A cuirass being held by a deity, from 10–11th century Nganjuk, East Java.

Karambalangan is a type of personal armor from Java. It is a metal coating worn in front of the chest or breastplate.[1]: 320 [2]: 802 

History

The Kakawin Ramayana (c. 870 AD), which is the Javanese version of Valmiki's epic Ramayana (c. 500 BC), mentions clothing and armor that reflect the era. A member of the royal family is said to wear crown, padaka (collar, medallion, or breastplate), karambalangan (girdle or plastron) and use gold-plated armor even in battle.[2]: 802 [3]: 27 

Karambalangan was recorded in the Kidung Panji Wijayakrama-Rangga Lawe (written as early as 1334 AD),[4]: 56  which mentioned that Rangga Lawe wore karambalangan manik (jeweled karambalangan) when he rebelled against Majapahit (1295 AD).[5]: 187  Emperor Raden Wijaya in that kidung was recorded using golden karambalangan manik.[5]: 105 

In the Kidung Sundayana, it is written that Gajah Mada before the Bubat tragedy wore a karambalangan (a metal plate on the front of the chest—breastplate) decorated with gold emboss, armed with a gold-plated spear, and a shield decorated with diamonds.[6][7]

In the main temple of Candi Penataran temple complex, 1269 saka or 1347 AD.

See also

References

  1. ^ Nugroho, Irawan Djoko (2011). Majapahit Peradaban Maritim. Suluh Nuswantara Bakti. ISBN 978-602-9346-00-8.
  2. ^ a b Zoetmulder, P. J. (1982). Old Javanese-English dictionary. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. ISBN 9024761786.
  3. ^ Tjoa-Bonatz, Mai Lin (2019). "JAVA : ARTS AND REPRESENTATIONS. Art historical and Archaeometric Analyses of Ancient Jewellery (7–16th C.) : The Prillwitz Collection of Javanese Gold". Archipel (97): 19–68.
  4. ^ Damais, Louis-Charles (1958). "I. Études d'épigraphie indonésienne : V. Dates de manuscrits et documents divers de Java, Bali et Lombok" Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 49, pp. 1-257.
  5. ^ a b Berg, C.C. (1930). Rangga Lawe: Middeljavaansche Historische Roman: Critisch uitgegeven. Batavia: Kon. Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Bibliotheca Javanica, 1).
  6. ^ Berg, Kindung Sundāyana (Kidung Sunda C), Soerakarta, Drukkerij “De Bliksem”, 1928.
  7. ^ Nugroho, Irawan Djoko (6 August 2018). "Baju Baja Emas Gajah Mada". Nusantara Review. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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