Karambalangan Explained

Karambalangan is a type of personal armor from Java. It is a metal coating worn in front of the chest or breastplate.^{[1] [2]}

History

The Kakawin Ramayana (c. 870 AD), which is the Javanese version of Valmiki's epic Ramayana (c. 500 BC), mentions clothing and armor that reflect the era. A member of the royal family is said to wear crown, padaka (collar, medallion, or breastplate), karambalangan (girdle or plastron) and use gold-plated armor even in battle.^[3]

Karambalangan was recorded in the Kidung Panji Wijayakrama-Rangga Lawe (written as early as 1334 AD),^[4] which mentioned that Rangga Lawe wore karambalangan manik (jeweled karambalangan) when he rebelled against Majapahit (1295 AD).^[5] Emperor Raden Wijaya in that kidung was recorded using golden karambalangan manik.

In the Kidung Sundayana, it is written that Gajah Mada before the Bubat tragedy wore a karambalangan (a metal plate on the front of the chest—breastplate) decorated with gold emboss, armed with a gold-plated spear, and a shield decorated with diamonds.^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Baju rantai
• Baju lamina
• Baju empurau
• Baru Oroba
• Baru lema'a
• Siping-siping
• Kawaca

References

1. Book: Nugroho, Irawan Djoko . Majapahit Peradaban Maritim . Suluh Nuswantara Bakti . 2011 . 978-602-9346-00-8 .
2. Book: Zoetmulder, P. J. . Old Javanese-English dictionary . Martinus Nijhoff . 1982 . 9024761786 . The Hague.
3. Tjoa-Bonatz . Mai Lin . 2019 . JAVA : ARTS AND REPRESENTATIONS. Art historical and Archaeometric Analyses of Ancient Jewellery (7–16th C.) : The Prillwitz Collection of Javanese Gold . Archipel . 97 . 19–68 .
4. Damais, Louis-Charles (1958). "I. Études d'épigraphie indonésienne : V. Dates de manuscrits et documents divers de Java, Bali et Lombok" Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 49, pp. 1-257.
5. Berg, C.C. (1930). Rangga Lawe: Middeljavaansche Historische Roman: Critisch uitgegeven. Batavia: Kon. Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen (Bibliotheca Javanica, 1).
6. Berg, Kindung Sundāyana (Kidung Sunda C), Soerakarta, Drukkerij “De Bliksem”, 1928.
7. Web site: Nugroho . Irawan Djoko . 6 August 2018 . Baju Baja Emas Gajah Mada . 14 August 2019 . Nusantara Review.