Laguna Copperplate Inscription | salingogon (Captions Available)

Summary

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI), discovered in 1990, is a 10th-century artifact that challenges the historical timeline of the Philippines, proving the existence of advanced Filipino civilizations as early as 900 A.D. The LCI, written in Early Kawi script, documents the debt acquittal of Namwran, revealing cultural exchanges with the Srivijayan Empire and others. Despite skepticism due to its foreign appearance, experts have authenticated it based on script and language accuracy. The LCI provides a glimpse into the sociocultural environment of the time, including the use of Old Malay and Sanskrit, and the Javanese weight-value system for debt calculation.

Takeaways

• 🗺️ The Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI) was discovered in 1990 at the Lumbang River, challenging the historical timeline of the Philippines, suggesting a much earlier civilization dating back to the 10th century.
• 📜 The LCI is an artifact that rewrites history, proving the existence of advanced settlements and civilizations in the Philippines earlier than previously thought.
• 🔍 The piece of metal was sold to the National Museum of the Philippines after attempts to sell it to antique collectors failed, highlighting its significance to the nation's heritage.
• 📝 The inscription is written in the Early Kawi script, which was prevalent in the 10th century and is also found in regions from Bali to Central Vietnam.
• 🤔 The LCI's authenticity has been a subject of controversy due to its script and style being more native to countries like Indonesia, but experts have deemed it authentic based on linguistic and historical evidence.
• 👤 The inscription is a document of debt acquittal for a man named Namwran, decreed by the Chief and Commander of Tundun, reflecting the socio-economic interactions of the time.
• 📅 The LCI's date was converted from the Hindu system to the Julian system, revealing it was created on April 21, 900 A.D., a significant historical date for the Philippines.
• 🌐 The LCI's language, Old Malay, was a lingua franca in maritime Southeast Asia, indicating the region's extensive trade and cultural exchanges.
• 💡 The script contains typographical errors, showing that even the scribe who created the LCI was human and prone to mistakes.
• 🏺 The LCI provides insights into the political and environmental context of the time, with personal and place names that may correspond to modern-day locations.
• 💰 The document also sheds light on the economic practices of the era, including the use of gold as currency and the Javanese weight–value system for debt calculation.

Q & A

What is the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI)?

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is an artifact discovered in 1990 that provides evidence of ancient Filipino settlements and civilizations dating back to the early 900 A.D., challenging the previous belief that Filipinos existed as recently as the 16th century.

Who coined the term 'Laguna Copperplate Inscription'?

Antoon Postma, a Dutch anthropologist with an interest in Philippine studies, coined the term 'Laguna Copperplate Inscription' or LCI.

What does the LCI represent in terms of historical significance?

The LCI represents a significant shift in the understanding of Philippine history, extending the timeline of the classical period by seven centuries or more and indicating cultural and trade interactions with the Srivijayan Empire and other Southeast Asian kingdoms.

What is the content of the LCI?

The LCI is a 10-line document written in the Early Kawi script, which serves as a certificate of full acquittal of debt for a man named Namwran, decreed by the Chief and Commander of Tundun.

Why was the LCI initially controversial?

The LCI was controversial due to its appearance and script, which are native to countries like Indonesia rather than the Philippines, and because of past instances of fabricated historical documents, leading to skepticism about its authenticity.

How was the authenticity of the LCI established?

Experts established the authenticity of the LCI based on the appropriate use of the script and language of the period, as well as minor details that would be difficult to replicate by an untrained individual.

What is the significance of the date on the LCI?

The date on the LCI, in the Hindu calendar, corresponds to April 21, 900 A.D., which is significant as it places the document in the 10th century, providing a concrete historical timeline for the region.

What script and language are used in the LCI?

The LCI is written in the Early Kawi script, which is derived from the Pallava script from India, and uses Old Malay as its main language, with technical terms borrowed from Sanskrit and Old Javanese for titles of leaders.

What are the typographical errors found in the LCI?

There are two typographical errors in the LCI: one in line 3 where the character 'tra' was omitted and later inserted with two dots indicating its position, and another in line 4 where the suffix '-di' was omitted in the word 'barjadi'.

What is the sociocultural environment of the LCI as described by Postma?

Postma describes the sociocultural environment of the LCI as being influenced by Indian sciences, including writing systems, education, weights and measures, vocabulary, astronomy, law, religion, and politics, with cultural exchanges and adaptations to local necessities.

How does the LCI reflect the economic practices of the time?

The LCI reflects the economic practices of the time by mentioning the use of gold as a form of debt repayment, indicating the importance of gold in the region's economy and its trade with other Southeast Asian polities.

What are the personal and place names mentioned in the LCI?

The personal names mentioned in the LCI include Angkatan, Bukah, Kasumuran, Namwran, Biśruta, Gaṇaśakti, and Jayadewa, while the place names include Binwangan, Pailah, Puliran, Dewata, Mdang, and Tundun.

What is the Javanese weight–value system mentioned in the LCI?

The Javanese weight–value system is a system of measurement used to calculate debt in the LCI, with terms like kati, tahil, suwarṇa, dharaṇa, māṣa, atak, kupang, and saga, each with specific weights and corresponding abbreviations.