The Spirit of Asia
David Attenborough visits Indonesia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Vietnam, and India-countries where the world's most ancient religions and art forms have remarkably endured into the 20th century,
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Seasons & Episodes
1. The World of Shadows
In Indonesia, ancient communities across 13,000 islands believe in nature spirits and ancestral ghosts. They perform sacrificial rituals and build megaliths like obelisks, stone slabs, and large tables and chairs to honor these spirits.
2. The Morning of the World
In the 16th-century, when neighbours converted to Islam, Bali maintained a blend of Hinduism and spirit worship. Life is filled with pageantry and festivals. Dance-dramas involving possession and exorcism serve as offerings to the gods.
3. Land of the Cosmic Mountain
When Indian religion arrived in Java, ancestral shrines were re-dedicated to Shiva, and the Buddhist temple of Borobudur was created. Despite Islam now being the main religion, shadow puppets are still revered as ancestral spirits.
4. The Story of Rama
The Ramayana, an ancient Indian epic, has captivated imaginations for 2,000 years. In India, it's performed annually at the world's largest theatre, in Benares, during the Dussehra festival, with giant blazing effigies of the Demon King.
5. The Haunted Land
The Irrawaddy River is a vital waterway that flows through central Burma. Along its banks lie the ancient ruins of Pagan, once the center of a powerful empire. An end to near-isolation is now revealing how unique the country really is.
6. Artists in Exile
In southern France, an old army camp turned Vietnamese village shelters refugees. It uniquely preserves a spirit possession cult, absent even in Vietnam. Cult members have colorful shrines with Buddha images and silk-clad spirit dolls.
7. God-Kings of Angkor
In ancient Cambodia, God-Kings built fine temples in dense jungles. Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building, honors Vishnu and God-King Suryavarman II. Despite war and suffering, the temples endure, and dancers perform safely.
8. Land of a Million Buddhas
In Thailand, modern culture coexists with ancient traditions. Miniature temples stand alongside hotels, and monks perform car ceremonies. Thailand boasts countless Buddha images, produced over 1,300 years, outnumbering its population.
