Majapahit's Royal Poetry: The Negarakertagama Unveiled

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Negarakertagama, the epic poem written by Mpu Prapanca in 1365 that serves as the most detailed contemporary account of Majapahit under Hayam Wuruk. They discuss how this kakawin was lost for centuries until it was rediscovered in Lombok in 1894, and how it provides a vivid picture of the capital Trowulan, royal processions, religious life, and the extent of the empire's reach. Learn about Prapanca himself—why he wrote it, his likely role as a court poet, and the poetic conventions of Old Javanese literature. The episode also touches on the controversy over whether Prapanca's descriptions are accurate or idealized, and what the manuscript's journey through colonial archives reveals about the study of Indonesian history. A fascinating look at how a single poem shaped our understanding of an empire. #Negarakertagama #MpuPrapanca #Majapahit #HayamWuruk #OldJavanese #Kakawin #Trowulan #Lombok #ColonialHistory #IndonesianLiterature #MajapahitEmpire #Prapanca #History #FexingoHistory #SoutheastAsia #Poetry #Manuscript #CulturalHeritage Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo