Laguna copper plate inscription

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The Laguna Copperplate Inscription , better known as the Laguna Copperplate Inscription or LCI , was found in 1989 in Laguna de Bay , Manila , and is the oldest known document to date written in any Filipino language . The text says that it was written in the year 822 of the Śaka era, i.e. 900 AD, and is a mixture of Sanskrit, Old Javanese, Old Malay and Old Tagalog written in Kawi . The record also states that its owner, Namwaran, has been forgiven of his debts. The places Tondo , Pila and Pulilan, which still exist today in the vicinity of Manila , are mentioned. Mdan (Medang, Mataram ) , which is now in Indonesia , is also mentioned.

Cultural meaning

Because of the Spanish colonial era, little is known about the Filipino archipelago prior to the arrival of the Europeans. Most of the history was deliberately and permanently erased by them, which makes any discovery about the origin and past of the Filipinos all the more important for the people there.

The choice of words of the copper plate shows a strong influence of Sanskrit and the Malay language . According to Antonio Pigafetta's observations in the Boxer Codex, Old Malay was the lingua franca of the people of Southeast Asia.

The big difference between this and Javanese copper plates is that the words are embossed into the plate and not carved into heated soft metal.

Along with other artifacts, such as the golden tara of Butuan , and pottery and jewelry from the 14th century from Cebu , the copper plate is used as an indication that the population at the time was likely Buddhist or Hindu. The Laguna copperplate inscription is currently in the National Museum of the Philippines , Manila .

A scanned version of the copperplate inscription

Text of the copper plate

In the following the text of the plate is reproduced in Latin letters.

swasti śaka warṣātīta 822 waiśākha māsa di (ng) jyotiṣa. caturtha kṛṣṇapakṣa so (1) mawāra sāna tatkāla dayaṅg aṅgkatan lawan deṅgan ña sānak barngāran si bukaḥ (2) anak da daṅg hwan namwaran dibari warādana wiśuddhapatra )ānādhapatra uliḥ saṅwan (3dailaaa) tānānā pamegat sen. di krama daṅg hwan namwaran deṅgan daṅg kāya (4) stha śuddhā nu diparlappas hutaṅg da walenda kāti 1 suwarṇa 8 dihadapan daṅg huwan nāyaka tuhān pu (5) liran kasumuran. daṅg hwan nāyaka tuhān pailaḥ barjādi gaṇaśakti. daṅg hwan nāyaka tu (6) hān binwāṅgan barjādi biśruta tathāpi sādānda sānak kaparāwis uliḥ saṅg pamegat de (7) wata [ba] rjādi saṅg pamegat medaṅg dari bhaktinda diparhulun saṅg. ya makāña sādāña anak (8) cucu daṅg hwan namwaran śuddha ya kaparāwis dihutaṅg da daṅg hwan namwaran di saṅg pamegat dewata. Ini graṅg (9) syāt syāpantā ha paścāt diṅg āri kamudyan āda graṅg uraṅg barujara weluṅg lappas hutaṅg da daṅg hwa (10)

German translation of the copper plate

Translated by Gerhard Raimund Magpoc Krolikowski ( chin .: 高力 , Pinyin : Gāo Lì, POJ : Ko-le̍k, Bay  .: ᜄᜓᜎᜒ, Tag .: Gori)

Salvation! In the past Śaka year 822, in the month Waiśākha according to astronomy, on the 4th day of the dark half, on Monday [corresponds to Monday, April 21, 900 AD], on this day it is arranged that Ms. Aṅgkatan and her brother, his Name Bukaḥ is, both children of the honorable Namwaran, received a document that pardons them completely from their debts to the general of Tuṇdo, represented by the Minister of Pailaḥ, Jayadewa. Through this document, the honorable Namwaran will be forgiven for everything and his debts amounting to 1 Kāti [617.6 grams of gold] and 8 Suwarṇa [38.6 grams of gold] to the Honorable Minister of Pulilan, Ka Sumuran, under the supervision of the Minister of Pailaḥ. Because of his conscientious service as the king's vassal, the honorable and well-known Minister of Binwagan will recognize all living relatives of Namwaran, who are the property of Prince Dewata, represented by the ruler of Medaṅg. Yes, because of this all living descendants of the honorable Namwaran will be released from any and all guilt towards the Prince of Dewata. This is intended in any event that in the future someone claims that there is no debt settlement of the honorable ...

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  1. ^ Paul Morrow: The Laguna Copperplate Inscription. The beginning of Philippine History: Monday, April 21, 900 CE 1998 (English).;

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