Candi Borobudur dalam Perspektif Living Monument: Integrasi Nilai Spiritual, Budaya, dan Pariwisata Berkelanjutan

Abstract

Borobudur Temple is a World Heritage Site that possesses not only historical and archaeological value, but also spiritual, cultural and economic value that continues to evolve within the lives of the local community. The development of tourism at Borobudur presents the challenge of balancing the interests of conservation, the sustainability of its spiritual function, community involvement and economic utilisation. Although various studies have examined Borobudur from the perspectives of conservation, sustainable tourism, culture and spirituality, research that integrates these dimensions within the perspective of a ‘living monument’ remains limited. This study aims to analyse the potential of Borobudur Temple as a ‘living monument’ through the integration of spiritual, cultural and sustainable tourism values. The study employs a qualitative approach using library research. Data were obtained from scientific journal articles and relevant policy documents and were subsequently analysed using content analysis and thematic synthesis. The results of the study indicate that Borobudur possesses strong characteristics as a ‘living monument’ through the continuity of its spiritual function, the cultural vitality of the local community, the reinterpretation of its meaning in a contemporary context, and the development of sustainable tourism. The literature review has produced a conceptual model that positions spiritual values as the normative foundation, cultural values as the link between the site and community life, and sustainable tourism as a mechanism for utilisation that supports the sustainability of the heritage. The research identifies four conceptual indicators of ‘liveness’, namely spiritual continuity, cultural vitality, community participation and benefit, and the sustainability of tourism utilisation. The novelty of this research lies in the shift in perspective from Borobudur as a World Heritage site to Borobudur as a living heritage ecosystem. These findings have implications for the development of Borobudur management policies that integrate conservation, spirituality, culture, community participation and sustainable tourism.