Lobu Tua Inscription
Lobu Tua Inscription, also called Barus Inscription, is an inscription written in Tamil language which was discovered in 1873 in the village of Lobu Tua, Andam Dewi district of Central Tapanuli Regency, in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia.[1] This inscription is dated 1010 Saka, or 1088 AD.[1] This inscription was reported in the Madras Epigraphy Report of 1891-1892 by E. Hultzsch, an English epigraphist in India.[1]
The inscription mentions the existence of a Tamil trade union in the Barus region.[2] The trade union was named "The Five Hundreds of a Thousand Directions" (Disai-Ayirattu-Ainnurruvar).[2][3] According to Prof. Y. Subbarayalu from Tamil University, Thanjavur, this trade union's other name was Ayyavole, which also left a Tamil-language inscription in Aceh.[4] In Barus, they bought various commodities from the local population, and the members were collected excise in the form of gold, which was based on the price of the kasturi. The objects of the excise were the ship, the captain, and kevi.[2]
According to reports, in the 1900s a Buddha statue in the form of a torso made of red granite was also found in the site, which is now gone.[2] The existence of the statue in Barus raises the suspicion that the Tamil community there was permanent or semi-permanent, therefore it has its own place of worship.[2]
Currently 7/8 parts of the inscription are stored in the National Museum of Indonesia and another one eight part is still in Lobu Tua.[5] Beside inscriptions, in Lobu Tua some dry old cylindrical wells were found as well.
Inscription text
The text of Lobu Tua Inscription is as follows:[6]
|
1-4. Now, in 1010 Saka, the month of Masi 5-11. We, the Fifth Hundreds of a Thousand Directions, known in all countries and directions, have met in Valpuram in Varocu alias Matankari-vallava-teci-uyyakkonta-pattinam 12-17. Decided the following for "our son(s)" Nakara-senapati Nattucettiyar, Patinen-bhumi-teci-appar and mavettu: 18-22. [Each ... of] his ship, the skipper, and kevi will pay the ancu-tunt-ayam tax in the form of gold based on the price of the kasturi and [later] will walk on a stretch of cloth. 23-26. So, we the Five Hundreds of a Thousand Directions, known in all directions and in all eighteen countries have ordered to carve and stick this stone. Do not forget the kind attitude: the kind attitude itself is a good friend. |
Footnotes
- Claude Guillot 2002, p. 17.
- Pradjoko & Utomo 2013, pp. 99-100.
- Mukund 1999, pp. 30.
- Claude Guillot, dkk. 2007, pp. 289-290.
- Susanto Zuhdi 1993, p. 71.
- Claude Guillot 2002, p. 20.
References
- Claude Guillot, ed. (2002). Lobu Tua, Sejarah Awal Barus [Histoire de Barus: Le Site de Lobu Tua I. Études et Documents]. Penerjemah Daniel Perret. Jakarta: Yayasan Obor Indonesia, École française d'Extrême-Orient. ISBN 979-461-392-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Pradjoko, Didik; Utomo, Bambang Budi (2013). Endjat Djaenuderadjat (ed.). Atlas Pelabuhan-Pelabuhan Bersejarah di Indonesia. Jakarta: Direktorat Jenderal Kebudayaan. ISBN 978-602-17497-5-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Claude Guillot, dkk. (2007). Barus Seribu Tahun yang Lalu [Histoire de Barus: Le Site de Lobu Tua II. Étude archéologique et Documents]. Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia, École française d'Extrême-Orient. ISBN 978-979-91-0092-4.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link) CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
- Susanto Zuhdi (1993). Pasai Kota Pelabuhan Jalan Sutra: Kumpulan Makalah Diskusi. Proyek Inventarisasi dan Dokumentasi Sejarah Nasional.
- Mukund, Kanakalatha (1999). The Trading World of the Tamil Merchant: Evolution of Merchant Capitalism in the Coromandel. Orient Blackswan. ISBN 9788125016618.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)