Javanese
Encyclopedia
The Javanese people is an ethnic group
native to the Indonesia
n island of Java. At approximately 85 million people , it is the largest ethnic group on the island
, and also in Indonesia
. They are predominantly located in the central
to eastern
parts of the island. Following centuries of migrations they can now be found in most Provinces of Indonesia
, Peninsular Malaysia
and also Suriname
in South America
.
of West Java
, the Javanese are of Austronesian
origins whose ancestors are thought to have originated in Taiwan
, and migrated through the Philippines, reaching Java between 1,500BCE and 1,000BCE.
Hindu
and Buddhist
influences arrived through trade contacts with the Indian subcontinent
. Since as early as first century CE, Javanese sailors has been trading spices in India. With the intensive contacts, the Javanese developed philosophical concepts that are parallel but not identical with the Indian. Hindu missionaries arrived in 5th century, with Buddhist missionaries also coming around the same period. Local rulers adopted concept of kingly rules with monarch identified with gods
. These Hinduism, Buddhism and Javanese faiths blended into a unique local philosophies.
The cradle of Javanese culture is commonly described as being in Kedu Plain
in the fertile slopes of Mount Merapi
. Earliest dynasties, Sanjaya
and Sailendra
has their power base there, where they leave major monuments such as Borobudur
and Prambanan
temple complex.
Center of Javanese culture and politics was moved to eastern part of the island when Mpu Sindok
(r. 929-947) moved the capital of the kingdoms eastward to the valleys of Brantas River in the 10th century CE. The move was most likely caused by volcanic eruption of Merapi and/or invasion from Srivijaya
.
Mpu Sindok's great-grandson Dharmawangsa
attempted to attack Srivijaya
in Sumatra in 990 AD, but his effort failed. In retaliatory attack he was killed and the Medang kingdom defeated. The kingdom was restored by his nephew Airlangga
, son of his sister Princess Mahendradatta of Medang and King Udayana of Bali
. The new kingdom was named Kahuripan, but following Airlangga's death it was partitioned along Brantas river into two kingdoms: Panjalu (or Kadiri) and Janggala
. The later soon absorbed and reunited with the former.
In eastern Java, Medang Kingdom and later Kadiri developed a refined culture that combined Hindu-Buddhist influences and native culture. For example, Kakawin Ramayana, the Javanese adaptation of Indian Ramayana
epic, and Buddhist treatise Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan, both composed during Mpu Sindok's reign.
This was also continued under Singhasari
kingdom which ruled following Ken Arok
conquest of Kediri in 1222. The major spread of Javanese influence occurred under King Kertanegara of Singhasari
in late 13th century. The expansionist king launched major expeditions to Madura, Bali in 1284, Borneo and most importantly to Sumatra
in 1275. Following the defeat of Melayu Kingdom
, Singhasari
controlled trade in Strait of Malacca
.
Singhasari dominance was cut short in 1292 by Kediri's rebellion under Jayakatwang
, where Kertanegara was killed while in a trance during a Tantric Buddhism ceremony. However, Jayakatwang reign as king of Java soon ended as he was defeated by Kertanegara's son-in-law, Raden Wijaya
with the help of invading Mongol troops
in March 1293.
Raden Wijaya
would later established Majapahit near the delta of Brantas River in modern-day Mojokerto
, East Java
. Kertanegara policies would later be continued by the Majapahits under King Hayam Wuruk
and his minister Gajah Mada
.
Kingdoms of Java actively involved in spice
trade in the sea route of Silk Road
. Although not a major spice producer itself, they were able to stockpile spice by trading it with rice
, of which Java was a major producer. Surplus rice were traded with black pepper
, nutmeg
s, and cloves from Spice Island and resold with great profit to foreigners. Majapahit is usually regarded as the greatest of these kingdoms. It was both an agrarian and a maritime power, combining wet-rice cultivation and foreign trade. The rulers of Majapahit patronized various art forms in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, among these is Nagarakretagama
poetry composed in 1365 by Buddhist monk Prapanca. The center of Majapahit power was in delta region of Brantas river in modern day East Java
, that provided access to both trade in Java Sea
and rich rice-producing hinterland. The ruin of their capital can be found in Trowulan
.
Following succession disputes and civil wars, Majapahit power collapsed. Java underwent major changes as Islam
spread. After the collapse of Majapahit, its various dependencies and vassals broke free. Sultanate of Demak
became the new strongest power, gaining supremacy among city-states on the northern coast of Java.
Apart from Javanese city-states, it also gained overlordship of ports of Jambi and Palembang
in eastern Sumatra, from which produced commodities such as lignaloes
and gold
. Demak played major role opposing the newly arrived colonial power, the Portuguese
. Demak twice attacked the Portugese following their capture of Malacca
. They also attacked alliance
between Portuguese and the Sunda Kingdom
, establishing in process the Sultanate of Banten
.
Demak was succeeded by Kingdom of Pajang
and finally Sultanate of Mataram. However, Java slowly fell to the Dutch East India Company
, which would also eventually control most of Maritime Southeast Asia
. Dutch rule was briefly interrupted by British
rule in early 19th century. While short, the British administration led by Stamford Raffles
, was a significant, and included re-discovery of Borobudur
. Conflict with foreign rule was exemplified by the Java War
between 1825 and 1830, and the leadership of Prince Diponegoro
.
Like the rest of Dutch East Indies
, Java was captured by the Empire of Japan
during World War II
. With Japan defeat, independence was proclaimed in the new republic of Indonesia.
Several waves of Javanese migrations have occurred during its long history, some occurred during Hindu-Buddhist period and during Islamic period, while other happened in Colonial period
.
Javanese were probably involved in Austronesian migration to Madagascar
in the first centuries CE. While the core culture of the migration is most closely related with Ma'anyan of Borneo, a portions of Malagasy language
is derived from loanwords from Javanese language
.
Since Hindu kingdoms period, Javanese merchant
s settled at many places in the archipelago. In late 15th century, following the collapse of Majapahit and rise of Muslim principalities on the northern coast of Java, many Hindu nobilities, artisans and courtiers migrated to Bali
, where they would contribute to the refined culture of Bali. Other who refused to convert to Islam retreated to Tengger mountain
, retaining their Hindu religions and became the Tenggerese
people.
Majapahit rigidly established fire-arms and cannonade as a feature of warfare. The demise of the Majapahit empire also cause the flight of disaffected skilled bronze cannon-smiths to Brunei
, modern Sumatra
and Malaysia, and the Philippines
lead to near universal use of the swivel-gun, especially on trade vessels to protect against prevalent marauding pirates, in the Makassar Strait
. The Javanese bronze breech-loaded swivel-gun, more correctly known as a meriam was used ubiquitously by the Majapahit navy and unfortunately pirates and rival lords.
In the conflicts during the transitions of power between Demak
, Pajang
and Mataram in late 16th century, some Javanese migrated to Palembang
in southern Sumatra
. There they established a sultanate and formed a mix of Malay
and Javanese culture. Palembang language
is a dialect of Malay language
with heavy influence of Javanese.
The Javanese also present in Peninsular Malaya
since early times. Portuguese historian De Barros
mentioned that there were 10,000 Javanese in Malacca
in early 16th century. They were administered with autonomy under their chiefs. Their settlement contributed to the multi-ethnic nature of Malacca. Link between Java and Malacca was important during spread of Islam in Indonesia, when religious missionaries
were sent from Malacca to seaports in northern coast of Java.
Large migration to Peninsular Malaya occurred during colonial period when they migrated from Central Java to Malaysia from 1880 to 1930. They migrated to seek a new life away from the Dutch colonists
who ruled Indonesia at that time. Today the they live throughout Peninsular Malaysia in parts of Perak
, Selangor
, and Kedah
.
The migrants bring with them various aspect of Javanese cultures such as Gamelan music, traditional dances and art of Wayang kulit shadow play.
Javanese merchant also present in the Moluccas as part of spice trade. Following Islamization of Java, they spread Islam in the islands, with Ternate
being a Muslim sultanate circa 1484. Javanese merchants also converted coastal cities in Borneo
to Islam. The Javanese thus played important part in transmitting Islam from western part to the eastern part of the Archipelago with trades based from northern coast of Java.
New migration pattern emerged during colonial periods. During the rise of VOC
power starting in the 17th century, many Javanese were exiled, enslaved or hired as mercenaries to Dutch colonies
of Ceylon in South Asia
and Cape colony
in South Africa
. These included princes and nobilities which lost their dispute with the Company and exiled along with their retinues. These, along with exiles from other ethnicities like Bugis
and Malay
become the Sri Lankan Malay and Cape Malay, ethnic groups respectively. Other political prisoners were transported to closer places. For example Prince Diponegoro
and his followers were transported to North Sulawesi
, following his defeat in Java War
in early 19th century. Their descendants are well-known as Jaton (abbreviation of "Jawa Tondano"/Tondano Javanese).
Major migrations started during Dutch colonial period under Transmigration program
s. The Dutch needed many laborers for their plantations, moved many Javanese under the program as contract workers, mostly to other part of the colony in Sumatra. But the Dutch also to sent the Javanese workers to Suriname
in southern Americas. Today approximately 15% of Suriname population is of Javanese descent.
The Transmigration program that was created by the Dutch was continued following the Independence. The Javanese were traditionally concentrated in the provinces of East Java
, Central Java
and Yogyakarta, but due to migrations within Indonesia (as part of transmigration programs or otherwise) there are now high populations of Javanese people in almost all the Indonesian provinces
. The province of West Java
is home to the Sundanese
, Indonesia's second largest ethnic group who are ethnically distinct from the Javanese. The significant Javanese population can be found in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) area, Lampung
, South Sumatra
and Jambi provinces. Several paguyuban (traditional community organization) were formed by these Javanese immigrant, such as "Pujakesuma" (abbreviation of Indonesian: Putra Jawa Kelahiran Sumatera or Sumatra-born Javanese).
Javanese people use Javanese language
in everyday speech. Javanese is a member of Austronesian languages
family. It is closely related to, but distinct from, other languages of Indonesia
. The language is notable for heavy use of Sanskrit
words, which is nearly ubiquitous, especially in literary. This is due to long history of Hinduism and Buddhism influence in Java.
Most Javanese in Indonesia are bilingual and also use Indonesian language
, which is the national language of the country. In a public poll held circa
-1990, approximately 12% of Javanese used Indonesian
, around 18% used both Javanese and Indonesian, and the rest used Javanese exclusively.
Javanese language was commonly written using Javanese script, natively known as Hanacaraka or Carakan. The script is descended from Brahmi script
and was commonly used until independence, where they were replaced with Latin alphabet
s.
While Javanese was not made an official language
of Indonesia, it still have a status of 'regional language' for communication in Javanese-majority regions. The language also can be viewed as an 'ethnic language' because it is one of the defining parts in ethnic identity.
tradition is among the earliest and the oldest surviving literature tradition in Indonesia. The translations of Hindu epic Ramayana
and Mahabharata
into old Javanese language took place during the era of Medang Kingdom and Kediri kingdom around 9th to 11th century. The Smaradhana is also composed during Kediri kingdom, and it become the prelude of later Panji cycles
that spread as far as Siam and Cambodia. Other literary works include, Ken Arok
and Ken Dedes
, based upon Pararaton
, the story of the orphan who usurped his king, and married the queen of the ancient Javanese kingdom. Nagarakretagama
which describes Majapahit during its height. One of the Javanese kakawin
, Tantu Pagelaran
dated from Majapahit period explained the mythical origin of the island and its volcanic nature. Babad Tanah Jawi
is a literature which relates to the spread of Islam in Java. Babad Dipanagara telling the story of Prince Diponegoro.
( which is animistic
) as they were united under Hindu/Buddhist kingdoms for centuries. Starting from the 15th century, Islam and Christianity came to Java and slowly spread. Islam spread quickly under new Islamic monarchs. The spread of Christianity was supervised by colonial powers. All of the new religions were absorbed and interpreted by the Javanese according to the Javanese traditional values, creating a new set of religious beliefs unique to local culture. Javanese nobles which rejected Islam fled to neighboring Bali
where they contributed heavily to the Balinese Hindu religion.
Today, most Javanese follow a moderate form of Islam
as their religion. Islam as practiced in Java are influenced
by traditional beliefs. Ortodox Islamic traditions are the strongest in northern coast bordering the Java Sea
, where Islam was first brought to the island. Islam first came in contact with Java during Majapahit periods, when they traded or made tributary relations with various states like Perlak and Samudra Pasai in modern-day Aceh
.
A minority of Javanese also follow Christianity
(Protestantism
and Catholicism
), which are rather concentrated in Central Java
(particularly Surakarta
, Magelang
and Yogyakarta for Catholicism). In a much smaller scale, Buddhism
and Hinduism
are also found in the Javanese community. The Javanese Tengger tribe
is still practicing Hinduism till today.
belief or Hindu traditions, although most Javanese are not Hindu anymore. Minor deity such as Nyi Loro Kidul and Deities of Mount Merapi
are still revered at Yogyakarta, special ceremonies are held to maintain good relationships with Nyi Loro Kidul and Mount Merapi.
, with male and female descent are of equal importance. It is not customary for Javanese to have a descended surname
.
Women have a high degree of autonomy in Javanese culture. In Java parents have little control over decisions of women, unlike paternalistic culture in other part of Asia. Divorce
is acceptable and quite common in Java.
For a boy, circumcision
is an important transition toward adulthood. The ritual usually held when the boy is 6-12 year old. Following the circumcision it is customary to hold a wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performance. Circumcision is one factor that differentiate the Javanese with related Balinese
and Tenggerese
, which still predominantly Hindu.
.
Javanese blacksmiths provide a range of tools such as farming equipment and to cultural items such as gamelan instruments and kris.
is the calendar
used by Javanese people concurrently with two other calendars, the Gregorian calendar
and the Islamic calendar
. Gregorian calendar is the official calendar of Indonesia while the Islamic calendar is used by Muslims and Indonesian government for religious worship and deciding relevant Islamic holidays. Javanese calendar presently used mostly for cultural events (such as Satu Sura) or divination
. The present Javanese calendar system is a lunar calendar adopted by Sultan Agung in 1633, based on the Islamic calendar. Previously, Javanese people used a solar system based on the Hindu calendar
.
Unlike many other calendar, Javanese calendar use a 5-day week known as the Pasaran cycle. This is still in use today and superimposed with 7-day week of the Gregorian calendar
and Islamic calendar
to become what is known as the 35-day Wetonan cycle.
, usually in rural area, and Kelurahan, where the leadership is appointed by Indonesian government, usually in urban area. Village administration is managed by officers, still called with their traditional Javanese names. These are lurah (village chief), assisted by offices of carik (village secretary), kamituwa (officer for social affair), jagabaya (office for security), and modin (office for Islam
ic affair and rituals, derived from Arabic Imam
ad-Din
, or leader of the faith).
These officers traditionally didn't get paid in cash, but allotted a portion in village's public land to be farmed, called tanah bengkok. In modern day Indonesia, Village chief is elected directly by universal suffrage
of the villagers, who was 17 year old and above, or already married. As literacy rate was low before independence, it is customary for the rival candidates to use common items as their campaign symbol, such as fruits, vegetables or traditional foods. The village chief election is usually non-partisan.
and the whole archipelago. The famous Javanese wayang
puppetry culture was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The Wayang repertoire stories, lakon, are mostly based on epics from India; Ramayana
and Mahabharata
. These epics and stories influenced wayang puppetry as well as Javanese classical dances. The influences from Islam
and the Western world
also can be found.
The art of Batik
and Keris
dagger are among Javanese origin art expressions. Gamelan
musical ensembles are found in both Java and Bali
. All of these artforms holds important position, and function within Javanese culture and tradition.
, mortuary temples, palace complex, and mosques.
The paragon of religious monuments are Hindu temple of Prambanan
and Buddhist temple of Borobudur
. Both of them 9th centuries temples which are UNESCO
World Heritage Site
. Both are located near city of Yogyakarta in the slope of Mount Merapi.
Meanwhile example of secular building can be seen in ruins of former capital city of Majapahit Kingdom (14th to 16th century AD) in Trowulan
, East Java
. The complex covers an area of 11 km x 9 km. It is consisted of various brick building, ranging from 20 to 40 meter-wide canal, purification pools, temples and iconic split gates. The capital complex is currently being submitted in tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage.
Traditional Javanese building can be identified by its trapezoid shaped roof supported by wooden pillars. Another common feature in Javanese building is pendopo
, a pavilion with open-side and four large pillars. The pillars and other part of the buildings can be richly carved
. This architecture style can be found at kraton
or palace of the Sultanates of Yogyakarta (palaces of Hamengkubuwono
and Pakualaman
) and Surakarta
(palaces of Pakubuwono and Mangkunegaran
).
Traditional mosque
s in Java retain its root. Pendopo model is used as main feature of the mosque as its prayer hall. Trapezoid roof is used instead of dome
s, often with multi-tiered, tiled roof. In addition of not using domes, traditional Javanese mosque also often didn't have minaret
. The split gate from earlier Hindu-Buddhist period is still used in many mosques and public buildings in Java.
Important examples of mosque with traditional Javanese architecture are Agung Demak Mosque, Menara Kudus Mosque
and Grand Mosque of Banten
. Kudus Mosque is even more notable because it incorporate Hindu-style stone architectures.
, the staple food of the island. Among Javanese it is considered not to have a meal if a person hasn't eat rice yet. It is also important part of identity that differentiate Javanese with foreigners that eat bread
(the Europeans) and resident of other island who eat sago
(for example Moluccans). Rice is also symbol of development and prosperity, while cassava
and tuber
is associated with poverty.
Javanese cuisine is varied by regions. Eastern Javanese cuisine has preference for more salty and hot foods. While the Central Javanese prefer sweeter foods.
Famous food in Javanese cuisine is for example Rujak Cingur, a marinated cow lips and noses, served with vegetable, shrimp prawn and peanut sauce
with chili
. Rojak Cingur is considered traditional food of Surabaya
in East Java
.
Gudeg
is a traditional food from Yogyakarta and Central Java
which is made from young Nangka (jack fruit) boiled for several hours with palm sugar
, and coconut milk
.
Pecel
, a type of peanut sauce with chili is a common ingredients in Javanese cuisine. It is used in various type of Rujak and Gado-gado
. It can also be used as stand alone sauce with rice and prawn, egg and vegetables as Nasi Pecel (Pecel rice).
Tumpeng
, is a rice served in the shape of a conical volcano
, usually with rice colored yellow using turmeric
. It is an important part of ceremony in Java. Tumpeng served in landmark events such as birthday, moving house, or other ceremonies. Traditionally, Tumpeng is served alongside fried chicken, boiled egg, vegetables, goat meat on a round plate made from bamboo
called besek.
But the most famous food originated in Java is perhaps tempeh
, a meat substitute made from soy bean fermented with mold
. It is a staple source of protein in Java and popular in the world as an excellent meat substitute for vegetarians.
anthropologist
Clifford Geertz
in the 1960s divided the Javanese community into three aliran or "streams": santri
, abangan
and priyayi
. According to him, the Santri followed an orthodox interpretation Islam
, the abangan was the followed a syncretic form of Islam that mixed Hindu and animist elements (often termed Kejawen), and the priyayi was the nobility.
But today the Geertz opinion is often opposed because he mixed the social groups with belief groups. It was also difficult to apply this social categorisation in classing outsiders, for example other non-indigenous
Indonesians such as persons of Arab
, Chinese
and India
n descent.
Social stratification is much less rigid in northern coast area, which is much more egalitarian.
or Suharto. Javanese names may come from traditional Javanese languages, many of which are derived from Sanskrit
. Names with the prefix Su-,which means good, are very popular. After the advent of Islam, many Javanese began to use Arabic names, especially coast populations, where Islamic influences are stronger. Commoners usually only have one-word names, while nobilities use two-or-more-word names, but rarely a surname. Due to the influence of other cultures, many people started using names from other languages, mainly European languages. Christian
Javanese usually use Latin
baptism
names followed by a traditional Javanese name.
Some people use a patronymic
. For example, Abdurrahman Wahid
's name is derived from his father's name (Wahid Hasyim
) who was an independence fighter and minister. In turn, Wahid Hasyim's name was derived from that of his father: Hasyim Asyari, a famous cleric and founder of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization.
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
native to the Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n island of Java. At approximately 85 million people , it is the largest ethnic group on the island
Ethnic groups in Indonesia
There are over 300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. 95% of those are of Native Indonesians ancestry.The largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up 41% of the total population. The Javanese are concentrated on the island of Java but millions have migrated to other islands throughout...
, and also in Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. They are predominantly located in the central
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
to eastern
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
parts of the island. Following centuries of migrations they can now be found in most Provinces of Indonesia
Provinces of Indonesia
The province is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body...
, Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
and also Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
in South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
.
History
Like most Indonesian ethnic groups, including the SundaneseSundanese people
The Sundanese are an ethnic group native to the western part of the Indonesian island of Java. They number approximately 31 million, and are the second most populous of all the nation's ethncities. The Sundanese are predominantly Muslim...
of West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
, the Javanese are of Austronesian
Austronesian people
The Austronesian-speaking peoples are various populations in Oceania and Southeast Asia that speak languages of the Austronesian family. They include Taiwanese aborigines; the majority ethnic groups of East Timor, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Madagascar, Micronesia, and Polynesia,...
origins whose ancestors are thought to have originated in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, and migrated through the Philippines, reaching Java between 1,500BCE and 1,000BCE.
Hindu
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
influences arrived through trade contacts with the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
. Since as early as first century CE, Javanese sailors has been trading spices in India. With the intensive contacts, the Javanese developed philosophical concepts that are parallel but not identical with the Indian. Hindu missionaries arrived in 5th century, with Buddhist missionaries also coming around the same period. Local rulers adopted concept of kingly rules with monarch identified with gods
Imperial cult
An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...
. These Hinduism, Buddhism and Javanese faiths blended into a unique local philosophies.
The cradle of Javanese culture is commonly described as being in Kedu Plain
Kedu Plain
Kedu Plain is the fertile volcanic plain that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west, and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi to the east on Central Java, Indonesia. The plain also bordering the Menoreh hills in the southwest and Prambanan Plain in the southeast...
in the fertile slopes of Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
. Earliest dynasties, Sanjaya
Sanjaya Dynasty
The Sañjaya Dynasty was an ancient Javanese dynasty that ruled the Mataram kingdom in Java during first millennium CE. The dynasty was an active promoter of Hinduism in ancient Java.-Origin and formation:...
and Sailendra
Sailendra
Sailendra is the name of an influential Indonesian dynasty that emerged in 8th century Java.The Sailendras were active promoters of Mahayana Buddhism and covered the Kedu Plain of Central Java with Buddhist monuments, including the world famous Borobudur.The Sailendras are considered to be a...
has their power base there, where they leave major monuments such as Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
and Prambanan
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
temple complex.
Center of Javanese culture and politics was moved to eastern part of the island when Mpu Sindok
Mpu Sindok
Mpu Sindok, throne name: Sri Isyana Vikramadhammatunggadeva, was the last king of the Sanjaya Dynasty who ruled the Kingdom of Mataram from Central Java, reigned from around 928 or 929 AD. Mpu Sindok moved the seat of power of the Mataram kingdom from Central Java to East Java in 929 AD, probably...
(r. 929-947) moved the capital of the kingdoms eastward to the valleys of Brantas River in the 10th century CE. The move was most likely caused by volcanic eruption of Merapi and/or invasion from Srivijaya
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
.
Mpu Sindok's great-grandson Dharmawangsa
Dharmawangsa
Dharmawangsa was the last raja of the Kingdom of Medang from 990-1006 CE. He succeeded Sri Makutawangsawardhana. Dharmawangsa was the patron of the translator of the Mahabarata text into Old Javanese...
attempted to attack Srivijaya
Srivijaya
Srivijaya was a powerful ancient thalassocratic Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6...
in Sumatra in 990 AD, but his effort failed. In retaliatory attack he was killed and the Medang kingdom defeated. The kingdom was restored by his nephew Airlangga
Airlangga
Airlangga was the only raja of the Kingdom of Kahuripan, which was built out of the rubble of the Kingdom of Medang after the Srivijaya invasion...
, son of his sister Princess Mahendradatta of Medang and King Udayana of Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
. The new kingdom was named Kahuripan, but following Airlangga's death it was partitioned along Brantas river into two kingdoms: Panjalu (or Kadiri) and Janggala
Janggala
The Kingdom of Janggala is one of the two Javanese kingdoms that was formed when Airlangga abdicated his throne in favour of his two sons in 1045. The other Kingdom was Kediri. The Kingdom of Janggala comprised the northern part of the Kingdom of Kahuripan....
. The later soon absorbed and reunited with the former.
In eastern Java, Medang Kingdom and later Kadiri developed a refined culture that combined Hindu-Buddhist influences and native culture. For example, Kakawin Ramayana, the Javanese adaptation of Indian Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
epic, and Buddhist treatise Sang Hyang Kamahayanikan, both composed during Mpu Sindok's reign.
This was also continued under Singhasari
Singhasari
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in eastern Java.-Foundation:...
kingdom which ruled following Ken Arok
Ken Arok
Ken Arok was the founder and first ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom, an ancient Hindu-Budhist kingdom in the East Java area of Indonesia. He was considered as the founder of Rajasa dynasty of both the Singhasari and Majapahit line of monarchs. He came from humble origins but subsequently rose to...
conquest of Kediri in 1222. The major spread of Javanese influence occurred under King Kertanegara of Singhasari
Kertanegara of Singhasari
Kertanegara of Singhasari , was the last and most important ruler of the Singhasari kingdom of Java, reigning from 1268 to 1292...
in late 13th century. The expansionist king launched major expeditions to Madura, Bali in 1284, Borneo and most importantly to Sumatra
Pamalayu expedition
The Pamalayu expedition was a military expeditionary force sent by King Kertanegara of Singhasari to conquer the Sumatran Melayu Kingdom. It was decreed in 1275, though perhaps not undertaken until later.Little is known about the results of the expedition...
in 1275. Following the defeat of Melayu Kingdom
Melayu Kingdom
Melayu Kingdom was a classical Southeast Asian kingdom that existed between the 7th and the 13th century of the common era. It was established around present-day Dharmasraya on Sumatera, Indonesia, approximately 300 km north of Palembang...
, Singhasari
Singhasari
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The kingdom succeeded Kingdom of Kediri as the dominant kingdom in eastern Java.-Foundation:...
controlled trade in Strait of Malacca
Strait of Malacca
The Strait of Malacca is a narrow, stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is named after the Malacca Sultanate that ruled over the archipelago between 1414 to 1511.-Extent:...
.
Singhasari dominance was cut short in 1292 by Kediri's rebellion under Jayakatwang
Jayakatwang
Jayakatwang was the king of short lived second Kingdom of Kediri of Java, after his overthrow of Kertanegara, the last king Singhasari. He was eventually defeated by Raden Wijaya, Kertanegara's son-in-law using Mongol troop that was invading Java...
, where Kertanegara was killed while in a trance during a Tantric Buddhism ceremony. However, Jayakatwang reign as king of Java soon ended as he was defeated by Kertanegara's son-in-law, Raden Wijaya
Raden Wijaya
Raden Wijaya was a Javanese King, the founder and the first monarch of Majapahit empire. The history of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including Pararaton and Negarakertagama...
with the help of invading Mongol troops
Mongol invasion of Java
In 1293, Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, sent a large invasion fleet to Java with 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers...
in March 1293.
Raden Wijaya
Raden Wijaya
Raden Wijaya was a Javanese King, the founder and the first monarch of Majapahit empire. The history of his founding of Majapahit was written in several records, including Pararaton and Negarakertagama...
would later established Majapahit near the delta of Brantas River in modern-day Mojokerto
Mojokerto
Mojokerto is one of the districts in East Java Province, Indonesia. It is located 40 km southwest of Surabaya, and constitutes one of the regional units of Gerbangkertosusila Development .-Geographic...
, East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. Kertanegara policies would later be continued by the Majapahits under King Hayam Wuruk
Hayam Wuruk
Hayam Wuruk, also called Rajasanagara, , was a Javanese King and the fourth monarch of Majapahit empire. Together with his prime minister Gajah Mada, he reigned the empire at the time of its greatest power. He was preceded by Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi and succeeded by his son in law...
and his minister Gajah Mada
Gajah Mada
Gajah Mada was, according to Javanese old manuscripts, poems and mythology, a powerful military leader and mahapatih or prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory...
.
Kingdoms of Java actively involved in spice
Spice
A spice is a dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetative substance used in nutritionally insignificant quantities as a food additive for flavor, color, or as a preservative that kills harmful bacteria or prevents their growth. It may be used to flavour a dish or to hide other flavours...
trade in the sea route of Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
. Although not a major spice producer itself, they were able to stockpile spice by trading it with rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, of which Java was a major producer. Surplus rice were traded with black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
, nutmeg
Nutmeg
The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas of Indonesia...
s, and cloves from Spice Island and resold with great profit to foreigners. Majapahit is usually regarded as the greatest of these kingdoms. It was both an agrarian and a maritime power, combining wet-rice cultivation and foreign trade. The rulers of Majapahit patronized various art forms in both Buddhist and Hindu traditions, among these is Nagarakretagama
Nagarakretagama
The Nagarakretagama or Nagarakrtagama, also known as Desawarnana, is an Old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, a Javanese king and the monarch of the Majapahit Empire. It was written as a kakawin by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 . The Nagarakretagama contains detailed descriptions of the Majapahit Empire...
poetry composed in 1365 by Buddhist monk Prapanca. The center of Majapahit power was in delta region of Brantas river in modern day East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
, that provided access to both trade in Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
and rich rice-producing hinterland. The ruin of their capital can be found in Trowulan
Trowulan
Trowulan is a village in Mojokerto, in the Indonesian province of East Java. It is surrounded by an archaeological site covering approximately 100 square kilometres. It has been suggested it was the site of the eponymous capital city of the Majapahit Empire, which is described by Mpu Prapanca in...
.
Following succession disputes and civil wars, Majapahit power collapsed. Java underwent major changes as Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
spread. After the collapse of Majapahit, its various dependencies and vassals broke free. Sultanate of Demak
Sultanate of Demak
The Sultanate of Demak was Javanese Muslim state located on Java's north coast in Indonesia, at the site of the present day city of Demak. A port fief to the Majapahit kingdom thought to have been founded in the last quarter of the 15th century, it was influenced by Islam brought by Arab and...
became the new strongest power, gaining supremacy among city-states on the northern coast of Java.
Apart from Javanese city-states, it also gained overlordship of ports of Jambi and Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
in eastern Sumatra, from which produced commodities such as lignaloes
Agarwood
Agarwood or oodh is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees when they become infected with a type of mold...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. Demak played major role opposing the newly arrived colonial power, the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. Demak twice attacked the Portugese following their capture of Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
. They also attacked alliance
Luso Sundanese padrão
The Luso Sundanese padrão is a stone pillar commemorating the Sunda–Portuguese treaty, better known as the Luso-Sundanese Treaty of Sunda Kalapa.-History:...
between Portuguese and the Sunda Kingdom
Sunda Kingdom
The Sunda Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom located on the western part of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering areas of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Central Java...
, establishing in process the Sultanate of Banten
Sultanate of Banten
The Sultanate of Banten was founded in the 16th century and centered in Banten, a port city on the northwest coast of Java; the contemporary English spelling of both was Bantam...
.
Demak was succeeded by Kingdom of Pajang
Kingdom of Pajang
The Kingdom of Pajang was a short-lived Muslim state in Java. It was established by Hadiwijaya or Jaka Tingkir, Lord of Boyolali, after ending civil war in and as successor to Sultanate of Demak...
and finally Sultanate of Mataram. However, Java slowly fell to the Dutch East India Company
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
, which would also eventually control most of Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia
Maritime Southeast Asia refers to the maritime region of Southeast Asia as opposed to mainland Southeast Asia and includes the modern countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, East Timor and Singapore....
. Dutch rule was briefly interrupted by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rule in early 19th century. While short, the British administration led by Stamford Raffles
Stamford Raffles
Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, FRS was a British statesman, best known for his founding of the city of Singapore . He is often described as the "Father of Singapore"...
, was a significant, and included re-discovery of Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
. Conflict with foreign rule was exemplified by the Java War
Java War
The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. It started as a rebellion led by Prince Diponegoro. The proximate cause was the Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his property that contained his parents' tomb...
between 1825 and 1830, and the leadership of Prince Diponegoro
Diponegoro
Diponegoro , also known as Dipanegara, was a Javanese prince who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. He played an important role in the Java War...
.
Like the rest of Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
, Java was captured by the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With Japan defeat, independence was proclaimed in the new republic of Indonesia.
Migrations
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
.
Javanese were probably involved in Austronesian migration to Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
in the first centuries CE. While the core culture of the migration is most closely related with Ma'anyan of Borneo, a portions of Malagasy language
Malagasy language
Malagasy is the national language of Madagascar, a member of the Austronesian family of languages. Most people in Madagascar speak it as a first language as do some people of Malagasy descent elsewhere.-History:...
is derived from loanwords from Javanese language
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
.
Since Hindu kingdoms period, Javanese merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s settled at many places in the archipelago. In late 15th century, following the collapse of Majapahit and rise of Muslim principalities on the northern coast of Java, many Hindu nobilities, artisans and courtiers migrated to Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, where they would contribute to the refined culture of Bali. Other who refused to convert to Islam retreated to Tengger mountain
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is located in East Java, Indonesia, to the east of Malang and to the southeast of Surabaya, the capital of East Java. It is the only conservation area in Indonesia that has a sand sea, the Tengger Sand Sea , across which is the caldera of an ancient volcano from...
, retaining their Hindu religions and became the Tenggerese
Tenggerese
The Tenggerese are the descendants of the Majapahit princes. Their population of roughly 600,000 is centered in thirty villages in the isolated Tengger mountains within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East-Central Java....
people.
Majapahit rigidly established fire-arms and cannonade as a feature of warfare. The demise of the Majapahit empire also cause the flight of disaffected skilled bronze cannon-smiths to Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, modern Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
and Malaysia, and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
lead to near universal use of the swivel-gun, especially on trade vessels to protect against prevalent marauding pirates, in the Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait
Makassar Strait is a strait between the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi in Indonesia. To the north it joins the Celebes Sea, while to the south it meets the Java Sea.The Mahakam River of Borneo empties into the strait....
. The Javanese bronze breech-loaded swivel-gun, more correctly known as a meriam was used ubiquitously by the Majapahit navy and unfortunately pirates and rival lords.
In the conflicts during the transitions of power between Demak
Sultanate of Demak
The Sultanate of Demak was Javanese Muslim state located on Java's north coast in Indonesia, at the site of the present day city of Demak. A port fief to the Majapahit kingdom thought to have been founded in the last quarter of the 15th century, it was influenced by Islam brought by Arab and...
, Pajang
Kingdom of Pajang
The Kingdom of Pajang was a short-lived Muslim state in Java. It was established by Hadiwijaya or Jaka Tingkir, Lord of Boyolali, after ending civil war in and as successor to Sultanate of Demak...
and Mataram in late 16th century, some Javanese migrated to Palembang
Palembang
Palembang is the capital city of the South Sumatra province in Indonesia. Palembang is one of the oldest cities in Indonesia, and has a history of being a capital of a maritime empire. Located on the Musi River banks on the east coast of southern Sumatra island, it has an area of 400.61 square...
in southern Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
. There they established a sultanate and formed a mix of Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
and Javanese culture. Palembang language
Palembang language
Musi, also known as Palembang and Sekayu, is a Malay language spoken by about 1.4 million residents of the Palembang metropolitan area, Palembang being the capital of South Sumatra, Indonesia, and has about 2.5 million additional speakers in the surrounding area...
is a dialect of Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
with heavy influence of Javanese.
The Javanese also present in Peninsular Malaya
Peninsular Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia , also known as West Malaysia , is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula. Its area is . It shares a land border with Thailand in the north. To the south is the island of Singapore. Across the Strait of Malacca to the west lies the island of Sumatra...
since early times. Portuguese historian De Barros
João de Barros
João de Barros , called the Portuguese Livy, is one of the first great Portuguese historians, most famous for his Décadas da Ásia , a history of the Portuguese in India and Asia.-Early years:...
mentioned that there were 10,000 Javanese in Malacca
Malacca
Malacca , dubbed The Historic State or Negeri Bersejarah among locals) is the third smallest Malaysian state, after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, on the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and the state of Johor to the south...
in early 16th century. They were administered with autonomy under their chiefs. Their settlement contributed to the multi-ethnic nature of Malacca. Link between Java and Malacca was important during spread of Islam in Indonesia, when religious missionaries
Ulama
-In Islam:* Ulema, also transliterated "ulama", a community of legal scholars of Islam and its laws . See:**Nahdlatul Ulama **Darul-uloom Nadwatul Ulama **Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal**Jamiat ul-Ulama -Other:...
were sent from Malacca to seaports in northern coast of Java.
Large migration to Peninsular Malaya occurred during colonial period when they migrated from Central Java to Malaysia from 1880 to 1930. They migrated to seek a new life away from the Dutch colonists
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
who ruled Indonesia at that time. Today the they live throughout Peninsular Malaysia in parts of Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
, Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
, and Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
.
The migrants bring with them various aspect of Javanese cultures such as Gamelan music, traditional dances and art of Wayang kulit shadow play.
Javanese merchant also present in the Moluccas as part of spice trade. Following Islamization of Java, they spread Islam in the islands, with Ternate
Ternate
Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands of eastern Indonesia. It is located off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera, the center of the powerful former Sultanate of Ternate....
being a Muslim sultanate circa 1484. Javanese merchants also converted coastal cities in Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
to Islam. The Javanese thus played important part in transmitting Islam from western part to the eastern part of the Archipelago with trades based from northern coast of Java.
New migration pattern emerged during colonial periods. During the rise of VOC
Dutch East India Company
The Dutch East India Company was a chartered company established in 1602, when the States-General of the Netherlands granted it a 21-year monopoly to carry out colonial activities in Asia...
power starting in the 17th century, many Javanese were exiled, enslaved or hired as mercenaries to Dutch colonies
Dutch Empire
The Dutch Empire consisted of the overseas territories controlled by the Dutch Republic and later, the modern Netherlands from the 17th to the 20th century. The Dutch followed Portugal and Spain in establishing an overseas colonial empire, but based on military conquest of already-existing...
of Ceylon in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and Cape colony
Cape Colony
The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652, with the founding of Cape Town. It was subsequently occupied by the British in 1795 when the Netherlands were occupied by revolutionary France, so that the French revolutionaries could not take...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. These included princes and nobilities which lost their dispute with the Company and exiled along with their retinues. These, along with exiles from other ethnicities like Bugis
Bugis
The Bugis are the most numerous of the three major linguistic and ethnic groups of South Sulawesi, the southwestern province of Sulawesi, Indonesia's third largest island. Although many Bugis live in the large port cities of Makassar and Parepare, the majority are farmers who grow wet rice on the...
and Malay
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
become the Sri Lankan Malay and Cape Malay, ethnic groups respectively. Other political prisoners were transported to closer places. For example Prince Diponegoro
Diponegoro
Diponegoro , also known as Dipanegara, was a Javanese prince who opposed the Dutch colonial rule. He played an important role in the Java War...
and his followers were transported to North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi
North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia. It is on the island of Sulawesi, and borders the province of Gorontalo to the west . The islands of Sangihe and Talaud form the northern part of the province, which border Davao del Sur in the Philippines.The capital and largest city in North Sulawesi is...
, following his defeat in Java War
Java War
The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. It started as a rebellion led by Prince Diponegoro. The proximate cause was the Dutch decision to build a road across a piece of his property that contained his parents' tomb...
in early 19th century. Their descendants are well-known as Jaton (abbreviation of "Jawa Tondano"/Tondano Javanese).
Major migrations started during Dutch colonial period under Transmigration program
Transmigration program
The transmigration program was an initiative of the Dutch colonial government, and later continued by Indonesian government to move landless people from densely populated areas of Indonesia to less populous areas of the country...
s. The Dutch needed many laborers for their plantations, moved many Javanese under the program as contract workers, mostly to other part of the colony in Sumatra. But the Dutch also to sent the Javanese workers to Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
in southern Americas. Today approximately 15% of Suriname population is of Javanese descent.
The Transmigration program that was created by the Dutch was continued following the Independence. The Javanese were traditionally concentrated in the provinces of East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
, Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
and Yogyakarta, but due to migrations within Indonesia (as part of transmigration programs or otherwise) there are now high populations of Javanese people in almost all the Indonesian provinces
Provinces of Indonesia
The province is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Each province has its own local government, headed by a governor, and has its own legislative body...
. The province of West Java
West Java
West Java , with a population of over 43 million, is the most populous and most densely populated province of Indonesia. Located on the island of Java, it is slightly smaller in area than densely populated Taiwan, but with nearly double the population...
is home to the Sundanese
Sundanese people
The Sundanese are an ethnic group native to the western part of the Indonesian island of Java. They number approximately 31 million, and are the second most populous of all the nation's ethncities. The Sundanese are predominantly Muslim...
, Indonesia's second largest ethnic group who are ethnically distinct from the Javanese. The significant Javanese population can be found in Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) area, Lampung
Lampung
Lampung is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the southern tip of the island of Sumatra and borders the provinces of Bengkulu and South Sumatra. Lampung is the original home of the Lampung people, who speak a distinct language from other people in Sumatra and have their own alphabet. Its...
, South Sumatra
South Sumatra
South Sumatra is a province of Indonesia.-Geography:It is on the island of Sumatra, and borders the provinces of Lampung to the south, Bengkulu to the west, and Jambi to the north...
and Jambi provinces. Several paguyuban (traditional community organization) were formed by these Javanese immigrant, such as "Pujakesuma" (abbreviation of Indonesian: Putra Jawa Kelahiran Sumatera or Sumatra-born Javanese).
Language
Javanese language
Javanese language is the language of the Javanese people from the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. In addition, there are also some pockets of Javanese speakers in the northern coast of western Java...
in everyday speech. Javanese is a member of Austronesian languages
Austronesian languages
The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
family. It is closely related to, but distinct from, other languages of Indonesia
Languages of Indonesia
More than 700 living languages are spoken in Indonesia. Most belong to the Austronesian language family, with a few Papuan languages also spoken. The official language is Indonesian , a modified version of Malay, which is used in commerce, administration, education and the media, but most...
. The language is notable for heavy use of Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
words, which is nearly ubiquitous, especially in literary. This is due to long history of Hinduism and Buddhism influence in Java.
Most Javanese in Indonesia are bilingual and also use Indonesian language
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, which is the national language of the country. In a public poll held circa
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
-1990, approximately 12% of Javanese used Indonesian
Indonesian language
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia. Indonesian is a normative form of the Riau Islands dialect of Malay, an Austronesian language which has been used as a lingua franca in the Indonesian archipelago for centuries....
, around 18% used both Javanese and Indonesian, and the rest used Javanese exclusively.
Javanese language was commonly written using Javanese script, natively known as Hanacaraka or Carakan. The script is descended from Brahmi script
Brāhmī script
Brāhmī is the modern name given to the oldest members of the Brahmic family of scripts. The best-known Brāhmī inscriptions are the rock-cut edicts of Ashoka in north-central India, dated to the 3rd century BCE. These are traditionally considered to be early known examples of Brāhmī writing...
and was commonly used until independence, where they were replaced with Latin alphabet
Latin alphabet
The Latin alphabet, also called the Roman alphabet, is the most recognized alphabet used in the world today. It evolved from a western variety of the Greek alphabet called the Cumaean alphabet, which was adopted and modified by the Etruscans who ruled early Rome...
s.
While Javanese was not made an official language
Official language
An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. However, official status can also be used to give a...
of Indonesia, it still have a status of 'regional language' for communication in Javanese-majority regions. The language also can be viewed as an 'ethnic language' because it is one of the defining parts in ethnic identity.
Literature
Javanese literatureJavanese literature
Javanese literature is, generally speaking, literature from Java and, more specifically, from areas where Javanese is spoken. However, similar with other literary traditions, Javanese language works were and not necessarily produced only in Java, but also in Sunda, Madura, Bali, Lombok, Southern...
tradition is among the earliest and the oldest surviving literature tradition in Indonesia. The translations of Hindu epic Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
into old Javanese language took place during the era of Medang Kingdom and Kediri kingdom around 9th to 11th century. The Smaradhana is also composed during Kediri kingdom, and it become the prelude of later Panji cycles
Panji (prince)
Panji was a legendary prince in East Java, Indonesia. His life has formed the basis of a cycle of Javanese stories. Along with the Ramayana and Mahabharata, this cycle is the basis of various poems and a genre of wayang known as wayang gedog -- "gedog" meaning "mask"...
that spread as far as Siam and Cambodia. Other literary works include, Ken Arok
Ken Arok
Ken Arok was the founder and first ruler of the Singhasari Kingdom, an ancient Hindu-Budhist kingdom in the East Java area of Indonesia. He was considered as the founder of Rajasa dynasty of both the Singhasari and Majapahit line of monarchs. He came from humble origins but subsequently rose to...
and Ken Dedes
Ken Dedes
Ken Dedes, first queen of Singhasari, was the consort of Ken Arok, the first ruler of Singhasari, Java, Indonesia. She was later considered as the origin of the lineage of kings that rule Java, the great mother of the Rajasa dynasty, the royal family that ruled Java from the Singhasari to the...
, based upon Pararaton
Pararaton
The Pararaton, also known as the Book of Kings, is a manuscript in the Kawi language. The comparatively short text of 32 folio-size pages contains the history of the kings of Singhasari and Majapahit in eastern Java...
, the story of the orphan who usurped his king, and married the queen of the ancient Javanese kingdom. Nagarakretagama
Nagarakretagama
The Nagarakretagama or Nagarakrtagama, also known as Desawarnana, is an Old Javanese eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, a Javanese king and the monarch of the Majapahit Empire. It was written as a kakawin by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 . The Nagarakretagama contains detailed descriptions of the Majapahit Empire...
which describes Majapahit during its height. One of the Javanese kakawin
Kakawin
Kakawin are long narrative poems composed in Old Javanese, also called "Kawi", written in verse form with rhythms and metres derived from Sanskrit literature. Poets used a formalized literary language, rather than the vernacular...
, Tantu Pagelaran
Tantu Pagelaran
Tantu Pagelaran or Tangtu Panggelaran is Old Javanese manuscript written in Kawi language originated from 15th century Majapahit period. The manuscript is describing the mythical origin of Java island.-Legend of moving Meru to Java:...
dated from Majapahit period explained the mythical origin of the island and its volcanic nature. Babad Tanah Jawi
Babad Tanah Jawi
Babad Tanah Jawi , is a generic title for a large number of manuscripts written in Javanese language. Their arrangements and details vary, and no copies of any of the manuscripts are older than the eighteenth century....
is a literature which relates to the spread of Islam in Java. Babad Dipanagara telling the story of Prince Diponegoro.
Religion
Historically, Javanese follow a syncretic form of Hinduism, Buddhism and KejawenJavanese beliefs
Javanese beliefs have principles embodying a search for inner self but at the core is the concept of peace of mind. Although Kejawen is not strictly a religious affiliation, it addresses ethical and spiritual values as inspired by Javanese tradition. It is not a religion in usual sense of the...
( which is animistic
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
) as they were united under Hindu/Buddhist kingdoms for centuries. Starting from the 15th century, Islam and Christianity came to Java and slowly spread. Islam spread quickly under new Islamic monarchs. The spread of Christianity was supervised by colonial powers. All of the new religions were absorbed and interpreted by the Javanese according to the Javanese traditional values, creating a new set of religious beliefs unique to local culture. Javanese nobles which rejected Islam fled to neighboring Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
where they contributed heavily to the Balinese Hindu religion.
Today, most Javanese follow a moderate form of Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as their religion. Islam as practiced in Java are influenced
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
by traditional beliefs. Ortodox Islamic traditions are the strongest in northern coast bordering the Java Sea
Java Sea
The Java Sea is a large shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. It was formed as sea levels rose at the end of the last ice age. The Java Sea lies between the Indonesian islands of Borneo to the north, Java to the south; Sumatra to the west, and Sulawesi to the east...
, where Islam was first brought to the island. Islam first came in contact with Java during Majapahit periods, when they traded or made tributary relations with various states like Perlak and Samudra Pasai in modern-day Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...
.
A minority of Javanese also follow Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
(Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
), which are rather concentrated in Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
(particularly Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
, Magelang
Magelang
Magelang is one of the largest cities of the 1,130 km² Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. It is also the largest town in the Kedu Plain between Mount Merbabu and Mount Sumbing in Central Java, Indonesia...
and Yogyakarta for Catholicism). In a much smaller scale, Buddhism
Buddhism in Indonesia
Buddhism in Indonesia has a long history, with a considerable range of relics dated from its earlier years in Indonesia. Buddhism is recognized as one of six official religions in Indonesia, along with Islam, Christianity , Hinduism and Confucianism.According to the 2000 national census, roughly...
and Hinduism
Hinduism in Indonesia
Hinduism in Indonesia, also known by its formal Indonesian name Agama Hindu Dharma, refers to Hinduism as practised in Indonesia. According to the 2000 census Hindus consisted 1.79% of the total population with 88.05% in Bali and 5.89% in Central Kalimantan...
are also found in the Javanese community. The Javanese Tengger tribe
Tenggerese
The Tenggerese are the descendants of the Majapahit princes. Their population of roughly 600,000 is centered in thirty villages in the isolated Tengger mountains within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East-Central Java....
is still practicing Hinduism till today.
Kejawen
Many traditional Javanese customs have their roots in the KejawenJavanese beliefs
Javanese beliefs have principles embodying a search for inner self but at the core is the concept of peace of mind. Although Kejawen is not strictly a religious affiliation, it addresses ethical and spiritual values as inspired by Javanese tradition. It is not a religion in usual sense of the...
belief or Hindu traditions, although most Javanese are not Hindu anymore. Minor deity such as Nyi Loro Kidul and Deities of Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi
Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi , is an active stratovolcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. It is the most active volcano in Indonesia and has erupted regularly since 1548...
are still revered at Yogyakarta, special ceremonies are held to maintain good relationships with Nyi Loro Kidul and Mount Merapi.
Family
Culturally, Javanese people adopt a bilateral kinship systemBilateral descent
Bilateral descent is a system of family lineage in which the relatives on the mother's side and father's side are equally important for emotional ties or for transfer of property or wealth. It is a family arrangement where descent and inheritance are passed equally through both parents...
, with male and female descent are of equal importance. It is not customary for Javanese to have a descended surname
Family name
A family name is a type of surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs. The use of family names is widespread in cultures around the world...
.
Women have a high degree of autonomy in Javanese culture. In Java parents have little control over decisions of women, unlike paternalistic culture in other part of Asia. Divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
is acceptable and quite common in Java.
For a boy, circumcision
Khitan (circumcision)
Khitān or Khatna is the term for male circumcision carried out as an Islamic rite, to introduce males into Islam and as a sign of belonging to the wider Islamic community. It is also referred to by the term Taharah, 'purity'....
is an important transition toward adulthood. The ritual usually held when the boy is 6-12 year old. Following the circumcision it is customary to hold a wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performance. Circumcision is one factor that differentiate the Javanese with related Balinese
Balinese people
The Balinese population of 3.0 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java The Balinese population of 3.0 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live...
and Tenggerese
Tenggerese
The Tenggerese are the descendants of the Majapahit princes. Their population of roughly 600,000 is centered in thirty villages in the isolated Tengger mountains within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East-Central Java....
, which still predominantly Hindu.
Profession
In Indonesia, Javanese can be found in all professions, especially in the government and the military. Traditionally, most Javanese are farmers. This was especially common because of the fertile volcanic soil in Java. The most important agricultural commodity is rice. In 1997, it was estimated that Java produced 55% of Indonesian output of the crop. Most farmers work small-scale rice field, with around 42% of farmers cultivate less than 0.5 hectare of rice field. In region where soil is less fertile of where rainy season is short, other staple crops is cultivated, such as cassavaCassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
.
Javanese blacksmiths provide a range of tools such as farming equipment and to cultural items such as gamelan instruments and kris.
Calendar
Javanese calendarJavanese calendar
The Javanese calendar is the calendar of the Javanese people. It is used concurrently with two other calendars, the Gregorian calendar and the Islamic calendar...
is the calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
used by Javanese people concurrently with two other calendars, the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
and the Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
. Gregorian calendar is the official calendar of Indonesia while the Islamic calendar is used by Muslims and Indonesian government for religious worship and deciding relevant Islamic holidays. Javanese calendar presently used mostly for cultural events (such as Satu Sura) or divination
Divination
Divination is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic standardized process or ritual...
. The present Javanese calendar system is a lunar calendar adopted by Sultan Agung in 1633, based on the Islamic calendar. Previously, Javanese people used a solar system based on the Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
.
Unlike many other calendar, Javanese calendar use a 5-day week known as the Pasaran cycle. This is still in use today and superimposed with 7-day week of the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
and Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar
The Hijri calendar , also known as the Muslim calendar or Islamic calendar , is a lunar calendar consisting of 12 lunar months in a year of 354 or 355 days. It is used to date events in many Muslim countries , and used by Muslims everywhere to determine the proper day on which to celebrate Islamic...
to become what is known as the 35-day Wetonan cycle.
Villages
Villages is an important administrative unit in Java. It is divided into two types: Desa with elective leadershipElection
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
, usually in rural area, and Kelurahan, where the leadership is appointed by Indonesian government, usually in urban area. Village administration is managed by officers, still called with their traditional Javanese names. These are lurah (village chief), assisted by offices of carik (village secretary), kamituwa (officer for social affair), jagabaya (office for security), and modin (office for Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic affair and rituals, derived from Arabic Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
ad-Din
Ad-Din
ad-Din, , is a laqab, a component of some Arabic names, meaning "of the faith". The names concerned are used by Muslims all over the world.The meaning of the word "Din", simply translated "faith", is explained further on the Dīn page....
, or leader of the faith).
These officers traditionally didn't get paid in cash, but allotted a portion in village's public land to be farmed, called tanah bengkok. In modern day Indonesia, Village chief is elected directly by universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
of the villagers, who was 17 year old and above, or already married. As literacy rate was low before independence, it is customary for the rival candidates to use common items as their campaign symbol, such as fruits, vegetables or traditional foods. The village chief election is usually non-partisan.
Art
Javanese origin artforms are among the best known in IndonesiaIndonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and the whole archipelago. The famous Javanese wayang
Wayang
Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre . When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang...
puppetry culture was influenced by Hindu and Buddhist traditions. The Wayang repertoire stories, lakon, are mostly based on epics from India; Ramayana
Ramayana
The Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. These epics and stories influenced wayang puppetry as well as Javanese classical dances. The influences from Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
also can be found.
The art of Batik
Batik
Batik is a cloth that traditionally uses a manual wax-resist dyeing technique. Batik or fabrics with the traditional batik patterns are found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, China, Azerbaijan, India, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and Singapore.Javanese traditional batik, especially from...
and Keris
Kris
The kris or keris is an asymmetrical dagger or sword nowadays most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia, but also indigenous to Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Brunei. It is known as kalis in the southern Philippines. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade , but many have...
dagger are among Javanese origin art expressions. Gamelan
Gamelan
A gamelan is a musical ensemble from Indonesia, typically from the islands of Bali or Java, featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings. Vocalists may also be included....
musical ensembles are found in both Java and Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
. All of these artforms holds important position, and function within Javanese culture and tradition.
Architecture
With its long history, the Javanese produced many important buildings, ranging from Hindu monuments, Buddhist stupaStupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
, mortuary temples, palace complex, and mosques.
The paragon of religious monuments are Hindu temple of Prambanan
Prambanan
Prambanan is a ninth century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator , the Sustainer and the Destroyer...
and Buddhist temple of Borobudur
Borobudur
Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist monument near Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. The monument comprises six square platforms topped by three circular platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues...
. Both of them 9th centuries temples which are UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Both are located near city of Yogyakarta in the slope of Mount Merapi.
Meanwhile example of secular building can be seen in ruins of former capital city of Majapahit Kingdom (14th to 16th century AD) in Trowulan
Trowulan
Trowulan is a village in Mojokerto, in the Indonesian province of East Java. It is surrounded by an archaeological site covering approximately 100 square kilometres. It has been suggested it was the site of the eponymous capital city of the Majapahit Empire, which is described by Mpu Prapanca in...
, East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
. The complex covers an area of 11 km x 9 km. It is consisted of various brick building, ranging from 20 to 40 meter-wide canal, purification pools, temples and iconic split gates. The capital complex is currently being submitted in tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage.
Traditional Javanese building can be identified by its trapezoid shaped roof supported by wooden pillars. Another common feature in Javanese building is pendopo
Pendopo
A Pendopo or Pendapa is a fundamental element of Javanese architecture; a large pavilion-like structure built on columns. Either square or rectangular in plan, it is open on all sides and provides shelter from the sun and rain, but allows breeze and indirect light. The word pendopo is a variant on...
, a pavilion with open-side and four large pillars. The pillars and other part of the buildings can be richly carved
Wood carving
Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object...
. This architecture style can be found at kraton
Kraton
Kraton or Keraton is the Javanese word for a royal palace. Its name is derived from ratu, which means "ruler" . In Java, the palace of a prince is called puro or dalem...
or palace of the Sultanates of Yogyakarta (palaces of Hamengkubuwono
Hamengkubuwono
Hamengkubuwono is the current ruling royal house of the Yogyakarta Sultanate in Yogyakarta Special Region of Indonesia...
and Pakualaman
Pakualaman
Pakualaman is a small hereditary principality within the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. It was created in 1812 when Natakusuma was rewarded for helping the British quell the conflict in Yogyakarta in June 1812...
) and Surakarta
Surakarta
Surakarta, also called Solo or Sala, is a city in Central Java, Indonesia of more than 520,061 people with a population density of 11,811.5 people/km2. The 44 km2 city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoharjo Regency to the east and...
(palaces of Pakubuwono and Mangkunegaran
Mangkunegaran
Mangkunegaran is a small hereditary Grand duchy located within the region of Surakarta in Indonesia.It was established in 1757 by Raden Mas Said, when he submitted his army to Pakubuwana III in February, and swore allegiance to the rulers of Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and the Dutch East Indies Company,...
).
Traditional mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s in Java retain its root. Pendopo model is used as main feature of the mosque as its prayer hall. Trapezoid roof is used instead of dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
s, often with multi-tiered, tiled roof. In addition of not using domes, traditional Javanese mosque also often didn't have minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
. The split gate from earlier Hindu-Buddhist period is still used in many mosques and public buildings in Java.
Important examples of mosque with traditional Javanese architecture are Agung Demak Mosque, Menara Kudus Mosque
Menara Kudus Mosque
The Menara Kudus Mosque or Al-Manar Mosque is located in Kudus in the Indonesian province of Central Java. Dating from 1549, it is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia, built at the time of Islam's spread through Java...
and Grand Mosque of Banten
Banten
Banten is a province of Indonesia in Java. Formerly part of the Province of West Java, it was made a separate province in 2000.The administrative center is Serang. Preliminary results from the 2010 census counted some 10.6 million people.-Geography:...
. Kudus Mosque is even more notable because it incorporate Hindu-style stone architectures.
Cuisine
Javanese cuisine and culture place an important role in riceRice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, the staple food of the island. Among Javanese it is considered not to have a meal if a person hasn't eat rice yet. It is also important part of identity that differentiate Javanese with foreigners that eat bread
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
(the Europeans) and resident of other island who eat sago
Sago
Sago is a starch extracted in the spongy center or pith, of various tropical palm stems, Metroxylon sagu. It is a major staple food for the lowland peoples of New Guinea and the Moluccas, where it is called saksak and sagu. A type of flour, called sago flour, is made from sago. The largest supply...
(for example Moluccans). Rice is also symbol of development and prosperity, while cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
and tuber
Tuber
Tubers are various types of modified plant structures that are enlarged to store nutrients. They are used by plants to survive the winter or dry months and provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing season and they are a means of asexual reproduction...
is associated with poverty.
Javanese cuisine is varied by regions. Eastern Javanese cuisine has preference for more salty and hot foods. While the Central Javanese prefer sweeter foods.
Famous food in Javanese cuisine is for example Rujak Cingur, a marinated cow lips and noses, served with vegetable, shrimp prawn and peanut sauce
Peanut sauce
Peanut sauce, satay sauce, bumbu kacang, or sambal kacang is a sauce widely used in the cuisines of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China and Africa. It is also used, to a lesser extent, in European and Middle Eastern cuisine.-Ingredients:The main ingredient is ground roasted peanuts, for...
with chili
Sambal
Sambal is a chili based sauce which is normally used as a condiment. Sambals are popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the southern Philippines and Sri Lanka, as well as in the Netherlands and in Suriname through Javanese influence. It is typically made from a variety of chili peppers and is...
. Rojak Cingur is considered traditional food of Surabaya
Surabaya
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 2.7 million , and the capital of the province of East Java...
in East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
.
Gudeg
Gudeg
Gudeg is a traditional food from Yogyakarta and Central Java, Indonesia which is made from young Nangka boiled for several hours with palm sugar, and coconut milk . Additional spices include garlic, shallot, candlenut, coriander seed, galangal, bay leaves, and teak leaves, the latter giving a...
is a traditional food from Yogyakarta and Central Java
Central Java
Central Java is a province of Indonesia. The administrative capital is Semarang. It is one of six provinces on the island of Java.This province is the province of high Human Development in Indonesia and its Points Development Index countries is equivalent to Lebanon. The province of Central Java...
which is made from young Nangka (jack fruit) boiled for several hours with palm sugar
Palm sugar
Palm sugar was originally made from the sugary sap of the Palmyra palm, the date palm or sugar date palm . Now it is also made from the sap of the sago, arenga pinnata and coconut palms, and may be sold as "arenga sugar" or "coconut sugar".-Description:It is quickly gaining popularity in the...
, and coconut milk
Coconut milk
Coconut milk is the water that comes from the grated meat of a coconut. The colour and rich taste of the milk can be attributed to the high oil content. In many parts of the world, the term coconut milk is also used to refer to coconut water, the naturally occurring liquid found inside the hollow...
.
Pecel
Pecel
Pecel is an Indonesian sauce based on chillies, peanuts, tamarind and coconut sugar. It is commonly served over boiled vegetables. It is similar to the sauce used in Gado-gado.-External links:*...
, a type of peanut sauce with chili is a common ingredients in Javanese cuisine. It is used in various type of Rujak and Gado-gado
Gado-gado
Gado-gado , also called Lotek for its cooked version - differed from lotek atah or karedok for its fresh and raw version of the vegetable covered with peanut sauce and pecel is an Indonesian dish comprising a vegetable salad served with a peanut sauce dressing...
. It can also be used as stand alone sauce with rice and prawn, egg and vegetables as Nasi Pecel (Pecel rice).
Tumpeng
Tumpeng
Tumpeng is a cone-shaped rice dish like mountain with its side dishes . Traditionally featured in the slamatan ceremony, the cone shape of rice is made by using cone-shaped weaved bamboo container...
, is a rice served in the shape of a conical volcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
, usually with rice colored yellow using turmeric
Turmeric
Turmeric is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae. It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive...
. It is an important part of ceremony in Java. Tumpeng served in landmark events such as birthday, moving house, or other ceremonies. Traditionally, Tumpeng is served alongside fried chicken, boiled egg, vegetables, goat meat on a round plate made from bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
called besek.
But the most famous food originated in Java is perhaps tempeh
Tempeh
Tempeh , or tempe , is a traditional soy product originally from Indonesia. It is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds soybeans into a cake form, similar to a very firm vegetarian burger patty...
, a meat substitute made from soy bean fermented with mold
Mold
Molds are fungi that grow in the form of multicellular filaments called hyphae. Molds are not considered to be microbes but microscopic fungi that grow as single cells called yeasts...
. It is a staple source of protein in Java and popular in the world as an excellent meat substitute for vegetarians.
Social stratification
The famous AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
Clifford Geertz
Clifford Geertz
Clifford James Geertz was an American anthropologist who is remembered mostly for his strong support for and influence on the practice of symbolic anthropology, and who was considered "for three decades...the single most influential cultural anthropologist in the United States." He served until...
in the 1960s divided the Javanese community into three aliran or "streams": santri
Santri
The Santri are a cultural 'stream' of people within the population of Javanese who practice a more orthodox version of Islam, in contrast to the abangan classes....
, abangan
Abangan
Abangan refers to the population of Javanese Muslims who practice a more syncretic version of Islam than the more orthodox santri. The term, apparently derived from the Javanese word for red, was first developed by Clifford Geertz but the meaning has since shifted. Abangan are more inclined to...
and priyayi
Priyayi
Priyayi is the Dutch era class of the nobles of the Robe, as opposed to royal nobility or bangsawan or ningrat/di ningrat in Java, Indonesia's most populous island...
. According to him, the Santri followed an orthodox interpretation Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, the abangan was the followed a syncretic form of Islam that mixed Hindu and animist elements (often termed Kejawen), and the priyayi was the nobility.
But today the Geertz opinion is often opposed because he mixed the social groups with belief groups. It was also difficult to apply this social categorisation in classing outsiders, for example other non-indigenous
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
Indonesians such as persons of Arab
Arab Indonesian
Arab Indonesians are citizens of Indonesia of Arab, mainly Hadrami, descent. Restricted under Dutch East Indies' law until 1919, the community elites later gained economic power through real estate investment and trading...
, Chinese
Chinese Indonesian
Chinese Indonesians, also called the Indonesian Chinese, are an overseas Chinese group whose ancestors emigrated from China to Indonesia, formerly a colony of the Netherlands known as the Dutch East Indies...
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n descent.
Social stratification is much less rigid in northern coast area, which is much more egalitarian.
Names
Javanese do not usually have family names or surnames. Many have just a single name. For example, SukarnoSukarno
Sukarno, born Kusno Sosrodihardjo was the first President of Indonesia.Sukarno was the leader of his country's struggle for independence from the Netherlands and was Indonesia's first President from 1945 to 1967...
or Suharto. Javanese names may come from traditional Javanese languages, many of which are derived from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
. Names with the prefix Su-,which means good, are very popular. After the advent of Islam, many Javanese began to use Arabic names, especially coast populations, where Islamic influences are stronger. Commoners usually only have one-word names, while nobilities use two-or-more-word names, but rarely a surname. Due to the influence of other cultures, many people started using names from other languages, mainly European languages. Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Javanese usually use Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
baptism
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
names followed by a traditional Javanese name.
Some people use a patronymic
Patronymic
A patronym, or patronymic, is a component of a personal name based on the name of one's father, grandfather or an even earlier male ancestor. A component of a name based on the name of one's mother or a female ancestor is a matronymic. Each is a means of conveying lineage.In many areas patronyms...
. For example, Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid, born Abdurrahman Addakhil , colloquially known as , was an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001...
's name is derived from his father's name (Wahid Hasyim
Wahid Hasyim
Abdul Wahid Hasyim was the first Minister of Religious Affairs in the government of President Sukarno of Indonesia, a post he held in 1945, and from 1949 to 1952....
) who was an independence fighter and minister. In turn, Wahid Hasyim's name was derived from that of his father: Hasyim Asyari, a famous cleric and founder of the Nahdlatul Ulama organization.
See also
- List of Javanese people
- Javanese in Singapore
- Javanese SurinameseJavanese SurinameseJavanese Surinamese are an ethnic group present in Suriname since the late 19th century, whose first members were selected by the Dutch colonizers from the former Dutch Indies...
Further reading
- Kuncaraningrat. (1985) Javanese culture Singapore: Oxford University Press.