TUN SRI LANANG DAN IKATAN KULTURAL ALAM MELAYU
ABSTRACT: The beginning of the
16th century can be seen as the time when the history of the two big powers in
the Malay world–Majapahit and Malaka–had ended and the period of “stable
instability” began. That was the time when the new emerging kingdoms were
involved in the highly unstable relationship. Despite of the conflicts and
uncertainties, the Malay literary tradition began during this period. Sejarah
Melayu (Sulalat us Salihin) or Malay Annals is one of the most famous
manuscripts in Malay literary tradition. It was written by Tun Sri Lanang, the
Bendahara (“prime minister”) of Johor (a kingdom on Malay Peninsula), who later
became the district-head of Samalanga, Aceh- Darussalam. The manuscript does
not only describe the history of the Malay kingdoms–from the time of Palembang
through the establishment of Malaka to the crisis of the Sultanate of Johor–
but also discusses the ethics of power. This manuscript can be compared with
Taj us Salatin, written in 1603. The basic foundation of power is justice.
However, can the sense of justice be used to oppose the ruler, who has failed
to perform the justice? Then, how are the dilemma between justice and rebellion
be solved?
Keywords: sirna ilang krta
ning bhumi, Majapahit & Malaka, Sejarah Melayu, traditional historiography,
political theory of Malay, justice and rebellion
Penulis: Taufik Abdullah
Kode Jurnal: jpantropologidd140064
