Museum Nasional Indonesia

The National Museum of Indonesia is an archeological, historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta, right on the west side of Merdeka Square. Popularly known as Elephant Building (Indonesian: Gedung Gajah) after the elephant statue in its forecourt. Its broad collections cover all of Indonesia’s territory and almost all of its history. The museum has endeavoured to preserve Indonesia’s heritage for two centuries. This museum practices double pricing (foreign looking people are charged more).

The museum has a collection of 61,600 prehistoric and anthropological artifacts, and 5,000 archeological artifacts from all over Indonesia and Asia. The museum collections is among the richest, the most complete, and the best of its kind in Indonesia and one of the finest in Southeast Asia.

The existence of the National Museum begins with the establishment of a set of named Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, founded by the Dutch Government on 24 April 1778. At that time in central European intellectual revolution (the Age of Enlightenment), which is where people begin to develop scientific thinking and science. In 1752 in Haarlem, the Netherlands stood De Hollandsche Maatschappij der Wetenschappen (Dutch Scientific Society). This encourages the Dutch in Batavia (Indonesia) to establish a similar organization.

Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (BG) is an independent institution established for the purpose of advancing penetitian in the field of arts and sciences, especially in the areas of biological sciences, physics, archeology, literature, ethnology and history, also publish research hash. This institution has the slogan “Ten Nutte van het Algemeen” (To the Public Interest).

One of the founders of this institution, namely JCM Radermacher, donated a house he owns in Jalan Kalibesar, a Jakarta-trade zone in the City. Except that he also donated a number of collections of cultural objects and books are very useful, donations Radermacher which is the embryo of the founding of museums and libraries.

During the period of British rule in Java (1811-1816), Lieutenant Governor Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles became director of this association. Because homes in Kalibesar is full with a collection of the Raffles ordered the construction of a new building for use as a museum and meeting rooms for the Literary Society (formerly called the building “Societeit de Harmonie”). Now in this place stood the State Secretariat building complex, near the presidential palace.

The number of collections belonging to the BG continues neningkat in Jalan Majapahit museum can no longer accommodate his collection. In 1862, Dutch East Indies government decided to build a new museum building in a location that is now, namely Jalan Merdeka Barat No. 12 (also called Koningsplein West ). The land covers an area that later on it was built buildings Rechst Hogeschool or “College of the Law” (never used for Kenpetai headquarters during the Japanese occupation, and now the Ministry of Defence and Security).This new museum building opened to the public in 1868.

The museum is very well known among the Indonesian people, especially residents of Jakarta. They called it “Elephant Building” or “Elephant Museum” because the front page of the museum there is a bronze elephant statue gift from King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) from Thailand who visited the museum in 1871. Sometimes also called “Building Arca” because in the building was and still is stored various types and forms of statues from different periods.

In 1923 this association received the title of “Royal” for his services in the field of scientific and government so that the full project into the Royal Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen. On January 26, 1950, the Royal Genootschap van Kunsten en Bataviaasch Wetenschappen changed its name to the Institute of Culture of Indonesia. These changes are adjusted to the conditions at that time, as reflected in his new motto: “to promote cultural sciences are useful to increase knowledge about the islands of Indonesia and surrounding countries.”

Given the importance of this museum for the people of Indonesia, on 17 September 1962 the Cultural Institute of Indonesia, presented the museum management to the Indonesian government, which later became the Central Museum. Finally, based on the Decree of the Minister of Education and Culture, No.092 / 0 / 1979 dated 28 May 1979, the Museum Center upgraded to the National Museum.

Now the National Museum of shelter under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The National Museum has a vision that refers to the vision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of “The realization of the National Museum as a center of culture and tourism information are capable of the intellectual life of the nation, increases the pride of civilization and national culture, and to strengthen unity and friendship among nations”.

National Museum as an institution of cultural heritage studies and cultural educational information center and recreation, has an obligation to save and preserve objects of cultural heritage of Indonesia. Until now totaling 141,899-managed collection of objects, consisting of 7 types of collections of prehistoric, archaeological, ceramics, numismtik-heraldic, history, ethnography and geography.

Rescue and preservation of this culture is essentially intended for the public interest, informed through exhibitions and publishing catalogs, brochures, audio visual website as well. The goal is that people know and participate in the preservation of national heritage.

Regarding the exhibition, the exhibition arrangement at the old building (Unit A) based on the types of collections, whether based on science, materials, and regionalism. As exhibition space Prehistory, Bronze Room, Living Textiles, Room Ethnography Sumatra region, and others.While the arrangement of the exhibition in the new building (Unit B or Arca Building) is no longer based on the type collection but rather lead to a theme based on aspects of human culture which is positioned as actors in the neighborhood.The theme of the exhibition, entitled “Cultural Diversity in Unity” is made up of several subtema among others Humans and the Environment, Science, Technology and Economics, Social Organization and Settlement Patterns, and Khasanah (Gold) and Ceramics.

Public service is an activity that focuses on efforts to increase appreciation of cultural heritage and delivery of information collection National Museum of Indonesia to the general public, especially among students and college students. This activity is carried out which include pilotage services (guiding) or guidance (counseling) to visitors, either to the special guests (guest country, researchers), as well as to general visitors (students, university students and ordinary people). Field Guidance and publications will help in that regard, if necessary, will be recommended or supported by the curator-curator who manages the collection or caring for collections.

Collections:
The museum has a collection of 61,600 prehistoric and anthropological artifacts, and 5,000 archeological artifacts from all over Indonesia and Asia. The museum collections is among the richest, the most complete, and the best of its kind in Indonesia and one of the finest in Southeast Asia.

Gedung Gajah (Old Wing):
The museum collections are grouped and arranged by subjects:

Stone Sculpture Collection (Hindu-Buddhist Art of Ancient Indonesia):
The National Museum of Indonesia has the richest and the largest collection of Hindu-Buddhist art of ancient Indonesia. The Hindu-Buddhist sculptures, relics and inscriptions was collected from Java, Bali, Sumatra, and Borneo, all are in display in the lobby, the central hall and the central atrium of the museum. The Buddha statues from Borobudur in various mudras are displayed in the lobby. The centerpiece collection also the largest artifact of the museum is the statue of Adityavarman depicted as Bhairava. This statue is more than 4 meters tall and discovered from Rambahan, Padangroco, West Sumatra.

Treasure Rooms (Archaeology and Ethnography Collection):
The Second floor of the museum is feature treasures, gold, and precious artifact and arranged in two rooms; archaeological treasure and ethnology treasure. Taking picture is prohibited in the treasure rooms.

Archaeological treasure room features ancient gold and precious relics acquired from archaeological findings, mostly originated from ancient Java. One of the most prized collection of the museum is the statue of Prajnaparamita. Dubbed as the most beautiful sculpture of ancient Java, the goddess of transcendental wisdom is displayed in the entrance of archaeology treasure room to shows about how gold jewelries and precious ornaments were worn on the body. Such ancient gold adornments were in display; such as crown, ear adornment, earrings, rings, bracelets, kelat bahu (arm bracelet), leg bracelet, waist band, belt, upawita or tali kasta (golden chain worn across the chest), and other precious artifacts of ancient Java, such as the famous Wonoboyo hoard. Wonoboyo hoard is the treasures originated from 9th century Hindu Mataram Kingdom discovered in Wonoboyo, Klaten, Central Java, near Prambanan. The treasures are golden bowl with scene of Ramayana, purse, water dipper, umbrella finial, and spoon or ladle, all were made of gold. Also discovered ancient Java gold coins with shape similar to a corn seed. Golden Hindu-Buddhist relics were also in display, such as the Hindu gods images made from gold leaf, bronze statue of Shiva Mahadeva with gold applied on his lips and third eye, the bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara and also the silver statue of youthful Manjusri.

The ethnology treasure room features treasures acquired from royal houses of Indonesia, such as regalias from various istanas, kratons and puri of Indonesian archipelago, arranged in several island zones: Sumatra, Java, Bali, Borneo, Sulawesi, and Eastern Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua). The ethnology treasure room display various royal precious objects such as golden jewelries and weapons. The jewelries are bracelets and rings embedded with rubies, diamond, precious and semi precious stones. The collections are gilded Balinese kris weapon embedded with precious and semi precious stones and various spear heads. Golden royal crowns, gilded throne, golden royal regalia, golden tobacco container, Pekinangan (silver betel-nut set), sword and golden shield is among the collection of the treasure room.

Ceramics collection:
The collection of ceramics room is ranged from Majapahit terracota to the ceramics of China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Myanmar. Majapahit terracota water vessels, statues, roof tiles to piggy bank are on display. The museum houses a large and complete collection of ancient Chinese ceramics. It has one of the best and the most complete collections of Chinese ceramics discovered outside China. The ceramics dated from Han, Tang, Sung, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasty spanned for almost two millennia are displayed in the museum. This particular collection give a good insight into Indonesia’s maritime trade over the centuries. Research indicates that the Chinese sailed to India via Indonesia as early as Western Han period (205 BC to 220 AD) as part of maritime silk road and that firm trade relations were subsequently established.

Ethnography collection:
The ethnography collection comprises a wide variety of objects that are part of Indonesian daily life as well as exhibits that are used in ceremonies and rituals. The collections is arranged according to geographic locations of each regions and islands within Indonesian archipelago: from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Bali, Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara), to Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua.

Examples of ancient cultures include Nias and Batak in Sumatra, the Badui in Java, Balinese, the Dayak of Kalimantan, the Toraja in Sulawesi, and the Asmat and Dani in Papua. The lifestyles of these people remained unchanged for centuries and followed same patterns as that of their ancestors. They still use some traditional laws (adat) to determine their daily activities and ceremonies.

Prehistory collection:
The museum stores some stone age artifacts such as fossiled skull and skeleton of Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis and Homo sapiens, stone tools, menhir, beads, stone axe, bronze ceremonial axe and Nekara (bronze drum), also ancient weapons from Indonesia.

Historical Relics Collection (Colonial Era Collection):
The front room of the museum features old relics of colonial Indonesia, from the era of Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) to Dutch East Indies. Most of the collections are antique colonial furnitures. However most of the collections has been moved to Jakarta History Museum that mostly features the history of Jakarta especially the colonial history of Batavia (old Jakarta).

Gedung Arca (New Wing):
Unlike the exhibition layout of the older building, the museum’s permanent exhibit in the new building is based on the frameworks of cultural elements, which Prof. Koentjaraningrat classified into seven substances of culture:

Religious system and religious ceremony
Societal systems and organization
Knowledge systems
Language
Arts
Livelihood systems
Technology and tool systems
Today National Museum has completed the new north wing which consist of a basement and seven levels (floors), four of which host permanent exhibitions, while other levels is functioned as the Museum’s office. The layout of the four levels is as follows:

Level 1: Man and Environment
Level 2: Knowledge, Technology and Economy
Level 3: Social Organization and Settlement Patterns
Level 4: Treasures and Ceramics
These old building and the new wing is connected via the old ethnography room through a glass walled bridge gallery. The bridge gallery is located over the outdoor amphitheatre. The temporary exhibitions with certain themes often took place in this connecting gallery. The Gedung Arca also houses two temporary exhibition halls, one in the ground floor and another is in the basement floor. The basement floor also host the ASEAN room that feature photos exhibition and modest artifacts from 10 ASEAN countries. Cafetaria and souvenir stall is located in the ground floor.