118-476: Kedah ( Malay pronunciation: [kəˈdah] ), also known by its honorific Darul Aman (دار الأمان; Arabic for 'The Safe Abode') and historically as Queda , is a state of Malaysia , located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia . The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km, and consists of a mainland portion and the Langkawi islands. The mainland has relatively flat terrain, which
236-593: A 7th-century Kota Kapur inscription (discovered in 1892). However, at that time he believed that it referred to a king named "Vijaya", with " Sri " as an honorific title for a king or ruler. The Sundanese manuscript of Carita Parahyangan , composed around the late 16th century in West Java , mentioned the name "Sang Sri Wijaya". The manuscript describes princely hero that rose to be a king named Sanjaya that—after he secured his rule in Java —was involved in battle with
354-693: A Srivijayan envoy was sent to the Chinese court in Guangzhou . After sojourning for about two years in China , the envoy learned that his country had been attacked by Java which made him unable to return home. In 992 an envoy from Java arrived in the Chinese court and explained that their country was involved in continuous war with Srivijaya. In 999 the Srivijayan envoy sailed from China to Champa in an attempt to return home, however, he received no news about
472-417: A complex urban centre under the lens of a sinocentric model, leading to parameters of a new proposed model. Parameters for such a model of a city-like settlement included isolation in relevance to its hinterland. No hinterland makes low archaeological visibility. The settlement must also have access to both easy transportation and major interregional trade routes, crucial in a region with few resources. Access to
590-540: A great empire to balance Java's Majapahit in the east. In the 20th century, both empires were referred to by nationalistic intellectuals to argue for an Indonesian identity within a united Indonesian state that had existed prior to the colonial state of the Dutch East Indies . Srivijaya, and by extension Sumatra, had been known by different names to different peoples. The Chinese called it Sanfotsi , Sanfoqi or Che-li-fo-che ( Shilifoshi ), and there
708-589: A landlord in Central Java . The political move that seemed to be an effort to secure peace and Sailendran rule on Java by reconciling the Mahayana Buddhist with Shivaist Hindus . Prince Balaputra , however, opposed the rule of Pikatan and Pramodhawardhani in Central Java . The relations between Balaputra and Pramodhawardhani are interpreted differently by some historians. An older theory according to Bosch and De Casparis holds that Balaputra
826-493: A low-lying plain which is frequently flooded by the Musi River. Experts suggests that the ancient Palembang settlement was formed as a collection of floating houses made from thatched materials , such as wood, bamboo and straw. Zhao Rukuo 's 13th century Chinese account Zhu Fan Zhi confirmed this; "The residents of Sanfo-tsi (Srivijaya) live scattered outside the city on the water, within rafts lined with reeds." It
944-668: A network of alliances with the Srivijaya maharaja or king. Force was the dominant element in the empire's relations with rival river systems such as the Batang Hari River , centred in Jambi . The Telaga Batu inscription , discovered in Sabokingking, eastern Palembang , is also a siddhayatra inscription, from the 7th century. This inscription was very likely used in a ceremonial sumpah (allegiance ritual). The top of
1062-459: A raja of Kedah visited Malacca during the reign of its last sultan seeking the honour of the royal band that marks the sovereignty of a Muslim ruler. However, in Thai chronicles it is told that Kedah was a Thai city like Nakhon Si Thammarat and was a part of Siamese kingdom but later was changed into a Malay state after invasion of Muslim kingdoms. It was later under Siam , until it was conquered by
1180-520: A stealth attack and raided Srivijaya's 14 ports. The strike took Srivijaya by surprise and unprepared; they first ransacked the capital city of Palembang and then swiftly moved on to other ports including Kadaram (modern Kedah). The Cholas are known to have benefitted from both piracy and foreign trade. At times, the Chola's seafaring led to outright plunder and conquest as far as Southeast Asia. An inscription of King Rajendra states that he had captured
1298-447: Is 77.2% Muslim , 14.2% Buddhist , 6.7% Hindu , 0.8% Christian , 0.6% unknown / none, 0.3% Taoist or Chinese religion followers, 0.1% followers of other religions, and 0.1% non-religious. Statistics from the 2010 Census indicate that 94.3% of the Chinese population are identified as Buddhists, with significant minorities of adherents identifying as Christians (2.4%), Chinese folk religions (2.4%) and Muslims (0.4%). The majority of
SECTION 10
#17327655807051416-1311: Is Institut Kemahiran MARA Sungai Petani, Institut Kemahiran MARA Alor Setar and Institut Kemahiran MARA Sik. This state also has several boarding schools such as Sekolah Berasrama Penuh and MARA Junior Science College or MRSM. This state also has several secondary Islamic schools ( Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama ) such as Tahfiz Model Ulul Albab or TMUA. Public secondary schools include SMK Taman Jelutong , Keat Hwa Secondary School , Convent Secondary School (formerly known as St. Nicholas Convent Secondary School), Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sultan Badlishah, Sin Min Secondary School , Chio Min Secondary School , SMK Sultanah Asma, SMK Convent Father Barre, SMK Khir Johari, SMK Kota Kuala Muda, SMK Tunku Ismail, SMK Aman Jaya, SMK Bedong, SMK Bakar Arang , SMK Darulaman, SMK Ibrahim , K Jit, SMK Mahsuri , SMK Tunku Panglima Besar , Keat Hwa Secondary School , SMK Guar Chempedak and SMK Yan. Private secondary school include Keat Hwa High School, Sin Min High School and SM Sin Min. Tourism
1534-547: Is a distinct possibility that they may have been referring to Sumatra instead. According to the Kedukan Bukit inscription , dated 605 Saka (683), Srivijaya was first established in the vicinity of today's Palembang , on the banks of the Musi River . It mentions that Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa came from Minanga Tamwan. The exact location of Minanga Tamwan is still a subject of discussion. The Palembang theory as
1652-828: Is a heterogeneous state with native Kedahan Malays being the majority, along with significant Chinese , Indian , Siamese and Semang minorities. There was also a lesser known ethnic group known as the Sam Sam people, they are culturally Malay Muslim but speak Siamese . Most of these communities have now assimilated into the Kedahan Malay community but few still retain their Siamese language, those communities can be found in Changlun, Kodiang, Jitra, Wang Tepus, Guar Napai, Malau, Ason and Napoh. The Orang Asli in Kedah consists of Kensiu and Kintaq people and are mainly to be found in
1770-535: Is a tributary of the Musi River, with its confluence located in Palembang. Other than the Kedukan Bukit inscription and other Srivijayan inscriptions, immediately to the west of modern Palembang city, a quantity of artefacts have been revealed through archaeological surveys commenced since the 20th century. Artefacts unearthed include large amounts of Chinese ceramics and Indian rouletted ware remains, also
1888-669: Is also spoken outside of Kedah in places such as Penang, Perlis, northern Perak and even as far as Satun in Thailand and Tanintharyi in Myanmar . Besides Kedah Malay, another distinct variety of Malay known as Baling Malay ( Cakak Baling ) is mainly spoken in Baling District as well as some parts of the Sik and Yan districts. Baling, along with Grik Malay is part of Reman Malay, an offshoot of Kelantan-Pattani Malay of which it
2006-403: Is considered the "rice bowl" ( Malay : Jelapang Padi ) of Malaysia, accounting for about half of Malaysia's total production of rice. In 2008, the state government banned the conversion of paddy fields to housing and industrial lots to protect the rice industry. Tourism in the state is mainly focused on the island of Langkawi, although there are a few attractions on the mainland as well. In
2124-684: Is located in Bandar Baru Sintok . It was formally incorporated on 16 February 1984. The university was established with the specific mission of providing a leadership role for management education in the country. The academic establishments at UUM include the College of Business (COB), College of Law, Government and International Studies (COLGIS) and the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Kedah also has several public universities and colleges such as Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) in Merbok ,
2242-582: Is mainly concentrated on Langkawi Island , the largest island in the archipelago, but there are also places of interest on the mainland. The Langkawi International Airport is located at Padang Matsirat and it is also considered a tourist attraction as the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition takes place every 2 years near the airport. The airport handled almost 1.2 million passengers and over 41,000 aircraft movements in 2008. Langkawi International Airport
2360-466: Is mostly flat in general, as the Kedah–Perlis Plain covers much of the state's land area, from the district of Kuala Muda in the south towards the state of Perlis in the north. Owing to its alluvial properties, most of the plains have been developed for rice farming for centuries. Meanwhile, the northeastern towards the southeastern part of the state is particularly mountainous, especially in
2478-766: Is now Palembang , South Sumatra , Indonesia). Palembang is called in Chinese : 巨港 ; pinyin : Jù gǎng ; lit. 'Giant Harbour', this is probably a testament of its history as a once a great port. In 2021 numbers of treasures were surfaced from shallows and riverbed of the Musi River by local fishermen that turns to be treasure divers. The troves includes coins of certain periods, gold jewelries, Buddhist statues, gems, colourful beads, and Chinese ceramic fragments. However, these troves were immediately lost as local treasure hunters immediately has sold them to international antiquities dealers before archaeologists could properly study them. These discoveries led to
SECTION 20
#17327655807052596-469: Is referred to as the time when Srivijaya ruled over present-day southern Thailand. In the region of Chaiya, there is clear evidence of Srivijayan influence seen in artwork inspired by Mahayana Buddhism . Because of the large amount of remains, such as the Ligor stele, found in this region, some scholars have attempted to prove that Chaiya was the capital. This period was also a time for art. The Buddhist art of
2714-538: Is the main point of access to Langkawi. In 2007, Langkawi Island was given a World Geopark status by UNESCO . Places of interest In 2006, Kedah hosted the 11th Sukma Games . The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Darul Aman Stadium in Alor Setar. Football and Sepak raga are the most popular sports in Kedah. Kedah Darul Aman F.C. is a professional football team that competes in
2832-542: Is used to grow rice, while Langkawi is composed of mostly of uninhabited islands. Kedah was previously known as Kadaram ( Tamil : கடாரம் ; Kaṭāram ) by the ancient and medieval Tamils , Kataha or Kalahbar ( Arabic : قتح ; qataḥa or Arabic : قلحبر ; qalaḥbar ) by the Arabs , and Syburi ( Thai : ไทรบุรี ; RTGS : Sai Buri ) by the Siamese when it was under their influence. Kedah borders
2950-531: The amān became specifically restricted to the concept of safe-passage for a limited time (up to one lunar year ) issued to enemies during their stay in Islamic territory , and had the right, within that period of time, to depart, unmolested by the Muslims, to a 'place of safety'. In the eyes of Islamic civil law, a passing mustaʾmin was considered the same as the dhimmī s living under Islamic rule for
3068-617: The Arab tribes , which extended a tribe's protection over an—often outlawed—member of a different tribe. Muhammad extended tribal solidarity and protection to cover the entirety of the Muslim community , so the promise of safety could be extended by Muslims to non-Muslims, and formed the basis of the covenants of security ( ʿahd ) issued to cities or peoples who submitted to the nascent Muslim caliphate , and which rendered these groups protected ( dhimmī ) under Islamic law. In later times,
3186-630: The Borobudur project. It was in these years, at the beginning of the 9th century, that the Khmer prince Jayavarman II was appointed governor of Indrapura in the Mekong Delta under Sailendran rule. This decision was later proven to be a mistake, as Jayavarman II revolted, moved his capital further inland north from Tonle Sap to Mahendraparvata , severing the link to Srivijaya and proclaimed Khmer independent from Java in 802. Samaragrawira
3304-558: The Bujang Valley (Malay: Lembah Bujang ) reveals that an animist settlement resided in ancient Kedah possibly as early as 110 AD. The discovery of a temple, jetty remains, iron smelting sites, and clay brick monuments probably dating back to 110 AD shows that a maritime trading route with south Indian Tamil kingdoms was already established since that time. The discoveries in the Bujang Valley also made ancient Kedah perhaps
3422-568: The Chinese references to Sanfoqi , previously read as Sribhoja or Sribogha , and the inscriptions in Old Malay refer to the same empire. The Srivijayan historiography is based on two main sources: the Chinese historical accounts and the Southeast Asian stone inscriptions that have been discovered and deciphered in the region. The Buddhist monk Yijing 's account is especially important in describing Srivijaya, when he visited
3540-606: The Chola king from Coromandel Coast in South India , captured Kedah in his Chola invasion of Srivijaya and occupied it for some time. A second invasion was led by Virarajendra of the Chola dynasty who conquered Kedah in the late 11th century. During the reign of Kulottunga I Chola overlordship was established over the Srivijayan province of Kedah in the late 11th century. According to Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa or
3658-699: The Chola Empire upon their ports. After Srivijaya fell, it was largely forgotten. It was not until 1918 that French historian George Cœdès , of the French School of the Far East , formally postulated its existence. Srivijaya is a Sanskrit -derived name: श्रीविजय, Śrīvijaya . Śrī means "fortunate", "prosperous", or "happy" and also has some association with the divine, at least in Hinduism . Vijaya means "victorious" or "excellence". Thus,
Kedah - Misplaced Pages Continue
3776-799: The Javanese Mataram kingdom became more intense and hostile. The animosity was probably caused by Srivijaya's effort to reclaim the Sailendra lands in Java or by Mataram's aspiration to challenge Srivijaya domination in the region. In East Java , the Anjukladang inscription dated 937 mentions an infiltration attack from Malayu — which refers to a Srivijayan attack upon the Mataram Kingdom of East Java . The villagers of Anjuk Ladang were awarded for their service and merit in assisting
3894-538: The Javanese invasion, he secured Chinese political support by appeasing the Chinese Emperor. In 1003, a Song historical record reported that the envoy of San-fo-qi was dispatched by the king Shi-li-zhu-luo-wu-ni-fo-ma-tiao-hua (Sri Cudamani Warmadewa). The Srivijayan envoy told the Chinese court that in their country a Buddhist temple had been erected to pray for the long life of Chinese Emperor, and asked
4012-663: The Kedah , Merbok , Muda and Kerian rivers. The Muda River serves as the southwestern border with Penang, while the Kerian River forms part of the southeastern boundary with Penang and Perak. Kedah's constitution was promulgated by Sultan Badlishah in July 1950. The various provisions laid down in the constitution include the role and powers of the monarch, the Kedah State Legislative Assembly and
4130-600: The Kedah Annals , Kedah was founded by a Hindu king named Merong Mahawangsa . According to the text further, the Sultanate of Kedah started in 1136 when King Phra Ong Mahawangsa converted to Islam and adopted the name Sultan Mudzafar Shah. However, an Acehnese account gave a date of 1474 for the year of the ruler of Kedah's conversion to Islam. This later date accords with an account in the Malay Annals where
4248-677: The Kra Isthmus . The Ligor inscription in Vat Sema Muang says that Maharaja Dharmasetu of Srivijaya ordered the construction of three sanctuaries dedicated to the Bodhisattvas Padmapani , Vajrapani , and Buddha in the northern Malay Peninsula . The Sailendras of Java established a relationship with the Sumatran Srivijayan lineage, and then further established their rule and authority in
4366-849: The Kulim Hi-Tech Park was officially opened as the first high technology industrial park in Malaysia. The Park comprises a total land area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres (5.6 mi). Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan , Kedah, along with neighbouring Perlis , Penang and Perak formed the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) in 2007. There are four highways in Kedah – the North-South Expressway , Changlun–Kuala Perlis Highway , Butterworth-Kulim Expressway and
4484-563: The Malaysia Super League and represents the state of Kedah under the supervision of the Kedah Football Association. They are the only team in the history of Malaysian football to achieved double treble titles in 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons. Aman (Islam) Amān ( Arabic : امان , lit. 'safety, protection, safe conduct ') is the Islamic law concept of guaranteeing
4602-658: The Malayu and Keling against their king Sang Sri Wijaya. Subsequently, after studying local stone inscriptions, manuscripts and Chinese historical accounts, historians concluded that the term "Srivijaya" was in reference to a polity or kingdom . The main concern is to define Srivijaya's amorphous statehood as a thalassocracy , which dominated a confederation of semi autonomous harbour cities in Maritime Southeast Asia. Little physical evidence of Srivijaya remains. There had been no continuous knowledge of
4720-645: The Mataram Kingdom of Central Java . It is unknown what the exact nature of their relationship was, with Arab sources mentioning that Zabag (Java) ruled over Sribuza (Srivijaya), Kalah (a place in the Malay peninsula, probably Kedah), and Ramni (a place in Sumatra, probably Lambri ). In Java , Dharanindra 's successor was Samaragrawira (r. 800–819), mentioned in the Nalanda inscription (dated 860) as
4838-701: The Muaro Jambi Temple Compounds , suggesting that the initial centre of Srivijaya was located in the Muaro Jambi Regency , Jambi on the Batang Hari River , rather than on the originally-proposed Musi River. The archaeological site includes eight excavated temple sanctuaries and covers about 12 square kilometers, and stretches 7.5 kilometers along the Batang Hari River, while 80 mounds ( menapos ) of temple ruins, are not yet restored. The Muaro Jambi archaeological site
Kedah - Misplaced Pages Continue
4956-463: The Muslim writer Ibn Rustah was so impressed with the wealth of the Srivijayan ruler that he declared that one would not hear of a king who was richer, stronger or had more revenue. The main urban centres of Srivijaya were then at Palembang (especially the Karanganyar site near Seguntang Hill area), Muara Jambi and Kedah . In the 10th century, the rivalry between Sumatran Srivijaya and
5074-489: The Nalanda inscription dated 860. After a trade disruption at Canton between 820 and 850, the ruler of Jambi (Melayu Kingdom) was able to assert enough independence to send missions to China in 853 and 871. The Melayu Kingdom 's independence coincided with the troubled times when the Sailendran Balaputradewa was expelled from Java and later seized the throne of Srivijaya. The new maharaja
5192-492: The Parliament but is limited to making laws relating to the state. Its members are elected in elections which are usually held simultaneously with federal elections. The term of each state assembly member is limited to five years. The state assembly must be dissolved before or once it expires its term for a fresh election. Modern Kedah is divided into 12 administrative districts , 12 local governments and 132 mukims. Kedah
5310-602: The Sumatran branch of Sailendra dynasty and was enthroned in the Srivijayan capital of Palembang . Historians have argued that this was because Balaputra's mother Tara, the queen consort of King Samaragrawira, was the princess of Srivijaya, making Balaputra the heir of the Srivijayan throne. Balaputra the Maharaja of Srivijaya later stated his claim as the rightful heir of the Sailendra dynasty from Java , as proclaimed in
5428-418: The Thai language which is different from ones spoken in Kelantan (which also has a large Siamese population) and Standard Thai. The population of Kedah in 2015 was 2,071,900. It was made up of 76% Bumiputra (Malays and others), 12.7% Chinese, 6.9% Indian, 0.9% others and 3.4% non-Malaysian. The following is based on 2015 figures from the Department of Statistics Malaysia. As of 2010 the population of Kedah
5546-439: The Trans Eastern Kedah Interland Highway . Additionally, the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) West Coast Line runs through mainland Kedah with six stops in total. Kedah has two airports – Sultan Abdul Halim Airport on the mainland and Langkawi International Airport on Langkawi Island. Both the mainland and Langkawi Island are interconnected with ferry services. The state has a campus of Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), which
5664-432: The siddhayatra journey to acquire wealth, power, and 'magical powers'. Under the leadership of Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa, the Melayu Kingdom became the first kingdom to be integrated into Srivijaya. This possibly occurred in the 680s. Melayu , also known as Jambi , was rich in gold and was held in high esteem at the time. Srivijaya recognised that the submission of Melayu would increase its own prestige. The empire
5782-414: The 1920s and 1930s focused more on art and epigraphy found in the regions. Some northern urban settlements were sited due to some overlap in fitting the sinocentric model of city-state urban centres. An approach to differentiate between urban settlements in the southern regions from the northern ones of Southeast Asia was initiated by a proposition for an alternative model. Excavations showed failed signs of
5900-421: The 1990s, Kedah began moving its economy towards the automotive and aerospace industries with national motorcycle manufacturer Modenas (established in 1995) and Boeing subsidiary Asian Composites (established in 2001) setting up bases there. One of the main advantages is the low labour costs and the infrastructure in place with the North–South Expressway and the Penang International Airport close by. In 1996,
6018-441: The 5th monarch of the Mataram kingdom . This would mean that Samaratungga was the successor of Samaragrawira. Dewi Tara, the daughter of Dharmasetu, married Samaratunga, a member of the Sailendra family who assumed the throne of Srivijaya around 792. By the 8th century, the Srivijayan court was virtually located in Java , as the Sailendras monarch rose to become the Maharaja of Srivijaya. After Dharmasetu, Samaratungga became
SECTION 50
#17327655807056136-496: The Baling district, as their community crosses there into the neighboring state of Perak . Like most parts of Malaysia, Kedah is home to various languages and dialects. The majority language of Kedah is Kedah Malay , known by locals as Pelat Utagha (Northern dialect), it is a distinct variety of Malay which also serves as the state's main lingua franca and is used by almost all Kedahans regardless of race. Kedah Malay has many sub-dialects which differs from district to district and
6254-432: The Batang Hari river whilst Pelembang has no comparable temples or building structures. The proponents of the theory that Muaro Jambi was Srivijaya's capital point out that the descriptions written by Yijing and Zhao Rukuo , the description of Srivijaya realms by the Cholas and archaeological findings, suggest that Srivijaya's capital fits Muaro Jambi's environment better than the marshy Palembang. The study also compares
6372-399: The Buddhist Pala of Bengal , as well as with the Islamic Caliphate in the Middle East . Although it was once thought of as a maritime empire, new research on available records suggests that Srivijaya was primarily a land-based polity rather than a maritime power; fleets were available but acted as logistical support to facilitate the projection of land power. In response to the change in
6490-399: The Indian population are Hindus (91.7%), with a significant minorities of numbers identifying as Christians (3.7%), Muslims (2.4%) and Buddhists (1.3%). The non-Malay bumiputera community are predominantly Christians (39.7%), with significant minorities identifying as Muslims (26.9%) and Buddhists (26.3%). All Malays are necessarily Muslims as defined in the Malaysian constitution . Kedah
6608-422: The Malay Peninsula, probably Kedah), and Ramni (a place in Sumatra, probably Lambri ). However, it's unknown whether Srivijaya's capital moved to Java or Srivijaya simply became a subordinate of Java. Another theory suggests that Dapunta Hyang came from the east coast of the Malay Peninsula, and that the Chaiya district in Surat Thani province , Thailand , was the centre of Srivijaya. The Srivijayan Period
6726-441: The Malay sultanate of Malacca in the 15th century. In the 17th century, Kedah was attacked by the Portuguese after their conquest of Malacca, and by Aceh . In the hope that Great Britain would protect what remained of Kedah from Siam, the sultan handed over Penang and then Province Wellesley to the British at the end of the 18th century. The Siamese nevertheless invaded Kedah in 1821, and it remained under Siamese control under
6844-637: The Malaysian Spanish Institute of the University of Kuala Lumpur (UniKL MSI) and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultanah Bahiyah (PSB) in Kulim , the Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology ( AIMST University ) in Bedong , Kolej Universiti Insaniah (KUIN) or UNISHAMS (Kuala Ketil, Baling Kedah) in Mergong and the Polytechnic Institute of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah (POLIMAS) in Jitra . There are 2 teacher training institution in Kedah, Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Sultan Abdul Halim (IPGKSAH) in Sungai Petani and Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Darul Aman (IPGKDA) in Bandar Darulaman that are set up by
6962-495: The Srivijayan Kingdom was believed to have borrowed from Indian styles like that of the Dvaravati school of art. Some scholars believe that Chaiya probably comes from Srivijaya . It was a regional capital in Srivijaya. Some Thai historians argue it was the capital of Srivijaya itself, but this is generally discounted. Around 500 CE, the roots of the Srivijayan empire began to develop around present-day Palembang , Sumatra . The Kedukan Bukit inscription (683)—considered to be
7080-405: The Sultan is Kedah's executive branch of government. It is composed of the Menteri Besar , who is its chairman and Kedah's head of government, and ten other members. The Menteri Besar and other members of the council are appointed by the Sultan of Kedah from members of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly ( Malay : Dewan Undangan Negeri Kedah ). The Kedah State Legislative Assembly is similar to
7198-452: The booming trade in the region , thus transforming it into a prestige goods -based economy. The earliest reference to it dates from the 7th century. A Tang dynasty Chinese monk , Yijing , wrote that he visited Srivijaya in 671 for six months. The earliest known inscription in which the name Srivijaya appears also dates from the 7th century in the Kedukan Bukit inscription found near Palembang , Sumatra , dated 16 June 682. Between
SECTION 60
#17327655807057316-402: The combined word Srivijaya means "shining victory", "splendid triumph", "prosperous victor", "radiance of excellence" or simply "glorious". Early 20th-century historians who studied the inscriptions of Sumatra and the neighboring islands thought that the term "Srivijaya" referred to a king's name. In 1913, H. Kern was the first epigraphist that identified the name "Srivijaya" written in
7434-409: The condition of his country. The Srivijayan envoy then sailed back to China and appealed to the Chinese Emperor for the protection of Srivijaya against Javanese invaders. Dharmawangsa's invasion led the Maharaja of Srivijaya, Sri Cudamani Warmadewa , to seek protection from China. Warmadewa was known as an able and astute ruler, with shrewd diplomatic skills. In the midst of the crisis brought by
7552-537: The death of Dharmawangsa and the fall of the Mataram capital, Srivijaya contributed to the collapse of Mataram kingdom, leaving Eastern Java in further unrest, violence and, ultimately, desolation for several years to come. The factors in the decline of Srivijaya were foreign piracy and raids that disrupted trade and security in the region. Rajendra Chola , the Chola king from Tamil Nadu in South India , launched naval raids on ports of Srivijaya in 1025. His navy sailed swiftly to Sumatra using monsoon winds, made
7670-435: The dendritic patterns formed by the streams. The second being the overseas centre is economically superior to the ports found at the mouth of the rivers, having a higher population and a more productive and technologically advanced economy. Lastly, constraints on the land work against and do not develop urban settlements. An aerial photograph taken in 1984 near Palembang (in what is now Srivijaya Archaeological Park ) revealed
7788-539: The districts of Padang Terap , Sik , Baling , Kulim and Bandar Baharu . The Kedah–Songkhla and Bintang Ranges formed the state's boundary between the Thai provinces of Songkhla and Yala in the northeast, and the state of Penang in the southwest and Perak in the southeast. The Bintang Range is home to Mount Bintang , the state's highest point, located on the border with Perak. Some parts of Kedah are also karstic , with areas punctuated by limestone hills called mogotes . The major rivers within Kedah include
7906-489: The duration of his presence in Islamic lands, but differing traditions exist on whether this applied to criminal law as well. Foreign envoys enjoyed automatic amān status, but not merchants or shipwrecked people. As a result, the issuance of amān was a fundamental means of facilitating trade and diplomacy between Muslim and non-Muslim states during the early Middle Ages. From the late 12th century on, bilateral treaties between Muslim and Christian states that stipulated
8024-430: The early 8th century, an influential Buddhist family related to Srivijaya, the Sailendra family of Javanese ancestry, dominated Central Java . During the 8th century, Langkasuka on the Malay Peninsula became part of Srivijaya. Soon after this, Pan Pan and Tambralinga , north of Langkasuka, came under Srivijayan influence. These kingdoms on the peninsula were major trading nations that transported goods across
8142-438: The emperor to give the name and the bell for this temple which was built in his honor. Rejoiced, the Chinese Emperor named the temple Ch'eng-t'en-wan-shou ('ten thousand years of receiving blessing from heaven, which is China) and a bell was immediately cast and sent to Srivijaya to be installed in the temple. In 1006, Srivijaya's alliance proved its resilience by successfully repelling the Javanese invasion. This attack opened
8260-415: The end of the 8th century, many western Javanese kingdoms, such as Tarumanagara and Kalingga , were within the Srivijayan sphere of influence. The 7th-century Sojomerto inscription mentions that an Old Malay -speaking Shivaist family led by Dapunta Selendra had established themselves in the Batang area of the northern coast of Central Java . He was possibly the progenitor of the Sailendra family. By
8378-421: The end of the war. Kedah became one of the states of the Federation of Malaya in 1948, which then achieved independence in 1957. Malaya was then enlarged to become Malaysia in 1963, joined by Sabah , Sarawak and Singapore (independent in 1965). Kedah is the 8th largest state by land area and 8th most populated state in Malaysia, with a total land area of 9,500 km (3,700 sq mi). The terrain
8496-622: The environment, geographical location, and the economic wealth of both cities; arguing that Jambi, located on the mouth of the Batang Hari River basin with its connection to Minangkabau hinterland was the centre of gold trade in the area, that described as the fabulous wealth of Srivijaya. In the second half of the eighth century, the Srivijayan mandala seems to have been ruled by the Sailendra dynasty of Central Java. Several Arabic sources mentioned that Zabag (the Javanese Sailendra dynasty) ruled over Sribuza (Srivijaya), Kalah (a place in
8614-603: The establishment of the Śrīksetra garden endowed by King Jayanasa of Srivijaya for the well-being of all creatures. It is likely that the Seguntang Hill site was the location of the Śrīksetra garden. According to the Kota Kapur inscription discovered on Bangka Island , the empire conquered most of southern Sumatra and the neighbouring island of Bangka as far as Palas Pasemah in Lampung . Also, according to
8732-534: The eyes of Srivijayan Maharaja to the threat of the Javanese Mataram Kingdom, so he laid a plan to destroy his Javanese rival. Srivijaya assisted Haji (king) Wurawari of Lwaram to revolt, which led to the attack and destruction of the Mataram palace. This sudden and unexpected attack took place during the wedding ceremony of Dharmawangsa's daughter, which left the court unprepared and shocked. With
8850-490: The father of Balaputradewa , and the son of Śailendravamsatilaka (the jewel of the Śailendra family) with the stylised name Śrīviravairimathana (the slayer of a heroic enemy), which refers to Dharanindra. Unlike his predecessor, the expansive and warlike Dharanindra, Samaragrawira seems to have been a pacifist, enjoying the peaceful prosperity of interior Java in the Kedu Plain and being more interested in completing
8968-603: The former and later played a major role in the creation of an extreme economic surplus in the absence of an exploited hinterland. The urban centre must be able to organize politically without the need for ceremonial foci such as temples, monuments and inscriptions. Lastly, habitations must be impermanent, being highly probable in the region Palembang and of southern Southeast Asia. Such a model was proposed to challenge city concepts of ancient urban centres in Southeast Asia and basic postulates themselves such as regions found in
9086-738: The government to provide teaching courses for trainee teachers. Private universities and colleges that are located in Kedah include the Open University of Malaysia (OUM) Regional Learning Center for the state of Kedah and Perlis at Sungai Petani, the Albukhary International University in Alor Setar, Pusat Bahasa Titian Jaya the PTPL College and the Cosmopoint College. Kedah houses three technical institutes that are affiliated with MARA, that
9204-598: The history of Srivijaya even in Indonesia and Maritime Southeast Asia ; its forgotten past has been resurrected by foreign scholars. Contemporary Indonesians, even those from the area of Palembang (around where the kingdom was based), had not heard of Srivijaya until the 1920s when the French scholar, George Cœdès , published his discoveries and interpretations in Dutch and Indonesian language newspapers. Cœdès noted that
9322-430: The inland region. The Chinese in Kedah also speaks various varieties of Chinese such as Mandarin , Hokkien and so on. There are also a small but well established Indian community mostly of ethnic Tamil and also smaller number of Telugus , Malayalees and Punjabis who speak Telugu , Malayalam and Punjabi . Kedah is also home to a large community of ethnic Siamese of which it has its own distinct dialect of
9440-668: The inscriptions, Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa launched a military campaign against Java in the late 7th century, a period which coincided with the decline of Tarumanagara in West Java and the Kalingga in Central Java . The empire thus grew to control trade on the Strait of Malacca , the western side of Java Sea , and possibly the Gulf of Thailand . Chinese records dating to the late 7th century mention two Sumatran kingdoms and three other kingdoms on Java as being part of Srivijaya. By
9558-475: The king's army, under the leadership of Mpu Sindok , in repelling invading Malayu (Sumatra) forces; subsequently, a jayastambha (victory monument) was erected in their honor. In 990, King Dharmawangsa of Java launched a naval invasion against Srivijaya and attempted to capture the capital Palembang . The news of the Javanese invasion of Srivijaya was recorded in Chinese Song period sources. In 988,
9676-579: The kingdom in 671 for six months. The 7th-century siddhayatra inscriptions discovered in Palembang and Bangka Island are also vital primary historical sources. Also, regional accounts that some might be preserved and retold as tales and legends, such as the Legend of the Maharaja of Zabaj and the Khmer King also provide a glimpse of the kingdom. Some Indian and Arabic accounts also vaguely describe
9794-515: The late 7th and early 11th century, Srivijaya rose to become a hegemon in Southeast Asia . It was involved in close interactions, often rivalries, with the neighbouring Mataram , Khom or Khmer Empire and Champa . Srivijaya's main foreign interest was nurturing lucrative trade agreements with China which lasted from the Tang to the Song dynasty . Srivijaya had religious, cultural and trade links with
9912-477: The mainland, and Kuah on Langkawi . Around 788 BC, a large settlement may have been already established around the northern bank of Merbok River . The settlement consisted of a large area of Bujang Valley , covering branches of the Merbok and Muda River that was about 1,000 square miles in area. It was built at the estuary of a branch of Merbok River, now known as Sungai Batu . Archaeological evidence found in
10030-428: The maritime Asian economy, and threatened by the loss of its dependencies, the kingdoms around the Strait of Malacca developed a naval strategy to delay their decline. The naval strategy was mainly punitive; this was done to coerce trading ships to be called to their port. Later, the naval strategy degenerated to raiding fleet. The kingdom may have disintegrated after 1025 CE following several major raids launched by
10148-972: The most ancient settlement in Southeast Asia. Ancient Kedah was first mentioned in the Tamil poem Paṭṭiṉappālai written at the end of the second century AD. It described goods from Kadaram "heaped together in the broad streets" of the Chola capital. Apart from Kadaram , Kedah was known by various names at different times in Indian literature: Kataha-Nagara (in Kaumudi Mahotsava drama), Anda-Kataha (in Agni Purana ), Kataha-Dvipa (in Samarāiccakahā), and Kataha (in Kathasaritsagara ). In Middle Eastern literature, ancient Kedah
10266-530: The most unique, which no other 1st-millennium kingdom held, was its location in junction to three major rivers, the Musi River, the Komering River , and the Ogan River . The historical evidence was contrasted in 1975 with publications by Bennet Bronson and Jan Wisseman. Findings at certain major excavation sites, such as Geding Suro, Penyaringan Air Bersih, Sarang Wati, and Bukit Seguntang, conducted in
10384-619: The name of Syburi. In 1896, Kedah along with Perlis and Setul were combined into the Siamese province of Monthon Syburi which lasted until it was transferred to the British by the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 . In World War II , Kedah (along with Kelantan ) was the first part of Malaya to be invaded by Japan. The Japanese returned Kedah to their Thai allies who had it renamed Syburi , but it returned to British rule after
10502-403: The next Maharaja of Srivijaya. He reigned from 792 to 835. Unlike the expansionist Dharmasetu, Samaratungga did not indulge in military expansion but preferred to strengthen the Srivijayan hold on Java . He personally oversaw the construction of the grand monument of Borobudur ; a massive stone mandala , which was completed in 825, during his reign. According to Cœdès, "In the second half of
10620-423: The ninth century Java and Sumatra were united under the rule of a Sailendra reigning in Java ... its center at Palembang ." Samaratungga , like Samaragrawira, seems to have been influenced by peaceful Mahayana Buddhist beliefs and strove to become a peaceful and benevolent ruler. His successor was Princess Pramodhawardhani who was betrothed to Shivaite Rakai Pikatan , son of the influential Rakai Patapan,
10738-570: The northern part of the Malay Peninsula , which according to him was thirty days sail from Bogha ( Palembang ), the capital of Sribogha ( Srivijaya ). In the seventh and eighth centuries, Kedah was under the loose control of Srivijaya . Indian and Arab sources consider Kedah to be one of the two important sites during the Srivijaya period, often calling the king of the straits "the ruler of Srivijaya and Kataha". In 1025, Rajendra I ,
10856-565: The oldest inscription related to Srivijaya, discovered on the banks of the Tatang River near the Karanganyar site , states about the "glorious Srivijaya", a kadatuan (kingdom or polity) which was founded by Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa and his retinue. He had embarked on a sacred siddhayatra journey and led 20,000 troops and 312 people in boats with 1,312 foot soldiers from Minanga Tamwan to Jambi and Palembang . Many of these armed forces gathered under Srivijayan rule would have been
10974-685: The place where Srivijaya was first established was presented by Cœdes and supported by Pierre-Yves Manguin. Soekmono , on the other hand, argues that Palembang was not the capital of Srivijaya and suggests that the Kampar River system in Riau where the Muara Takus temple is located as Minanga Tamwan. However, a recent study suggests that Minanga Tamwan is located by the upper Komering River in modern Minanga village, Cempaka district, East Ogan Komering Ulu Regency , South Sumatra. Komering River
11092-491: The region during the 10th and 11th centuries, held written proof, named the kingdom of Srivijaya. As far as early state-like polities in the Malay Archipelago , the geographical location of modern Palembang was a possible candidate for the 1st-millennium kingdom settlement like Srivijaya as it is the best described and most secure in historical context, its prestige was apparent in wealth and urban characteristics, and
11210-418: The region played major roles in the negative evidence of the 1st-millennium kingdom in the same region. It was noted that the region contained no locatable settlements earlier than the middle of the second millennium. Lack of evidence of southern settlements in the archaeological record comes from the disinterest in the archeologist and the unclear physical visibility of the settlements themselves. Archeology of
11328-461: The remnants of ancient man-made canals, moats, ponds, and artificial islands, suggesting the location of Srivijaya's urban centre. Several artefacts such as fragments of inscriptions, Buddhist statues, beads, pottery and Chinese ceramics were found, confirming that the area had once been densely populated. By 1993, Pierre-Yves Manguin had shown that the centre of Srivijaya was along the Musi River between Bukit Seguntang and Sabokingking (situated in what
11446-656: The rest of early Southeast Asia. Bronson's model was based on the dendritic patterns of a drainage basin where its opening leads out to sea. Being that historical evidence places the capital in Palembang, and in junction of three rivers, the Musi River, the Komering River, and the Ogan River, such model can be applied. For the system to function appropriately, several constraints are required. The inability for terrestrial transportation results in movements of all goods through water routes, lining up economical patterns with
11564-488: The riches of the king of Zabag . It's likely that the Zabag-Khmer story was based on Javanese overlordship over Cambodia. The historical records of Srivijaya were reconstructed from a number of stone inscriptions, most of them written in Old Malay using Pallava script , such as the Kedukan Bukit , Talang Tuwo , Telaga Batu and Kota Kapur inscriptions. Srivijaya became a symbol of early Sumatran importance as
11682-444: The rights and obligations of merchants and pilgrims began to replace the amān . Amān could also be issued to Muslims, such as defeated rebels. This was a widespread practice during the early Islamic period even though, as Joseph Schacht observes, "they are, strictly speaking, superfluous or even incompatible with religious law". Srivijaya Srivijaya ( Indonesian : Sriwijaya ), also spelled Sri Vijaya ,
11800-402: The ruins of stupa at the foot of Bukit Seguntang . Furthermore, a significant number of Hindu-Buddhist statuary has been recovered from the Musi River basin. These discoveries reinforce the suggestion that Palembang was the centre of Srivijaya. Nevertheless, Palembang left little archaeological traces of ancient urban settlement. This is probably because of the nature of Palembang's environment —
11918-469: The sea people, referred to generally as the orang laut . In establishing its power, Srivijaya had first to consolidate its position in Southeast Sumatra, which at that time consisted of multiple quasi-independent polities ruled by local Datus (chieftain). From the Old Malay inscriptions, it is known that Dapunta Hyang Sri Jayanasa launched a maritime conquest in 684 with 20,000 men in
12036-408: The security of a person (who is then called mustaʾmin ) or a group of people for a limited time. It can represent the assurance of security or clemency granted to enemies who seek protection, and can take the form of a document of safe-conduct for a non-Muslim musta'min or harbi ( enemy alien ). The concept has pre-Islamic origins, being traced to the practice of jiwār among
12154-534: The south, like Palembang, based their achievements in correlation with urbanization. Due to the contradicting pattern found in southern regions, like Palembang, in 1977 Bennet Bronson developed a speculative model for a better understanding of coastal-oriented states in Insular Southeast Asia, such as insular and Peninsular Malaysia , the Philippines , and western Indonesia . Its main focus
12272-454: The state of Perlis to the north and shares an international boundary with the Songkhla and Yala provinces of Thailand . It borders the states of Perak to the south and Penang to the southwest. The state's capital is Alor Setar and the royal seat is in the capital's suburb Anak Bukit . Other major towns include Sungai Petani (its largest urban area by population), and Kulim on
12390-467: The state's civil service. The Sultan of Kedah is the constitutional ruler of the state. His position is hereditary and he holds his office for life. The sultan is the head of Islam in the state and the executive power of the state government is vested in him. The current sultan is Sallehuddin , who has reigned since 12 September 2017 after his elder brother Sultan Abdul Halim died on 11 September 2017. The State Executive Council , which along with
12508-401: The stone is adorned with seven nāga heads, and on the lower portion there is a water spout to channel liquid that was likely poured over the stone during a ritual. The ritual included a curse upon those who commit treason against Kadatuan Srivijaya. The Talang Tuwo inscription is also a siddhayatra inscription. Discovered in Seguntang Hill , western Palembang , this inscription describes
12626-587: The treasure rush in Musi River in 2021, where locals formed groups of treasure divers operating in some parts of the Musi River in and around Palembang. These troves seem to confirm that Palembang was indeed the commercial centre of Srivijaya. Some scholars argue that the centre of Srivijaya was located in Muaro Jambi , and not Palembang. In 2013, archaeological research led by the University of Indonesia discovered several religious and habitation sites at
12744-406: Was Mahayana - Vajrayana Buddhist in nature, which suggests that the site served as a Buddhist learning centre, connected to the 10th century Buddhist scholar Suvarṇadvipi Dharmakīrti . Chinese sources also mentioned that Srivijaya hosted thousands of Buddhist monks . Compared to Palembang, Muaro Jambi has richer archaeological sites, i.e. multiple red brick temples and building structures along
12862-487: Was a Hindu - Buddhist thalassocratic empire based on the island of Sumatra (in modern-day Indonesia ) that influenced much of Southeast Asia . Srivijaya was an important centre for the expansion of Buddhism from the 7th to 11th century AD. Srivijaya was the first polity to dominate much of western Maritime Southeast Asia . Due to its location, Srivijaya developed complex technology utilizing maritime resources. In addition, its economy became progressively reliant on
12980-498: Was able to dispatch a tributary mission to China by 902. Two years after that, the weakening Tang dynasty conferred a title on a Srivijayan envoy. In the first half of the 10th century, between the fall of Tang dynasty and the rise of Song , there was brisk trading between the overseas world with the Fujian kingdom of Min and the rich Guangdong kingdom of Nan Han. Srivijaya undoubtedly benefited from this. Sometime around 903,
13098-475: Was an even older kingdom of Kantoli , which could be considered the predecessor of Srivijaya. The Arabs called it Zabag or Sribuza and the Khmer called it Melayu . While the Javanese called them Suvarnabhumi , Suvarnadvipa , Melayu , or Malayu . This is another reason why the discovery of Srivijaya was so difficult. While some of these names are strongly reminiscent of the name of Java , there
13216-529: Was descended from the people of the Kingdom of Reman of which once ruled the Baling and Grik regions before it was dissolved and became part of three distinct political entities namely Kedah, Perak and Yala (Thailand). Besides Malay, there are also various minority languages spoken throughout Kedah, Aslian languages such as Jahai , Kensiu and Kintaq are spoken by the small Orang Asli populations mostly in
13334-524: Was mentioned as the king of Java that married Tārā, daughter of Dharmasetu . He was mentioned by his other name Rakai Warak in the Mantyasih inscription . Earlier historians, such as N. J. Krom and Cœdes, tend to equate Samaragrawira and Samaratungga as the same person. However, later historians such as Slamet Muljana equate Samaratungga with Rakai Garung, mentioned in the Mantyasih inscription as
13452-450: Was organised in three main zones: the estuarine capital region centred on Palembang , the Musi River basin which served as a hinterland, and estuarine areas capable of forming rival power centres. The areas upstream of the Musi River were rich in various commodities valuable to Chinese traders. The capital was administered directly by the ruler, while the hinterland remained under local datus or tribal chiefs , who were organised into
13570-447: Was probably that only Kedatuan (king's court) and religious structures were built on land, while the people live in floating houses along the Musi River. Palembang and its relevance to the early Malay state were controversial in terms of its evidence build-up through the archaeological record. Strong historical evidence found in Chinese sources, speaking of city-like settlements as early as 700 AD, and later Arab travelers, who visited
13688-636: Was referred to as Qilah by Ibn Khordadbeh in the Book of Roads and Kingdoms , Kalah-Bar by Soleiman Siraf & Abu Zaid al Hassan in Silsilat-al-Tawarikh (travels in Asia), and Kalah by Abu-Dulaf Misa'r Ibn Muhalhil in Al-Risalah al-thaniyah . The Tang dynasty Buddhist monk , Yijing who visited the Malay Archipelago between 688 and 695, also mentioned a kingdom known as Ka-Cha in
13806-416: Was the relationship of political, economic and geographical systems. The general political and economic pattern of the region seems irrelevant to other parts of the world of their time, but in correlation with their maritime trade network, it produced high levels of socio-economic complexity. He concluded, from his earlier publications in 1974 that state development in this region developed much differently than
13924-525: Was the son of Samaratungga , which means he was the younger brother of Pramodhawardhani. Later historians such as Muljana, argued that Balaputra was the son of Samaragrawira and the younger brother of Samaratungga , which would make himthe uncle of Pramodhawardhani. It is not known whether Balaputra was expelled from Central Java because of a succession dispute with Pikatan, or already ruled in Sumatra . Either way, it seems that Balaputra eventually ruled
#704295