The beautiful in Bali

Abstract

The Indonesian island of Bali has often been described as a paradise. In terms of natural beauty, this seems appropriate. Volcanic cones, deep valleys full of verdant vegetation, colorful and exotic flowers and butterflies, yellow sand beaches, turquoise oceans–all establish the island’s physical beauty. And human contributions often add to the splendor. For instance, the sides of mountains can be softened and elaborated by intricately terraced rice fields. But these environmental features are common to many tropical locations in southeast Asia. To understand why Bali is so often singled out for praise, it is necessary to appreciate how the island’s distinctive religion and cosmology pervade life in all its aspects. And given that the Balinese gods are connoisseurs of beauty, this explains why the Balinese people are committed to the creation and presentation of beauty as a religious duty. This obligation aesthetically affects their everyday lives, architecture, and arts.