Carve To The Last Fight

The generation that won't take it for granted

Referring to the independent researcher of Old Javanese and Sanskrit studies from the Netherlands, Amrit Gomperts, through the geographical information system (GIS) as a cutting-edge tool, he arrived at an interesting conclusion. According to him, since 1816, the Trowulan Site has lost more than five million cubic meters of land and all its contents. Due to the greed of ancient artifact hunters in colonial times, knowledge about the exact location of the Majapahit Palace was also lost to the times.

Interesting note. According to Gomperts' research, Mpu Prapanca's records in Negarakertagama only revealed about forty percent of the entire area of ​​the Majapahit Palace. This means, the remaining sixty percent, the ratio was never recorded by Mpu Prapanca.

Gomperts' conclusion regarding Prapanca's record does not fully describe the facts about the area of ​​the Majapahit Kingdom City, which archaeologists have realized long ago. Referring to the writings of AS Wibowo, Negarakertagama, and Trowulan, to imagine what the old city looked like in the Majapahit era, there are two main sources. First, Kakawin Nagarakertagama written by Mpu Prapanca. Second, the Trowulan Site in Mojokerto Regency.

As is known, Negarakertagama was completed by MPU Prapanca in 1365. In this kakawin, there are various descriptions regarding Majapahit. In addition to telling about the king's relatives, grand ceremonies at the palace, Rajasanagara journeys, as well as the hunt for the king, this book also describes the Majapahit Palace in the era of King Hayam Wuruk (1350-1389 AD) and various Hindu-Buddhist sacred buildings at that time.

Negarakertagama, especially Pupuh VIII¬XII, is an important written source for discovering the description of Majapahit City around the 1350s. In detail, Prapanca describes the state of the capital from north to south. Without mentioning the existence of the city wall as a fortress, Prapanca immediately detailed the buildings and other important places.

"Okay Satriya, after reading and at least you know what is written in the article," Wayan said while sipping a cup of instant coffee he had just poured from a typical pottery pot belonging to the fast train company which was taking them on a trip to a city in east java.

“So far, how many sources do you have apart from the ones contained in various articles? I mean, is there a reference source other than that, because we also know that our society, in general, is still very strong at carrying out traditions. Especially if it is a prohibition because of the designation they have agreed upon.” Satriya only answered by asking the man a question again.

"That's precisely our goal at this time, Satriya" Wayan gave a little view and went back to discussing some of the articles they were discussing.

"Unfortunately, various archaeological research, comparatively, still refer to the source of the first article, so far it has not fully succeeded in combining the two historical sources. According to him, none of the descriptions mentioned by Prapanca can be definitively identified with any of the artifacts at the Trowulan Site. Or, conversely, none of the artifacts found at the Trowulan Site can be immediately matched to Prapanca's painting in Negarakertagama,” Wayan commented.

"Okay..., okay, let's go back to the beginning, Wayan, first what is our main goal in that place?"

"Yeah..., there is a discovery discovered by ordinary people. What's going on?"

"Is the news of the findings new?"

"Yes, of course, it's new and the findings of the relics are slightly different from the previous ones," Wayan answered briefly.

"If so, then leave the argument that has been your reference, make your argument based on your experience." Satriya gave a little view.

"Hmm, it's interesting to try ..., it seems I am too carried away with my own ego" apparently the words just now jolted the mind of this man named Wayan.

"Yes, the location of the capital city of Majapahit is still debatable. The previous article, Puzzles of the Majapahit Palace, has given this indication. The article has also reviewed the latest developments in research related to the area of ​​the Majapahit Palace.”

"Yeah, like the two of us right now, isn't it?" Satriya replied with a smile and then took her eyes off the window, where the scenery began to change and there were no longer visible buildings, only a stretch of rice fields as far as the eye could see.

But somewhere else***

"Sorry Mr. Rozak, if we have to inform you in advance about some licensing problems" Munawir, who had just entered the living room, came to tell you about one thing.

"You mean Munawir?" With a slight frown, it seemed that Mr. Rozak still didn't understand, while in one hand he seemed to be holding a file.

"What file are you reading Mr. Rozak?" Munawir spontaneously asked because he had never seen the file before, this possibility made Mr. Rozak seem less focused on the news this man was about to convey.

"Oooh sorry, I'm not focused Munawir, what did you want to say earlier?" Mr. Rozak repeated his question.

"That's Mr. Rozak..., regarding the problem in licensing"

“Permission? What license? The place we are going to visit is our place and we have often carried out routine activities at that place, so no one has the right to prohibit people from carrying out activities because this has been protected by law,” replied Mr. Rozak explaining the reason.

"However, this time it's different, Mr. Rojak, there was a complaint from the local community which caused several parties from an agency to issue a temporary suspension letter for us to carry out an activity that we will carry out, this is the letter" Munawir gave a piece of the letter containing a petition from one institution.

"Okay..., I will first study the contents of this letter, while I want to hear the latest development information from ..... what is your member's name?" asked Mr. Rozak with a little thought.

"His name is Taufik, I happen to be ordering him to arrange all the logistics that will be needed for Mr. Rozak's upcoming activities." Munawir reminded the name of the man he had just appointed.

"Hmm, order him to find all the information about where the public objections came from and you are Munawir, once again you solve this problem as soon as possible with Taufik," said Mr. Rozak, closing the conversation and asking the man in front of him to solve it immediately.

Mr. Rozak's attention is now refocusing on what he is reading now. Some of the research results provided by his colleagues or rather a distant family from the far eastern region which contains historical records in the past regarding the Capital of Majapahit, the Triumphs and Achievements by Agus Aris Munandar (2008) also underlined that there was a discrepancy between the epigraphic data of Pupuh VIII-XII in Negarakertagama and the findings of artifacts at the Trowulan Site.

In addition, Munandar's writings refer to the Pararaton Book. This book describes Raden Wijaya establishing the City of Majapahit in the Forest of Tarik or Trick and not Trowulan. In Pararaton, Tarik or Trick is described as being around the mouth of the Berantas River. Meanwhile, Trowulan itself is now located far from the banks of the Berantas River and is in the interior of East Java.

An interesting question was raised by Munandar, namely, why did Mpu Prapanca not mention the existence of this Segaran Pool? "Does he escape or close his eyes so he doesn't see Lake Segaran which is quite wide and impressive so that he doesn't include it in Negarakertagama?" asked Mr. Rozak in his heart.

How it came from, when and by whom for the first time, so that the Trowulan Site is identified with the Majapahit palace, is less clear. However, it is strongly suspected that the history of the identification of the Trowulan Site with the Kedaton of the Majapahit Kingdom dates back to the research of Captain Johannes Willem Bartholomeus Wardenaar (1785–1869).

On the orders of Sir Stamford Raffles (1781–1826), in 1815 Wardenaar observed archaeological remains in the Mojokerto area. Wardenaar's research produced a map, several pictures, and a map legend containing descriptions of the buildings in Trowulan, and submitted the results of the research to Raffles. In his reports, he always mentions, "in het bosch van Majapahit" for the artifacts found in Mojokerto, especially Trowulan.

Raffles himself in his legendary work, History of Java, mentions "remains of the gateway at Majapahit called Gapura Jati Pasar" when mentioning Waringin Lawang Temple, and mentions "one of the gateways of Majapahit" when referring to Brahu Temple.

Still using Wardenaar's research materials, several other researchers, such as WR van Hovell (1849), JFG Brumund (1854), and Jonathan Rigg, wrote about Majapahit. Since 1849 their works have been published successively in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia. Through their writings, it is easy to predict that the image and name of Trowulan were more strongly imprinted with the existence of the Majapahit Kingdom.

Mentioned between 1894-1916 when Kromodjojo Adinegoro became the Regent of Mojokerto. He excavated the Tikus Temple and also pioneered the construction of the Mojokerto Museum which contains archaeological finds from the Majapahit heritage. His written reports to the Resident Assistant regarding the Trowulan area always mention the Majapahit palace.

J Knebel, a member of the Comissie voor Oudheidkundig Orderzoek op Java en Madura, in 1907 conducted an inventory of various archaeological remains found in Trowulan. Followed in 1923, NJ Krom published his review of the legacy of Majapahit in Trowulan in his work Inleiding tot de Hindoe Javaanshe Kunst.

The c****x was Henry Maclaine Pont (1924-1926), the first Dutch researcher to link the description of the city of Majapahit recorded in Negarakertagama with archaeological remains found in the Trowulan area. The result is a sketch of the layout of the Majapahit City, combined with the relics of the buildings found at the Trowulan Site.

Hypothetically, Maclaine Pont placed the Majapahit king's palace to the east of Segaran Pool, which is around the location of the remains of the Menak Jinggo Temple building. To the south of the kedaton is the residence of religious leaders. To the northeast and southeast of the Kedaton are the residences of Brahma priests and baths.

Thus, since then, the general opinion has been unanimous, that the location of the Majapahit palace is strongly suspected to be in Trowulan. In historical writings or books, it tends to be taken for granted that Trowulan is synonymous with the location of the capital city of Majapahit. Even though, on the other hand, in fact, until now, Maclaine Pont's hypothesis about the city planning of Majapahit is still being debated by archaeologists and historians.

Mr. Rozak seemed to be smiling, "So this is one of the entrances that they have been referring to, in line with the way we used to do it before, namely by entering into the smallest joints of them, among the endless debates we will look for, and benefit from it " whispered Mr. Rozak following what was written in his reading material.