OVERVIEW
Pencak silat is the valuable ancestor legacy, since physical self defense to breathing technique
martial arts. Later on the breathing technique martial is known as inner power energy (tenaga
dalam). Undisputable that is all the breathing technique martial arts is down from Pencak silat’s
form (jurus pencak silat). Pencak silat has acknowledged since civilization along Nusantara islands
rise up forming a communities. Let’s say the oldest Hindu’s Kingdom Kutai Kertanegara in East
Borneo and Tarumanagara in West Java were accommodating pencak silat as tools for defense against
enemies.
Fa Hian, the Chinese adventurer had booked that is Tarumanegara kingdom glory on 414 AD. In this
time civilians trustworthy are Hindu and Sunda wiwitan. King Purnawarman creed both beliefs
were peace full together. To be convinced pencak silat has exist and grew up and become the only
one self defense. Batu tulis (engraved stone) is one of the historical witness monument, located in Bogor
(Buitenzorg) city. Unknown all sorts of reason why the kingdom Tarumanegara is going to decease,
there is no specific historical record explain for.
The Kalingga kingdom in central Java rise up after drawn of Tarumanegara Kingdom . Queen Shima is
the King of the Kalingga kingdom. From her two great dynasties Sanjaya and Sannaha were born.
From this dynasties appear the Mataram kuno (old Mataram) kingdom in central Java and the
Sriwijaya kingdom in Sumatra. Borobudur temple in central Java is the witness how competence level the
human resources in relation with both the culture and civil project.
Under Sriwijaya kingdom authority, the southern path of Sumatra land is going into the center of Buddha
religion. although pencak silat become as the official self defense for the army.
Sriwijaja kingdom authority is spreading out covering Southeast Asia region and Indochina.
Of course convinced that is pencak silat also spreading out following too.
Down of Sriwijaya Kingdom in Sumatra, then appear Mataram kuno kingdom in central Java around
6th century. Both dynasties Sanjaya and Sannaha were integrate. Undisputable that is pencak
silat also going into assimilation between Sumatra with Java styles. Since there, we don’t
know which one the genuine style of Javanese pencak silat. But precisely we know pencak is born
from the Indonesian culture.
Along Nusantara archipelago there are three major sea ports, Minagkabau (Sumatra Island), Sunda
Kelapa (west Java) and Jumpandang (Gowa – Celebes Island). This area is the Silk Road for along
Nusantara islands. Trade and culture exchange were occurred although Chinese culture following
penetrate in those area.
If there is trading or culture exchanges, certainly it will develop self defense art styles
exchanges and assimilation. So currently there is no chance to claim a Javanese genuine pencak
silat style. Contrary as Javanese should gratefully to have various style of pencak silat.
The entry point of pencak silat almost into Bandar Sunda Kelapa (west Java), therefore west Java
is become the center development of pencak silat styles. Most silat practitioner come down to
Sunda Kelapa to gain their silat expertise. Sunda Kelapa is under Pajajaran kingdom control and
year by year is going strong for defense against enemies. For instant Majapahit kingdom were
unable to defeat Pajajaran. So currently almost no memorialized Majapahit term in major city in
west java There is no Hayam Wuruk Street or Gajah Mada street or Majapahit street.
Breathing technique martial arts were influenced from China land. As fact since Chinese warships
armada under admiral Mo Xing Go landing on Sunda Kelapa harbor, to establish mutual relation ship
between China and Pejajaran Kingdom. Gunung Batu temple in Semarang city is one of the historical
proofs an existing immigrant from China land. So eventually Sunda Kelapa or west java becomes rich
of cultures. Particularly development of both pencak silat and breathing technique martial arts.
In 16th century, Ilmu hikmah (Moslem esotericism) begun popular instead of entering Islam to Java
land. Penetration of Islam is initiated by King Ottoman which is sending 9 Islamic theological
(Waliullah) to teach Islan for Javanese, while Majapahit kingdom has been collapse. In reality
Javanese has knew ilmu hikmah based on Hindu and Budda religion which is coming from
Shambala Tibet far before entering Islam. Again combination both ilmu hikmah source from Hindu
Buddha and Islam were assimilated. No doubt almost the ilmu hikmah incantation currently is using
both language Arabic and Java.
Java Land has the biggest population in Nusantara Archipelago and become center development
of martial arts, breathing technique and ilmu hikmah. Therefore very specific martial arts in Java
land was build up from combination and unification between breathing technique, pencak silat and ilmu hikmah.