The body of the king: reappraising Singhasari period syncretism
This article argues for a reassessment of the history of the Singhasari period based on disambiguating diverse historical sources that have often been combined to produce a seamless narrative, when in fact the textual record is marked by conflict, contradiction and ambiguity. The author proposes a b...
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Format: | Print Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Cambridge Univ. Press
2007
|
In: |
Journal of Southeast Asian studies
Year: 2007, Volume: 38, Issue: 1, Pages: 27-53 |
Further subjects: | B
Literature
B Buddhism B Religion B Epoch B Royal house B Politics B Hinduism B History B Syncretism B Indonesia |
Summary: | This article argues for a reassessment of the history of the Singhasari period based on disambiguating diverse historical sources that have often been combined to produce a seamless narrative, when in fact the textual record is marked by conflict, contradiction and ambiguity. The author proposes a basic division between the perspective of kakawin literature, which represents the interests of royal and priestly actors with a large stake in maintaining a fixed symbolic order, and literature in Middle Javanese, which reflects the more personal values that arose among young royals competing for favourable position in the core-line status hierarchy. The author further claims that symbolic initiatives of Krtanagara (1265-92 CE) that led to his identification as ‘the god Shiva-Buddha’ were not aimed at producing a syncretic religious system, but rather a politico-religious hegemony that had profound effects on the shape of statecraft during the Majapahit era. (J Southeast Asian Stud/GIGA) |
---|---|
ISSN: | 0022-4634 |
Contains: | In: Journal of Southeast Asian studies
|