Season 1
8 episodes · Jan 13, 1980
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- S1E1
The World of Shadows
Jan 13, 198060mIn 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.
- S1E2
The Morning of the World
Jan 20, 198060mIn 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.
- S1E3
Land of the Cosmic Mountain
Jan 27, 198060mWhen 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.
- S1E4
The Story of Rama
Feb 3, 198060mThe 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.
- S1E5
The Haunted Land
Feb 10, 198060mThe 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.
- S1E6
Artists in Exile
Feb 17, 198060mIn 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.
- S1E7
God-Kings of Angkor
Feb 24, 198060mIn 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.
- S1E8
Land of a Million Buddhas
Mar 2, 198060mIn 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.