Talang Tuo inscription facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Talang Tuo inscription |
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Talang Tuo inscription, displayed at National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta
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| Material | Stone |
| Size | 50 cm × 80 cm |
| Writing | Pallava script in Old Malay |
| Created | 606 Saka (corresponds to 23 March 684) |
| Discovered | Bukit Seguntang near Palembang, Indonesia |
| Present location | National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta |
| Registration | D.145 |
The Talang Tuo inscription is an ancient stone carving from the 7th century. It was found in 1920 near Palembang, Indonesia. This special stone tells us about a beautiful park called Śrīksetra. A king named Sri Jayanasa created this park for the happiness of all living things.
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Discovery and Details
A person named Louis Constant Westenenk found this inscription. He discovered it on November 17, 1920. It was located at the foot of Bukit Seguntang hill, close to Palembang.
The stone was in great shape when found. Its writings were very clear and easy to read. The inscription is a stone block measuring 50 cm by 80 cm.
It is dated to 606 Saka, which means March 23, 684 CE. The writing uses the Pallava script and is in Old Malay. The stone has 14 lines of text.
Two scholars, Van Ronkel and Bosch, were the first to translate it. Their work was published in a journal called Acta Orientalia. Since 1920, the inscription has been kept safe. You can see it at the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta. Its inventory number is D.145.
The King's Message: A Park for Everyone
The Talang Tuo inscription shares the wishes of King Sri Jayanasa. He wanted everyone to be happy and healthy. The king created a park called Śrīksetra.
A Place for All Creatures
The king's main goal was for all living things to benefit from this park. He wished for all plants, like coconut, palm, and sago trees, to grow well. He also wanted all kinds of fruit trees and bamboos to thrive.
The inscription mentions other plants, dams, and ponds. The king hoped that all his good deeds would help every creature. This included both animals that move and plants that stay in one place.
Wishes for Happiness and Prosperity
The king wished for people to find happiness on their journeys. If they were hungry or tired, he hoped they would find food and water. He also wanted their farms and orchards to produce a lot of food.
He wished for their animals to be healthy and grow. Even their workers and servants should be successful. The king hoped that no one would suffer from bad luck or nightmares.
Goodness and Peace
The inscription also talks about good behavior. The king wished that all planets and stars would bring good fortune. He hoped people would stay healthy and not get sick or old too soon.
He wanted his people to be loyal and honest. Friends should not betray each other, and wives should be faithful. The king wished for a peaceful land. He hoped there would be no thieves, violence, or bad actions.
Spiritual Blessings
Finally, the king wished for people to have good friends. He hoped they would develop kind thoughts and friendship. He wanted them to always be generous and patient.
He wished for them to be strong, hardworking, and knowledgeable in all arts. The king hoped they would have clear minds, good memories, and wisdom. He wanted them to be brave, strong, and remember their past lives. He wished for them to have beautiful looks, happy smiles, and pleasant voices.
The king's ultimate wish was for everyone to achieve great spiritual enlightenment.
Understanding Old Malay
The Talang Tuo inscription is very important for language experts. It is one of the earliest examples of written Old Malay language. This old language is the ancestor of Modern Malay, which includes Indonesian and Malaysian.
Words Then and Now
Many words in the inscription are still similar to words used today. You can often recognize them! The biggest differences are in how verbs are formed. For example, in Old Malay, ni- was used for passive actions, but today we use di-. Also, mar- or ma- was used for active actions, while today we use men-. The ending -na in Old Malay is now -nya for possession or objects.
Here are some examples of Old Malay words and their modern versions:
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See also
