Subak Irrigation System — Bali Cultural Landscape
Subak Bali · Bali Subak · Subak of Jatiluwih · Water Temple Subak
Warmadewa to Majapahit to colonial (9th–20th c.)·Balinese Hindu Dharma (Shaiva–Water, Tri Hita Karana) with Buddhist layer·🇮🇩 Bali Province, Tabanan Regency, Jatiluwih and Pakerisan watershed, central Bali, 700 m terrace, Indonesia
About
About Subak Irrigation System — Bali Cultural Landscape
13) where Subak water temple system irrigates 19,500 ha of terraced rice via 1,200 km of canals on central Bali volcano slopes since 9th c. (observed 1072 Prasasti). Jatiluwih terraces (636 ha, largest) fed from Batukaru crater lake via Ulun Danu (water temple) priests coordinating 1,200 subak groups: Tri Hita Karana philosophy — harmony of spirit, nature, human — water temple as management node. Pakerisan watershed's Tirta Empul (Tirtha Empul) spring 962 CE and Gunung Kawi rock-cut shrines (11th c.)
demonstrate royal water temples. Jatiluwih's terrace contour on Batukaru 700 m demonstrates 1000-year continuous hydraulic landscaping without dam, vs. Javanese terrace. UNESCO inscribed 2012 criteria ii, iii, vi, v. Bali's subak as living philosophy vs. Green Revolution threat solved via subak–UNESCO.
Why it mattersOnly living water-temple coordinated rice hydraulic demonstrating Tri Hita Karana as adaptive management vs. Green Revolution. UNESCO 1194.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether 9th-c. Balinese terraces borrowed from Java or Dujiangyan
- 02How subak schedule beats Green Revolution pesticide in Lansing model
Theories
- 01Subak as Bali's 'Hydraulic temple' anti-despotic vs Wittfogel (priest not king)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.535–1072 CE early (535 Batur crater?? Actually 1072 earliest subak inscription 1072 CE; terracing 9th c. Warmadewa), expanded Majapahit 14th c.
- Period
- Warmadewa to Majapahit to colonial (9th–20th c.)
- Culture
- Balinese Hindu Dharma (Shaiva–Water, Tri Hita Karana) with Buddhist layer
- Builders
- Balinese subak farmers and water-temple priests (pemangku) with Warmadewa king artisans
- Purpose
- Volcanic highland rice terrace hydraulic via crater lake distribution managed by temple priest synchronizing cropping to prevent pests (Lansing 1987 computer proof)
- Abandoned
- Never abandoned; 1970s Green Revolution disrupted but UNESCO 2012 revived
- Rediscovered
- 1987 Lansing Subak research; 1990 UNESCO proposal; 2012 inscription
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
1072
Earliest subak inscription 1072 CE
1987
Lansing proves temple-coordinated pest control
2012
UNESCO 1194 Cultural Landscape
On the ground
Structures & features
8.3700° S · 115.1300° E · 700 m · 2 mapped features
Subak — Jatiluwih Terraces and Batukaru Water Temple Cascade
terraces temple636 ha Jatiluwih terraces (largest) with 120 km subak canals fed from Lake Batukaru via Ulun Danu Batukaru water temple, 1000-year Tri Hita Karana
8.3690° S · 115.1310° ESubak — Pakerisan Watershed — Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi
spring temple300-m Tirta Empul spring temple and Gunung Kawi 11th-c. rock-cut shrines with subak tunnel fed by Pakerisan river, royal water temple network
8.4150° S · 115.3140° E