Indonesia and Majapahit

The greatest extent of Majapahit influence based on the Nagarakretagama in 1365

A Borobudur ship carved on Borobudur temple, c. 800 CE. Outrigger boats from the archipelago may have made trade voyages to the east coast of Africa as early as the 1st century CE.

A maja fruit growing near Trowulan. The bitter-tasting fruit is the origin of the kingdom's name

The submission of Prince Diponegoro to General De Kock at the end of the Java War in 1830

Nagarakretagama palm-leaf manuscript. Composed by Mpu Prapanca in 1365, it provides a primary historical account of Majapahit court during the reign of King Hayam Wuruk.

Mount Semeru and Mount Bromo in East Java. Indonesia's seismic and volcanic activity is among the world's highest.

Painting of a 14th-century Yuan junk. Similar ships were sent by the Yuan in their naval armada.

Rainforest in Mount Palung National Park, West Kalimantan

King Kertarajasa portrayed as Harihara, amalgamation of Shiva and Vishnu. Originally located at Candi Simping, Blitar, today it is displayed in National Museum.

Köppen-Geiger climate classification map for Indonesia

Golden image of a mounted rider, possibly the Hindu god Surya, within a stylised solar halo. Below is a conch flanked by two nagas. 14th-century Majapahit art, National Museum Jakarta.

Major volcanoes in Indonesia. Indonesia is in the Pacific Ring of Fire area.

The statue of Parvati as mortuary deified portrayal of Tribhuwanottunggadewi, queen of Majapahit, mother of Hayam Wuruk.

Low visibility in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, due to deforestation-related haze.

Rough estimations of Majapahit's conquest of the Indonesian archipelago (Nusantara) in the 13th century, its decline and its eventual fall in the early 16th century to Demak Sultanate. The existing historical records from several sources only partially describe the years listed and thus are subject to revisions.

A presidential inauguration by the MPR in the Parliament Complex Jakarta, 2014

The terracotta figure popularly believed by Mohammad Yamin as the portrait of Gajah Mada, collection of Trowulan Museum. His claim, however, is not backed by historical background.

Embassy of Indonesia, Canberra, Australia

Gajah Mada inscription, dated 1273 Saka (1351 CE), mentioned about a sacred caitya building dedicated by Gajah Mada for the late King Kertanegara of Singhasari.

Vast palm oil plantation in Bogor, West Java. Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil.

Bronze cannon, called cetbang, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from c. 1470–1478 Majapahit. Note the Surya Majapahit emblem on the bronze cannon.

A proportional representation of Indonesia exports, 2019

The route of the voyages of Zheng He's fleet, including Majapahit ports.

Jatiluhur Dam, Indonesia's first and largest dam.

The mortuary deified portrait statue of Queen Suhita (reign 1429–1447), discovered at Jebuk, Kalangbret, Tulungagung, East Java, National Museum of Indonesia.

Demak was the earliest Islamic polity in Java that replaced Majapahit.

Borobudur in Central Java, the world's largest Buddhist temple, is the single most visited tourist attraction in Indonesia.

Wringin Lawang, the 15.5-meter tall red brick split gate in Trowulan, believed to be the entrance of an important compound.

Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, has the highest recorded level of diversity in marine life, according to Conservation International.

The king of Java and his 7 vassal kings, as imagined in a 15th century British manuscript contained in Friar Odoric's account.

The graceful Bidadari Majapahit, golden celestial apsara in Majapahit style perfectly describes Majapahit as "the golden age" of the archipelago.

Gold figure from the Majapahit period representing Sutasoma being borne by the man-eater Kalmasapada.

A Hindu shrine dedicated to King Siliwangi in Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta, Bogor. Hinduism has left a legacy on Indonesian art and culture.

Palm leaf manuscript of Kakawin Sutasoma, a 14th-century Javanese poem.

Menara Kudus, a mosque with a traditional Indonesian architectural style.

Bas reliefs of Tegowangi temple, dated from Majapahit period, demonstrate the East Javanese style.

Pair of door guardians from a temple, Eastern Java, 14th century, Museum of Asian Art, San Francisco.

Bandung Institute of Technology in West Java

Jabung temple near Paiton, Probolinggo, East Java, dated from Majapahit period.

Riots on the streets of Jakarta on 14 May 1998.

The 16.5-metre tall Bajang Ratu Paduraksa gate, at Trowulan, echoed the grandeur of Majapahit.

Traditional Balinese painting depicting cockfighting

The stepped terraces, pavilions, and split gates of Cetho temple complex on mount Lawu slopes.

An avenue of Tongkonan houses in a Torajan village, South Sulawesi

Majapahit terracotta piggy bank, 14th or 15th century Trowulan, East Java. (Collection of National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta)

Ancient red-brick canal discovered in Trowulan. Majapahit had a well-developed irrigation infrastructure.

Pandava and Krishna in an act of the Wayang Wong performance

Majapahit core realm and provinces (Mancanagara) in eastern and central parts of Java, including islands of Madura and Bali.

Advertisement for Loetoeng Kasaroeng (1926), the first fiction film produced in the Dutch East Indies

The extent of Majapahit's influence under Hayam Wuruk in 1365 according to Nagarakretagama.

Metro TV at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, reporting the 2010 AFF Championship

A 1.79 kilogram, 21-karat Majapahit period gold image discovered in Agusan, Philippines, copied Nganjuk bronze images of the early Majapahit period, signify Majapahit cultural influence on southern Philippines.

Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Indonesia's most famous novelist. Many considered him to be Southeast Asia's leading candidate for a Nobel Prize in Literature.

Nasi Padang with rendang, gulai and vegetables

14th-century gold armlets and rings in East Javanese Majapahit style, found at Fort Canning Hill, Singapore, suggests that Tumasik or Singapura was within Majapahit sphere of influence.

A demonstration of Pencak Silat, a form of martial arts

Adityawarman, a senior minister of Majapahit depicted as Bhairava. He established the Pagaruyung Kingdom in Central Sumatra.

A Hindu prayer ceremony at Besakih Temple in Bali, the only Indonesian province where Hinduism is the predominant religion.

On centre bottom row (no. 8) is a Yǒng-Lè Tōng-Bǎo (永樂通寶) cash coin cast under the Yǒng-Lè Emperor (永樂帝) of Ming dynasty. These were cast in great quantities and used by Ashikaga, Ryukyu, as well as Majapahit.

Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh. The spread of Islam in Indonesia began in the region.

Pura Maospahit ("Majapahit Temple") in Denpasar, Bali, demonstrate the typical Majapahit red brick architecture.

The Majapahit style minaret of Kudus Mosque.

Bas relief from Candi Penataran describes the Javanese-style pendopo pavilion, commonly found across Java and Bali.

The Kris of Knaud, one of the oldest surviving kris is dated to Majapahit period

The high reliefs of Gajah Mada and Majapahit history depicted in Monas, has become the source of Indonesian national pride of past greatness.

Gajah Mada statue in front of Telecommunication Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta. Palapa, Indonesia's first telecommunication satellite launched on 9 July 1976 was named after Palapa oath.

Genealogy diagram of Rajasa dynasty, the royal family of Singhasari and Majapahit. Rulers are highlighted with period of reign.

Theatrical performance depicting the Mongol invasion of Java, performed by 150 students of Indonesian Institute of the Arts, Yogyakarta. The history of Majapahit continues to inspire contemporary artists.

Cropped portion of China Sea in the Miller atlas, showing six and three-masted jong.

Armor depicted in a statue from a candi in Singasari.

This Jiaozhi arquebus is similar to Java arquebus.

Deity holding a cuirass, from earlier, 10-11th century Nganjuk, East Java.

Majapahit, also known by its Sanskrit name Wilwatikta was a Javanese Hindu thalassocratic empire in Southeast Asia that was based on the island of Java (in modern-day Indonesia).

- Majapahit

The Indonesian archipelago has been a valuable region for trade since at least the 7th century when Srivijaya and later Majapahit traded with entities from mainland China and the Indian subcontinent.

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31 related topics

A Javanese bride and groom wearing their traditional garb

Javanese people

Javanese adapted many aspects of Indian culture, such as the Ramayana epic.

Sultan Amangkurat II of Mataram (upper right) watching warlord Untung Surapati fighting Captain Tack of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). ca 1684 AD.

A Javanese courtly ceremony at Keraton Surakarta in 1932.

Javanese cultural expressions, such as wayang and gamelan are often used to promote the excellence of Javanese culture.

Gamelan is one of Javanese cultural expression that demonstrate refinement.

Javanese priyayi (aristocrat) and servants, c. undefined 1865.

Example of Javanese cuisine. Clockwise: fried tempeh, mlinjo crackers, gudeg with rice wrapped in teak leaf, green chili sambal and sliced lime.

Nasi tumpeng, the quintessentially Javanese rice dish, symbolises the volcano.

Inhabitants of Jave la Grande (Great Java island), from Nicholas Vallard's manuscript sea atlas (1547). The people are armed with spear and shortsword with curving hilt, a feature of Indonesian weapon (golok?). The man riding a horse seems to be a leader or noble. The servant behind him carried a parasol. Several men is wearing turbans, which may indicate that they are Muslims, but the women did not cover their head like Muslims do (it needs to be noted that, this custom of Muslim women not wearing a veil in Indonesia is quite common until after World War 2). In the background are several raised wooden huts, also a feature of Indonesian building. It is unknown whether these huts are for dwelling or serve as a temporary shelter for people working on the orchard.

Javanese migrant workers in Suriname, circa 1940

A decorative kris with a figure of Semar as the handle. The bilah has thirteen luk

Weapons of Java: Machetes, maces, bow and arrows, blowpipe, sling

Short swords, shields, and a matchlock gun (istinggar)

Javanese woodworkers making traditional masks during the Dutch East Indies era

The carpenters' tools of the Javanese people

A drawing of Javanese manufacturing tools, handicrafts, and musical instruments

Javanese musical instruments, many of which require the skills of blacksmith and carpenters

The Javan or Javanese (Javanese:, Wong Jawa (in Ngoko register); , Tiyang Jawi (in Krama register)) are indigenous ethnic group native to the central and eastern hemisphere of Java island, Indonesia.

Raden Wijaya would later establish Majapahit near the delta of the Brantas River in modern-day Mojokerto, East Java.

Southeast Asia

Geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of Australia.

Megalithic statue found in Tegurwangi, Sumatra, Indonesia 1500 CE

The Austroasiatic and Austronesian expansions into Maritime Southeast Asia.

Bronze drum from Sông Đà, northern Vietnam. Mid-1st millennium BC

Spread of Hinduism from South Asia to Southeast Asia

Borobudur temple in Central Java, Indonesia

Wapauwe Old Mosque is the oldest surviving mosque in Indonesia, and the second oldest in Southeast Asia, built in 1414

Fort Cornwallis in George Town marks the spot where the British East India Company first landed in Penang in 1786, thus heralding the British colonisation of Malaya

Duit, a coin minted by the VOC, 1646–1667. 2 kas, 2 duit

Southeast Asia map of Köppen climate classification

Komodo dragon in Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Wallace's hypothetical line divides Indonesian Archipelago into 2 types of fauna, Australasian and Southeast Asian fauna. The deepwater of the Lombok Strait between the islands of Bali and Lombok formed a water barrier even when lower sea levels linked the now-separated islands and landmasses on either side

The Port of Singapore is the busiest transshipment and container port in the world, and is an important transportation and shipping hub in Southeast Asia

Along with its temples Cambodia has been promoting its coastal resorts. Island off Otres Beach Sihanoukville, Cambodia

Population distribution of the countries of Southeast Asia (with Indonesia split into its major islands).

Ati woman in Aklan – the Negritos were the earliest inhabitants of Southeast Asia.

Spirit houses are common in areas of Southeast Asia where Animism is a held belief.

The Mother Temple of Besakih, one of Bali's most significant Balinese Hindu temples.

Thai Theravada Buddhists in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The prayer hall of the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the oldest Taoist temple in Penang, Malaysia.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque in Brunei, an Islamic country with Sharia rule.

Roman Catholic Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the metropolitan see of the Archbishop of Manila, Philippines.

A Protestant church in Indonesia. Indonesia has the largest Protestant population in Southeast Asia.

Jewish Surabaya Synagogue in Indonesia, demolished in 2013.

The Royal Ballet of Cambodia (Paris, France 2010)

Angklung as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Thai manuscript from before the 19th-century writing system

Sign in Balinese and Latin script at a Hindu temple in Bali

East Timor and the southern portion of Indonesia are the only parts that are south of the Equator.

After the departure of the Mongols, Wijaya established the Majapahit Empire in eastern Java in 1293.

Java

Parahyangan highland near Buitenzorg, c. 1865–1872

Banteng at Alas Purwo, eastern edge of Java

Male Javan rhino shot in 1934 in West Java. Today only small numbers of Javan rhino survive in Ujung Kulon; it is the world's rarest rhino.

Mount Sumbing surrounded by rice fields. Java's volcanic topography and rich agricultural lands are the fundamental factors in its history.

Cangkuang Hindu temple a shrine for Shiva, dated from the 8th century the Galuh Kingdom.

The 9th century Borobudur Buddhist stupa in Central Java

Tea plantation in Java during Dutch colonial period, in or before 1926

Japanese prepare to discuss surrender terms with British-allied forces in Java 1945

SambaSunda music performance, featuring traditional Sundanese music instruments.

Lakshmana, Rama and Shinta in Ramayana ballet at Prambanan, Java.

Languages spoken in Java (Javanese is shown in white). "Malay" refers to Betawi, the local dialect as one of Malay creole dialect.

Water buffalo ploughing rice fields near Salatiga, in Central Java.

A Hindu shrine dedicated to King Siliwangi in Pura Parahyangan Agung Jagatkarta, Bogor.

Mendut Vihara, a Buddhist monastery near Mendut temple, Magelang.

Masjid Gedhe Kauman in Yogyakarta, build in traditional Javanese multi-tiered roof.

Ganjuran Church in Bantul, built in traditional Javanese architecture.

Java (Jawa, ; ꦗꦮ; ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia.

The eastern Javanese kingdoms of Kediri, Singhasari and Majapahit were mainly dependent on rice agriculture, yet also pursued trade within the Indonesian archipelago, and with China and India.

Bali

Mount Agung is the highest point of Bali.

Bali myna is found only on Bali and is critically endangered.

Ogoh-ogoh procession on the eve of Nyepi

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport

One of the major forms of transport is the scooter.

The Mother Temple of Besakih, one of Bali's most significant Hindu temples.

Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, the home of Bali United F.C.

The cliff of Nusa Penida with Kelingking beach at the foregound

Several tourist spot in Bali island, from top left to right: Sunset over Amed beach with Mount Agung in the background, Garuda Wisnu Kencana monument, Tanah Lot temple, view from top of Besakih Temple, scuba diving around Pemuteran, The Rock Bar at Jimbaran Bay, and various traditional Balinese people activities

Melasti, is a Hindu Balinese purification ceremony and ritual

Rejang, A sacred balinesse dance to greet The Gods that come down to the earth on ceremony day

Penataran Lempuyang Temple, Gunung Lempuyang, Bali

Bali, officially the Bali Province (Provinsi Bali) is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands.

The Hindu Majapahit Empire (1293–1520 AD) on eastern Java founded a Balinese colony in 1343.

Borobudur

Straight-line arrangement of Borobudur, Pawon, and Mendut

Exposed Buddha image within the stupas of Borobudur upper terraces

A painting by G.B. Hooijer (c. 1916–1919) reconstructing the scene of Borobudur during its heyday

Borobudur stupas overlooking a mountain. For centuries, it was deserted.

Borobudur's main stupa in mid 19th-century, a wooden deck had been installed above the main stupa.

Borobudur after Van Erp's restoration in 1911. Note the reconstructed chhatra pinnacle on top of the main stupa (now dismantled).

The Unfinished Buddha from the main stupa of Borobudur at Karmawibhangga Museum, to which the Buddhists give offerings, along with the main stupa's chhatra on its back.

Embedding concrete and PVC pipe to improve Borobudur's drainage system during the 1973 restoration

A 1968 Indonesian stamp promoting restoration of Borobudur

Buddhist pilgrims meditate on the top platform

Location of Borobudur relative to Mount Merapi and Yogyakarta

Borobudur is surrounded by mountains, including twin volcanoes Mount Merbabu (left) and Merapi (right)

Borobudur ground plan taking the form of a Mandala

Aerial view of Borobudur, it took the form of a step pyramid and mandala plan

Half cross-section with 4:6:9 height ratio for foot, body and head, respectively

Stairs of Borobudur through arches of Kala

A narrow corridor with reliefs on the wall

The position of narrative bas-reliefs stories on Borobudur wall

The Karmavibangga scene on Borobudur's hidden foot, on the right depicting sinful act of killing and cooking turtles and fishes, on the left those who make living by killing animals will be tortured in hell, by being cooked alive, being cut, or being thrown into a burning house.

Queen Maya riding horse carriage retreating to Lumbini to give birth to Prince Siddhartha Gautama

Prince Siddhartha Gautama became an ascetic hermit.

A relief of Jataka story of giant turtle that saving drowned sailors.

A relief of the Gandavyuha story from Borobudur 2nd level north wall.

A Buddha statue with the hand position of dharmachakra mudra

Head from a Borobudur Buddha statue in Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam.

Headless Buddha statue in Borobudur. Since its discovery, numbers of heads have been stolen and installed in museums abroad.

Sukarno and India's Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visiting Borobudur in June 1950.

Emblem of Central Java displaying Borobudur.

Musicians performing a musical ensemble, probably the early form of gamelan.

The scene of King and Queen with their subjects.

A weapon, probably the early form of keris.

Dancer dancing to orchestra of cymbals, chime cymbals and flutes.

World Heritage inscription of Borobudur Temple

The procedures signage for visiting Borobudur Temple

The inscription of Borobudur restoration in 1973 by the former Indonesian president Soeharto

The scattered parts of Borobudur Temple at Karmawibhangga Museum. People still can't locate their original positions.

Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur (Candi Borobudur, ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦧꦫꦧꦸꦝꦸꦂ) is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia.

The only old Javanese manuscript that hints the monument called Budur as a holy Buddhist sanctuary is Nagarakretagama, written by Mpu Prapanca, a Buddhist scholar of Majapahit court, in 1365.

The Austronesian peoples, sometimes referred to as Austronesian-speaking peoples, are a large group of peoples in Taiwan, Maritime Southeast Asia, Micronesia, coastal New Guinea, Island Melanesia, Polynesia, and Madagascar that speak Austronesian languages.

Skulls representing Johann Friedrich Blumenbach's "five races" in De Generis Humani Varietate Nativa (1795). The Tahitian skull labelled "O-taheitae" represented what he called the "Malay race"

The New Physiognomy map (1889) printed by the Fowler & Wells Company depicting Johann Friedrich Blumenbach's five human races. The region inhabited by the "Malay race" is shown enclosed in dotted lines. Like in most 19th century sources, Islander Melanesians are excluded. Taiwan, which was annexed by the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century is also excluded.

Distribution of the Austronesian languages (Blust, 1999)

Paraw sailboats from Boracay, Philippines. Outrigger canoes and crab claw sails are hallmarks of the Austronesian maritime culture.

Coconuts in Rangiroa island in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia, a typical island landscape in Austronesia. Coconuts are native to tropical Asia, and were spread as canoe plants to the Pacific Islands and Madagascar by Austronesians.

Extent of contemporary Austronesia and possible further migrations and contact (Blench, 2009)

Map showing the distribution of the Austronesian language family (light rose pink). It roughly corresponds to the distribution of all the Austronesian peoples.

Samoan man carrying two containers over his shoulder

The Javanese people of Indonesia are the largest Austronesian ethnic group.

Representation of the coastal migration model, with the indication of the later development of mitochondrial haplogroups

Coastlines of Island Southeast Asia, New Guinea, and Australia during the last glacial period

Aeta fishermen in an outrigger canoe in Luzon, Philippines (c. 1899)

Possible language family homelands and the spread of rice into Southeast Asia (ca. 5,500–2,500 BP). The approximate coastlines during the early Holocene are shown in lighter blue.

Yue statue of a tattooed Baiyue man in the Zhejiang Provincial Museum (c. 3rd century BCE)

Suggested early migration route of early Austronesians into and out of Taiwan based on ancient and modern mtDNA data. This hypothesis assumes the Sino-Austronesian grouping, a minority view among linguists. (Ko et al., 2014)

Proposed routes of Austroasiatic and Austronesian migrations into Indonesia (Simanjuntak, 2017)

Proposed genesis of Daic languages and their relation with Austronesians (Blench, 2018)

Early waves of migration to Taiwan proposed by Roger Blench (2014)

Colorized photograph of a Tsou warrior from Taiwan wearing traditional clothing (pre-World War II)

Map showing the migration of the Austronesians

Hōkūlea, a modern replica of a Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe, is an example of a catamaran, another of the early sailing innovations of Austronesians

Proposed migration waves from Sundaland in the Late Pleistocene based on mtDNA data; and later "back-migrations" into Island Southeast Asia during the early to mid-Holocene expansion of rice-farming Austronesians from mainland southern China. The extent of the coastlines of Sundaland during the last ice age is presented in light shading; while modern coastlines after the rise of sea levels in the Late Pleistocene to mid-Holocene is in dark shading. (Brandão et al., 2016)

Queen Liliuokalani, the last sovereign monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii

Succession of forms in the development of the Austronesian boat

Austronesian proto-historic and historic maritime trade network in the Indian Ocean

Sama-Bajau villages are typically built directly on shallow water

The raised bale houses of the Ifugao people with capped house posts are believed to be derived from the designs of traditional granaries

Tongkonan houses of the Toraja people with the distinctive saddleback roofs reminiscent of boats

Bai meeting house of the Palauan people with colourfully decorated gables

Cast of a Lapita red-slipped earthenware shard from the Santa Cruz Islands (c. 1000 BCE), showing dentate-stamped, circle-stamped, and cross-in-circle decorations. The latter two are shared elements from Neolithic red-slipped pottery from the Nagsabaran Site in the Philippines.

Hand stencils in the "Tree of Life" cave painting in Gua Tewet, Kalimantan, Indonesia

Watu Molindo ("the entertainer stone"), one of the megaliths in Bada Valley, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, usually found near megalithic stone vats known as kalamba.

Toraja megaliths memorializing the deceased in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Boats and human figures in a cave painting in the Niah National Park of Sarawak, Malaysia; an example of the Austronesian Painting Traditions (APT)

Petroglyphs in Vanuatu with the concentric circles and swirling designs characteristic of the Austronesian Engraving Style (AES)

Haligi pillars from the Latte period of Guam, these served as supports for raised buildings

The ruins of Nan Madol, a stone city built on artificial islets in Pohnpei

A rai stone, large stone discs used as currency in Yap

A marae sacred site in Raiatea, French Polynesia

Hawaiian petroglyph depicting a poi dog (īlio)

Carving of Rongo, the Māori deity (atua) of kūmara, from Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand

A 1782 illustration of a heiau temple in Hawaii

Elder Tayal women from Taiwan with facial tattoos

Teeth filing on a Mentawai man in the Mentawai Islands, Dutch East Indies, c. 1938

Tablet B of rongorongo, an undeciphered system of glyphs from Rapa Nui

An example of the abundant petroglyphs in Orongo, Rapa Nui associated with the tangata manu cult of Makemake. Rongorongo does not appear in any of these petroglyphs.

The Talang Tuo inscription, a 7th-century Srivijaya stele featuring Old Malay written in a derivative of the Pallava script

Page from Doctrina Cristiana Española Y Tagala (1593) featuring the Baybayin script alongside the Latin alphabet

Wharenui meeting house of the Māori people

Bahay kubo of the Filipinos. Also known as Payag in Visayan.

Kubing jaw harps, flutes, and a kagul slit drum from the Philippines

Karinding jaw harps of the Sundanese people, Indonesia

Sapeh, traditional lutes of the Orang Ulu people of Malaysia

Atingting kon, wooden slit drums from Vanuatu

A kanaka maoli (native) from Hawaii performing the hula

Traditional song and dance at a funeral in Tana Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Ramayana Ballet, traditional theatre dance from Java, Indonesia

Gending Sriwijaya, traditional dance from Palembang, Indonesia

A Minahasan Kabasaran war dancer from Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Hudoq, traditional dance from Kalimantan, Indonesia

Aloalo funerary pole of the Sakalava people of Madagascar

Adu zatua ancestor carvings of the Nias people of western Indonesia

Taotao carvings of anito ancestor spirits from the Ifugao people, Philippines

Ki'i carving at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, Hawaii

Māori poupou from the Ruato tomb of Rotorua

Toraja tau tau (wooden statue of the deceased) in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Balinese small familial house shrines to honor the households' ancestors in Bali, Indonesia

In Indonesia and Malaysia, the nationalistic term Nusantara is also popularly used for their islands.

The adoption of Hindu statecraft model allowed the creation of Indianized kingdoms such as Tarumanagara, Champa, Butuan, Langkasuka, Melayu, Srivijaya, Medang Mataram, Majapahit, and Bali.

Borneo

Third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia.

Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, the highest summit of the island

Kapuas River in Indonesia; at 1000 km in length, it is the longest river in Borneo.

The critically endangered Bornean orangutan, a great ape endemic to Borneo

NASA satellite image of Borneo on 19 May 2002

Logging road in East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Dayak, the main indigenous people in the island, were feared for their headhunting practices.

Territorial loss of the thalassocracy of the Sultanate of Brunei from 1400 to 1890 due to the beginning of Western imperialism

British flag hoisted for the first time on the island of Labuan on 24 December 1846

Map of the island divided between the British and the Dutch, 1898. The present boundaries of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei are largely inherited from the British and Dutch colonial rules.

The Dayak tribe during an Erau ceremony in Tenggarong

Japanese troops march through the streets of Labuan on 14 January 1942.

American support craft moving towards Victoria and Brown beach to assist the landing of the members of Australian 24th Infantry Brigade on the island during Operation Oboe Six, 10 June 1945

Sukarno visiting Pontianak, West Kalimantan in 1963

Queen's Own Highlanders 1st Battalion conduct a patrol to search for enemy positions in the jungle of Brunei.

The island is politically divided among three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south.

The Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama, written by Majapahit court poet Mpu Prapanca in 1365, mentioned the island as Nusa Tanjungnagara, which means the island of the Tanjungpura Kingdom.

Gamelan

Musicians performing musical ensemble, The 8th century bas-relief of Borobudur Temple, Central Java, Indonesia

A gamelan player playing bonang. Gamelan Yogyakarta style during a Javanese wedding.

Gamelan is mentioned in the Kakawin Nagarakertagama in a palm-leaf manuscript called lontar that was written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 AD. A collection of National Library of Indonesia in Jakarta

The court of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, c. 1876. Performance of Bedhaya Sacred Dance accompanied by Javanese Gamelan Ensemble

Various Javanese musical instrument in Gamelan Salindro, The History of Java by Thomas Stamford Raffles (1781-1826).

Javanese Gamelan Munggang (one of sacred gamelans) being played (as part of ritual) in Surakarta Sunanate, Central Java, Indonesia, 2000

A sindhen is singing a Javanese song accompanied by Gamelan ensemble

Javanese Gamelan in Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore

Balinese Gamelan in Museu de la Música de Barcelona, Spain

K.P.H. Notoprojo, a famous Indonesian Javanese Gamelan and Rebab player, between 1945 and 1955

The three major indigenous genres of gong-chime music prevalent in Southeast Asia: this includes the Gamelan of western Indonesia; the kulintang of the southern Philippines, eastern Indonesia, and eastern Malaysia; and the piphat of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Burma

Pande (Gamelan Maker) is burning Gong in Besalen in Central Java, Indonesia

Pandes (Gamelan Makers) are forging a gamelan instrument called Kempul (small hanging gong) after burning it, Central Java, Indonesia

Gamelan is used by patients at Sumber Porong Mental Hospital in Java, between 1902 and 1922

Michael Tenzer played Balinese Gamelan in 1992

Gamelan Degung Ensemble performance for the recording at the Radio Republik Indonesia studio, Jakarta, on 24 April 1966

K.R.T. Rahayu Supanggah, one of gamelan maestros. He introduced gamelan to almost the entire world, actively researching, writing, training, creating compositions, teaching, and performing

Javanese gamelan being played in Keraton Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 25 October 2009

thumb|Wayang Kulit performance with Gamelan accompaniment in the context of the appointment of the throne for Hamengkubuwono VIII's fifteen years in Yogyakarta, between 1900 and 1940

A gamelan ensemble with a group of singers (Sindhen (Female) and Gerong (Male) at the Mangkunegaran Royal Palace in Surakarta, Central Java, between 1870 and 1892

A Gamelan Ensemble was played to accompany the inauguration of the Prince of the late Paku Alam VII at Pakualaman Palace, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, before 1949

A Dalang (Puppeteer), Sindhen (singer) and Wiyaga (gamelan musicians) with Javanese Gamelan at Keraton Yogyakarta the Sultan's Palace in Yogyakarta - Around 1885

Gamelan orchestra in East Java, late 19th century

Balinese Gamelan Performance (part of the ritual) in a Temple, Bali, Circa 1920

A balinese dancer performed Kebyar duduk dance accompanied by a Balinese gamelan Ensemble, Bali, Indonesia, before 1952

Barong dance performance accompanied by a gamelan ensemble, Bali, Indonesia, before 1959

Balinese girls practiced legong dance accompanied by gamelan in Ubud, Bali, Dutch east Indies, between 1910 and 1930

Balinese Gamelan in a village near Sukawati, Bali after the Cremation Ceremony on 21 September 1922

Balinese gamelan being played in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia, on 23 September 2010

Sundanese Gamelan with a dancer and Wayang Golek in a hut in Cibodas Botanical Garden, West Java on 28 September 1904

A Gamelan Ensemble and Dance show party for the Regent of Preanger (Now Parahyangan) West Java, between 1880 and 1920

Sundanese Gamelan ensemble of Bandung's Regent, West Java, Dutch east Indies, between 1857 and 1890

A gamelan laras slendro Si Ketuyung (sacred gamelan), a set of gamelan instruments made in 1748, a legacy of Sultan Sepuh IV, Keraton Kasepuhan, Cirebon, Indonesia

Gamelan Degung Ensemble, This photo was taken at Annual Exhibition in Java. between 1910 and 1930

Sundanese Gamelan Degung Performance from West Java, Indonesia, on 6 November 2007

Sekaten, Gamelan Sekaten Kanjeng Kiai Guntur Madu (One of Some Javanese Sacred Gamelan) is usually beaten every day for a week during the Sekaten celebration at the Keraton Yogyakarta. The community was very enthusiastic about listening to the strains of the heirloom gamelan, on 26 November 2017

Melasti, a self-purification ceremony to welcome Nyepi by all Hindus in Bali. This ceremony is held on the beach with the aim of purifying oneself from all bad deeds.

Galungan, a Balinese holiday celebrating the victory of dharma over adharma in Besakih temple complex in Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia

Tingalan Dalem Jumenengan, The 40th Royal coronations anniversary of Susoehoenan Pakubuwono X in Surakarta Sunanate.

Ngaben, the Hindu funeral ceremony of Bali, Indonesia. It is performed to release the soul of a dead person.

Wedding Ceremony, Javanese Wedding ceremony in Java

Legong, Legong Kraton Dance (Legong of the Palace) in Ubud Palace, Bali, Indonesia. In the background, the Gamelan orchestra accompanies the performance, on 23 August 2008

Bedhaya dance performance at the wedding of Hoesein Djajadiningrat and Partini in the palace of Prang Wedono (Mangkoe Negoro VII), the father of the bride, at Solo, Java, in January 1921

Jaipong, The Sundanese Jaipongan Langit Biru dance performance in West Java Pavilion, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta

Balinese Ramayana dance drama, performed in Sarasvati Garden in Ubud, Bali

King Duryodana in Wayang wong performance in Taman Budaya Rahmat Saleh, Semarang, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia

Ramayana Ballet Performance near Prambanan Temple complex in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

thumb|Dalang (Puppet master), Sindhen (traditional Javanese singer), and Wiyaga (Gamelan musicians) in Wayang Kulit Show in Java

thumb|Wayang Golek Performance in Yogyakarta

Wayang Beber performance of the desa Gelaran at the home of Dr. Wahidin Soedirohoesodo at Yogyakarta in the middle Dr. GAJ Hazeu, Dutch East Indies, in 1902

Kethoprak (Javanese popular drama depicting legends, historical or pseudo-historical events). Performance by Kethoprak Tobong Kelana Bhakti Budaya, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Ludruk performance, East Java, Indonesia

Sandiwara performance, West Java, Indonesia

thumb|javanese poetry, Sindhens performance with Gamelan Ensemble on a ceremony in Java, Indonesia, on 5 November 2015

tembang sunda, Sundanase singer sings Sundanese song in a festival

Balinese women gamelan Gong Kebyar in Balinese Cultural Festival, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, on 17 June 2013

Gamelan performance at Borobudur International Performances and Art Festival 2018

Gamelan players at Balinese art festival 2018

Kyai Barleyan, a Javanese gamelan at Oberlin College in Ohio. Acquired in 1970, it is believed to be the third-oldest gamelan in use in the United States.

Gamelan Son of Lion, a Javanese-style iron American gamelan based in New York City that is devoted to new music, playing in a loft in SoHo, Manhattan, United States in 2007

Sundanese Gamelan Degung being played in Museo Nacional de las Culturas Mexico, Indra Swara Gamelan Group, on 2 April 2018

Golek Ayun-Ayun Dance performance accompanied by Gamelan Ensemble at Bangsal Sri Manganti Keraton Yogyakarta.

The Sundanese Jaipongan dance performance accompanied by Gamelan Ensemble in West Java Pavilion, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Jakarta.

Gamelan ensemble (or gambelan in Balinese term) accompanying barong performance (Bali lion dance) at Garuda Wisnu Kencana cultural complex, Bali, Indonesia.

Telek (masked) dance accompanied by Gamelan ensemble in Bali, between 1950 and 1957.

Wayang wong performance accompanied by Gamelan in Java, between 1890 and 1916.

A gamelan ensemble consisting of children in a temple complex in Bali, between 1910 and 1920.

Children practiced dance with gamelan at Kebun Dalem Semarang, Dutch east Indies, circa 1867.

A gamelan set in an exhibition at the museum of the Royal Batavian Society of Arts and Sciences (Now, National Museum of Indonesia), Batavia, circa 1896.

Gamelan Kaduk Manis Rengga (sacred gamelan) from Kraton Surakarta, Java, 2003.

A wayang klithik (flat woodden puppet) performance with a gamelan orchestra in Ngandong, Java, in 1918.

Gamelan Sekati (One of Some Javanese Sacred Gamelan in the Keraton Yogyakarta) is being played to accompany Sekaten Ceremony in front of Kauman Great Mosque in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on 27 April 2004.

Gamelan Nyi Asep Mangsa, Indra Swara, México, on 27 March 2015.

A Gamelan Ensemble accompanies Wayang Kulit Show (the Indonesian Shadow Play) in Java, circa 1870.

Gamelan (ꦒꦩꦼꦭꦤ꧀, ᮌᮙᮨᮜᮔ᮪, ) is the traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese peoples of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments.

The instruments developed into their current form during the Majapahit Empire.

Malaysia

Country in Southeast Asia.

"Malaysia" used as a label for the Malay Archipelago on a 1914 map from a United States atlas

The Malacca Sultanate played a major role in spreading Islam throughout the Malay Archipelago.

The Dutch fleet battling with the Portuguese armada as part of the Dutch–Portuguese War in 1606 to gain control of Malacca

Statue of Francis Light in the Fort Cornwallis of Penang, the first British colony in what was to become Malaysia

The Parliament of Malaysia, the building that houses the members of the Dewan Rakyat

The Perdana Putra houses the office of the Prime Minister.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, 2018

Examples of the Malaysian Armed Forces weaponry assets. Clockwise from top right:, PT-91M MBT tank, Malaysian Army paratrooper with M4, and Su-30MKM fighter aircraft.

Malaysia is within the equatorial region, where a tropical rainforest climate is apparent all year round.

Mount Kinabalu, the highest summit in the country

Native species in Malaysia, clockwise from top-right: oriental pied hornbills, hawksbill sea turtle, proboscis monkey, Malayan tiger.

Some species of Rafflesia can grow up to 1 m in diameter, making them the largest flowers in the world.

Development of real GDP per capita, 1870 to 2018

A proportional representation of Malaysia exports, 2019

The Proton company is a Malaysian car manufacturer.

The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by ethnic group based on 2010 census

Population density (person per km2) in 2010

The percentage distribution of Malaysian population by religion based on 2010 census

A traditional house being built in Sabah

A craftsman making batik. Malaysian batik is usually patterned with floral motifs with light colouring.

Malaysia's largest Buddhist temple—Kek Lok Si in Penang—illuminated in preparation for the Lunar New Year

Traditional sports such as the martial art style Silat Melayu persist alongside modern sports.

Peninsular Malaysia shares a land and maritime border with Thailand and maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

By the 13th and the 14th century, the Majapahit empire had successfully wrested control over most of the peninsula and the Malay Archipelago from Srivijaya.