Bujangga Manik is one of the precious remnants of

Old Sundanese Old Sundanese ( Sundanese script: , Old Sundanese script: , Buda script: , ) is the earliest recorded stage of the Sundanese language which is spoken in the western part of Java. The evidence is recorded in inscriptions from around the 12th ...

literature. It is told in octosyllabic lines — the metrical form of Old Sundanese narrative poetry — in

palm-leaf manuscript Palm-leaf manuscripts are manuscripts made out of dried palm leaves. Palm leaves were used as writing materials in the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia reportedly dating back to the 5th century BCE. Their use began in South Asia and ...

kept in the

Bodleian Library The Bodleian Library () is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the sec ...

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

in England, since 1627 or 1629 (MS Jav. b. 3 (R), cf. Noorduyn 1968:469, Ricklefs/Voorhoeve 1977: 181). Bujangga Manik altogether consists of 29 palm leaves, each containing approximately some 56 lines of 8 syllables. The final part of the text has been transmitted in a lacunary form. Not only is the end lacking, there are two other lacunae. The first break occurs after leaf 26, line 1476.

Main character

The hero of the literature is Prabu (English: Prince) Jaya Pakuan alias Bujangga Manik, a Sundanese Hindu

rishi ''Rishi'' () is a term for an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mentions in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "great yogis" o ...

, who, though a prince at the court of

Pakuan Pajajaran Pakuan Pajajaran (or ᮕᮊᮥᮝᮔ᮪ᮕᮏᮏᮛᮔ᮪/ Dayeuh Pakuan/Pakwan or Pajajaran) was the fortified capital city of Sunda Kingdom. The location is roughly corresponds to modern Bogor city in West Java, Indonesia, approximately around ...

(capital city of

Sunda kingdom The Sunda Kingdom ( su, , Karajaan Sunda, ) was a Sundanese Hindu kingdom located in the western portion of the island of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering the area of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Centr ...

, which was located near present-day

Bogor Bogor ( su, , nl, Buitenzorg) is a city in the West Java province, Indonesia. Located around south of the national capital of Jakarta, Bogor is the 6th largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th overall nationwide.Pakuan Pajajaran Pakuan Pajajaran (or ᮕᮊᮥᮝᮔ᮪ᮕᮏᮏᮛᮔ᮪/ Dayeuh Pakuan/Pakwan or Pajajaran) was the fortified capital city of Sunda Kingdom. The location is roughly corresponds to modern Bogor city in West Java, Indonesia, approximately around ...

to central and eastern Java and back, the second one including a visit to Bali. After his return he practiced asceticism on a mountain in western Java, where his bodily existence came to an end; in the final part of the text the journey of his soul to the heavenly regions is described in great detail. A considerable part of the text is devoted to a detailed description of the first and the last stretch of the first journey, i.e. from

Brebes Brebes (, jv, ꦧꦽꦧꦼꦱ꧀, ) is a regency ( id, kabupaten) in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. It covers an area of 1,769.2km2, and it had a population of 1,733,869 at the 2010 Census and 1,978,759 at the 20 ...

and from

Sunda Kalapa Sunda Kelapa ( su, , Sunda Kalapa) is the old port of Jakarta located on the estuarine of Ciliwung River. "Sunda Kalapa" ( Sundanese: "Coconut of Sunda") is the original name, and it was the main port of the Sunda Kingdom. The port is situated in ...

(now:

Jakarta Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital city, capital and list of Indonesian cities by population, largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coa ...

) to

(about 125 lines out of the total of 1641 lines of the incomplete MS), and to the whole of the second journey (about 550 lines). These descriptions are restricted mainly to a mention of the names of places, regions, rivers and mountains situated on or near the route followed. The total number of such names, including those in other parts of the text, comes to some 450, most of them relating to

Java island Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's most ...

Background, location and period

The background of Bujangga Manik story had been based on contemporary reality, as is proven by the accuracy of the topographical details of the journeys. These details are therefore of great historical value, especially if the time of writing of this undated story can be at least roughly determined. It is clear from the text itself that it dates from pre-

Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

times of West Java, precisely from the era of Hindu

Sunda Kingdom The Sunda Kingdom ( su, , Karajaan Sunda, ) was a Sundanese Hindu kingdom located in the western portion of the island of Java from 669 to around 1579, covering the area of present-day Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and the western part of Centr ...

. The script used in the manuscript is the usual Old Sundanese variety of the Indonesian family of Indic syllabaries, which fell into disuse after the penetration of Islam into western part of

. The language represents an older stage of Sundanese. It does not contain one word which is traceable to Arabic, the language of

Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ...

. In the content of the story, too,

is completely absent. More specifically the mention of

Majapahit Majapahit ( jv, ꦩꦗꦥꦲꦶꦠ꧀; ), also known as Wilwatikta ( jv, ꦮꦶꦭ꧀ꦮꦠꦶꦏ꧀ꦠ; ), was a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia that was based on the island of Java (in modern-day Indonesia ...

, Malaka and Demak allow us to date the writing of the story in the 15th century, probably the later part of this century, or the early 16th century at the latest. During his return from

Pemalang Pemalang Regency is a regency ( id, kabupaten) on the north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is the town of Pemalang. The regency is bordered by the Java Sea in the north, in the east by Pekalongan Regency, by Purbalingg ...

Kalapa Kalapa, according to Buddhist legend, is the capital city of the Kingdom of Shambhala where the Kulika King is said to reign on a lion throne. It is said to be an exceedingly beautiful city with a sandalwood pleasure grove containing a huge ...

, he boarded the trading vessel from Malacca with crew hailed from various parts of the archipelago. This means the story took place prior to the fall of Malacca to Portuguese in 1511.

Summary

After a brief introduction the protagonist, prince Jaya Pakuan, is introduced in line 14. This princely name is not mentioned later on; the name Bujangga Manik occurs for the first time in 456, and only from 854 on it is regularly used to indicate the protagonist. In lines 15–20 he takes leave from his mother, telling her that he is going east. He is quite succinct in explaining his departure. Of his costume we learn that he wears a

haircloth Haircloth is a stiff, unsupple fabric typically made from horsehair and/or from the wooly hair of a camel. Although ''horsehair'' generally refers to the hair of a horse's mane or tail, haircloth itself is sometimes called ''horsehair''. Horse or ...

(saceundung kaen 36); perhaps this haircloth is an indication of the religious state which Bujangga Manik assumes for his travel. He refuses to answer questions of the public about the purpose of his journey (38–41).

First journey

Then he starts his first trip, which he describes in great detail. Only a few details are mentioned here. One is that once he has climbed the

Puncak Pass Puncak or Puncak Pass (Indonesian for "top" or "peak") is a mountain pass in West Java, Indonesia. The pass connects the city of Bogor and Bandung, and is spread within the regencies of Bogor, Cianjur, and Sukabumi. Puncak Pass is located betwee ...

, he takes time, like a modern tourist, to sit down, ‘fan his body’ and enjoy the view, in particular the Great Mountain (Bukit Ageung, still known as the Gunung gede) which he calls ‘the highest point (hulu wano) of the realm of

Pakuan Pakuan Pajajaran (or ᮕᮊᮥᮝᮔ᮪ᮕᮏᮏᮛᮔ᮪/ Dayeuh Pakuan/Pakwan or Pajajaran) was the fortified capital city of Sunda Kingdom. The location is roughly corresponds to modern Bogor city in West Java, Indonesia, approximately around t ...

’ (59–64). From the

he travels on; by crossing the Cipamali river he enters the Javanese territory (alas Jawa 82) and wanders through various districts of

and the plain of the region of Demak; via Jatisari he arrives at Pamalang, still a well-known coastal town halfway between Tegal to the west and

Pekalongan Pekalongan ( jv, ꦦꦼꦏꦭꦺꦴꦔꦤ꧀) is a city of Central Java, Indonesia. It was formerly the seat of Pekalongan Regency on the northern coast of the province, but is now an independent municipality within the province. The city is Cen ...

to the east. Here he is overcome by longing for his mother (89) and he decides to go home; however, this time he prefers to travel by sea and boards a ship from

Malacca Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a States and federal territories of Malaysia, state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has bee ...

. The

Sultanate of Malacca The Malacca Sultanate ( ms, Kesultanan Melaka; Jawi script: ) was a Malay sultanate based in the modern-day state of Malacca, Malaysia. Conventional historical thesis marks as the founding year of the sultanate by King of Singapura, Paramesw ...

from the second half of the fifteenth century until its conquest by Portuguese in 1511 was the dominating trading power in the area. This was probably the time the story is set (was written). The departure of the ship from the harbour is described as a festive ceremony (96–120): guns ( wedil) are discharged, musical instruments are played, several songs, the titles of which are mentioned, are loudly sung by the crew; a detailed description of the materials used for the building of the ship is given: various kinds of

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...

and

rattan Rattan, also spelled ratan, is the name for roughly 600 species of Old World climbing palms belonging to subfamily Calamoideae. The greatest diversity of rattan palm species and genera are in the closed- canopy old-growth tropical fores ...

, a mast of laka wood, and an Indian rudder are specifically mentioned; Bujangga Manik is duly impressed and full of admiration for the crew which originates from various places.

Homecoming

The trip from Pamalang to

, the harbour in

West Java West Java ( id, Jawa Barat, su, ᮏᮝ ᮊᮥᮜᮧᮔ᮪, romanized ''Jawa Kulon'') is a province of Indonesia on the western part of the island of Java, with its provincial capital in Bandung. West Java is bordered by the province of Banten ...

takes half a month (121), which suggest that the ship may have stopped at various places in between. The protagonist takes on a new name, Ameng Layaran “the sailing priar”, which also later on is used occasionally. From Kalapa Bujangga Manik comes first to the place of customs (Pabeyaan) and then proceeds to the royal court of

, in the northern part of the present-day town of

Bogor Bogor ( su, , nl, Buitenzorg) is a city in the West Java province, Indonesia. Located around south of the national capital of Jakarta, Bogor is the 6th largest city in the Jakarta metropolitan area and the 14th overall nationwide.Pakancilan (145), goes to the beautifully adorned pavilion and seats himself there. The first person narrative style is once interrupted in line 156 where the protagonist is called tohaan “lord”. He finds his mother engaged in weaving, various aspects of its technique being described in five formulaic lines (160-164). She is surprised and excited to see her son back. She immediately leaves her work and enters the house, passing through several layers of curtains, and ascends to her bedroom. This formulaic passage is repeated in identical form somewhat later (176–196 = 338–358). The mother prepares the usual welcome for her son, which consists of a tray of all the ingredients for preparing

betel The betel (''Piper betle'') is a vine of the family Piperaceae, which includes pepper and kava. The betel plant is native to Southeast Asia. It is an evergreen, dioecious perennial, with glossy heart-shaped leaves and white catkins. Betel p ...

quids, combs her hair, makes herself up and puts on expensive clothes. She then descends from her bedroom, leaves the house, seats herself under the palanquin and welcome her son. Again we have a formulaic description, as is apparent from parallel lines in the other texts. The stereotypic character is also clear from the fact that it is a passage deviating from the general narrative perspective which is focused on Bujangga Manik. It is a narrator's text, which ends with line 229. in 230 we return to the first person narrative: “My mother said”. The son accepts the betel quid which his mother offers him. Then the text switches to a new passage, with a formula which is more commonly used in RR: “let us leave them chewing betel, we shall now talk about ….” (234–235). The story switches to Jompong Larang, the servant of Princess Ajung Larang Sakean Kilat Bancana. Jompong Larang leaves her palace, across the river Cipakancilan and comes to the palace. There she sees a stranger chewing betel in the guest-house. She recognize him as “a priar coming from the east”. Jompong Larang immediately becomes enamoured of his beauty, which is conventionally described in a passage of narrator's text (267–273). The servant is in utter confusion and hastens back to the palace, kadatuan (277); there she goes to meet the princess (tohaan), who happens to be busy weaving; the formulaic description is partly identical with the earlier description (279–282 = 160–163). The princess, who is dressed in negligee and has an imported Chinese box placed besides her (284–290), sees from the corners of her eye the hurried return of Jompong Larang, who ascends the stairs and seats herself. The lady asks her what her message is; the servant tells that she has seen an exceedingly handsome man, “a perfect match” for Lady Ajung Larang. At the latter's question she tells that his name is Ameng Layaran and that he is more handsome than Banyak Catra or Silih Wangi, or that “your Lady's nephew” (321), whoever that may be. The friar is the ideal lover, and moreover he is well versed in the scriptures and speak Javanese (327). Lady Ajung Larang is immediately overwhelmed with love and desire. She interrupts her weaving and enters her house. There she engages in preparing a gift for the young man, consisting of a variety of special betel quids, using exquisite materials and preparing them with the utmost care. The lady adds a collection of costly

perfumes Perfume (, ; french: parfum) is a mixture of fragrant essential oils or aroma compounds (fragrances), fixatives and solvents, usually in liquid form, used to give the human body, animals, food, objects, and living-spaces an agreeable scent. T ...

, “all of the perfumes from overseas”, as well as beautiful cloth and a creese. Jompong Larang is sent to the prince with this expensive gift; her mistress explicitly requires her to explain that if the gift is accepted the lady herself will follow. The servant leaves the palace, loaden with all the presents: “a chest on her head, a betel-tray on her hands and the cloth on her arms” (411–413). Her route is described again (414–422), she arrives at the house where she finds Bujangga Manik's mother sitting on mattress. She asks Jompong Larang what her message is, and the servant duly reports the instruction given by the princess. Then the mother addressed her son, in a lengthy speech explaining the outstanding quality of the gift (456–546). In fact she mentions many more articles that were early described. In particular the specification of the quids in 470–493 is remarkable: they are said to be prepared by forming, folding and rolling them on the thighs and the breast of the lady who prepared them, and by binding them with fringe threads of her frock, so “as to bind a young man, to excite a bachelor's desire” (470–478). It is clear that by this practice an extra sexual charge is loaded to the betel. A number of quids are identified by a specific name. The mother urges her son to accept Lady Ajung Larang's offer; adding that if he agrees “there is no more than just that”; she mentions “symbolic gifts” (sesebutan 518–522) and ends her strong recommendation by describing the exceptional beauty of the princess and her eagerness to give herself to the young man; has she not said: “I shall give myself, I shall dive like a hawk, leap like a tiger, asking to be accepted as sweetheart”? (530–534; the mother is exaggerating, we have not heard these words from the lady herself). But Ameng Layaran is shocked by his mother's enthusiasm which he calls “forbidden words” (carek larangan) and resolutely refuses to accept the gift in an equally lengthy declaration (548–650); he reveals the negative meaning of the sesebutan, which predict illness, tears and physical infirmity (563–574). His love is with the instructions which he received from his teacher (575–577). He requests her therefore to go together with Jompong Larang in order to return the gifts to the princess and to comfort her. He prefers to life in

celibacy Celibacy (from Latin ''caelibatus'') is the state of voluntarily being unmarried, sexually abstinent, or both, usually for religious reasons. It is often in association with the role of a religious official or devotee. In its narrow sense, th ...

and to keep to the lessons which he received during his recent trip to Central Java, in the district of religious schools on the slopes of the Merbabu (here called gunung Damalung and Pamrihan), where, as one of the friars, he communicated with hermits and ascetics, following the teachers indicated as dewaguru, pandita, and purusa (593–606). What his mother requests from him is bad, she shows him the way to death and the cemetery, and ultimately to

hell In religion and folklore, hell is a location in the afterlife in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, most often through torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hell ...

(608–624). He goes on to explain his background as a fatherless child, with a mother who went the wrong way, as a consequence of the fact that his grandmother did not uphold the taboos (pantang) when his mother was pregnant: she ate

banana A banana is an elongated, edible fruit – botanically a berry – produced by several kinds of large herbaceous flowering plants in the genus ''Musa''. In some countries, bananas used for cooking may be called "plantains", disting ...

flowers and beunteur fish, as well as fish about to spawn, and she suffered from “squirrel convulsion” (625–640). “That is why it has come to this”. Therefore, he feels compelled for good to take leave from his mother (649–650).

Second journey

Bujangga Manik takes up his bag containing the great book (apus ageung) and the Siksaguru, as well as his rattan walking stick and his whip. He then declares that he is going east again, to the eastern tip of Java where he is going “to look for a place for my grave, to look for a sea to float away, a place for me to die, a place to lay down my body” (663–666). With these dramatic words he leaves the palace and begins his long wandering, never return home again. He continues his journey eastward, mentioning a large number of place names and pointing out the high mountains in Central Java which he sees in the south, some of them bearing the names which are used until the present day.

References

{{reflist

External links

MS. Jav. b. 3 (R)
Images available on Digital Bodleian Sundanese literature Bodleian Library collection Indonesian manuscripts