EXHIBIT ONE
WHAT IS INDIANISATION?
It is the spread of Indian culture, practices and beliefs in Southeast Asia. Indian culture had begun influencing Southeast Asian practices and culture since 200BC until about the 15th century, when influence from Hinduism and Buddhism was absorbed by local polities. India made relations with Southeast Asian kingdoms in politics, trade, and cultural practices, mainly in Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. However, this museum will only focus the spread of Indianisation from the 7th to 14th century.
The motive of Indianisation has been questioned countless times, due to the absence of concrete evidence regarding Indian cultural expansion. In this museum, I hope to be able to prove to my best extent that there was indeed a rapid spread of Indian cultural influence from the 7th to 14th century.
Indianisation in Southeast Asia was not by cultural colonization, but instead adaption. If it had been through cultural colonization, languages would have been fused and Indian language would have taken over SEA. Instead, concepts like devaraja (kingship) were adapted, that would help empires to expand and grow. Southeast Asians were not passive, and as they wanted to retain a portion of their identity, they only adapted what was best for them from the culture of the Indians. The process of cultural expansion was also peaceful, and non-political.
The motive of Indianisation has been questioned countless times, due to the absence of concrete evidence regarding Indian cultural expansion. In this museum, I hope to be able to prove to my best extent that there was indeed a rapid spread of Indian cultural influence from the 7th to 14th century.
Indianisation in Southeast Asia was not by cultural colonization, but instead adaption. If it had been through cultural colonization, languages would have been fused and Indian language would have taken over SEA. Instead, concepts like devaraja (kingship) were adapted, that would help empires to expand and grow. Southeast Asians were not passive, and as they wanted to retain a portion of their identity, they only adapted what was best for them from the culture of the Indians. The process of cultural expansion was also peaceful, and non-political.
traces of indianisation
In recent few decades, archaeological excavations at various sites in Southeast Asia resulted in the yielding of various remains, that have hinted at the possibility of Indian cultural influence here in Southeast Asia. An entirely new picture of the region was then introduced and the availability of epigraphic sourced and inscriptions at various sites have been of great use in reconstructing the history of this region. Sanskrit, Tamil and indigenous language inscriptions have also further proved the spread of Indianisation in this region.
Let's head over to the next exhibit, on the Khmer Empire.