Karambalangan

Karambalangan

Karambalangan

Javanese body armor

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 

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

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. [1]
    Nugroho, Irawan Djoko (2011). Majapahit Peradaban Maritim. Suluh Nuswantara Bakti. ISBN 978-602-9346-00-8.
  2. [2]
    Zoetmulder, P. J. (1982). Old Javanese-English dictionary. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff. ISBN 9024761786.
  3. [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. [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. [5]
    Berg, C.C. (1930). Rangga Lawe: Middeljavaansche Historische Roman: Critisch uitgegeven. Batavia: Kon. Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Bibliotheca Javanica, 1).
  6. [6]
    Berg, Kindung Sundāyana (Kidung Sunda C), Soerakarta, Drukkerij “De Bliksem”, 1928.
  7. [7]
    Nugroho, Irawan Djoko (6 August 2018). "Baju Baja Emas Gajah Mada". Nusantara Review. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
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