Srivijaya  

From Johor Bahru Directory

The maximum extent of Srivijayan Empire around 8th century, showing the series of Srivijayan expeditions and conquest.   (click image for larger view)

Candi Gumpung, a Buddhist temple at Muaro Jambi of the Malayu Kingdom, later integrated as one of Srivijaya's important urban center.

Srivijaya or Sriwijaya was a powerful ancient Indianized Buddhist empire that ruled the western part of the Malay Archipelago between the 7th century to the 13th century. Based in Palembang, along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking, in what is today the province of South Sumatra, Indonesia, the empire reached its maximum extent around the 8th century, stretching vertically downward from modern-day Southern Thailand to the western half of Java island, including the whole of the Malay Peninsula and what is today Johor Bahru. The kingdom ceased to exist in the 13th century, due to a variety of factors, including the expansion of the Javanese Majapahit empire. In Sanskrit, Sri means "shining" or "radiant" and Vijaya means "victory" or "excellence".

2.   Other names: Srivijaya and by extension, Sumatra, had been known by different names to different peoples. The Chinese called it Sanfotsi, while Sanskrit and Pali referred to it as Yavadesh and Javadeh, respectively.^[1] The Arabs called it Zabag and the Khmer called it Melayu.^[1] There was an even older kingdom of Kantoli that could be considered the predecessor of Srivijaya.^[1][2]

3.   Brief history: 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) who led 20,000 troops (mainly by land plus a few hundred ships) from Minanga Tamwan to Jambi and Palembang. The empire was a coastal trading centre and 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 organized in 3 main zones:

1. the estuarine capital region centred on Palembang;
2. the Musi River basin which served as hinterland; and
3. rival estuarine areas, capable of forming rival power centres.

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.

Under the leadership of Jayanasa, the Malayu Kingdom became the first kingdom to be integrated into the Srivijayan Empire. This possibly occurred in the 680s. Malayu, also known as Jambi, was rich in gold and was held in high esteem, and Srivijaya recognized that the submission of Malayu would increase their own prestige. According to the Kota Kapur Inscription, discovered on Bangka Island, the empire conquered most of Southern Sumatra and neighboring island of Bangka, as far as Lampung. Jayanasa launched a military campaign against Bhumi Java in the late 7th century, a period which coincides with the decline of Tarumanagara in West Java and Holing (Kalingga) in Central Java. The empire thus grew to control the trade on the Strait of Malacca, Sunda Strait, the South China Sea, the Java Sea, and Karimata Strait.

Chinese records mention two Sumatran kingdoms, as well as three other kingdoms on Java as 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. The family was probably the Sailendras.

During the same century, Langkasuka on the Malay Peninsula became part of Srivijaya. 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 into Java and the Malay Peninsula, Srivijaya controlled two major trade choke points in Southeast Asia.

At some point in the 7th century, Cham ports in eastern Indochina started to attract traders. This diverted the flow of trade from Srivijaya. In an effort to divert the flow, the Srivijayan king or Maharaja, Dharmasetu, launched various raids against the coastal cities of Indochina. The city of Indrapura by the Mekong River was temporarily controlled from Palembang in the early 8th century. The Srivijayans continued to dominate areas around present-day Cambodia until the Khmer King Jayavarman II, the founder of the Khmer Empire dynasty, severed the Srivijayan link later in the same century.

After Dharmasetu, Samaratungga became the next Maharaja of Srivijaya, reigning from 792 to 835. Unlike the expansionist Dharmasetu, Samaratungga did not indulge in military expansion but preferred to strengthen the Srivijayan hold of Java. He personally oversaw the construction of Borobudur. The temple was completed in 825, during his reign.