Where is the location of Java?
Preface
There are many cultural ethnic groups in Indonesia. Nowadays, it is more than 300 ethnic groups which still exist. The Javanese ethnic group is the one of it. Mostly, the Javanese live in Central Java and East Java. In spite of that, there are many Javanese who live far away from Java Island, such as in Suriname. The Javanese population is the biggest in Indonesia, even in South East Asia. It is estimated that its population is about 90 million people in Indonesia.
The Javanese History
The Javanese fossil (Pithecanthropus Erectus) which might be 500.000 years old was found at Trinil, East Java by DR. Eugene Dubois in 1809. That fossil is believed as the Javanese ancestor.
To understand more about the origin history of the Javanese, it will be divided into 3 parts i.e.:
The Old Stone Age
The New Stone Age
The Bronze Age
1. The Old Stone Age
In East Java and Central Java found several tools which used by the first inhabitants of Java. They lived at Bengawan Solo valley where the ancient articles found. For example unhandled stone axe. It was roughly made and made by striking it against a stone in order to get a sharp piece on the other side. That axe used by holding it. So that it is called handed axe.
In the Old Stone Age the oldest Javanese inhabitants stayed in the caves or in the hole of the land. They lived from hunting, catching the fish, gathering the jungle fruits or plant roots such as various kinds of tubers.
2. The New Stone Age
In this age, the inhabitants still used the tools from the stone but they had been capable of sharpening the stone. Therefore their tools were easier to be used. The civilization of the inhabitants in this age was more progressive than in the formerly age.
The inhabitants stayed in the carved wood houses. Their foods and beverage were stored in the earthenware jug and earthenware cooking pot. They had simple clothes because they had been capable of weaving. Men still hunted in the jungle and caught the fish but their prior means of livelihood were farming and breeding.
At the excavating of the ancient articles were found the hoe like tool which was made of stone. That’s why people said that the inhabitants had engaged in farming. They were no longer hunting but they had stayed at the same place. Among the ancient articles which were found, there were several fine stone axes. Besides that, it was also found the precious jewelry article, such as the fine stone bracelet.
3. The Bronze Age
This is the period when men used tools and weapons made of bronze. Men had been capable of pouring the bronze. It was proven by finding the bracelet, the ankle bracelet, and the ear plug made of bronze.
At this age, it was also made the small art articles such as a man statue, and buffalo statue. In addition, the iron came into use for tools. At Wonosari Central Java and at Besuki East Java were found the stone case which came from this age.
Where did the original inhabitants of java come from?
It is believed that people who lived in the islands of Indonesia, at the beginning of Christ era came from Yunnan hill–the upriver region on the back of India and South China. At first, they lived on the back of India and moved further to the south. Then, they spread out from Malacca peninsula to the wide archipelago of the West Madagascar (On the East Coast) until the East Side of Pass Island (Pacific Ocean). The Indonesians–including The Javanese are the middle ethnic group of the world’s families.
The civilization of Java
In the past, Java Island was well-known because of natural wealth or resources, such as rich in food stuffs. The Hindus called it “The Jawadwipa” which meant the Tjantel Island. The Tjantel is a kind of wheat flour but perhaps which meant by The Hindus was the rice plant.
Shortly, the sailing ship which was sailing from India to China could load the staple foods that they needed in Java Island.
Farming in the ancient period was the high civilization because to irrigate the rice fields needed a good cooperation among the farmers.
Little bit of Information about Java from China
In the 5th century, Fa Hien who was a Chinese, cast a shore on Java Island. He just made a devotional visit to the Buddha’s birth place. He went up on a ship in Sailan and went back to China by joining a big trade ship which had 200 crews. Unfortunately, on the way, that ship was hit by the typhoon, so that they had to put it a shore in Java Island. Fa Hien was forced to wait a ship which would take him to China. Fa Hien had been in Java for 5 months. According to Fa Hien, In Java there was a community of Hinduism. It means that the Hinduism had given a big effect on the Javanese community and on the other hand, the Buddhism had not yet had many followers.
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Ps: The back of India is a geographical term which made by European. This term is quite common in Europe, particularly in former colonial countries. What is meant by the back of India is the region such as Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand (formerly Siam) and Assam in India
reference :
Panggung Peristiwa Sedjarah Dunia I. H.J. Van Den Berg, Dr. H. Kroeskamp, I.P. Simandjoentak. ( J.B. Wolters. Groningen, Djakarta 1951).
To be continued…
