Ancient Temples Showcase Engineering Prowess

On the Indonesian island of Java and in China’s Shanxi province, builders centuries ago constructed temples demonstrating remarkable engineering skills. The Borobudur temple, built around 800 AD, is the world’s largest Buddhist temple and designed as a three-dimensional mandala, with its pyramidal shape providing stability against natural disasters like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

The Xuankong Si temple in China, also known as the “Hanging Temple,” appears to float in the air, but is actually supported by metertief kragbalken, beams anchored deep within the rock face. Builders used wooden wedges to secure the beams and employed a system of interlocking wooden joints to allow for flexibility during earthquakes.

Both temples utilized innovative techniques to overcome environmental challenges. Borobudur with water spouts to divert monsoon rains, and Xuankong Si with its unique anchoring system. A ZDFinfo documentary will explore these “ingenious structures” on July 23, 2026.