Mataram Kingdom

Mataram Kingdom
716–1016
The Mataram Kingdom during the Central Java and Eastern Java periods
The Mataram Kingdom during the Central Java and Eastern Java periods
CapitalMamratipura
Poh Pitu
Tamwlang
Watugaluh
Common languagesOld Javanese, Sanskrit
Religion
Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism
GovernmentMonarchy
Maharaja 
• 716–746 (first)
Sanjaya
• 985–1016 (last)
Dharmawangsa
Historical eraMedieval Southeast Asia
• Sanjaya ascends the throne (Sanjayawarsa)[1]
716
• Dharmawangsa defeat to Wurawari and Srivijaya
1016
CurrencyMasa and Tahil (native gold and silver coins)
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Kalingga
Kahuripan

The Mataram Kingdom (/mɑːtɑːrɑːm/,[2] Javanese: ꦩꦠꦫꦩ꧀, Javanese pronunciation: [mətaram]); also known as Medang Kingdom was a Javanese HinduBuddhist kingdom that flourished between the 8th and 11th centuries. It was based in Central Java, and later in East Java. Established by King Sanjaya, the kingdom was ruled by the Shailendra dynasty and Ishana dynasty.

During most of its history the kingdom seems to have relied heavily on agriculture, especially extensive rice farming, and later also benefited from maritime trade. According to foreign sources and archaeological findings, the kingdom seems to have been well populated and quite prosperous. The kingdom developed a complex society,[3] had a well developed culture, and achieved a degree of sophistication and refined civilisation.

In the period between the late 8th century and the mid-9th century, the kingdom saw the blossoming of classical Javanese art and architecture reflected in the rapid growth of temple construction. Temples dotted the landscape of its heartland in Mataram. The most notable of the temples constructed in Mataram are Kalasan, Sewu, Borobudur and Prambanan, all quite close to the present-day city of Yogyakarta.[4] At its peak, the kingdom had become a dominant empire that exercised its power—not only in Java, but also in Sumatra, Bali, southern Thailand, Indianized kingdoms of the Philippines, and the Khmer in Cambodia.[5][6][7]

Later the dynasty divided into two kingdoms identified by religious patronage—the Buddhist and Shaivite dynasties. Civil war followed. The outcome was that the Mataram kingdom was divided into two powerful kingdoms; the Shaivite dynasty of Mataram kingdom in Java led by Rakai Pikatan and the Buddhist dynasty of Srivijaya kingdom in Sumatra led by Balaputradewa. Hostility between them did not end until 1016 when the Shailendra clan based in Srivijaya incited a rebellion by Wurawari, a vassal of the Mataram kingdom, and sacked the capital of Watugaluh in East Java. Srivijaya rose to become the undisputed hegemonic empire in the region. The Shaivite dynasty survived, reclaimed east Java in 1019, and then established the Kahuripan kingdom led by Airlangga, son of Udayana of Bali.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Boechari (2012). "Kerajaan Matarām Sebagaimana Terbayang dari Data Prasasti". Melacak Sejarah Kuno Indonesia Lewat Prasasti, Kumpulan Tulisan Boechari. Jakarta: Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia. pp. 183–196. ISBN 978-979-91-0520-2.
  2. ^ "Mataram | Define Mātaram at Sanskrit Dictionary". sanskritdictionary.org. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  3. ^ Rahardjo, Supratikno (2002). Peradaban Jawa, Dinamika Pranata Politik, Agama, dan Ekonomi Jawa Kuno (in Indonesian). Komuntas Bambu, Jakarta. p. 35. ISBN 979-96201-1-2.
  4. ^ Media, Kompas Cyber (18 February 2012). "Kisah Mataram di Poros Kedu-Prambanan - Kompas.com". KOMPAS.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  5. ^ Laguna Copperplate Inscription
  6. ^ Ligor inscription
  7. ^ Coedès, George (1968). Walter F. Vella, ed. The Indianized States of Southeast Asia. trans.Susan Brown Cowing. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-0368-1.

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