Pagaruyung inscriptions

Pagaruyung inscriptions (Minangkabau: batu-batu basurek Pagaruyuang) are the term applied to the series of ancient inscriptions found or re-discovered in several western regions of the Indonesian island of Sumatra, written mainly in Old Javanese language and script (with mixed of Sanskrit and Pallava in some inscription). There are about eight to ten of Pagaruyung inscriptions in total, each one of them are named according to the numerical order. These inscriptions are one of the proven ancient evidences of the Javanese influence and dominance on Sumatra Island, along with the Saruaso and Kubu Rajo inscriptions. It also signifies the cultural, commercial, political, and linguistic connections between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra in ancient times.

Nomenclature

The series of inscriptions named as "Pagaruyung" due to the exact location of where these inscriptions where commonly found or discovered, at the nagari Pagaruyung of Tanah Emas district in Tanah Datar regencial region of West Sumatra. Although in modern-day the term of "Pagaruyung" are more commonly associated to the historical Kingdom of Pagaruyuang, however the inscriptions has nothing to do with those specific monarch. The term itself etymologically derived from two Old Javanese words, "pagĕr" (lit. 'hedge') and "ruyuṅ" (lit. 'type of wood').

Significance

For the Minangkabau (native western Sumatra) society, the Pagaruyung inscriptions hold a sacred cultural significance. It is believed that the term "Minangkabau" itself was born or came into existence due to the interaction between the Javanese and native of western Sumatra, as recorded in some of the Pagaruyung inscription (one of them in the Pagaruyung VII inscription).

List of inscriptions

• Pagaruyung I inscription
• Pagaruyung II inscription
• Pagaruyung III inscription
• Pagaruyung IV inscription
• Pagaruyung V inscription
• Pagaruyung VI inscription
• Pagaruyung VII inscription
• Pagaruyung VIII inscription