowi was briefed on the history of Muaro Jambi Temple and the area and civilization of Muaro Jambi Temple at that time.
At Kedaton Temple, the president visited the excavation and saw finds in the form of stones, jugs, and ceramics around a thousand-year-old temple site. Furthermore, President Jokowi and First Lady Iriana Jokowi performed a ritual of washing hands with water from a well at the location of Kedaton Temple.
After inspecting the well, the president approached the clock stone that was used by the community to determine the time by utilizing sunlight.
Related news: President Jokowi visits Kedaton Temple in Muaro Jambi
Translator: M Hanapi, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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