Mulavarman Stone and Vo Canh Stele

The Malay Archipelago refers to the thousands of islands which make up five countries today: Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Singapore. The term “Melayu” is even older and dates back to the ancient kingdom of Srivijaya (6th–10th century). The Malays settled in the pasisir (riverine/coastal) regions of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Borneo. While the initial Indianisation of the region left Hindu and Buddhist imprints, these were replaced by Islamic influences as early as the 11th or 12th century. This gave rise to Muslim sultanates with a fairly uniform language, religion and cultural practices.

Kepulauan Melayu merangkumi ribuan pulau yang terbahagi kepada lima buah negara iaitu Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Filipina dan Singapura. Nama "Melayu" mula digunakan sejak zaman kerajaan Srivijaya (abad ke 6 hingga 10).  Orang Melayu mendiami kawasan Semenanjung Tanah Melayu, Sumatera dan Borneo.  Kebudayaan orang Melayu telah mengalami evolusi yang panjang, penyerapan dan penyesuaian terhadap pelbagai budaya.  Pengaruh agama Hindu dan Buddha telah diganti dengan pengaruh Islam sejak abad ke 11 atau 12. Pada waktu itu kesultanan Melayu sudah wujud dan agama Islam, bahasa dan budaya Melayu turut berkembang.

Mulavarman Stone
5th century
Reproduction
Museum Nasional Indonesia
Script: Pallava; Language: Sanskrit

This stone inscription, one of the earliest in the Malay Archipelago, was commissioned by King Mulavarman of the Kutai kingdom (in modern-day Kalimantan), the oldest Hindu kingdom in Indonesia. Besides describing an incident when King Mulavarman gave 20,000 cattle to the people of Brahmana, the inscription also carries the story and ancestral lineage of King Mulavarman.

Batu bersurat terawal ini dititahkan oleh Raja Mulavarman dari kerajaan Kutai (sekarang di Kalimantan), sebuah kerajaan Hindu yang tertua di Indonesia. Ia menceritakan tentang Raja Mulavarman bersedekah 20,000 ekor kerbau kepada rakyat Brahmana dan menerangkan tentang susur galur keturunan Raja Mulavarman

Rubbing of the Vo Canh stele
4th century
Rice paper rubbing from stone inscription
Vietnam History Museum
Script: Sanskrit

The Vo Canh stele is purported to be the oldest material evidence of Buddhism found in Southeast Asia. Found near the village of Vo Canh (near modern-day Nha Trang) in Vietnam, it records the donation of property made by King Sri Mara to his family.

Merupakan peninggalan pengaruh agama Buddha di Asia Tenggara. Dijumpai berdekatan dengan perkampungan Vo Canh, Vietnam. Ia ada mencatatkan pembahagian harta oleh Raja Sri Mara kepada keluarganya