When our history teacher gives the task to
create an article about a museum, my mind immediately went to the national
museum or “museum gajah” located near Monumen Nasional. I have never visited
the national museum. The National Museum of Indonesia , is an archeological,
historical, ethnological, and geographical museum located in Jakarta. Popularly
known as museum gajah after the elephant statue in its forecourt. Its broad and
fascinating collections covers all of Indonesia's territory and almost all of
its history. The museum has endeavoured to preserve Indonesia's heritage for
two centuries. In my opinion the national museum is a very interesting museum,
with white pillars located at the front of the building, a statue of the
elephant which is the symbol of this museum so that people know more about
Jakarta's national museum by the title "museum gajah”, national museum backyard is big enough and
quite "green" when viewed from the outside adding more curiosity for
me to visit the national museum. National museum is easy to achieve, could be
using public transport such as Transjakarta or by private car. On Friday, 13th
of May along with my friends I finally
went to the museum elephant.
Short History
National Museum existence begins
with the establishment of a set of named Bataviaasch Genootschap Kunsten van en
Wetenschappen, founded by the Dutch Government on 24 April 1778. At that time
in European intellectual revolution taking place (the Age of Enlightenment)
which is where people begin to develop scientific thinking and science. In the
year 1752 in Haarlem, the Netherlands stood De Hollandsche Maatschappij der
Wetenschappen (Scientific Society of the Netherlands). This encourages the
Dutch in Batavia (Indonesia) to establish similar organizations.
Bataviaasch Genootschap Kunsten van
en Wetenschappen (BG) is an independent institution founded for the purpose of
advancing penetitian in the arts and sciences, especially in the fields of
biology, physics, archeology, literature, ethnology and history, Berta research
published hash. This institution has the motto "Ten Nutte van het
Algemeen" (For the Public Interest).
One of the founders of this
institution, namely JCM Radermacher, donated his house in Jalan Kalibesar, a
Jakarta-trade area 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 forerunner to the establishment 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 already full with a collection of
the Raffles ordered the construction of new buildings for use as a museum and
meeting rooms for the Literary Society (formerly called the building
"Societeit de Harmonie"). The building is located on road number 3
Majapahit. Now in this place stands the State Secretariat building complex,
near the presidential palace.
The number of collections belonging
to museums BG continues neningkat in Jalan Majapahit can no longer accommodate
the collection. In 1862, Dutch East Indies government decided to build a new
museum building in a location that is now, ie No. Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat. 12
(dutu called Koningsplein West). The land covers an area that later on it was
built buildings Rechst Hogeschool or "Law School" (once used for
Kenpetai headquarters during the Japanese occupation, and now the Department of
Defense and Security). This new museum building opened to the public in 1868.
The museum is very well known among
the people of Indonesia, especially Jakarta residents. They call it
"Elephant House" 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've been to the museum in 1871.
Sometimes also called "ARCA Building" since in the building there are
many different types and forms stored statues from different periods.
In 1923 the association acquired
the title "Royal" for his services in the field of scientific and
government projects to complete the Royal Bataviaasch Genootschap Kunsten van
en Wetenschappen. On January 26, 1950, the Royal Bataviaasch Genootschap
Kunsten van en Wetenschappen renamed to Institute of Culture Indonesia. These
changes are adjusted to the conditions of that time, as reflected in its new
slogan: "advance the 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 Institute of Culture
Indonesia handed management of the museum to the government of Indonesia, which
later became the Museum Center. Finally, based on the Decree of the Minister of
Education and Culture, No.092 / 0 / 1979 dated May 28, 1979, the Museum Center
upgraded to the National Museum.
Collection
History
National Museum of History is a
collection of objects that contain the history of Indonesia and the relics of
the occupation of Europeans in Indonesia, between the 16th century AD until the
19th century AD. The history collection includes objects of furniture, guns,
glass, ceramics, decorative lamps, pottery, inscriptions and others. These
objects are generally made in Indonesia and some are made overseas, such as
the Netherlands, Britain, Germany, China and Japan
Geography
Geography of the National Museum
collection currently consists of fossils, the fossil toxaster and amonit
between the ages of 75-135 million years, a collection of rocks including
sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic. Various types of maps including maps of the
various cultures of Indonesia, the world map in the century about 15-17 AD,
Indonesia map of the 16th century AD, the city development map-century Batavia
16-18 AD, and others. In addition there are also extensive collection of
navigational equipment such as compasses, chronometers, sextan, etc., along
with several miniature boats, namely Phinisi, Lete, Nade, and Bali.
Prehistory
Prehistory is a time when humans
are not familiar with writing. In Indonesia, the existence of prehistoric
humans began about 1.5 million years ago to the familiar tradition of writing
in the 5th century AD, when the discovery of inscriptions Yupa in Kutai, East
Kalimantan. His legacy in the form of fossils, the bones of humans and animals
and artifacts, namely the objects humans ever created or used as tools by
humans.
Based on the manufacture of equipment
or technology, in general the prehistoric period is divided into two ages, the
era of rock and metal era. Produce a paleolithic stone age artifacts and
mesolitik (for hunting and gathering food) and neolithic artifacts (for
planting). While the era of metal (paleometalik) produces bronze and iron
artifacts.
The National Museum has a
collection of various types of prehistoric hominid skull replica, paleolithic
artifacts, mesolitik, neolithic and metal artifacts (paleometalik) as well as
objects relating to the trust to the ancestors. These collections include
hand-held axes form of limestone kersikan, pickaxe-belincung of Chalcedon
stones, beads of glass and bronze ceremonial axes.
Numismatic & Ceramics
Numismatic Collection consists of
objects such as coins, banknotes and tokens which never circulated and used by
the public, in addition there is also a means of printing money. Numismatic
Collection of the National Museum largely derived from the ancient kingdoms of
Indonesia, the colonial period (Dutch, Portuguese, English and Japanese) to the
independence of Indonesia. Apart from the numismatic collections in the
country, there is also a numismatic collection originating from countries in
Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Australia. While the collection owned by the
Museum asional heraldic symbols such as medals / decorations, stamp / stamp,
and amulets.
Collection National Museum of
Ceramics in the majority coming from China, from the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220
AD) until the time of the last dynasty, the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Others
came from Vietnam (Century-14 - 16 M), Thailand (Century-14 - 16 M), Japan
(Century 17-19 AD), Middle East (Century 18-19 M), and Europe (Century 17-19
M).
Collection is historical data that
proves the existence of relations between Indonesia and other countries in the
past, including trade relations. Indonesia in the past is a major producer of
spices for commodity trading. Past trading is done by way of payment of money or
means of exchange (barter) with ceramic spice that comes from abroad. Apart
from trade, ceramics allegedly also comes as a gift, tribute or luggage.
Ethnography
National Museum presents a
collection of ethnographic objects or the cultures of ethnic groups throughout
Indonesia. Indonesia has more than 300 ethnic groups who have different
languages and different cultures. Motto "Bhineka Tunggat Diversity"
reflects the condition of Indonesian society that is pluralistic or multicultural.
Ethnographic objects in the form of life equipment used by a tribe either
kepertuan used for ceremonies or everyday. Ethnographic collections show the
influence of various cultures in the Hindu, Islamic, and colonial period that
are tailored to local culture.
Most of the ethnographic collection
collected during the Dutch colonial administration, especially in the mid-19th
century and early 20th century AD. The collection of collections, among others
carried out through scientific expeditions, military expeditions, or by
individuals such as from government officials and the propagator of religion
Besides space, the ethnographic collection also has a special showroom, ie
miniature space custom homes, room textiles, and the living treasures of gold
ethnography.
Archaeology
Archaeology collections include
cultural objects of human activity results from the Hindu and Buddhist better
known as the Classical Indonesia. This period lasted from the early second
century AD 5-15, which develops local culture which is influenced by Indian
culture.
Archaeology at the National Museum
collection consists of statues of Hindu gods, Buddha statues, statues
embodiment, animal statues, jewelry, ceremonial equipment, parts of the
building, currency, inscriptions, and others. Collections were made of gold,
silver, bronze, stone and baked clay.
Archaeological collections mostly
from Central Java and East Java, for example, finding a valuable gold from
Wonoboyo village, Central Java; stone statue of Prajnaparamita Singosari, East
Java. It also has other important collections, such as the oldest inscriptions
in Indonesia, the inscription Yupa of Muara Kaman, Kutai in East Kalimantan;
the inscriptions of the royal Tarumanegara; and inscriptions that come from the
kingdom of Srivijaya. Bhairawa Buddha statue from Padang Roco, West Sumatra is
also a considerable collection of Archaeological interest seen from a very
large size.
