Babad Dalem
Encyclopedia
Babad Dalem is a historical account from Bali
, Indonesia
, which exists in a large number of versions of varying length. The title may be translated as "Chronicle of Kings", although the Balinese
babad genre
does not quite accord to Western
-style chronicles. There are dated manuscripts from the early 19th century onwards, and the original version was very likely written in the course of the 18th century. The author was probably a Brahmin
tied to the Klungkung Palace
, the most prestigious of the nine pre-colonial royal seats of Bali.
The text is a blend of myth, legend
and history
, and traces the history of Balinese kingship back to the Javanese roots in the age of the Hindu
-Buddhist Majapahit empire (1293-c. 1527). The forces of Gajah Mada
, the chief minister (patih
) of Majapahit, invade Bali and subjugate the island (an event dated in 1343 in the Javanese poem Nagarakrtagama). A Javanese nobleman called Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
, the grandson of a Brahmin, is installed as the vassal ruler of Bali, with his residence in Samprangan
in the Gianyar regency. In the next generation the seat of the raja is moved to Gelgel
in the Klungkung
regency, where a strong kingdom takes shape. The collapse of Majapahit on Java later on leaves Gelgel as the heir of the classical Javanese civilization
. The account follows the fortunes of the Gelgel kingdom until its fall, historically dated in 1686.
A continuation of the Babad Dalem, sometimes called Babad Ksatria, follows the history of Klungkung, the successor kingdom of Gelgel. It was authored in the second half of the 19th century, with a later version including a brief account of the fall of Klungkung in 1908.
The great value of the Babad Dalem as a source of Balinese cultural values and perceptions of kingship is generally recognized by the scholars. Its value as a source of past events on Bali is controversial. The older versions contain few calendrical dates, and the babad genre seems more concerned with origins than with the exact chronology
of events. Comparisons with external (in particular Dutch
and Javanese) historical materials suggest that important aspects of the history of Gelgel have been left out or altered in the Babad Dalem.
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, which exists in a large number of versions of varying length. The title may be translated as "Chronicle of Kings", although the Balinese
Balinese people
The Balinese population of 3.0 million live mostly on the island of Bali, making up 89% of the island's population. There are also significant populations on the island of Lombok, and in the eastern-most regions of Java The Balinese population of 3.0 million (1.5% of Indonesia's population) live...
babad genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
does not quite accord to Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
-style chronicles. There are dated manuscripts from the early 19th century onwards, and the original version was very likely written in the course of the 18th century. The author was probably a Brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
tied to the Klungkung Palace
Klungkung Palace
The Klungkung Palace is a historical building complex situated in Semarapura, the capital of the Klungkung Regency on Bali, Indonesia. The palace was erected at the end of the 17th century, but largely destroyed during the Dutch colonial conquest in 1908...
, the most prestigious of the nine pre-colonial royal seats of Bali.
The text is a blend of myth, legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, and traces the history of Balinese kingship back to the Javanese roots in the age of the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
-Buddhist Majapahit empire (1293-c. 1527). The forces of Gajah Mada
Gajah Mada
Gajah Mada was, according to Javanese old manuscripts, poems and mythology, a powerful military leader and mahapatih or prime minister of the Majapahit Empire, credited with bringing the empire to its peak of glory...
, the chief minister (patih
Patih
Patih or Pepatih is a regent title which was traditionally used among Austronesian polities of insular Southeast Asia, in particular those of Java and the Malay world. In the first place it denoted the chief minister of a kingdom or a traditional regency. Lesser ministers could also be known by...
) of Majapahit, invade Bali and subjugate the island (an event dated in 1343 in the Javanese poem Nagarakrtagama). A Javanese nobleman called Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan
Sri Aji Kresna Kepakisan was a king of Bali who governed the island under the suzerainty of the Javanese Majapahit Empire . He is supposed to have ruled in the mid-14th century, and to be the ancestor of the later kings of Bali...
, the grandson of a Brahmin, is installed as the vassal ruler of Bali, with his residence in Samprangan
Samprangan
Samprangan, also spelt Samplangan, is a historical site on Bali, Indonesia. It is situated about one kilometer to the east of Gianyar town. According to Balinese historical tradition, it was the first residence of the dynasty of kings of Bali who descended from the Javanese Majapahit Empire, being...
in the Gianyar regency. In the next generation the seat of the raja is moved to Gelgel
Gelgel
Gelgel may refer to:*Gelgel, Chad, a city in Chad*Gelgel, Indonesia, a village on the island of Bali, and a former kingdom...
in the Klungkung
Klungkung
Klungkung is the smallest regency of Bali, Indonesia. It has an area of 315 km2 and population of 169,906 . Its regency seat is Semarapura....
regency, where a strong kingdom takes shape. The collapse of Majapahit on Java later on leaves Gelgel as the heir of the classical Javanese civilization
Civilization
Civilization is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally...
. The account follows the fortunes of the Gelgel kingdom until its fall, historically dated in 1686.
A continuation of the Babad Dalem, sometimes called Babad Ksatria, follows the history of Klungkung, the successor kingdom of Gelgel. It was authored in the second half of the 19th century, with a later version including a brief account of the fall of Klungkung in 1908.
The great value of the Babad Dalem as a source of Balinese cultural values and perceptions of kingship is generally recognized by the scholars. Its value as a source of past events on Bali is controversial. The older versions contain few calendrical dates, and the babad genre seems more concerned with origins than with the exact chronology
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
of events. Comparisons with external (in particular Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and Javanese) historical materials suggest that important aspects of the history of Gelgel have been left out or altered in the Babad Dalem.
Further reading
- C.C. Berg (1927), De middeljavaansche historische traditië. Santpoort: Mees.