C.C. Berg and ancient Javanese history

Abstract

D uring the years 1950-1955 Berg has published with short intervals six studies on the history and historiography of Ancient Java 1 ) which contain a number oL theories and hypotheses so revolutionary that, should .theyprove tenable, they would necessitate a complete revision of much which up to the present had seemed as firm as a rock to our historical knowledge.But we ask ourselves immediately whether this necessity is as imperative as a first and superficial acquaintance with these studies would seem to suggest.It is a question which amply merits our consideration.As a matter of fact many readers will have been greatly impressed by Berg's fascinating and acute arguments and will have accepted straight away that the author -than whom nobody is better versed in eastern Javanese tradition and than whom nobody has acquired greater merit for the .research into the history of eastern Java -must be right all along the line and that they would therefore be well advised to rid.themselves of their antiquated notions, in order to exchange these for his views.J ) These studies are: "Kertanagara, de miskende empirebuilder" (the neglected empirebuilder), Qrientatie, July 1950, pp.1-32 (= Kert.); "De evolutie der Javaanse geschiedschxijving" (The evolution of Javanese historiography), Mededelingen dtr Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van IVetenschappen, Afd.Letterkunde, Nixiwe reeks 14, no. 2, 26 pp.(•= Ev.); "De geschiedenis van pril Majapahit, I: JA&.mysterie van de vier dochters van Krtanagara" (The history of early Majapahit, I: the mystery of the four daughters of Krtanagara), Indonesie IV, 1950/51, pp.481-520 (= PM.I); "De geschiedenis van pril Majapahit, II: Achtergrond en oplossing der pril-Majapahitse conflicten" (II: Background and solution of the early Majapahit conflicts), Indonesia V, 1951, pp.193-233 (= PM.II); "De Sadeng-oorlog en de mythe van Groot-Majapahit" (The Sadeng war and the myth of Greater Majapahit), Indonesie V, 1951, pp.385-422 (=SO-GM); "Herkomst, vorm en functie der Middeljavaanse rijksdelihgstheorie" (Origin, form and function of the Middle-Javanese theory concerning the division of the empire), Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Afd.Letterkunde, Nieuwe reeks LIX, no. 1, 306 pp.(= Rd).-Apart from these studies, Berg published two more papers in BKI 110, 1954, three in Indonesie VIII, 1955, and one in Studio Islamica, 1955.As these, however, are chiefly concerned with New-Javanese history, they will bei only referred to incidentally in the folowing discussion.

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