Walisongo, Spreader of Islam in Java

The Wali Sanga (also transcribed as Wali Songo) are revered saints of Islam in Indonesia, especially on the island of Java, because of their historic role in the Spread of Islam in Indonesia. The word wali is Arabic for "trusted one" ("guardian" in other contexts in Indonesia) or "friend of God" ("saint" in this context), while the word songo is Javanese for the number nine. Thus, the term is often translated as "9 saints".

Each man is often attributed the title sunan in Javanese, which may derive fromsuhun, in this context meaning "honoured".

Most of the wali were also called raden during their lifetimes, because they were members of royal houses. (See "Style and Title" section of Yogyakarta Sultanate for an explanation of Javanese nobility terms.)

The graves of Wali Sanga are venerated as locations of ziarah (ziyarat) or localpilgrimage in Java.The graves are also known as pundhen in Javanese.

Origins

Some Muslim mystics came to Java from Gujarat, India via Samudera Pasai (part of what is now Aceh). The earliest wali songo was Maulana Malik Ibrahim (originally from Samarkand) who arrived on Java in 1419 CE.

Tracing the lineage back further than Maulana Malik Ibrahim is problematic, but most scholars agree all of them are of Arab descendants. Although silsila are listed in various Javanese royal chronicles (such as Sejarah Banten) to denote ancestral lineage, the term in Sufism refers to a lineage of teachers. Some of these spiritual lineages are cited by van Bruinessen in his study of the Banten Sultanate, particularly in regard to Sunan Gunung Jati who was an initiate of various Sufi orders.

Although popular belief sometimes refers to the wali songo as "founders" of Islam on Java, the religion was present by the time the Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He arrived during his first voyage (1405-1407 CE).

Some of the wali songo had some Chinese ancestry maternally; for example, Sunan Ampel (Chinese name Bong Swi Ho),Sunan Bonang (Ampel's son, Bong Ang), and Sunan Kalijaga (Gan Si Cang)

Synopsis

The composition of the nine saints varies, depending on different sources. The following list is widely accepted, but its authenticity relies much on repeated citations of a handful of early sources, reinforced as "facts" in school textbooks and other modern accounts. This list differs somewhat from the names suggested in the Babad Tanah Jawi manuscripts.

One theory about the variation of composition is: "The most probable explanation is that there was a loose council of nine religious leaders, and that as older members retired or died, new members were brought into this council." However, it should be borne in mind that the term "wali songo" was created retroactively by historians, and so there was no official "group of nine" that had membership. Further, the differences in chronology of the wali suggest that there might never have been a time when nine of them were alive contemporaneously.

Some of the family relationships described below are well-documented; others are less certain. Even today, it is common in Java for a family friend to be called "uncle" or "brother" despite the lack of blood relationship.

• Maulana Malik Ibrahim also known as Sunan Gresik: Arrived on Java 1404 CE, died in 1419 CE, buried in Gresik, East Java. Activities included commerce, healing, and improvement of agricultural techniques. Father of Sunan Ampel and uncle of Sunan Giri.
• Sunan Ampel: Born in Champa in 1401 CE, died in 1481 CE in Demak, Central Java. Can be considered a focal point of the wali songo: he was the son of Sunan Gresik and the father of Sunan Bonang and Sunan Dradjat. Sunan Ampel was also the cousin and father-in-law of Sunan Giri. In addition, Sunan Ampel was the grandfather of Sunan Kudus. Sunan Bonang in turn taught Sunan Kalijaga, who was the father of Sunan Muria. Sunan Ampel was also the teacher of Raden Patah.
• Sunan Giri: Born in Blambangan (now Banyuwangi, the easternmost part of Java) in 1442 CE. His father Maulana Ishak was the brother of Maulana Malik Ibrahim. Sunan Giri's grave is in Gresik near Surabaya.
• Sunan Bonang: Born in 1465 CE in Rembang (near Tuban) on the north coast of Central Java. Died in 1525 CE and buried in Tuban. Brother of Sunan Drajat. Composed songs for gamelan orchestra.
• Sunan Drajat: Born in 1470 CE. Brother of Sunan Bonang. Composed songs for gamelan orchestra.
• Sunan Kudus: Died 1550 CE, buried in Kudus. Possible originator of wayang golek puppetry.
• Sunan Kalijaga: His born name is Raden Mas Said, and he is the son of Adipati Tuban, Tumenggung Harya Wilatikta. Buried in Kadilangu, Demak. Used wayang kulit shadow puppets and gamelan music to convey spiritual teachings.
• Sunan Muria: Buried in Gunung Muria, Kudus. Son of Sunan Kalijaga and Dewi Soejinah (sister of Sunan Giri), thus grandson of Maulana Ishak.
• Sunan Gunung Jati: Buried in Cirebon. Founder and first ruler of the Cirebon Sultanate. His son, Maulana Hasanudin, become the founder and the first ruler of Banten Sultanate.

• Additional Wali sanga

  • Sunan Ngampel-Denta - (mentioned in the Babad Tanah Jawi)
  • Sunan Sitijenar - (mentioned in the Babad Tanah Jawi)
  • Sunan Walilanang - (mentioned in the Babad Tanah Jawi)
  • Sunan Bayat (mentioned in Babad Tanah Jawi)
  • Sunan Ngudung (son-in-law of Sunan Ampel and father of Sunan Kudus),

  Sources of information

  Information about Wali Sanga is usually available in three forms:

  (a) cerita rakyat: usually written as school texts for children to understand the lives and teaching of the holy men who propagated Islam in Java and Sumatra. Some have been made into TV series, segments of which are available on YouTube.

  (b) kraton (palace) manuscripts with 'sacred' connotations: in verse and subject to limited access.

  (c) articles and books about the historical personages: by Indonesian and non-Indonesian writers who attempt to ascertain historical accuracy, sometimes by seeking corroboration from non-Indonesian accounts of history or religion.

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Islamic kingdom in Java

At the end of the 16th century, Islam has surpassed Hinduism and Buddhism as the dominant religion in Java, through propaganda that first run to the ruler of the island. In this period, Islamic kingdoms Demak, Cirebon and Banten build power. Sultanate of Mataram in the late 16th century grew into a dominant force of the central and eastern Java. The rulers of Surabaya and Cirebon successfully subjugated under the power of Mataram, so just Mataram and Banten who then left when the arrival of the Dutch in the 17th century.

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Colonization which took place in Java

Java relations with the colonial powers of Europe began in 1522, with the holding of an agreement between the Kingdom of Sunda and Portuguese in Malacca. After the failure of the agreement, then only a limited presence of the Portuguese in Malacca and the islands east of the archipelago alone. An expedition under the command of Cornelis de Houtman which consists of four ships in 1596, became the beginning of the relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia. [10] At the end of the 18th century, the Dutch have managed to expand their influence on the sultanates in the interior of the island Java (see Dutch East Indies Company in Indonesia). Although the Java is a brave warrior, internal conflicts have prevented them from forming an effective alliance against the Dutch. Mataram remnants survive as Surakarta and Yogyakarta Sultanate. The Javanese kings claimed dominion over God's will, and the Netherlands support the remnants of the Javanese aristocracy by way of confirming their position as a ruler or regent region within the scope of the colonial administration.

In the early colonial period, Java plays a major role as a rice-producing areas. The islands of spice, for example the Banda islands, regularly bring rice from Java to meet the needs of their life.

Tea plantations in Java in the Dutch colonial era. Around 1926

England had conquered in 1811. Java Java and then became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain, by Sir Stamford Raffles as Governor-General. In 1814, the UK returns to the Dutch Java as the provisions of the Treaty of Paris.

Residents of the island of Java is probably already reached 5 million people in 1815 In the second half of the 18th century, began a surge in the number of people in the duchy-duchy along the north coast of central Java, and in the 19th century the entire island experienced rapid population growth. Various factors cause large population growth, among others, including the role of the Dutch colonial government, namely the set of civil war in Java, increasing the area of ​​rice fields, as well as introducing other food crops such as cassava and corn that can support food security for the population who can not afford to buy rice . [14] The other opinion states that increasing the tax burden and the ever-expanding perekutan work under the Cultivation System led to the couple trying to have more children in the hope of increasing the number of family members who can help pay taxes and make a living. In 1820, an outbreak of cholera in Java with 100,000 victims.

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Geography and Geology of the island of Java

Geography

Neighboring Java to Sumatra to the west, in eastern Bali, Kalimantan in the north, and

Christmas Island in the south. Java is the 13th largest island in the world. Waters surrounding this island is the Java Sea in the north, the Sunda Strait in the west, the Indian Ocean in the south, as well as Bali and Madura Strait in the east.

Java has an area of about 139,000 km2. The longest river is the Bengawan Solo, which is along the 600 km. The river rises in central Java, precisely in the volcano Lawu. The flow of the river then flows to the north and east, towards its mouth in the Java Sea near the city of Surabaya.

Almost the entire Java never gained the impact of volcanic activity. There are thirty-eight mountains that stretches from east to west of the island, all of which at a certain time once the active volcano. The highest volcano in Java is Mount Semeru (3,676 m), while the most active volcano in Java and even in Indonesia is Mount Merapi (2,968 m) and kelud mountain (1,731 m). Mountains and plateaus within remote help inland region is divided into several areas that are relatively isolated and suitable for wetland rice fields. Rice paddy fields in Java is one of the most fertile in the world. Java is the first place of coffee cultivation in Indonesia, namely since 1699. Now, many arabica coffee is grown in the highlands of Ijen either by small farmers as well as by plantations large.

Highlands Parahyangan, seen from Bogor (c. 1865-1872).

The average temperature all year is between 22 ° C to 29 ° C, with an average humidity of 75%. North Beach area is usually hotter, with an average of 34 ° C during the day in the dry season. South Beach area is generally cooler than the north coast, and the inland plateau area cooler again. The rainy season begins in October and ends in April, where the rain typically falls in the afternoon, and in the months of rain in others usually only intermittent course. The highest rainfall generally occur in the months of January and February.

West Java rainfall is higher than East Java, and the mountainous areas receive higher rainfall. Rainfall in the Highlands Parahyangan in West Java reached more than 4,000 mm per year, while on the north coast of East Java is only 900 mm per year.

Geology 

The most complete descriptions of the geology Java disclosed in van Bemmelen (1949). As an island, Java is relatively young geologically. Formation begins from the Tertiary period. Previously, the crust that forms the island is below sea level. Activities orogenis intensive since the Oligocene and Miocene epoch raised seabed so that the Pliocene and Pleistocene epoch form of Java has begun to form. The remains of the sea floor is still visible, forming most of the features of karst areas in the south of the island.

Van Bemmelen divides the island of Java in the following seven physiographic units.

South Mountains, is a zone of limestone mixed with the rest of the time Miocene volcanic activity are experiencing some of the appointment to the Quaternary period.

Volcanic Zone of the Quaternary period, with volcanoes, often with peaks above 2000 m above sea level, stretches from west to east butts.

Central depression, forming a basin axis as the main axis of the island, with two major depression: depression depression Bandung and Solo

Central anticlinal zone, consisting of deposits when Miocene to Pleistocene, starting from the Mount Reef continue east through Bogor, Serayu valley, then Kendeng Mountains, all the way to the northern coast Besuki.

Depression Randublatung, a small depression in the northern elongated Kendeng Mountains, formed from marine and terrestrial sediments.

Antiklinorium Apex-Madura, the formation of limestone hills on the northern coast of East Java and forming almost all parts of the island of Madura

Northern coastal alluvial plains (the northern Gaza) are formed from the delta and silt, is the youngest land.

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