Over two millennia ago, merchant vessels loaded with goods voyaged from China through the Maritime Silk Road, paving the way for lasting trade and cultural interactions between China and Indonesia. This ancient route has seen Indonesia not only as a vital trading post but also as the site where, in 2013, China introduced the concept of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. This proposal, a modern extension of the historical silk road, forms a crucial element of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
A testament to this intertwined past can be seen at the National Museum of Indonesia. It proudly displays a collection of over 8,000 Chinese porcelain items, narrating tales of ancient trade ventures and the deep-rooted ties between the two nations. The oldest ceramic piece in the collection hails from the Han Dynasty (206BC-AD220), shared Karamina Puspitasari, a curator with the Public Service Agency for Museums and Cultural Heritage (BLU MCB), a body under Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture.
Beyond ceramics, the ancient Silk Road witnessed China sending teas and silk to Indonesia, while Indonesia reciprocated with aromatic spices. Some of these spices might have been transported in the very ceramic containers showcased in the museum.
On the museum’s second floor, visitors can find a display of ceramics originating from China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907). This collection received heightened interest after the 1998 discovery of the Belitung shipwreck off Indonesia’s Belitung Island. Over 50,000 Chinese ceramic items, predominantly crafted in Changsha in China’s Hunan Province, were unearthed from this wreck. The sheer volume of this cargo highlights the significance of Maritime Silk Road trade, and the variety of ceramics emphasizes the prolific capabilities of China’s pottery industry.
Karamina emphasized how during the Ming Dynasty, China tailored its ceramic production to cater to diverse Southeast Asian tastes. Adaptations included the incorporation of local hues and motifs, reflecting the convergence of multiple civilizations. This period also saw Chinese explorer Zheng He journeying to Indonesian islands like Java, Sumatra, and Kalimantan.
China-Indonesia trade has facilitated extensive cultural, technological, and artistic exchanges. Karamina pointed out mutual influences in cultural artifacts, including the modification of the Chinese phoenix motif to fit Indonesian aesthetics. Other cultural overlaps include the Indonesian sea deity, Nyi Roro Kidul, and China’s Mazu, both protectors of seafarers. Furthermore, the “Mega Mendung” design in Indonesian batik, symbolizing auspicious clouds, has parallels in Chinese art, indicating shared motifs.
According to Karamina, the enduring relationship between the countries has fostered understanding and has kept exchanges vibrant. Today, linguistic and culinary ties to China persist in Indonesia. Trade dynamics have also evolved. As of 2022, bilateral trade volumes surged to $149 billion, marking China as Indonesia’s top trade ally for a decade.
The BRI ensures that these cultural exchanges retain their vigor. In recent years, the National Museum of Indonesia collaborated with its counterpart in China, presenting sculptures and textiles at an Asian civilization exhibit in Beijing. Karamina voiced optimism about future joint ventures in cultural studies and archaeology, given the nations’ historical ties. She remarked, “Our shared trade and cultural heritage present numerous opportunities for collaborative research and exploration of our cultural commonalities.”
READ MORE:
