letter Language Java

 

Old Javanese Literature, or sometimes spelled as Old Javanese literature includes literature written in Old Javanese in the period more or less written from the 9th century until the 14th century AD, beginning with the Inscription of Sukabumi. These literary works written in the form of prose (prose) and poetry (kakawin). These works include genres such as epic poems, statute law, chronic (Chronicle), and religious books. Old Javanese Literature inherited in the form of manuscripts and inscriptions. Manuscripts containing the Old Javanese texts amount to thousands while the inscriptions there are tens and even hundreds of them. Although here should be noted that not all literary texts contain inscriptions.

Literary works written in Java is important that this period included Candakarana, Kakawin translations of Ramayana and Mahabharata in the ancient Javanese language.

Old Javanese literary works largely preserved in Bali and manuscripts written on papyrus manuscripts. Although most of the ancient Javanese literature preserved in Bali, Java and Madura, there is also a preserved ancient Javanese literature. Even in Java there are also Old Javanese texts that are not known in Bali.

Scientific research on ancient Javanese literature began to flourish in the early 19th century and was originally founded by Stamford Raffles, Governor-General of the United Kingdom which ruled the island of Java. Apart from being a statesman, he is also interested in local culture. Together with his assistant, Colonel Colin Mackenzie, he collected and studied ancient Javanese texts.