Religious Belief and Ecclesiastical Organization in 14th Century Majapahit

Abstract

In the following chapter an attempt is made to give an outline of the 14th century Majapahit cultural background. The writing of an exhaustive description of Javanese culture of the Majapahit period is out of the question, nor should the following notes be considered as wholly applicable to the preceding and subsequent periods of the history of East Java. The reigns of the preceding Singasari Kings, all belonging to the House of Rājasa, are several times referred to in the Nāg. The Singasari and Majapahit periods may be coupled without losing sight, though, of the interruption caused by the Chinese invasion at the end of 13th century, which seems to have exercised an important influence on East Javanese economy. The culture and history of the nearly two centuries of Kaḍiri hegemony (beginning in the middle of the 11th century) is less well known than the Singasari-Majapahit period, and information on the latter should not be applied off-hand to the former. On the other hand the 15th and 16th centuries offer many problems connected with the decline of the Majapahit kingdom and the increasing influence of Islam.