Nagarakretagama

The Nagarakretagama is a 14th-century Old Javanese court poem by Mpu Prapanca. It praises King Hayam Wuruk, recounts court ceremonies and journeys, and describes Majapahit’s claimed sphere of influence.

Majapahit: A Javanese empire centered in eastern Java that flourished from the 13th to 15th centuries. The poem presents the kingdom’s court, territories, and ruler.
Canto: A major division of a long poem or narrative work. The poem’s 98 cantos structure its praise, descriptions, and travel narrative.
Candi Jawi: A Hindu-Buddhist temple in East Java associated with the Singhasari kingdom. Prapanca describes the temple during Hayam Wuruk’s journey through Java.
Bali: An Indonesian island east of Java with a distinctive Hindu-majority culture and long literary traditions. The manuscript survived in Bali, where Old Javanese works continued to be copied and studied.
Mpu Prapanca: A 14th-century Javanese Buddhist cleric and court poet who composed the Nagarakretagama. He wrote the poem while serving in Majapahit’s religious and political world.
Royal itinerary: A planned sequence of places visited by a ruler or royal party. Prapanca’s account of Hayam Wuruk’s journey links court ritual to provincial rule.
Candi Singhasari: A 13th-century temple in East Java traditionally associated with King Kertanegara of Singhasari. The poem’s account connects Majapahit’s ruler to an earlier Javanese royal center.
H. Kern: A Dutch linguist and scholar of Indonesian languages who published a study of the Nagarakretagama in 1914. His edition helped introduce the poem to modern historical scholarship.
Hayam Wuruk: A Majapahit king who ruled from 1350 to 1389 during the kingdom’s height. The poem celebrates his rule and records his travels and ceremonies.
Royal progress: A ruler’s ceremonial journey through territories under their authority or influence. The king’s travels turn movement through Java into a display of sovereignty.

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