Old Javanese Inscription of Central Java
Summary
Examining inscriptions from Central Java dated between the mid‑seventh and early tenth centuries, this article surveys their palaeographic, linguistic and historical significance. The author notes that Old Javanese inscriptions were inscribed on stone, copper plates and occasionally on palm‑leaf (lontar) manuscripts; some charters call themselves linggopala (stone pillar) or camrapradasti (copper plate record), while others are legal documents (jayapatra). The inscriptions are mostly land grants establishing religious endowments; nevertheless they shed light on political organisation, social customs and cultural contacts between Java and India. The earliest charters are written in scripts derived from the South Indian Pallava‑Grantha; some pre‑Nāgarī inscriptions might stem from eastern Indian influences. The article shows how the Old Javanese script evolved into early Kawi during the late eighth and ninth centuries: certain inscriptions display doubled consonants (e.g., samaggat, susuhhan, paranakkan) and elision of initial vowels, while others substitute consonants such as k or kh for b. Such linguistic peculiarities, together with the layout of the charters, help date the records and trace regional variations. External studies support this trajectory: the oldest extant Old Javanese inscription, a copy of a dam‑construction record dated 804 AD, is written in Pallava script, and early Kawi appears by the mid‑eighth century, with a 760 AD inscription on a Ganeśa statue marking the transition; by the ninth century Kawi was fully developed. The article stresses that some inscriptions were recopied centuries later, which requires careful philological analysis to distinguish originals from later copies. It also lists each inscription with its date, script and provenance, providing a reference for further research. By synthesising palaeography, linguistics and history, the study argues that Old Javanese inscriptions are indispensable for reconstructing Central Java’s early history and understanding how Indian scripts and ideas were adapted locally.
Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.
Conclusion
The article demonstrates that Old Javanese inscriptions, though often routine land grants, are rich sources for Central Java’s early history. Their scripts trace the transition from Pallava‑derived characters to early Kawi, while their language exhibits distinctive morphological features. Careful analysis of these records reveals cultural exchange between India and Indonesia and offers insights into the region’s political and religious life during the seventh to tenth centuries.