Quote:
|
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
Pak Ganja, the first page of your three part book is from a liitle booklet printed in Solo in 1934. It is called "Pakem Doewoeng Angka I, Wesi Adji", and was printed by Stroomdrukkerij "De Bliksem".
|
You are right, Alan. And I have too, Stroomdrukkerij "De Bliksem" in the Javanese script or Caraka script. Although it is more a "historiografi" on keris than history, yet this book is interesting. We can interpret and found some facts out of these dongengs (stories) on keris.
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey
But here's an interesting thing:- Empu Angga was a Pajajaran empu; that's where the Silsilah places him, but he worked for a Mojo ruler.
What is the other part of your three part book, Pak Ganja? I may be able to identify that also.
|
Yes, this book wrote about it. And Empu Angga is not alone. The most spectacular Empu in the "kingdom era" was Empu Jaka Supa -- who had been working in at least three kingdoms, and used more than 10 great names!
Empu Jakasupa was the son of the great Empu of Majapahit, Empu Supamandrangi (married to a king's daughter). Empu Supamandrangi was honored as Pangeran Sendang Sedayu.
His son Jaka Supa is so spectacular. Born in the end era of Majapahit, Jaka Supa then worked for Demak Islamic kingdom, but only for a short time. He then went to Madura and changed his name as Empu Ki Macan... (The Tiger).
And not stayed for a long time in Madura. Ki Macan alias Jaka Supa then crossed the straits and dwelled in Surabaya during Demak era, changed name as Empu Kodok (The Frog).
In the Pajang era (King Hadiwijaya 1568-1582) Empu Kodok moved silently to Pajang. The exact place is in Laweyan, Solo (Central Java) now. People surround called him, Empu Galeng. (Galeng means small dikes in rice field), because he always worked in the rice field's dike. One day, he was called by king of Pajang and then honored as a "minister" of "Pande" (smith) and was given name as Empu Umyang. (Umyang means "raving" or "talking alone"). Called like that, because once he tried his kris to someone -- and the victim then raving, talking alone...).
The very fast growing of Empu Umyang resulted jealousy from the previous empu, Empu Tjoeblak (Cublak). Then, defamation happened. Empu Umyang was expelled by the king, and then stayed for short time in Madiun (East Java) and bore the new name, Empu Tundhung Madiun (tundhung means expelled). Then he moved to Kudus, still in the era of Pajang kingdom, bearing name Empu Tundhung only.
The great king of Mataram, Sultan Agung Hanyokro Kusumo (1613-1645) was preparing an attack to Batavia (now Jakarta), attack to VOC. He gathered empus from all over Java, including Empu Tundhung from Kudus. Empu Tundhung was more than 105 years old at that time but still productive, He was one of the 8 "empu tindih" (leading empus) among the 800 empus of Mataram during the preparation of the Batavia attack. Because of "forever young" Empu Tundhung, he was then given a new name as Ki Supa Anom (anom means young), or more popular as Ki Nom...
And the last days of Ki Nom, he then was awarded property of land "200 karya" (I don't know the conversion of this measure) in Mataram, and the noble name as Pangeran Sendang. Good property, and also beautiful wife of king descent...
Empus, were regarded as important assets for many kingdoms in Java in the past...
Ganjawulung