Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has officially recognized two ancient manuscripts from Indonesia, the Sang Hyang Siksa Kandang Karesian and the works of Hamzah Fansuri, by inscribing them into the Memory of the World (MoW) Register for the 2024–2025 period.
The decision was part of 74 nominations approved by consensus at UNESCO’s 221st Executive Board session in Paris on April 11, 2025, out of 122 entries submitted by countries worldwide.
Indonesia’s National Library chief, E. Aminudin Aziz, welcomed the recognition, calling it a milestone for preserving the country’s cultural heritage.
“This achievement deserves our gratitude. We hope their inclusion as part of the world’s collective memory will ensure they are better known by today’s and future generations,” he said in an official statement on August 21, 2025.
Aminudin stressed the importance of preservation programs and creative approaches to keep the manuscripts relevant, such as adapting them into comics, animations, or other modern media to engage younger audiences.
Sang Hyang Siksa Kandang Karesian
The Sang Hyang Siksa Kandang Karesian, submitted solely by the National Library, is a 16th-century Sundanese manuscript written in 1518. It contains moral teachings that emphasize honesty and integrity while reflecting the social, political, and economic dynamics of the period.
The manuscript is notable for highlighting the role of interpreters (jurubasa darmamurcaya) in international relations. Only two surviving copies exist today, one of which is preserved at the National Library under registration number L 630.
Works of Hamzah Fansuri
The works of Hamzah Fansuri were jointly nominated by Indonesia’s National Library and Malaysia’s National Library. Fansuri is regarded as a revolutionary figure who laid the foundations of Malay literature and religious thought in the late 16th century.
He was the first to systematically write academic works and poetry in Malay, and the first to break with the tradition of anonymity by signing his name. His poetry spread widely across the archipelago and became a cornerstone of modern Indonesian and Malaysian literature.
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Five New Additions, Matching France
Along with these two, Indonesia secured recognition for three other documentary heritages:
- The archives of Mangkunegaran Javanese Dance (1861–1944), nominated by Pura Mangkunegaran and the National Archives of Indonesia (ANRI).
- The letters and archives of R.A. Kartini, jointly submitted with the National Archives of the Netherlands and Leiden University Library.
- The archives of ASEAN’s founding (1967–1976), jointly submitted with the national archives of Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
In total, Indonesia added five new entries in this cycle, matching France for the most recognized nominations. With these additions, Indonesia now has 16 documentary heritages in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, up from 11 previously.
Officials said the achievement cements Indonesia’s role as a key custodian of cultural and historical treasures of global significance.
(Raidi/Agung)
