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230
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[DECEMBER, 1928
Art.
What is the nature of the examination, its origin, its history. In the second instance: What is the interest, the significance or purpose thereof?” According to the first mentioned method we must make a study of ancient Javanese monuments, and the present and future culture of Java. Acoording to the second method the question arises : What significance can the old Javanese monuments exercise over present and future Javanese culture ? Only in this way will it be possible to treat the subject objectively without disturbance by personal sentimente.
1. What are ancient Javanese monuments Naturally we have in mind the monuments conngnorating or narrating & by-gone culture. Consequently it will be necessary first to investigate which forms of culture already exist. Forms of culture can be divided into three categories : Art, Religion, Philosophy. The foundation of the latter is rectitude and moral sense. Science, resting on reason, is not an expression of oulture belonging to any fixed time or people.
Consciousness of mankind expresses itself in five different spheres and five different ways: namely, physically as visible deed, emotionally, intellectually, essentially, through being human, and spiritually, in the intellectual life. The three first mentioned are merely human, instruments only of consciousness. The spiritual sphere is superhuman : such expressions as grace, sacrament, charismata, are here suitable. The essentially human sphere falls as under: in faith, discernment, insight and expression. These five phases of consciousness are clearly defined in the three divisions of culture, thus bringing all the forms under fifteen headings as shown in the following outline
Religion.
Philosophy. 1. Statical describing Cult
History. 2. Dynamical
Tradition
Mythology. 3. Descriptive
Theology
Natural Science, 4. Dramatical
Faith
Metaphysics. 5. Architectural
Mysticism
Magic and Occultism. The abovementioned groups all have their roots in common consciousness. With regard to natural science, take, for instance, the knowledge of the people as to the art of healing, meteorology, psychology, etc. Music, singing, elocution, dancing, eto., fall under dynamical describing art. Architecturo derives its existence from human intercourse, which manifests itself in domestic life, meetings and worship, all demanding buildings, Architectural style is not reproduced from nature, but from mathematics, therein of itself surmounting the natural. So far as to classification of the ancient Javanese monuments.
II. What is the present and future Javanese culture ? Lexis defines culture as being the raising of desire above the state of nature. Clay puts culture opposite to nature as premeditation against the in-premeditated and unconscious. Wolff calls culture & form-association of spirits. It can be said also that in nature the cosmic (the individually unconscious) working of the spirit is the most pronounced, whereas in culture it is the personal working. Culture and nature both have their roots in a community. We can only speak about culture also in connection with a group. "Genins" writes Bierens de Haan, "is the workman who by reason of the needs of humanity, and in its service, builds culture. Theingenions personality as a creator of culture gives expression to what lies unawakened in the community."
Culture is not a sum of forms which can be indicated, but something organic, a living something which finde revelation in the forms, but is not confined to these. Just as man is not the sum of one head, two arms, etc. Separate forms of culture cannot be set aside and maintained by technical skilfulness, any more than an amputated arm can be kept alive: vide Berlage, Beauty in Cohabitation, page 75, re the causes of decadence, when he says: "Art is the result of a common working of the spirit, above all of a common feeling." This is specially
