THE ARTS AND HISTORICAL REMAINS IN THE CAVE TEMPLES IN IPOH, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the arts and historical remains in the cave temples of Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Ipoh is well known for its numerous limestone cave temples. Based on the fieldwork survey from 2016 to 2020, Ipoh has 50 cave temples. Before the survey, the number of cave temples in Ipoh was unknown. These cave temples can be divided into three types based on their physical appearances. The paper discusses the arts and historical remains kept in selected cave temples that were established before World War II. The arts discussed in this paper can be divided into visual and literary arts, such as mural, drawing, statue and poetry. The majority of the historical remains taken are archival and epigraphical materials. The epigraphical materials are carved in bronze bells, wooden tablets, brass censers, stone inscriptions, and other materials. This paper aims to highlight the diversity of the arts and historical remains in Nusantara.