Srivijaya Empire

Srivijaya Empire

Srivijaya was a dominant thalassocratic [rule the sea] city-state on Sumatra, Indonesia, which influenced Southeast Asia.

Srivijaya was a centre of Buddhism from the 8th - 12th century.

In Sanskrit, sri means “fortunate", "prosperous", or "happy" and vijaya means "victorious" or "excellence".

The evidence of Srivijaya dates from the 7th century: a Chinese monk, Yijing, that visited Srivijaya in 671.

Yijing wrote the records of his travels to the kingdom of Srivijaya, and other kingdoms lying on the route between China and India.

Earliest inscription about Srivijaya appears from the 7th century, i.e., the Kedukan Bukit inscription found near Palembang, Sumatra, dated 16 June 682.

7th - 11th century Srivijaya become a hegemon in Southeast Asia.

Srivijaya’s main foreign interest was trade agreements with China from the Tang dynasty to the Song dynasty.

Srivijaya had religious, cultural and trade with the Buddhist Pala Empire of Bengal, and the Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East

The Kedukan Bukit Inscription was discovered by the Dutchman M. Batenburg on 29 November 1920 at Kedukan Bukit, South Sumatra on the banks of the River Tatang, a tributary of the River Musi.

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Srivijaya ended in the 13th century due to expansion of the Singhasari, and Majapahit empires.

1918 that French historian George Coedès - of the École française d’Extrême-Orient founded its existence.

An aerial photograph in 1984 near Palembang revealed the ancient man-made canals, moats, ponds, and artificial islands, shows the location of Srivijaya’s urban centre.

Artifacts such as inscriptions, Buddhist statues, beads, pottery and Chinese ceramics were found, shows that the area was once a dense human habitation

The École française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) is a French institute dedicated to the study of Asian societies.

1993, Pierre-Yves Manguin shown that the centre of Srivijaya was along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking (Palembang, South Sumatra, Indonesia).

2013, archaeological research led by the University of Indonesia discovered religious and habitation sites at Muaro Jambi, shows that the centre of Srivijaya was located in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi on the Batang Hari River.

Location of Jambi in Indonesia

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Art and culture of the Srivijaya empire

Since the 7th century, the Old Malay language has been used in Nusantara (Malay-Indonesian archipelago),

Srivijaya left few archaeological remains in Sumatra

But Srivijayan episode in Central Java during the Sailendras, produced numerous monuments; such as the Kalasan, Sewu and Borobudur.

The art and architecture of Sri Vijaya was influenced by the Indian Gupta Empire and Pala Empire.

The 7th century Talang Tuwo inscription described Buddhist rituals and blessings

The Kota Kapur Inscription mentions Srivijaya military dominance against Java.

Temples from Srivijayan era in Sumatra are Muaro Jambi, Muara Takus and Biaro Bahal

Buddha Vairocana, Boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara and Maitreya, were discovered in Sumatra and Malay Peninsula.

Avalokiteshvara from Bingin Jungut in Musi Rawas, bronze Maitreya statue of Komering, all discovered in South Sumatra.

Muaro Jambi is a Buddhist temple complex, in Muaro Jambi Regency, Jambi province, Sumatra,

Avalokiteshvara/ Padmapani holding a lotus. 8th-9th century Sailendran art, Plaosan temple, Java, Indonesia.

Vairocana with Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani. 9th century, Indonesia.

Bahal temple, Biaro Bahal, or Candi Portibi is a Vajrayana Buddhist temple (candi) complex located in Bahal village, Padang Bolak, Portibi, Padang Lawas Regency, North Sumatra,

Nusantara / Indonesia

Location of Palas

Kota Kapur Inscription discovered in Bangka Island, South Sumatra, by J.K. van der Meulen in December 1892.

Location of Gupta Empire

Talang Tuwo inscription is a 7th-century Srivijaya inscription discovered by Louis Constant Westenenk on 17 November 1920, Palembang

A 9th-century Srivijayan art bronze Maitreya from South Sumatra, a stupa adorn his crown

In Jambi, golden statue of Avalokiteshvara were discovered in Rataukapastuo, Muarabulian.

In Malay Peninsula the bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara of Bidor discovered in Perak Malaysia, and Avalokiteshvara of Chaiya in Southern Thailand.

The bronze torso statue of Padmapani, 8th century CE Srivijayan art, Chaiya, Southern Thailand.

An 8th-9th century bronze standing 8-armed Buddhist Avalokitesvara statue found at Anglo Oriental, Bidor, Perak tin mine in year 1936.

Decline of Srivijaya empire

Srivijaya mandala still survive and the Chola invasion was unsuccessful, but it weakened the Srivijayan and enabled the formation of regional kingdoms, like Kediri.

With the time, the trading center shifted from the old Srivijayan capital of Palembang, to Jambi, which was the center of Malayu.

The Chola expedition by changing trade routes weakened Palembang, allowing Jambi to take the leadership of Srivijaya from the 11th century on.

The decline of Srivijaya was partly caused by piracy and raids that disrupted the trade and security, especially Chola kingdom.

1025 Rajendra Chola, the Chola king from Coromandel in South India, launched naval raids and conquered Kadaram (modern Kedah)

Chola continued the raids and conquests of Sumatra and Malay Peninsula for the next 20 years.

Srivijaya Mandala sphere of influence

Kediri (also known as Panjalu) was a Hindu Javanese Kingdom based in East Java from 1042 to around 1222.

Rajendra Chola's Territories c. 1030 CE

Districts along the Coromandel Coast

Kedah in Malaysia

According to this source in early 13th century Srivijaya still ruled Sumatra, Malay peninsula, and western Java (Sunda).

13th century stated that the Indonesian archipelago was ruled by two great kingdoms, with the western part under Srivijaya's rule, while eastern part was under Kediri.

In 1288, Singhasari, the successor of Kediri in Java, conquered Melayu state includes Palembang, Jambi as much of Srivijaya during the Pamalayu expedition.

By the late 13th century, the kingdom of Pasai in northern Sumatra converted to Islam.

Attempts to revive Srivijaya were made by the princes of Srivijaya In 1324, Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tribuwana (Sang Nila Utama) founded the ancient Kingdom of Singapura (Temasek). Controled Temasek for 48 years.

Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara was expelled from Temasek by a Majapahit invasion.

He later headed north and founded Sultanate of Malacca in 1402.

Location of Malacca

Samudera Pasai, was a Muslim harbour kingdom on the north coast of Sumatra from the 13th to the 15th centuries CE.

Aceh, The province is located at the northern end of Sumatra

Singhasari was a Javanese Hindu-Buddhist kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292

Parameswara (1344–1414), also known as Iskandar Shah, was the last king of Singapura who ruled from 1389 to 1398.

Golden age of Srivijaya empire

By the 12th century, Srivijaya kingdom included parts of Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, Western Java, Borneo and the Philippines, most notably the Sulu Archipelago and the Visayas islands

Srivijaya remained a formidable sea power until the 13th century.

Circa 903, the Muslim writer Ibn Rustah was impressed with the wealth of Srivijaya's ruler that he declared no king who was richer, stronger than Srivijaya's king.

9th century, the powerful Sumatran empire of Srivijaya controlled much of the maritime trade in the Indian Ocean.

Location map of Sulu Archipelago

The Visayas is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon

Formation and growth of Srivijaya empire

Soekmono suggests that the capital of Srivijaya was in the Kampar River system in Riau where the Muara Takus temple is located as Minanga Tamwan.

Melayu Kingdom became the first kingdom to be integrated into Srivijaya.

7th century Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa launched a military campaign to Java , against the Tarumanagara in West Java and the Kalingga Kingdom in Central Java.

According to the Kedukan Bukit inscription, 605 Saka (683 CE), Srivijaya was founded by Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa.

He lead the sacred siddhayatra journey with his people, from Minanga Tamwan to Jambi and Palembang.

Muara Takus is a Buddhist temple complex, belong to the Srivijaya empire. It is situated in Kampar in Riau province, Sumatra

Jambi is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the east coast of central Sumatra and its capital is Jambi.

The Kedukan Bukit Inscription was discovered by the Dutchman M. Batenburg on 29 November 1920 at Kedukan Bukit, South Sumatra

Kalingga Kingdom in Central Java.

Tarumanagara in West Java

The Melayu Kingdom (or the Jambi Kingdom)

Srivijaya control the trade on the Strait of Malacca, the Sunda Strait, the South China Sea, the Java Sea, and the Karimata Strait.

The ruling lineage of Srivijaya intermarried with the Sailendras of Central Java and the Javanese Sanjaya dynasty when the Srivijayan capital was located in Java.

Strait of Malacca

Sunda Strait

Unlike the expansionist Dharmasetu, Samaratungga preferred to strengthen the Srivijayan hold of Java.

Samaratungga oversaw the construction of Borobudur, the temple was completed in 825, during his reign.

Srivijayans dominate areas around Cambodia until the Khmer King Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer Empire dynasty, broke the Srivijayan link.

After Dharmasetu, Samaratungga became the next Maharaja of Srivijaya. Ruled from 792 to 835.

Khmer Empire