Boxer Codex and LCI
Boxer Codex and LCI
Boxer Codex and LCI
Silva
The inscription is on a thin copper plate measuring less than 20 × 30 cm (8 × 12 inches) in size with words directly embossed
onto the plate. It differs in manufacture from Javanese scrolls of the period, which had the words inscribed onto a heated,
softened scroll of metal.
Inscribed on it is the Saka era date of the year Siyaka 822, month of Waisaka, the fourth day of the waning moon, which
corresponds to Monday, 21 April 900 CE in the Gregorian calendar. The writing system used is the Kawi Script, while the
language is a variety of Old Malay, and contains numerous loanwords from Sanskrit and a few non-Malay vocabulary
elements whose origin may be Old Javanese. Some contend it is between Old Tagalog and Old Javanese. The document
states that it releases its bearers, the children of Namwaran, from a debt in gold amounting to 1 kati and 8 suwarnas (865
grams).
A year later, Antoon Postma noted that the inscription was similar to the ancient Indonesian script of Kawi. Postma
translated the script and found the document dated itself to the Saka year 822, an old Hindu calendar date which
approximately corresponds to 900 A.D.This meant that the document pre-dated the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521
and is from about the same time as the mention of Philippines in the official Chinese Sung History for the year 1972.
In 1990, Antoon Postma, a Dutch expert in ancient Philippine scripts and Mangyan writing, and a long-time resident of the
Philippines, translated the document that came to be known as the Laguna Copperplate Inscription (LCI). When he saw
that the writing looked similar to the ancient Indonesian script called Kavi, and that the document bore a date from the
ancient Sanskrit calendar, he enlisted the help of fellow Dutchman, Dr. Johann de Casparis, whose area of expertise was
ancient Indonesia. Casparis confirmed that the script and the words used in the Laguna document were exactly the same
as those that were used on the island Java at the time stated in the document, which was the year 822, in the old Hindu
calendar or the year 900 C.E. (Common Era) on our calendar.
In spite of the similarities to Javanese documents, the copper plate had some peculiarities that led scholars to believe that
it was not from the island of Java. First: the LCI did not mention the king of Java at that time, King Balitung. It was the
custom at that time to always mention the name of the king in official documents. Second: the language used in the
document was not only Sanskrit. It was a mixture of Sanskrit, Old Javanese, Old Malay and Old Tagalog. And third: the
method of writing was different. At that time in Java the characters were impressed into heated copper, but the characters
on the Laguna plate seemed to have been hammered into cold copper.
In his examination, Postma learned that the inscription was a pardon from the Chief of Tondo that erased the debt of a
man named Namwaran. His debt was one kati and eight suwarna, or about 926.4 grams of gold. Today in 2006, this is
equal to about $18,600 Canadian.
The document mentioned a few towns that still exist today: Tundun, which is now Tondo in Metro Manila and three towns
in Bulakan; Pailah or Paila, Puliran or Pulilan, and Binwangan. A town in Agusan del Norte on Mindanao called Dewata or
Diwata also appears in the text. Diwata is near Butuan, which has been a rich source of ancient artefacts. A place called
Medang was mentioned, too, which is possibly Medan in Sumatra, Indonesia. Also, the name of Namwaran’s son was
given as Bukah, a name that may have some relation to the town of Gatbuka in Bulakan. Gat is a title similar to “Sir” for a
knight.
In 1994 Hector Santos asked me to write a Filipino translation of the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. I wrote two. The
first was based on his English translation. The second was based on his glossary, called the LCI Dictionary, and on my
own research. It closely followed the word order of the original document. My latest translation (which can be seen in
the Filipino version this article) changed the sentence structure to make it more readable. Here is my rough English
translation of that Filipino version.
Long Live! Year of Siyaka 822, month of Waisaka, according to astronomy. The fourth day of the waning moon, Monday. On
this occasion, Lady Angkatan, and her brother whose name is Buka, 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.
By this order, through the scribe, the Honourable Namwaran has been forgiven of all and is released from his debts and
arrears of 1 katî and 8 suwarna before the Honourable Lord Minister of Puliran, Ka Sumuran by the authority of the Lord
Minister of Pailah.
Because of his faithful service as a subject of the Chief, the Honourable and widely renowned Lord Minister of Binwangan
recognized all the living relatives of Namwaran who were claimed by the Chief of Dewata, represented by the Chief of
Medang.
Yes, therefore the living descendants of the Honourable Namwaran are forgiven, indeed, of any and all debts of the
Honourable Namwaran to the Chief of Dewata.
This, in any case, shall declare to whomever henceforth that on some future day should there be a man who claims that no
release from the debt of the Honourable...
(2014, 10). Laguna Copper Plate StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 2014, from https://www.studymode.com/essays/Laguna-
Copper-Plate-60094683.html
The Boxer Codex
Boxer Codex is a manuscript written circa 1595 which contains illustrations of Filipinos at the time of their initial contact
with the Spanish. Aside from a description of and historical allusions to the Philippines and various other Far Eastern
countries, it also contains seventy-five colored drawings of the inhabitants of these regions and their distinctive costumes.
Fifteen illustrations deal with Filipinos.
It is believed that the original owner of the manuscript was Luis Pérez das Mariñas, son of Governor General Gómez Pérez
das Mariñas, who was killed in 1593 by the Sangleys (Chinese living in the Philippines). Luis succeeded his father in office
as Governor General of the Philippines. Since Spanish colonial governors were required to supply written reports on the
territotries they governed, it is likely that the manuscript was written under the orders of the governor.
The manuscript’s earliest known owner was Lord Ilchester. The codex was among what remained in his collection when
his estate, Holland House in London, suffered a direct hit during an air raid 1942. The manuscript was auctioned in 1947
and came into the possession of Prof. Charles R. Boxer, an authority on the Far East. It is now owned by the Lilly Library at
Indiana University.
The Boxer Codex depicts the Tagalogs, Visayans, Zambals, Cagayanons and Negritos of the Philippines in vivid colors.
Except for the Chinese, however, its illustrations of inhabitants of neighboring countries are odd looking. This suggests
that the artist did not actually visit the places mentioned from the text, but drew from imagination. Boxer notes that the
descriptions of these countries are not original. The account of China, for example, was largely based on the narrative of
Fray Martin de Rada. The technique of the paintings suggests that artist may have been Chinese, as does the use of Chinese
paper, ink and paints.
The Bisayans are accustomed to paint their
bodies with some very elegant tattoos. They
do this with iron or brass rods, the points of
which are heated on fire. These are done in
the manner illuminations, paintings all parts
of the body, such as the chest, the stomach,
legs, arms, shoulders, hands, and muscles,
and among some, the posteriors.
Alfredo R. Roces, et. al., eds., Boxer Codex in Filipino Heritage: the Making of a Nation, Philippines: Lahing Pilipino
Publishing, Inc., 1977, Vol. IV, p. 1003.
https://www.thevisualtraveler.net/2018/05/boxer-codex-this-is-what-16th-century.html
Roces, Alfredo R., ed. (1977), "Boxer Codex", Filipino Heritage: the Making of a Nation, IV, Philippines: Lahing
Pilipino Publishing, Inc.