The Javanese Term Boedjangga

Abstract

CONCERNING THE original meaning and the etymology of the Old Javanese term bhujanga, (in modern Javanese: boedjangga or poedjangga) considerable confusion exists, and studies of the semantic development of this word have by no means been satisfactorily completed. The common meaning of boedjangga is 'philologist, poet' or 'literary councillor,' and the term indicated in Old Javanese a more or less officially appointed professional scholar usually residing in or near the court. At the court of Madjapahit, the boedjangga was a priest, and according to the Javanese epic, Nagarakrtagama, in which several references to this official can be found, he also had a political function.' Kern and Berg both have equated him with the medieval 'clerk' of Western Europe, while in later times, as Hazeu has shown, the boedjangga was the official student of Old Javanese literature and law employed at the courts or in the major cities as both religious and legal adviser to the king or administration.2 This position also involved him in a study of history and genealogy as well as philology, and the catholicity of his studies made him the professional intellectual of his day.3 As far as etymology is concerned, the term has usually been connected with the Sanskrit bhujanga (or bhujaga) of which the most-widespread meaning is that of 'snake.' Although the words thus appear to be alike it would be difficult to prove any semantic connection between ' snake' and ' scholar.' How is it that the Sanskrit word, in a derivative language such as Old Javanese, has come to mean a totally different thing ? There is the added difficulty that in Sembiran bhoedjangga connotes a special caste of people (possibly descendants of brahmans). In this case also the transition of one meaning to the other is by no means clear. Expla-