Moderator: Udomluck Hoontrakul
Date: 17 August 2026
Time: 10:45–12:00
Room: Auditorium 1
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Sacred Landscapes Across The Archipelago And Mainland Southeast Asia: A Comparative Study Of Cosmology, Power, And Land–Water Integration
Dr. Ida Bagus Putu Prajna Yogi
(National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Of Indonesia)
This study analyses the sacred landscape in Southeast Asia as a multifaceted spatial-social construct, influenced by the interplay of cosmology, environment, and authority. This research employs a qualitative comparative methodology to analyse the island of Java and the mainland of Southeast Asia, specifically Thailand, to elucidate the manifestations of Hindu-Buddhist cosmology under varying ecological and political circumstances. The investigation employed a spatial methodology that incorporated literature reviews in archaeology and history, along with symbolic interpretations of significant sites, including Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Ayutthaya Historical Park, and Sukhothai Historical Park. The research findings indicate significant disparities in the spatial representation of cosmology. In Java, the sacred landscape is characterised by vertical configurations orientated towards the earth and colossal architecture as a representation of Mount Meru. Conversely, in Thailand, the sacred landscape displays a horizontal configuration intertwined with the water system, where river networks and hydraulic systems serve as the principal components of spatial organisation and cosmological symbolism. This disparity not only signifies adaptability to the environment but also illustrates variances in spatial control techniques and power legitimacy, specifically between mammoth centralisation in Java and water network-based power distribution in Thailand, which reflect differing cultural values and governance structures in these regions. This research posits that sacred landscapes are a political-cosmological construct, wherein geography serves as both a symbolic representation and a mechanism of power. This research advances Southeast Asian archaeology by shifting the focus from monuments to landscape systems, integrating symbolic and material methodologies, and emphasising the value of land-water relationships in comprehending the dynamics of historical societies.
Keywords: Sacred landscape, Hindu-Buddhist cosmology, landscape archaeology, authority, land-water integration.
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Ancient Kedah as a Trans-Oceanic Trade Hub: Cultural Dynamism and Maritime Connectivity in Early Southeast Asia.
Associate Professor Dr. Nasha bin Rodziadi Khaw
(Exercising the Function of Director Centre for Global Archaeological Research University Sains Malaysia)
This presentation examines the role of Ancient Kedah, particularly the Bujang Valley region, as a key trans-oceanic trade hub within the interconnected networks of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea during the early centuries of the first millennium CE. Incorporating recent archaeological fieldwork at Bukit Choras and the Sungai Batu complex, the study reassesses the nature of settlement, exchange, and cultural interaction in the region. Rather than functioning as a centralized territorial polity, Ancient Kedah is interpreted as a dynamic maritime landscape composed of interconnected coastal and riverine nodes. These settlements facilitated the circulation of goods, ideas, and religious traditions across long-distance trade routes linking South Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia. The archaeological evidence points to a culturally fluid, plural, and adaptive environment shaped by sustained interactions between local communities and foreign merchants. By situating new findings from Bukit Choras and Sungai Batu within a broader maritime framework, this presentation offers a revised perspective on the cultural dynamism and global connectivity of early Southeast Asia.
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Tran Dynasty Buddhism in the Vietnamese Borderlands: The “Nhu Vien” Strategy and Thang Long – Champa Cultural Exchange through Archaeological and Epigraphic Approaches
Associate Professor Dr. Bui Minh Trí and Mr. Bui Phuong Nam (co-author)
(Institute of Asian Civilizations)
This study examines the Buddhist landscape of the Tran dynasty (13th–14th centuries) in the Midland and Northwest regions of Vietnam, framing it not merely as a pure religious phenomenon but as a dynamic entity closely intertwined with the geo-political frontier context. By integrating material evidence from the latest archaeological discoveries (temple architectural vestiges, building materials, and ceramics) with epigraphic heritage (Tran dynasty inscriptions and stelae), the paper reexamines this evidence to clarify how the Tran court implemented the “Nhu vien” (appeasing distant peoples) strategy to consolidate the frontier space. In particular, the research provides an in-depth interpretation of the borderland cultural corridor as a vibrant contextual intermediary zone—a space that not only absorbed cultural waves from the metropolitan center of Thang Long, but also bore the distinct imprint of exchange and contact with Champa culture through historical upheavals and trade networks. From these research findings, the paper proposes a new approach to heritage conservation and revitalization: shifting from the preservation of isolated archaeological sites and artifacts to restoring spatial contexts and interregional cultural dynamics, thereby repositioning the value of borderland heritage within the historical currents of Southeast Asia.
Keywords: Tran Dynasty Buddhism; Nhu Vien Strategy; Thang Long – Champa cultural exchange; Borderland archaeology; Epigraphic heritage; Heritage revitalization.