Majapahit Totally Explained

Everything about Majapahit totally explained

Majapahit was an Indianized kingdom based in eastern Java from 1293 to around 1500. Its greatest ruler was Hayam Wuruk, whose reign from 1350 to 1389 marked the empire's peak when it dominated other kingdoms in the southern Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Bali, and the Philippines.
The Majapahit empire was the last of the major Hindu empires of the Malay archipelago and is considered one of the greatest states in Indonesian history.

Historiography

Little physical evidence of Majapahit remains, and its detailed history isn't very clear. The main sources that are used by historians are: the Pararaton ('Book of Kings') written in Kawi language and Nagarakertagama in Old Javanese. Pararaton is mostly about Ken Arok (the founder of Singhasari) but includes a number of shorter narrative fragments about the formation of Majapahit. Nagarakertagama, on the other hand, is an old Javanese epic poem written during the Majapahit golden age under the reign of Hayam Wuruk after which events are not so clear. However, most scholars don't accept this view, as the basic outline corresponds with Chinese records that couldn't share this intention. The list of rulers and the nature of the state, in particular, seem rather certain. Yuan's army had to withdraw in confusion as they were in hostile territory. It was also their last chance to catch the monsoon winds home; otherwise, they'd have had to wait for another six months on a hostile island.
In AD 1293, Raden Wijaya founded a stronghold with the capital Majapahit. The exact date used as the birth of the Majapahit kingdom is the day of his coronation, the 15th of Kartika month in the year 1215 using the Javanese çaka calendar, which equates to November 10, 1293. During his coronation he was given formal name Kertarajasa Jayawardhana. The new kingdom faced challenges. Some of Kertarajasa's most trusted men, including Ranggalawe, Sora, and Nambi rebelled against him, though unsuccessfully. It was suspected that the mahapati (equal with prime minister) Halayudha set the conspiracy to overthrow all of the king's opponents, to gain the highest position in the government. However, after following the death of the last rebel Kuti, Halayudha was captured and jailed for his tricks, and then sentenced to death. Wijaya himself died in AD 1309.
Wijaya's son and successor, Jayanegara was notorious for immorality. One of his sinful acts was taking his own step-sisters as wives. He was entitled Kala Gemet, or "weak villain". In AD 1328, Jayanegara was murdered by his doctor, Tantja. His stepmother, Gayatri Rajapatni, was supposed to replace him, but Rajapatni retired from court to become a bhiksuni (a female Buddhist monk) in a monastery. Rajapatni appointed her daughter, Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, or known in her formal name as Tribhuwannottungadewi Jayawishnuwardhani, as the queen of Majapahit under Rajapatni's auspices. During Tribhuwana’s rule, the Majapahit kingdom grew much larger and became famous in the area. Tribhuwana ruled Majapahit until the death of her mother in AD 1350. She was succeeded by her son, Hayam Wuruk.

Golden age

Hayam Wuruk, also known as Rajasanagara, ruled Majapahit in AD 1350–1389. During his period, Majapahit attained its peak with the help of his prime minister, Gajah Mada. Under Gajah Mada's command (AD 1313–1364), Majapahit conquered more territories. In 1377, a few years after Gajah Mada's death, Majapahit sent a punitive naval attack against Palembang, contributing to the end of the Srivijayan kingdom. Gajah Mada's other renowned general was Adityawarman, known for his conquest in Minangkabau.
   According to the book of Nagarakertagama pupuh (canto) XIII and XIV mentioned several states in Sumatra, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara islands, Maluku, New Guinea, and some parts of Philippines islands as under Majapahit realm of power. This source mentioned of Majapahit expansions has marked the greatest extent of Majapahit empire.
   The Nagarakertagama, written in 1365 depict a sophisticated court with refined taste in art and literature, and a complex system of religious rituals. The poet describes Majapahit as the centre of a huge mandala extending from New Guinea and Maluku to Sumatra and Malay Peninsula. Local traditions in many parts of Indonesia retain accounts in more or less legendary from 14th century Majapahit's power. Majapahit's direct administration didn't extend beyond east Java and Bali, but challenges to Majapahit's claim to overlordship in outer islands drew forceful responses.
   The nature of the Majapahit empire and its extent is subject to debate. It may have had limited or entirely notional influence over some of the tributary states in included Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Kalimantan and eastern Indonesia over which of authority was claimed in the Nagarakertagama. Geographical and economic constraints suggest that rather than a regular centralised authority, the outer states were most likely to have been connected mainly by trade connections, which was probably a royal monopoly.) to 1527. The year is marked among Javanese today with candra sengkala "sirna ilang kertaning bumi" (the wealth of earth disappeared and diminished) (sirna = 0, ilang = 0, kerta = 4, bumi = 1). After series of battles with the Sultanate of Demak, the last remaining courtsmen of Majapahit were forced to withdraw eastward to Kediri; it's unclear whether they were still under the rule of the Majapahit dynasty. This small state was finally extinguished at the hands of the Demak in 1527. A large number of courtiers, artisans, priests, and members of the royalty moved east to the island of Bali; however, the crown and the seat of government moved to Demak under the leadership of Pengeran, later Sultan Fatah. The Muslim emerging forces defeated the local Majapahit kingdom in the early 16th century.

Culture

"Of all the buildings, none lack pillars, bearing fine carvings and coloured" [Withinthe wall compounds] "there were elegant pavilions roofed with aren fibre, like the scene in a painting... The petals of the katangga were sprinkled over the roofs for they'd fallen in the wind. The roofs were like maidens with flowers arranged in their hair, delighting those who saw them".
— Description of the Majapahit capital from the Old Javanese epic poem Nagarakertagama.

The main event of the administrative calendar took place on the first day of the month of Caitra (March-April) when representatives from all territories paying tax or tribute to Majapahit came to the capital to pay court. Majapahit's territories were roughly divided into three types: the palace and its vicinity; the areas of east Java and Bali which were directly administrated by officials appointed by the king; and the outer dependencies which enjoyed substantial internal autonomy. The capital (Trowulan) was grand and known for its great annual festivities. Buddhism, Shaivism, and Vaishnavism were all practiced, and the king was regarded as the incarnation of the three. The Nagarakertagama doesn't mention Islam, but there were certainly Muslim courtiers by this time. Making use of a vine sap and palm sugar mortar, their temples had a strong geometric quality.

Economy

Taxes and fines were paid in cash. Javanese economy had been partly monetisided since the late 8th century, using gold and silver coins. In about the year 1300, in the reign of Majapahit's first king, an important change took place: the indigenous coinage was completely replaced by imported Chinese copper cash. The reason for this isn't given in any source, but most scholars assume it was due to the increasing complexity of Javanese economy and a desire for a currency system that used much smaller denominations suitable for use in everyday market transactions. This was a role for which gold and silver are not well suited.
   Some idea of scale of the internal economy can be gathered from scattered data in inscriptions. The Canggu inscriptions dated 1358 mentions 78 ferry crossings in the country (mandala Java). Majapahit inscriptions mention a large number of occupational specialities, ranging from gold and silver smiths to drink vendors and butchers. Although many of these occupations had existed in earlier times, the proportion of the population earning an income from non-agrarian pursuits seems to have become even greater during the Majapahit era.
   The great prosperity of Majapahit was probably due to two factors. Firstly, the northeast lowlands of Java were suitable for rice cultivation, and during Majapahit's prime numerous irrigation projects were undertaken, some with government assistance. Secondly, Majapahit's ports on the north coast were probably significant stations along the route to obtain the spices of Maluku, and as the spices passed through Java they'd have provided an important source of income for Majapahit.
   The Nagarakertagama states that the fame ruler of Wilwatikta (a synonym for Majapahit) attracted foreign merchants from far and wide, including Indians, Khmers, Siamese, and Chinese among others. A special tax was levied against some foreigners, possibly those who had taken up semi-permanent residence in Java and conducted some type of enterprise other than foreign trade

Legacy

In sum, Majapahit was the largest empire ever to form in Southeast Asia. Although its political power beyond the core area in east Java was diffuse, constituting mainly ceremonial recognition of suzerainity, Majapahit society developed a high degree of sophistication in both commercial and artistic activities. Its capital was inhabited by a cosmopolitan population among whom literature and art flourished.
For Indonesians in later centuries, Majapahit became a symbol of past greatness. The Islamic sultanates of Demak, Pajang, and Mataram sought to establish their legitimacy in relation to the Majapahit. The Demak claimed a line of succession through Kertabumi, as its founder, Raden Patah, in court chronicles was said to be the son of Kertabumi with Putri Cina, a Chinese princess, who had been sent away before her son was born. Central Javanese palaces have traditions and genealogy that attempt to prove links back to the Majapahit royal lines - usually in the form of a grave as a vital link in Java - where legitimacy is enhanced by such a connection. Bali in particular was heavily influenced by Majapahit and they consider themselves to be the true heirs of the kingdom.It was invoked by Sukarno for nation building and by the New Order as an expression of state expansion and consolidation. Like Majapahit, the modern state of Indonesia covers vast territory and is politically centred on Java.
Majapahit had a momentous and lasting influence on Indonesian architecture. The descriptions of the architecture of the capital's pavilions (pendopo) in the Nagarakertagama (see the quotation above) invokes the Javanese Kraton and also the Balinese temples and compounds of today. Palapa, the series of communication satellites owned by Telkom, an Indonesian telecommunication company, named after Sumpah Palapa, the famous oath taken by Gajah Mada. Gajah Mada swore that he wouldn't taste any spice as long as he hadn't succeeded to unify Nusantara (Indonesian archipelago). This ancient oath of unification, signify Palapa satellite as the modern means to unify Indonesian archipelago by way of telecomunication. The name was chosen by president Suharto, and the program was started in February 1975.

List of rulers

Raden Wijaya, styled Kertarajasa Jayawardhana (1294 - 1309)
Kalagamet, styled Jayanagara (1309 - 1328)
Sri Gitarja, styled Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi (1328 - 1350)
Hayam Wuruk, styled Sri Rajasanagara (1350 - 1389)
Wikramawardhana (1389 - 1429)
Suhita (1429 - 1447)
Kertawijaya, styled Brawijaya I (1447 - 1451)
Rajasawardhana, born Bhre Pamotan, styled Brawijaya II (1451 - 1453)
- Interregnum (1453-1456)
Bhre Wengker, Purwawisesa or Girishawardhana, styled Brawijaya III (1456 - 1466)
Singhawikramawardhana, Pandanalas, or Suraprabhawa, styled Brawijaya IV (1466 - 1468 or 1478)
Kertabumi, styled Brawijaya V (1468 - 1478)
Girindrawardhana, styled Brawijaya VI (1478 - 1498)

Majapahit in popular culture

Celebrated as 'the golden era of the archipelago', Majapahit empire has and still continue to inspired many writers and artists to create their works based on, described, or mentioned this era. The impact of Majapahit theme in popular culture are:

Sandyakalaning Majapahit (1933), or Twilight/Sunset in Majapahit is historical romance written by Sanusi Pane, took place during the fall of Majapahit empire.

Panji Koming (since 1979), a weekly comic strip by Dwi Koendoro published in Sunday edition of Kompas, telling the everyday life of Panji Koming, a common Majapahit citizen. Although took place in Majapahit era, the comic strip serve as witty satire and critics of modern Indonesian society. From politic, social, culture and many aspect of today Indonesia describe as the 'reincarnation' of Majapahit empire. Present serving Indonesian president often portray as Majapahit monarch or prime minister.

Saur Sepuh (1987-1991), radio drama and film by Niki Kosasih. Begin as the popular radio drama program in late 80s, Saur Sepuh is based on 15th century Java, centered around the story about fictional hero; Brama Kumbara, the king of Madangkara, a fictional kingdom neighbour of Pajajaran. On several story describe the Paregreg war, the civil war of Majapahit between Wikramawardhana against Bhre Wirabhumi. This part the become the single film titled the same 'Saur Sepuh'.

Tutur Tinular, radio drama and film by S Tidjab. Tutur Tinular is a martial art historical epic fictional story with Majapahit era as the background of the story. The story also involved romance between hero named Arya Kamandanu, and his Chinese lover Mei Shin.

Wali Songo, the film tell story about nine muslim saints ('wali') that spreading Islam to Java. The story took place near the end of Majapahit era and the formation of Demak. Describing the decaying Majapahit empire where royalties are fighting each others for power, while commoners are suffering.

Senopati Pamungkas (1986, reprinted in 2003), a novel by Arswendo Atmowiloto. Also a martial art-historical epic fiction. Took place in late Singhasari period and formation of Majapahit. This novel describe the saga, royal intrigue, and romance of the formation of Majapahit kingdom, also the adventure of main character, a commoner named Upasara Wulung and his forbidden love with princess Gayatri Rajapatni, later she become the consort of Raden Wijaya, the first king of Majapahit.

Imperium Majapahit, comic book series by Jan Mintaraga, Published by Elexmedia Komputindo. This series telling the history of Majapahit from the formation until the decline.

Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004), a Malaysian epic film based on traditional Malay Legend. This film telling the lovestory between Gusti Putri Retno Dumilah, a Majapahit Princess, and Hang Tuah, a Malaccan admiral.

Gajah Mada, a pentalogy written by Langit Kresna Hariadi, about fictionalized detail of Gajah Mada's life from Kuti rebellion until Bubat War.

Dyah Pitaloka, a novel written by Hermawan Aksan, about fictionalized detail lifestory of Sunda Princess Dyah Pitaloka, focussed around the Bubat War. The novel pretty much took the same context and inspired by Kidung Sundayana.Further Information

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