Srivijaya

Srivijaya (Sanskrit Srivijaya " brilliant victory", also Sri Vijaya, Shri Vijaya or Sriwijaya ) was a Buddhist thalassocracy in Southeast Asia. The center Srivijayas was in Sumatra, but its sphere of influence included the coastal areas of the Malay Peninsula and West Java. His dominance in the region lasted from the late 7th to the end of the 13th century.

Basics

Was discovered for the modern history of this country until 1918, when French historian George Coedes suggested the name Sri Vijaya and identified with the Sribuza and Sarbaya the Arab or the Sanfoqi the Chinese sources.

The capital is recognized at the present-day Palembang in Sumatra equal, ie she is probably buried underneath ( As an indication of the discovery of a large Ganesha statue serves ). Your network of monasteries (some public ) parks, markets and ports was limited by the river system of the Musi, the holy mountain Sri Vijaya was probably the Bukit Seguntang.

Founded Sri Vijaya probably around 500, maybe instead of Kan - t'o -li or another predecessor State. A century later spoke Chinese sources of two kingdoms on Sumatra: one in Jambi and one in Palembang, Jambi which was perhaps the most significant Kingdom because more accustomed relations to China. Jambi but was taken already 686 of Sri Vijaya, of which the pilgrim monk Yi Jing bears witness.

The rise of the state was founded in the favorable position Palembang as a port and trade hub (fabrics, jewels, ivory, elephants, raw silver, amber, camphor, spices, precious woods ) between the Straits of Malacca and the Sunda Strait. With the monsoon ships came from China, India and Arabia, so that one speaks of the Silk Road of the Sea. Important here were favorable relations to China, so that ships as possible not held in Canton, cheated or were even robbed.

Power peak

Sri Vijaya stretched from the mid-7th century from its sphere of influence. Between 683 and 686 it claimed under King Jayanasa its influence on the Sunda Strait and in West Java. It was the support of the Indonesian native population, the volume ( navigator ) piracy company under the name orang, but with appropriate treatment and provided the backbone of the fleet of great importance.

Between 702 and 724 sent Sri Vijaya four embassies to Tang China. By 775 it had extended its dominion to the Malay Peninsula and it occupies 14 city-states. At the time it could control both the Malacca and Sunda Straits that. But the Javanese were with the Pirate King Sanjaya ( 730 ) at the top dangerous opponents. Only 775 came to peace. We determined the mutual relations with the come just to power Sailendra kings of Java and strengthened them through marriage. To 850 could even displaced Sailendra prince named Balaputra take over the government of Sri Vijaya, because his mother came from there.

Since Sri Vijaya his wealth owed ​​to trade, it has come to terms with Song China and recognized the Emperor formally as overlords. 905 could even be a king Sri Vijaya be self- published by the court - the visitor was given the title "General, the foreign countries pacified " award. In any case, requested the Maharaja / King Chulamanivarmadeva 992 unsuccessful Chinese support against the Javanese, as both countries because of religion and trade issues back into a state of war came ( 990-1006 ). Sri Vijaya won with the conquest of enemy capital and 1030 consolidated king Sangrama Vijayottungavarman peace with marriage.

Culture and state

Culturally, the kingdom was dominated by Buddhism, also, as has already been displaced in India and in neighboring Java from Hinduism. The Chinese pilgrim monk Yi, visited it on his journey to / from India ( 671/695 ). He found there no less than 1000 scholars of international origin and an excellent library and a Buddhist center, which was in constant contact with Nalanda. The King Balaputra where he transacted even foundations to legitimize itself. However, one must the Indian influence also not overrate. The common language ( lingua franca ) was probably Malay, with scattered Sanskrit.

Besides the trade already described and the associated trade taxes, Sri Vijaya was based on the production of luxury and consumer goods, especially Nipamatten, tortoiseshell, bees wax, aromatic woods and camphor. When collecting the natural products we also Orang Asli here the services of took ( forest dwellers ) said Indonesian indigenous people to complete.

The Indian heritage shaped the legislation, politics and religion of the State of Sri Vijaya, even though he was also exposed to Chinese and later Islamic influences in the course of trade. The structure of the state was similar as in India, a prince pyramid with a system of dependencies or fidelity conditions. If a small state is connected, he retained his free trade, but had to pay tribute, enter marriage connections and on their own embassies waive (Mandala model).

The Southeast Asian Mandala model accordingly, the state was (or the States) Srivijayas built in concentric circles (not only spatial, but also in a social perspective ). In the center was the kedatuan, the residence of Datu ( Prince ) and his court. The kedatuan was surrounded by vanua, a semi-urban area, lived in the other officials, which included but also villages, markets and a temple. Kedatuan and vanua together made ​​up the city of Srivijaya. This was surrounded by samaryyada, the other controlled by Datu areas. The outermost circle of the system formed the autonomous or semi-autonomous polity on the edge of the sphere of influence Srivijayas. This could be governed either by a Datu, who was recognized by the rulers Srivijayas or used by a of Srivijaya. The principalities of the first group had even turn a concentric mandala construction. Was larger or farther away from the center they were, the greater their autonomy and the more likely the possibility existed once break away from Srivijaya.

The binding of the units in the network was based on his vows (comparable to the oath of allegiance ) and the granting of royal favor and blessing by the overlord in return for tribute in the form of goods or services. The Datu based his rule on huluntuhan (literally " servant - Men " ), a term that is translated as " empire ", but also the family of Datu or a network of family members and vassals can mean. Also, Datu ' was used in Srivijaya not only for the person of the prince, but in a broader sense also for its rule, its members and representatives appointed by him. The Datu were regarded as sacred and inviolable, and their supernatural powers were attributed. Among other things, the Datu for the fertility of the land was held responsible.

Decay and downfall

The loose political structure proved to be a disadvantage, as in the 11th century by the Chola kings and conquerors came from South India. The Chola attacked Sri Vijaya in 1017, 1025 and 1068 with their newly created fleet and could bind some areas per se, although they never seemed situated on a permanent rule, but rather in the elimination of trade competition. In any case, the attack of the Chola king Rajendra I, was in 1025 a shock - 14 ports were plundered and the trade with China faltered for several years, so that the Chinese authorities had to even ask for the trade.

From there, the Sri Vijaya descent, which disintegrated under the influence of aspirations for independence and piracy began. The recognized by the fact that now sent dependent kings as their own from Kedah, Malayu or Jambi and Kampe legations. In the 12th century provided the kings of Jambi in Sumatra - and no longer in neighboring Palembang - Messrs Sri Vijaya represents a further descent factor was apparently the increase of the Chinese ship transport to Song period, of the Malaysian intermediate trade or Sri Vijaya competition made ​​. Nevertheless, Sri Vijaya had in the early 13th century still 15 vassals.

The King of Singhasari on Java, Kertanagra (r. 1268-1292 ) conquered and took over 1275-90 to a large part of present-day Indonesia, ending the supremacy of Sri Vijaya. The Kingdom was in the following century Javanese suzerainty, but only ended finally in 1377, when the troops of Majapahit conquered Palembang. Maybe it has persisted a little longer, because a rebellious prince from Sri Vijaya took 1414 Islam and founded Malacca.

The famous kings until the 11th century

• 702/24 Sri Indra varman
• 728/42 Rudra Vikkama
• Approximately 775 Dharmasetu
• 832-60 Balaputra - deva
• 960/62 Sri Udayaditya
• 980/83 Haji
• 1003/ 05 Sri Culamani Varma - deva
• Haji 1017 Sumatra - bhumi
• 1024/30 Sri Sangramu Vijayottunga - varman
• 1064 Dharmavira