Sri Vijaya: Wikis



(Redirected to Srivijaya article)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



7th century–13th century
Capital Palembang, Jambi, Chaiya
Language(s) Old Malay, Sanskrit
Religion Buddhism, Hinduism
Government Monarchy
 - Circa 683 Jayanasa
 - Circa 775 Dharmasetu
 - Circa 792 Samaratunga
 - Circa 835 Balaputra
 - Circa 988 Sri Culamanivarmadeva
 - Dapunta Hyang's expedition and expansion, (Kedukan Bukit Inscription) 7th century
 - Singhasari conquest in 1288, Majapahit put an end to Srivijayan rebellion in 1377 13th century
Currency Native gold and silver coins
This article is part of the
History of Indonesia series
History of Indonesia.png
See also:
Timeline of Indonesian History
Early kingdoms
Tarumanagara (358-669)
Srivijaya (7th to 13th centuries)
Sailendra (8th to 9th centuries)
Sunda Kingdom (669-1579)
Mataram Kingdom (752–1045)
Kediri (1045–1221)
Singhasari (1222–1292)
Majapahit (1293–1500)
The rise of Muslim states
The spread of Islam (1200–1600)
Sultanate of Ternate (1257–....)
Malacca Sultanate (1400–1511)
Sultanate of Demak (1475–1548)
Aceh Sultanate (1496–1903)
Sultanate of Banten (1526–1813)
Mataram Sultanate (1500s to 1700s)
European colonialism
The Portuguese (1512–1850)
Dutch East India Co. (1602–1800)
Dutch East Indies (1800–1942)
The emergence of Indonesia
National awakening (1899–1942)
Japanese occupation (1942–1945)
Declaration of independence (1945)
National revolution (1945–1950)
Independent Indonesia
Liberal democracy (1950–1957)
"Guided Democracy" (1957–1965)
Start of the "New Order" (1965–1966)
The "New Order" (1966–1998)
"Reformasi" era (1998–present)
Edit this template

Srivijaya or Sriwijaya was a powerful ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia.[1] The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century; a Chinese monk, I-Tsing, wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for 6 months.[2][3] The first inscription in which the name Srivijaya appears also dates from the 7th century, namely the Kedukan Bukit Inscription around Palembang in Sumatra, dated 683.[4] The kingdom ceased to exist in the 13th century due to various factors, including the expansion of the Javanese Majapahit empire.[1] In Sanskrit, sri (री) means "shining" or "radiant" and vijaya (विजय) means "victory" or "excellence".[5]




There is no continuous knowledge of Srivijaya in Indonesian histories; its forgotten past has been recreated by foreign scholars. No modern Indonesians, not even those of the Palembang area around which the kingdom was based, had heard of Srivijaya until the 1920s, when French scholar George Coedès published his discoveries and interpretations in Dutch and Indonesian-language newspapers.[6] Coedès noted that the Chinese references to "Sanfoqi", previously read as "Sribhoja", and the inscriptions in Old Malay refer to the same empire.[7]

Srivijaya became a symbol of early Sumatran greatness, and a great empire to balance Java's Majapahit in the east. In the twentieth century, both empires were referred to by nationalist intellectuals to argue for an Indonesian identity within an Indonesian state prior to the Dutch colonial state.[6]

Srivijaya and by extension Sumatra had been known by different names to different peoples. The Chinese called it Sanfotsi or San Fo Qi, and at one time there was an even older kingdom of Kantoli that could be considered as the predecessor of Srivijaya.[8][9] In Sanskrit and Pali, it was referred to as Yavadesh and Javadeh respectively.[8] The Arabs called it Zabag and the Khmer called it Melayu.[8] This is another reason why the discovery of Srivijaya was so difficult.[8] While some of these names are strongly reminiscent of the name of Java, there is a distinct possibility that they may have referred to Sumatra instead.[10]

Formation and growth

Little physical evidence of Srivijaya remains.[11] According to the Kedukan Bukit Inscription, dated 605 Saka (683 AD), the empire of Srivijaya was founded by Dapunta Hyang Çri Yacanaca (Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa). He led 20,000 troops (mainly land troopers and a few hundred ships) from Minanga Tamwan to Jambi and Palembang.

The empire was a coastal trading centre and was a thalassocracy. As such, it did not extend its influence far beyond the coastal areas of the islands of Southeast Asia, with the exception of contributing to the population of Madagascar 3,300 miles to the west. Around the year 500, Srivijayan roots began to develop around present-day Palembang, Sumatra, in modern Indonesia. The empire was organised in three main zones—the estuarine capital region centred on Palembang, the Musi River basin which served as hinterland, and rival estuarine areas capable of forming rival power centres. The areas upstream of the Musi river were rich in various commodities valuable to Chinese traders.[12] The capital was administered directly by the ruler while the hinterland remained under its own local datus or chiefs, who were organized into a network of allegiance to the Srivijaya maharaja or king. Force was the dominant element in the empire's relations with rival river systems such as the Batang Hari, which centred in Jambi. The ruling lineage intermarried with the Sailendras of Central Java and lived along the Javanese Sanjaya dynasty when the Srivijayan capital was located in Java.



Chinese records dated in the late 7th century mention two Sumatran kingdoms as well as three other kingdoms on Java being part of Srivijaya. By the end of the 8th century, many western Javanese kingdoms, such as Tarumanagara and Holing, were within the Srivijayan sphere of influence. It has also been recorded that a Buddhist family related to Srivijaya dominated central Java at that time.[14] The family was probably the Sailendras.[15] According to the Kota Kapur Inscription, the empire conquered Southern Sumatra as far as Lampung. The empire thus grew to control the trade on the Strait of Malacca, the South China Sea, the Java Sea, and Karimata Strait.

During the same century, Langkasuka on the Malay Peninsula became part of Srivijaya.[16] Soon after this, Pan Pan and Trambralinga, which were located north of Langkasuka, came under Srivijayan influence. These kingdoms on the peninsula were major trading nations that transported goods across the peninsula's isthmus.

With the expansion to Java as well as the Malay Peninsula, Srivijaya controlled two major trade choke points in Southeast Asia. Some Srivijayan temple ruins are observable in Thailand and Cambodia.

Ruins of the Wat Kaew in Chaiya, dating from Srivijayan times

The area of Chaiya Surat Thani Thailand was already inhabited in prehistoric times by Semang and Malayan tribes. Founded in the 3rd century, until the 13th century the Srivijaya kingdom dominated the Malay Peninsula and much of the island of Java from there. The city Chaiya the name might be derived from its original Malay name "Cahaya" (means 'light', 'gleam', or 'glow'). However some scholars identify Chai-ya came from Sri-vi-ja-ya. It was a regional capital in the Srivijaya kingdom of the 5th to 13th century .Some Thai historians even claim that it was the capital of the kingdom itself for some time, but this is generally disputed. Wiang Sa and Phunphin were another main settlement of that time.



The construction of the Borobudur begun by Sangramadhananjaya and completed under the reign of Samaratunga.

The influence of the empire had reached Manila by the 10th century. A kingdom under its sphere of influence had already been established there.[19][20]

By the twelfth century, the kingdom included parts of Sumatra, Ceylon, the Malay Peninsula, Western Java, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Borneo and the Philippines, most notably the Sulu Archipelago and the Visayas islands (and indeed the latter island group, as well as its population, is named after the empire).[21]

Srivijaya remained a formidable sea power until the thirteenth century.[1]

Vajrayana Buddhism

History of Malaysia
Flag of Malayan Union between 1946 and 1948 Flag of Malaysia
This article is part of a series
Prehistoric Malaysia
Early kingdoms
Gangga Negara (2nd–11th)
Langkasuka (2nd–14th)
Pan Pan (3rd–5th)
Srivijaya (7th–13th)
Kedah Kingdom (630-1136)
The rise of Muslim states
Kedah Sultanate (1136–present)
Malacca Sultanate (1402–1511)
Sulu Sultanate (1450–1899)
Johor Sultanate (1528–present)
European colonialism
Portuguese Malacca (1511-1641)
Dutch Malacca (1641-1824)
Straits Settlements (1826–1946)
British Malaya (1874–1946)
Federated Malay States (1895–1946)
Unfederated Malay States (1909–1946)
Kingdom of Sarawak (1841–1946)
North Borneo (1882–1963)
World War II
Japanese occupation (1941–1945)
Malaysia in transition
Malayan Union (1946–1948)
Federation of Malaya (1948–1963)
Independence (1957)
Federation of Malaysia (1963–present)

Malaysia Portal
 v • d • e 

A stronghold of Vajrayana Buddhism, Srivijaya attracted pilgrims and scholars from other parts of Asia. These included the Chinese monk Yijing, who made several lengthy visits to Sumatra on his way to study at Nalanda University in India in 671 and 695, and the 11th century Bengali Buddhist scholar Atisha, who played a major role in the development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. Yijing reports that the kingdom was home to more than a thousand Buddhist scholars; it was in Srivijaya that he wrote his memoir of Buddhism during his own lifetime. Travellers to these islands mentioned that gold coinage was in use on the coasts, but not inland.

Relationship with regional powers

Pagoda in Srivijaya style in Chaiya, Thailand


The Jambi kingdom was the first rival power centre absorbed into the empire, and thus began the domination of the region through trade and conquest in the 7th and 9th centuries. Jambi's gold mines were a crucial economic resource and may be the origin of the word Suvarnadvipa (island of gold), the Sanskrit name for Sumatra. Srivijaya helped spread the Malay culture throughout Sumatra, the Malay Peninsula, and western Borneo. Srivijaya's influence waned in the 11th century. It was in frequent conflict with, and ultimately subjugated by, Javanese kingdoms, first Singhasari and then Majapahit. This was not the first time the Srivijayans conflicted with the Javanese. According to historian Paul Michel Munoz, the Javanese Sanjaya dynasty was a strong rival of the Srivijayans in the 8th century when the Srivijayan capital was located in Java. The seat of the empire moved to Jambi in the last centuries of Srivijaya's existence.





Srivijaya also maintained close relations with the Pala Empire in Bengal, and an 860 inscription records that maharaja Balaputra dedicated a monastery at the Nalanda university in Pala territory. Relations with the Chola dynasty of southern India were initially friendly but deteriorated into actual warfare in the eleventh century.

Golden age

The graceful golden statue of Avalokiteçvara in Malayu-Srivijayan style, discovered at Rataukapastuo, Muarabulian, Jambi, Indonesia.

After trade disruption at Canton between 820 and 850, the ruler of Jambi was able to assert enough independence to send missions to China in 853 and 871.[citation needed] Jambi's independence coincided with the troubled time when the Sailendran Balaputradewa, expelled from Java, seized the throne of Srivijaya. The new maharaja was able to dispatch a tributary mission to China by 902. Only two years later, the expiring Tang Dynasty conferred a title on a Srivijayan envoy.



In 1025, Rajendra Chola, the Chola king from Coromandel in South India, conquered Kedah from Srivijaya and occupied it for some time. The Cholas continued a series of raids and conquests throughout what is now Indonesia and Malaysia for the next 20 years. Although the Chola invasion was ultimately unsuccessful, it gravely weakened the Srivijayan hegemony and enabled the formation of regional kingdoms based, like Kediri, on intensive agriculture rather than coastal and long-distance trade.

Srivijaya's Empire and its neighbors in 900 AD.

Between 1079 and 1088, Chinese records show that Srivijaya sent ambassadors from Jambi and Palembang.[23] In 1079 in particular, an ambassador from Jambi and Palembang each visited China. Jambi sent two more ambassadors to China in 1082 and 1088.[23] This suggests that the centre of Srivijaya frequently shifted between the two major cities during that period.[23] The Chola expedition as well as changing trade routes weakened Palembang, allowing Jambi to take the leadership of Srivijaya from the 11th century on.[24]

According to a Chinese source in the book of Chu-fan-chi[25] written around 1178, Chou-Ju-Kua describe that in Southeast Asia archipelago there was two most powerful and richest kingdoms; Srivijaya and Java (Kediri). In Java he founds that the people adhere two kinds of religions: Buddhism and the religions of Brahmins (Hinduism), while the people of Srivijaya adhere Buddhism. The people of Java are brave and short tempered, dare to put a fight. Their favourite pastimes was cockfighting and pig fighting. The currency was made from the mixture of copper, silver, and tin.


About Srivijaya, Chou-Ju-Kua[26] reported that Srivijaya have 15 colonies and still the mightiest and wealthiest state in western part of archipelago. Srivijaya's colony are: Pong-fong (Pahang), Tong-ya-nong (Terengganu), Ling-ya-si-kia (Langkasuka), Kilan-tan (Kelantan), Fo-lo-an (Dungun, northern part of Malay Peninsula, near from Terengganu), Ji-lo-t'ing (Cherating), Ts'ien-mai (Semawe, Malay Peninsula), Pa-t'a (Sungai Paka, northern part of Malay Peninsula), Tan-ma-ling (Tambralinga, Ligor or Nakhon Si Thammarat, North Thailand), Kia-lo-hi (Grahi, northern part of Malay peninsula), Pa-lin-fong (Palembang), Sin-t'o (Sunda), Lan-wu-li (Lamuri at Aceh), Kien-pi (Jambi) and Si-lan (Cambodia)[27][22].




In the following years, sedimentation on the Musi river estuary cut the kingdom's capital off from direct sea access. The strategic disadvantage crippled the trade in the Kingdom's capital. As the decline continued, Islam made its way to the Aceh region of Sumatra, spreading through contacts with Arab and Indian traders. By the late 13th century, the kingdom of Pasai in northern Sumatra converted to Islam. At the same time, Srivijaya was briefly a tributary state of the Khmer empire and later the Sukhothai kingdom. The last inscription, on which a crown prince, Ananggavarman, son of Adityawarman, is mentioned, dates from 1374.

Several attempts to revive Srivijaya were made by the fleeing princes of Srivijaya. In 1324, a prince of Srivijaya origin, Sri Maharaja Sang Utama Parameswara Batara Sri Tribuwana (Sang Nila Utama) founded the ancient Singapore (Temasek). He maintained control over Temasek for 48 years. Confirmed as ruler over Temasek by an envoy of the Chinese Emperor ca 1366. He was succeeded by his son Paduka Sri Pekerma Wira Diraja (1372 – 1386) and grandson, Paduka Seri Rana Wira Kerma (1386 – 1399). In 1401, his great grandson, Paduka Sri Maharaja Parameswara was expelled from Temasek by a Majapahit invasion. He later headed north and founded Sultanate of Malacca in 1402[28]. The Sultanate of Malacca succeeded Srivijaya Empire as a Malay political entity of the archipelago.[29][30]


In the world of commerce, Srivijaya rapidly rose to be a far-flung empire controlling the two passages between India and China, namely the Sunda Strait from Palembang and the Malacca straits from Kedah. Arab accounts state that the empire of the maharaja was so vast that in two years the swiftest vessel could not travel round all its islands, which produced camphor, aloes, cloves, sandal-wood, nutmegs, cardamom and crubebs, ivory, gold and tin, making the maharaja as rich as any king in the Indies.[citation needed]


Although Srivijaya left little archaeological remains and almost forgotten in the collective memory of its people, the rediscovery of this ancient maritime empire by Coedès back in 1920s has invoked the notions that in Southeast Asia such political entity of a vast maritime polity is possible to thrive in the past.

According to Malay Annals, the founder of Malacca Sultanate claimed to be the member of Palembang Srivijaya lineage. This suggested that in 15th century the prestige of Srivijaya still retained and used as the source for political legitimacy in the region.

Next to Majapahit, modern Indonesian nationalist have also invoked Srivijaya as the source of pride in Indonesia's past greatness.[31] It has become the source of national pride and regional identity, especially for the people of Palembang, South Sumatra province, and the whole Malay people. For the people of Palembang, Srivijaya has become the source of artistic inspiration for Gending Sriwijaya song and traditional dance. The same case also happened in Southern Thailand that recreated Sevichai (Srivijaya) dance in accordance to art and culture of ancient Srivijaya.

In Indonesia Srivijaya has become the street name in many cities and has become synonymous with Palembang and South Sumatra. Srivijaya University established in 1960 in Palembang was named after Srivijaya. Also Kodam Sriwijaya (a military commando area unit), PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (fertilizer company), Sriwijaya Post (a Palembang based newspaper), Sriwijaya Air (airlines), Srivijaya Stadium, and Sriwijaya F.C. (Palembang football club), all were named to honor this ancient maritime empire.

List of Rulers

The Maharajas of Srivijaya[32][22]

Date King's name Capital Stone inscription or embassies to China and events
683 Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa Srivijaya Kedukan Bukit (682), Talang Tuo (684), and Kota Kapur inscriptions

Malayu conquest, Central Java conquest

702 Indravarman




Embassies 702-716, 724(China)

Embassies to Caliph Muawiyah I and Caliph Umar bin Abdul Aziz

728 Rudra vikraman




Embassy 728-748
No information for the period 728-775
790 Dharmasetu or Vishnu Java Nakhon Si Thammarat (Ligor), Vat Sema Muang
775 Dharanindra Java Ligor, Starts to build Borobudur in 770,

conquer South Cambodia

782 Samaragrawira Java Ligor, Arabian text (790),

Starts to build Borobudur in 770, conquer South Cambodia

792 Samaratungga Java 802 lost Cambodia, 825 completion of Borobudur
835 Balaputradewa Srivijaya


Lost central Java, Move to Srivijaya

Nalanda Inscription (860)

No information for the period 835-960
960 Çri Udayadityavarman




Embassies 960, 962
980 Haji




Embassies 980-983
988 Sri Culamanivarmadeva




Embassy 988-992-1003


1008 Sri Maravijayottungga




Embassy 1008
1017 Sumatrabhumi Srivijaya


Embassy 1017
1025 Sangramavijayottungga Srivijaya


Captured by Rajendra Chola

Chola Inscription on the temple of Rajaraja, Tanjore

1028 Sri Deva Palembang


Embassy 1028

building of Tien Ching temple, Kuang Cho (Kanton) for Chinese Emperor

1078 Rajendra Dewa Kulottungga




Embassy 1079
No information for the period 1080-1155
1156 Rajendra III Palembang


Larger Leyden Plates
1183 Srimat Trailokyaraja Maulibhusana Warmadewa Dharmasraya Kingdom Bronze Buddha Chaiya 1183
No information for the period 1183-1275
1286 Srimat Tribhuwanaraja Mauli Warmadewa Dharmasraya Kingdom Padang Roco Inscription 1286, Pamalayu expedition 1275-1293


  2. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 122. 
  3. ^ Zain, Sabri. "Sejarah Melayu, Buddhist Empires". 
  5. ^ a b c Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 117. 
  7. ^ Krom, N.J. (1938). "Het Hindoe-tijdperk". in F.W. Stapel. Geschiedenis van Nederlandsch Indië. Amsterdam: N.V. U.M. Joost van den Vondel. vol. I p. 149. 
  8. ^ a b c d Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 114. 
  9. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 102. 
  10. ^ Krom, N.J. (1943). Het oude Java en zijn kunst (2nd ed. ed.). Haarlem: Erven F. Bohn N.V.. pp. 12. 
  11. ^ Taylor. Indonesia. pp. 29. 
  12. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 113. 
  13. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 124. 
  14. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 125. 
  15. ^ a b Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 132. 
  16. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 130. 
  17. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 140. 
  18. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 143. 
  19. ^ Laguna Copperplate Inscription - Article in English
  20. ^ The Laguna Copperplate Inscription. Accessed September 04, 2008.
  21. ^ Rasul, Jainal D. (2003). Agonies and Dreams: The Filipino Muslims and Other Minorities". Quezon City: CARE Minorities. pp. 77. 
  22. ^ a b c Muljana, Slamet (2006). Sriwijaya. Yogyakarta: LKiS. ISBN 9798451627. 
  23. ^ a b c Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 165. 
  24. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 167. 
  25. ^ Friedrich Hirth and W.W.Rockhill Chao Ju-kua, His Work on the Chinese and Arab Trade in the Twelfth and Thirteen centuries, entitled Chu-fan-chi St Petersburg,1911.
  27. ^ Drs. R. Soekmono, (1973, 5th reprint edition in 1988). Pengantar Sejarah Kebudayaan Indonesia 2, 2nd ed.. Yogyakarta: Penerbit Kanisius. pp. 60. 
  28. ^ Buyers, Christopher. "The Ruling House of Malacca - Johor". Retrieved 2009-06-13. 
  29. ^ Alexanderll, James (September 2006). Malaysia Brunei & Singapore. New Holland Publishers. pp. 8. ISBN 1860113095, 9781860113093. 
  30. ^ "South and Southeast Asia, 500 - 1500". The Encyclopedia of World History. 1. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 2001. pp. 138. 
  31. ^ Centrality: Indonesia's changing role in ASEAN
  32. ^ Munoz. Early Kingdoms. pp. 175. 

Further references

  • Muljana, Slamet (2006). Sriwijaya. Yogyakarta: LKiS. ISBN 9798451627. 

External links

Got something to say? Make a comment.
Your name
Your email address