The Laguna Copperplate Inscription

A.) What does the artifact say?

The artifact say, Long Live! In the Year of Saka 822, month of Waisakha, according to the
astronomer. The fourth day of the waning moon, Monday. On this occasion, Lady Angkatan,
and her relative whose name is Bukah, the children of the Honourable Namwaran, were
awarded a document of complete pardon from the Commander-in-Chief of Tundun,
represented by the Lord Minister of Pailah, Jayadewa. This means that, through the
Honourable Scribe, the Honourable Namwaran is totally cleared of his salary-related debts of
1 Kati and 8 Suwarna, before the Honourable Lord Minister of Puliran Kasumuran, by the
authority of the Lord Minister of Pailah, represented by Ganashakti. The Honourable and
widely-renowed Lord Minister of Binwagan, represented by Bisruta. And, with his whole
family, upon ordered of the Lord Minister of Dewata, represented by the Chief of Mdang,
because of his loyalty as a subject of the Commander-in-Chief. Therefore, the living
descendants of the Honourable Namwaran are cleared of all debts of the Honourable
Namwaran to the Lord Minister of Dewata. This, in any case, whoseever, sometime in the
future, who shall state that the debt is not yet cleared of the Honourable.

B.) What was the provenance or source of the artifact?

The provenance or source of the artifact was found in 1989 near the mouth of the Lumbang
River near Laguna de Bay, by a man who was dredging sand to turn into concrete.
Suspecting that the artifact might have some value, the man sold it to an antique dealer
who, having found no buyers, eventually sold it to the National Museum of the Philippines.

C.) Who authorized it? ( If applicable).

It is authorized by Jaime Figueroa Tiongson.

D.) What was the context of the primary sources production?

The context of the primary sources production was the type of script used in the Laguna
Copperplate Inscription has been identified as the so-called ‘Early Kawi Script’, a writing
system that originated in the Indonesian island of Java, and was used across much of
maritime Southeast Asia during the 10th century AD. This script is said to have been derived
from the Pailava script, which has its origins in India. As for the language of the inscription, it
has been found to be heavily influenced linguistically by Sanskrit, Old Malay, and Old
Javanese. Both the type script, and the language of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription,
therefore, shows that this area was not actually isolated from the rest of Southeast Asia, as
had been previously assumed. Its origins in India (supposedly marking the ascension of the
Kushan emperor Kanishka), and the year 822 is said to correspond with the year 900 AD in
the Gregorian calendar. The use of this calendrical system is further evidence that there
were cultural links between this area of Southeast Asia and its neighbors, which at that time,
were largely under the cultural influence of India. It has been suggested that the inscription
is a “semi-official certificate of acquittal of a debt incurred by a person in high office,
together with his whole family, all relatives and descendants.”

E.) Provide an analysis.

The Laguna Copperplate Inscription, which would probably not attract instant, public
attention as gold or silver artifacts would, is in fact an immensely important object. This
seemingly insignificant artifact has sparked a re-assessment of the history of the Philippines
prior to the coming of the Spanish. In particular the 10th century AD, and the archipelago’s
relationship with the rest of Southeast Asia. The plate was found in 1989 by a labourer
named Ernesto Lacerna Legisma, near the mouth of the Lumbang River in Barangay Wawa,
Lumban, Laguna. The inscription on the plate, made in 900CE was first deciphered by Dutch
anthropologist Antoon Postma. It is authorized by Jaime Figueroa Tiongson.