Coordinates:72930S1100016E

Java
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Java(Indonesian:JawaJavanese: Sundanese: )is

anislandofIndonesia.Withapopulationofover141
million(theislanditself)or145million(theadministrative
region)asof2015CensusreleasedinDecember2015,[1]
Javaishometo56.7percentoftheIndonesianpopulation
andisthemostpopulousislandonEarth.TheIndonesian
capitalcity,Jakarta,islocatedonwesternJava.Muchof
IndonesianhistorytookplaceonJava.Itwasthecenterof
powerfulHinduBuddhistempires,theIslamicsultanates,
andthecoreofthecolonialDutchEastIndies.Javawasalso
thecenteroftheIndonesianstruggleforindependence
duringthe1930sand1940s.JavadominatesIndonesia
politically,economicallyandculturally.
Formedmostlyastheresultofvolcaniceruptions,Javais
the13thlargestislandintheworldandthefifthlargestin
Indonesia.Achainofvolcanicmountainsformsaneast
westspinealongtheisland.Threemainlanguagesare
spokenontheisland:Javanese,Sundanese,andMadurese.
Ofthese,Javaneseisthedominantitisthenativelanguage
ofabout60millionpeopleinIndonesia,mostofwhomlive
onJava.Furthermore,mostresidentsarebilingual,speaking
Indonesian(theofficiallanguageofIndonesia)astheirfirst
orsecondlanguage.WhilethemajorityofthepeopleofJava
areMuslim,Javahasadiversemixtureofreligiousbeliefs,
ethnicities,andcultures.
Javaisdividedintofourprovinces,WestJava,CentralJava,
EastJava,andBanten,andtwospecialregions,Jakartaand
Yogyakarta.

Contents
1
2
3
4
5

Etymology
Geography
Naturalenvironment
Administrativedivision
History
5.1 HinduBuddhistkingdomsera
5.2 SpreadofIslamandriseofIslamic
sultanates
5.3 Colonialperiods
5.4 Independence
6 Demography
6.1 Demographicprofile
6.2 Populationdevelopment
6.3 Ethnicityandculture
6.4 Languages
6.5 Religion
7 Economy

Java
Jawa(Indonesian)
(Javanese)
(Sundanese)

TopographyofJava

Geography
Location

SoutheastAsia

Coordinates

72930S1100016E

Archipelago

GreaterSundaIslands

Area

128,297km2(49,536sqmi)

Arearank

13th

Highestelevation 3,676m(12,060ft)
Highestpoint

Semeru
Administration
RepublicofIndonesia

Provinces

Banten,
SpecialCapitalRegionofJakarta,
WestJava,
CentralJava,
EastJava,
YogyakartaSpecialRegion

Largest
settlement

Jakarta
Demographics

Population
Pop.density

145million(2015)

8 Seealso
9 References
10 Sources
11 Furtherreading
12 Externallinks

1,121/km2(2,903/sqmi)
Ethnicgroups

Javanese(inc.Tenggerese,Osing,
Banyumasan,Cirebonese),
Sundanese(inc.Bantenese,
Baduy),Betawi,Madurese

Etymology
Theoriginsofthename"Java"arenotclear.Onepossibilityisthattheislandwasnamedafterthejwawut
plant,whichwassaidtobecommonintheislandduringthetime,andthatpriortoIndianizationtheislandhad
differentnames.[2]Thereareotherpossiblesources:thewordjaanditsvariationsmean"beyond"or
"distant".[3]And,inSanskrityavameansbarley,aplantforwhichtheislandwasfamous.[3]"Yawadvipa"is
mentionedinIndia'searliestepic,theRamayana.Sugriva,thechiefofRama'sarmydispatchedhismento
Yawadvipa,theislandofJava,insearchofSita.[4]ItwashencereferredtoinIndiabytheSanskritname
"yvakadvpa"(dvpa=island).JavaismentionedintheancientTamiltextManimekalaibyChithalai
ChathanarthatstatesthatJavahadakingdomwithacapitalcalledNagapuram.[5][6][7]Anothersourcestatesthat
the"Java"wordisderivedfromaProtoAustronesianrootword,Iawathatmeaning"home".[8]Thegreatisland
ofIabadiuorJabadiuwasmentionedinPtolemy'sGeographiacomposedaround150CERomanEmpire.
Iabadiuissaidtomean"barleyisland",toberichingold,andhaveasilvertowncalledArgyraatthewestend.
ThenameindicateJava,[9]andseemstobederivedfromHindunameJavadvipa(Yawadvipa).

Geography
JavaliesbetweenSumatratothewestandBalitotheeast.Borneo
liestothenorthandChristmasIslandistothesouth.Itisthe
world's13thlargestisland.JavaissurroundedbytheJavaSeatothe
north,SundaStraittothewest,theIndianOceantothesouthand
BaliStraitandMaduraStraitintheeast.

MountBromoinEastJava

Javaisalmostentirelyofvolcanicoriginitcontainsthirtyeight
mountainsforminganeastwestspinethathaveatonetimeor
anotherbeenactivevolcanoes.ThehighestvolcanoinJavais
MountSemeru(3,676m).ThemostactivevolcanoinJavaandalso
inIndonesiaisMountMerapi(2,930m).

Moremountainsandhighlandshelptosplittheinteriorintoaseries
ofrelativelyisolatedregionssuitableforwetricecultivationthericelandsofJavaareamongtherichestinthe
world.[10]JavawasthefirstplacewhereIndonesiancoffeewasgrown,startingin1699.Today,Coffeaarabicais
grownontheIjenPlateaubysmallholdersandlargerplantations.
TheareaofJavaisapproximately150,000km2.[11]Itisabout1,000km(620mi)longandupto210km
(130mi)wide.Theisland'slongestriveristhe600kmlongSoloRiver.[12]Theriverrisesfromitssourcein
centralJavaattheLawuvolcano,thenflowsnorthandeastwardtoitsmouthintheJavaSeanearthecityof
Surabaya.OthermajorriversareBrantas,Citarum,CimanukandSerayu.
Theaveragetemperaturerangesfrom22Cto29Caveragehumidityis75%.Thenortherncoastalplainsare
normallyhotter,averaging34Cduringthedayinthedryseason.Thesouthcoastisgenerallycoolerthanthe
north,andhighlandareasinlandareevencooler.[13]ThewetseasonbeginsinNovemberandendsinApril.
Duringthatrainfallsmostlyintheafternoonsandintermittentlyduringotherpartsoftheyear.Thewettest
monthsareJanuaryandFebruary.

WestJavaiswetterthanEastJavaandmountainousregionsreceive
muchhigherrainfall.TheParahyanganhighlandsofWestJavareceive
over4,000mmannually,whilethenorthcoastofEastJavareceives
900mmannually.

Naturalenvironment

TanjungGelam,abeachin
Karimunjawa

ThenaturalenvironmentofJava
istropicalrainforest,with
Parahyanganhighlandnear
ecosystemsrangingfromcoastal
Buitenzorg,c.18651872
mangroveforestsonthenorth
coast,rockycoastalcliffsonthe
southerncoast,andlowlyingtropicalforeststohighaltituderainforests
ontheslopesofmountainousvolcanicregionsintheinterior.TheJavan
environmentandclimategraduallyaltersfromwesttoeastfromwet
andhumiddenserainforestinwesternparts,toadrysavanna
environmentintheeast,correspondingtotheclimateandrainfallin
theseregions.

OriginallyJavanwildlifesupportedarichbiodiversity,wherenumbers
ofendemicspeciesoffloraandfaunaflourishedsuchastheJavan
rhinoceros,[14]Javanbanteng,Javanwartypig,Javanhawkeagle,Javan
peafowl,Javansilverygibbon,Javanlutung,Javamousedeer,Javan
rusa,andJavanleopard.Withover450speciesofbirdsand37endemic
species,Javaisabirdwatcher'sparadise.[15]Thereareabout130
freshwaterfishspeciesinJava.[16]
Sinceancienttimes,peoplehaveopenedtherainforest,alteredthe
MaleJavanrhinoshotin1934in
ecosystem,shapedthelandscapesandcreatedricepaddyandterracesto
WestJava.Todayonlysmallnumbers
supportthegrowingpopulation.Javanriceterraceshaveexistedfor
ofJavanrhinosurviveinUjung
morethanamillennium,andhadsupportedancientagricultural
Kulonitistheworld'srarestrhino.
kingdoms.Thegrowinghumanpopulationhasputseverepressureon
Java'swildlife,asrainforestswerediminishedandconfinedtohighland
slopesorisolatedpeninsulas.SomeofJava'sendemicspeciesarenowcriticallyendangered,withsomealready
extinctJavausedtohaveJavantigersandJavanelephants,butbothhavebeenrenderedextinct.Today,several
nationalparksexistinJavathatprotecttheremnantsofitsfragilewildlife,suchasUjungKulon,Mount
HalimunSalak,GedePangrango,Baluran,MeruBetiriandAlasPurwo.

Administrativedivision
Theislandaswellasnearbyislandsareadministrativelyjointly,dividedintofourprovinces:
Banten,capital:Serang
WestJava,capital:Bandung
CentralJava,capital:Semarang
EastJava,capital:Surabaya
andtwospecialregions:
Jakarta
Yogyakarta
and4culturalzones:
WesternJava(Banten,WestJava,andJakarta)

CentralJava(CentralJavaandYogyakarta)
EastJavaexcludingMaduraIsland
MaduraIsland

History
FossilisedremainsofHomoerectus,popularlyknownasthe"Java
Man",datingback1.7millionyearswerefoundalongthebanksofthe
BengawanSoloRiver.[17]
Theisland'sexceptionalfertilityandrainfallallowedthedevelopmentof
wetfieldricecultivation,whichrequiredsophisticatedlevelsof
cooperationbetweenvillages.Outofthesevillagealliances,small
kingdomsdeveloped.Thechainofvolcanicmountainsandassociated
highlandsrunningthelengthofJavakeptitsinteriorregionsandpeoples
MountSumbingsurroundedbyrice
separateandrelativelyisolated.[18]BeforetheadventofIslamicstates
fields.Java'svolcanictopographyand
andEuropeancolonialism,theriversprovidedthemainmeansof
richagriculturallandsarethe
communication,althoughJava'smanyriversaremostlyshort.Onlythe
fundamentalfactorsinitshistory.
BrantasandSalariverscouldprovidelongdistancecommunication,and
thiswaytheirvalleyssupportedthecentresofmajorkingdoms.A
systemofroads,permanentbridgesandtollgatesisthoughttohavebeenestablishedinJavabyatleastthemid
17thcentury.Localpowerscoulddisrupttheroutesascouldthewetseasonandroadusewashighlydependent
onconstantmaintenance.Subsequently,communicationbetweenJava'spopulationwasdifficult.[19]

HinduBuddhistkingdomsera
TheTarumaandSundakingdomsofwesternJavaappearedinthe4th
and7thcenturiesrespectively,whiletheKalinggaKingdomsent
embassiestoChinastartingin640.[20]:53,79However,thefirstmajor
principalitywastheMedangKingdomthatwasfoundedincentralJava
atthebeginningofthe8thcentury.Medang'sreligioncentredonthe
HindugodShiva,andthekingdomproducedsomeofJava'searliest
HindutemplesontheDiengPlateau.Aroundthe8thcenturythe
SailendradynastyroseinKeduPlainandbecomethepatronof
MahayanaBuddhism.Thisancientkingdombuiltmonumentssuchas
the9thcenturyBorobudurandPrambananincentralJava.

PrambananHindutemple

Aroundthe10thcenturythecentreofpowershiftedfromcentralto
easternJava.TheeasternJavanesekingdomsofKediri,Singhasariand
Majapahitweremainlydependentonriceagriculture,yetalsopursued
tradewithintheIndonesianarchipelago,andwithChinaandIndia.
MajapahitwasestablishedbyWijaya[20]:201andbytheendofthereign
ofHayamWuruk(r.135089)itclaimedsovereigntyovertheentire
Indonesianarchipelago,althoughcontrolwaslikelylimitedtoJava,Bali
andMadura.HayamWuruk'sprimeminister,GajahMada,ledmanyof
The9thcenturyBorobudurBuddhist
thekingdom'sterritorialconquests.[20]:234PreviousJavanesekingdoms
stupainCentralJava
hadtheirpowerbasedinagriculture,however,Majapahittookcontrolof
portsandshippinglanesandbecameJava'sfirstcommercialempire.
WiththedeathofHayamWurukandthecomingofIslamtoIndonesia,Majapahitwentintodecline.[20]:241

SpreadofIslamandriseofIslamicsultanates

IslambecamethedominantreligioninJavaattheendofthe16thcentury.Duringthisera,theIslamickingdoms
ofDemak,Cirebon,andBantenwereascendant.TheMataramSultanatebecamethedominantpowerofcentral
andeasternJavaattheendofthe16thcentury.TheprincipalitiesofSurabayaandCirebonwereeventually
subjugatedsuchthatonlyMataramandBantenwerelefttofacetheDutchinthe17thcentury.

Colonialperiods
Java'scontactwiththeEuropeancolonialpowersbeganin1522witha
treatybetweentheSundakingdomandthePortugueseinMalacca.After
itsfailurethePortuguesepresencewasconfinedtoMalacca,andtothe
easternislands.In1596,afourshipexpeditionledbyCornelisde
HoutmanwasthefirstDutchcontactwithIndonesia.[21]Bytheendof
the18thcenturytheDutchhadextendedtheirinfluenceoverthe
sultanatesoftheinteriorthroughtheDutchEastIndiaCompanyin
Indonesia.InternalconflictpreventedtheJavanesefromforming
effectivealliancesagainsttheDutch.RemnantsoftheMataramsurvived
astheSurakarta(Solo)andYogyakartaprincipalities.Javanesekings
claimedtorulewithdivineauthorityandtheDutchhelpedthemto
preserveremnantsofaJavanesearistocracybyconfirmingthemas
regentsordistrictofficialswithinthecolonialadministration.

TeaplantationinJavaduringDutch
colonialperiod,inorbefore1926

Java'smajorroleduringtheearlypartofthecolonialperiodwasasaproducerofrice.Inspiceproducing
islandslikeBanda,ricewasregularlyimportedfromJava,tosupplythedeficiencyinmeansofsubsistence.[22]
DuringtheNapoleonicwarsinEurope,theNetherlandsfelltoFrance,asdiditscolonyintheEastIndies.
DuringtheshortlivedDaendelsadministration,asFrenchproxyruleonJava,theconstructionoftheJavaGreat
PostRoadwascommencedin1808.Theroad,spanningfromAnyerinWesternJavatoPanarukaninEastJava,
servedasamilitarysupplyrouteandwasusedindefendingJavafromBritishinvasion.[23]
In1811,JavawascapturedbytheBritish,becomingapossessionoftheBritishEmpire,andSirStamford
Raffleswasappointedastheisland'sGovernor.In1814,JavawasreturnedtotheDutchunderthetermsofthe
TreatyofParis.[24]
In1815,theremayhavebeenfivemillionpeopleinJava.[25]Inthe
secondhalfofthe18thcentury,populationspurtsbeganindistricts
alongthenorthcentralcoastofJava,andinthe19thcenturypopulation
grewrapidlyacrosstheisland.Factorsforthegreatpopulationgrowth
includetheimpactofDutchcolonialruleincludingtheimposedendto
civilwarinJava,theincreaseintheareaunderricecultivation,andthe
introductionoffoodplantssuchascasavaandmaizethatcouldsustain
populationsthatcouldnotaffordrice.[26]Othersattributethegrowthto
thetaxationburdensandincreasedexpansionofemploymentunderthe
CultivationSystemtowhichcouplesrespondedbyhavingmorechildren
inthehopeofincreasingtheirfamilies'abilitytopaytaxandbuy
goods.[27]Choleraclaimed100,000livesinJavain1820.[28]

Japanesepreparetodiscusssurrender
termswithBritishalliedforcesin
Java1945

Theadventoftrucksandrailwayswheretherehadpreviouslyonlybeen
buffaloandcarts,telegraphsystems,andmorecoordinateddistribution
systemsunderthecolonialgovernmentallcontributedtofamine
eliminationinJava,andinturn,populationgrowth.TherewerenosignificantfaminesinJavafromthe1840s
throughtotheJapaneseoccupationinthe1940s.[29]However,othersourcesclaimedtheDutch'sCultivation
systemislinkedtofaminesandepidemicsinthe1840s,firstlyinCirebonandthenCentralJava,ascashcrops
suchasindigoandsugarhadtobegrowninsteadofrice.Furthermore,theageoffirstmarriagedroppedduring
the19thcenturythusincreasingawoman'schildbearingyears.[29]

Independence
IndonesiannationalismfirsttookholdinJavaintheearly20thcentury,andthestruggletosecurethecountry's
independencefollowingWorldWarIIwascenteredinJava.In1949,Indonesiabecameindependentandthe
islandhasdominatedIndonesiansocial,politicalandeconomiclife,whichhasbeenthesourceofresentmentof
thoseresidentsinotherislands.

Demography
Demographicprofile
Javahasbeentraditionally
Historicalpopulation
demographicallydominatedby
Year
Pop.
%
aneliteclass,whilethemasses
1971
76,086,320

remainedagriculturallyand
1980
91,269,528
+20.0%
fishingboundandthuswere
sustainedbyhighbirthrates.
1990
107,581,306
+17.9%
Thiseliteclasshaschangedover
2000
121,352,608
+12.8%
thecourseofhistory,ascultural
2010
136,610,590
+12.6%
wavesafterwaveslappedthe
2015
145,013,583
+6.2%
island.Thereisevidencethat
[30][31]
sources:
referstotheadministrative
Jakarta,thecapitalofIndonesia
SouthAsianemigreswere
region
amongthiselite,aswellas
ArabianandPersianimmigrantsduringtheIslamiceras.Morerecently,
ChinesehavebecomepartoftheeconomiceliteofJava,althoughpoliticallytheygenerallyremainsidelined,
therearenotableexceptionssuchasthegovernorofJakarta,BasukiTjahajaPurnama.Today,Javais
increasinglyurban,modernculturehasarrivedinJava,yetonly75%oftheislandiselectrified,villagesand
theirricepaddiesstillareacommonsight,aswellasayouthfulpopulation.CentralJavaunliketherestofthe
islandregistersveryslowpopulationgrowth,yetitmaintainsamoreyouthfulpopulationthanthenational
average,[32]thisisexplainedbyheavyoutflowsfromthecountrysideorfromlessercitiesinsearchoflarger
incomesastheregionremainseconomicallydepressed.[33]Java'spopulationcontinuestorelentlesslyincrease
despitemassesofJavansleaving,theislandisthebusinessacademicandculturalhubofthenationand
thereforeattractsmillionsofnonJavanstoitscities,theinflowsaremostintenseinregionssurroundingJakarta
andBandunganddiversityofdemographicsreflectthisinthoseareas.

Populationdevelopment
Withacombinedpopulationof145millioninthe2015census(includingMadura's3.7million),[34]whichis
estimatedfor2014at143.1million(including3.7millionforMadura),Javaisthemostpopulousislandinthe
worldandishometo57%ofIndonesia'spopulation.[34]Atover1,100peopleperkmin2014,itisalsooneof
themostdenselypopulatedpartsoftheworld,onparwithBangladesh.Everyregionoftheislandhasnumerous
volcanoes,withthepeoplelefttosharetheremainingflatterland.Becauseofthis,manycoastsareheavily
populatedandcitiesringaroundthevalleyssurroundingvolcanicpeaks.ThusthephysiologicaldensityofJava
isexceptionallyhigh,evenbyAsianstandards.
Notably,populationgrowthratemorethandoubledineconomicallydepressedCentralJavainthelatest2010
2015periodvs20002010,indicativeofmigrationorotherissues,thereweresignificantvolcaniceruptions
duringtheearlierperiod.Approximately45%ofthepopulationofIndonesiaisethnicallyJavanese,[35]while
SundanesemakealargeportionofJava'spopulationaswell.
Thewesternthirdoftheisland(WestJava,Banten,andDKIJakarta)hasanevenhigherpopulationdensity,of
nearly1,500persquarekilometerandaccountsforthelion'sshareofthepopulationgrowthofJava.[34]Itis
hometothreemetropolitanareas,GreaterJakarta(withoutlyingareasofGreaterSerangandGreater

Sukabumi),GreaterBandung,andGreaterCirebon.
Province
orSpecial
Region

Capital

Banten

Serang

DKIJakarta

WestJava

Bandung

WesternJava
(3areas
above)

Area
km

Area
%

Population
censusof
2000[36]

Population
censusof
2010[36]

Population
2015
census
(prelim.)[1]

Population
densityin
2015

9,662.92

7.1

8,098,277

10,632,166

11,934,373

1,235

664.01

0.5

8,361,079

9,607,787

10,154,134

15,292

35,377.76

27.1

35,724,093

43,053,732

46,668,224

1,319

45,704.69

34.7

52,183,449

63,293,685

68,756,731

1,504

CentralJava

Semarang

32,800.69

25.3

31,223,258

32,382,657

33,753,023

1,029

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

3,133.15

2.4

3,121,045

3,457,491

3,675,768

1,173

35,933.84

27.7

34,344,303

35,840,148

37,428,791

1,041

47,799.75

37.3

34,765,993

37,476,757

38,828,061

812

129,438.28

100%

121,293,745

136,610,590

145,013,583

1,120

Madura
Island

ofEast
Java

5,025.30

3.3

3,230,300

3,622,763

3,724,545**

741**

Java

Island1)

124,412.98

96.7

118,063,445

132,987,827 141,300,000**

1,136**

CentralJava
Region
(2areas
above)
EastJava

Surabaya

Region
Administered Jakarta
asJava

1)Otherislandsareincludedinthisfigure,butareverysmallinpopulationandarea,NusaBarung100km,Bawean196km,Karimunjawa
78km,Kambangan121km,Panaitan170km,ThousandIslands8.7kmwithacombinedpopulationofroughly90,000.
2)Landareaofprovincesupdatedin2010Censusfigures,areasmaybedifferentthanpastresults.
3)2015Censusprelimdatareleasedonlyfirstleveladministrationsonly,wherenotavailable2014Min.Health[31]estimatesareusedin
theirplace.

Fromthe1970stothefalloftheSuhartoregimein1998,theIndonesiangovernmentrantransmigration
programsaimedatresettlingthepopulationofJavaonotherlesspopulatedislandsofIndonesia.Thisprogram
hasmetwithmixedresults,sometimescausingconflictsbetweenthelocalsandtherecentlyarrivedsettlers.
Nevertheless,ithascausedJava'sshareofthenation'spopulationtoprogressivelydecline.
Jakartaanditsoutskirts,beingthedominantmetropolis,isalsohometopeoplefromalloverthenation.East
JavaisalsohometoethnicBalinese,aswellaslargenumbersofMaduransduetotheirhistoricpoverty.

Ethnicityandculture

Despiteitslargepopulationandin
contrasttotheotherlargerislandsof
Indonesia,Javaiscomparatively
homogeneousinethniccomposition.
Onlytwoethnicgroupsarenativeto
theislandtheJavaneseand
Sundanese.Athirdgroupisthe
Madurese,whoinhabittheislandof
MaduraoffthenortheastcoastofJava,
andhaveimmigratedtoEastJavain
largenumberssincethe18th
century.[37]TheJavanesecomprise
abouttwothirdsoftheisland's
population,whiletheSundaneseand
Madureseaccountfor20%and10%
respectively.[37]Thefourthgroupisthe
Betawipeoplethatspeakadialectof
AteenagerinJavawearing
Malay,theyarethedescendantsofthe
traditionalJavaneseattire:
peoplelivingaroundBataviafrom
blangkonheadgear,batik
aroundthe17thcentury.Betawisare
sarongandkrisasaccessory.
creolepeople,mostlydescendedfrom
1913
variousIndonesianarchipelagoethnic
groupssuchasMalay,Sundanese,
Javanese,Balinese,Minang,Bugis,Makassar,Ambonese,mixedwith
foreignethnicgroupssuchasPortuguese,Dutch,Arab,Chineseand
IndianbroughttoorattractedtoBataviatomeetlabourneeds.They
haveacultureandlanguagedistinctfromthesurroundingSundanese
andJavanese.

SundaneseGamelanplayers

Lakshmana,RamaandShintain
RamayanaballetatPrambanan,Java.

TheJavanesekakawinTantuPagelaranexplainedthemythicaloriginoftheislandanditsvolcanicnature.Four
majorculturalareasexistontheisland:thekejawenorJavaneseheartland,thenorthcoastofthepasisirregion,
theSundalandsofWestJava,andtheeasternsalient,alsoknownasBlambangan.Maduramakesupafiftharea
havingcloseculturaltieswithcoastalJava.[37]ThekejawenJavanesecultureistheisland'smostdominant.
Java'sremainingaristocracyarebasedhere,anditistheregionfromwherethemajorityofIndonesia'sarmy,
business,andpoliticaleliteoriginate.Itslanguage,arts,andetiquetteareregardedastheisland'smostrefined
andexemplary.[37]TheterritoryfromBanyumasinthewestthroughtoBlitarintheeastandencompasses
Indonesia'smostfertileanddenselypopulatedagriculturalland.[37]
InthesouthwesternpartofCentralJava,whichisusuallynamedtheBanyumasanregion,aculturalmingling
occurredbringingtogetherJavanesecultureandSundaneseculturetocreatetheBanyumasanculture.Inthe
centralJavanesecourtcitiesofYogyakartaandSurakarta,contemporarykingstracetheirlineagesbacktothe
precolonialIslamickingdomsthatruledtheregion,makingthoseplacesespeciallystrongrepositoriesof
classicalJavaneseculture.ClassicartsofJavaincludegamelanmusicandwayangpuppetshows.
JavawasthesiteofmanyinfluentialkingdomsintheSoutheastAsianregion,[38]andasaresult,manyliterary
workshavebeenwrittenbyJavaneseauthors.TheseincludeKenArokandKenDedes,thestoryoftheorphan
whousurpedhisking,andmarriedthequeenoftheancientJavanesekingdomandtranslationsofRamayana
andMahabharata.PramoedyaAnantaToerisafamouscontemporaryIndonesianauthor,whohaswrittenmany
storiesbasedonhisownexperiencesofhavinggrownupinJava,andtakesmanyelementsfromJavanese
folkloreandhistoricallegends.

Languages

ThethreemajorlanguagesspokenonJavaareJavanese,Sundaneseand
Madurese.OtherlanguagesspokenincludeBetawi(aMalaydialect
localtotheJakartaregion),Osing,Banyumasan,andTenggerese
(closelyrelatedtoJavanese),Baduy(closelyrelatedtoSundanese),
Kangeanese(closelyrelatedtoMadurese),andBalinese.[39]Thevast
majorityofthepopulationalsospeaksIndonesian,oftenasasecond
language.

Religion

LanguagesspokeninJava(Javaneseis
showninwhite)."Malay"refersto
Betawi,thelocaldialectasoneof
Malaycreoledialect.

Javahasbeenameltingpotofreligionsandcultures,whichhascreated
abroadrangeofreligiousbelief.
IndianinfluencescamefirstwithShaivismandBuddhismpenetrating
deeplyintosociety,blendingwithindigenoustraditionandculture.[40]
Oneconduitforthisweretheascetics,calledresi,whotaughtmystical
practices.Aresilivedsurroundedbystudents,whotookcareoftheir
master'sdailyneeds.Resi'sauthoritiesweremerelyceremonial.Atthe
courts,Brahminclericsandpudjangga(sacredliterati)legitimisedrulers
andlinkedHinducosmologytotheirpoliticalneeds.[40]SmallHindu
enclavesarescatteredthroughoutJava,butthereisalargeHindu
populationalongtheeasterncoastnearestBali,especiallyaroundthe
townofBanyuwangi.

AHindushrinededicatedtoKing
SiliwangiinPuraParahyangan
AgungJagatkartta,Bogor,WestJava.

Islam,whichcameafterHinduism,strengthenedthestatusstructureof
thistraditionalreligiouspattern.Morethan90percentofthepeopleof
JavaareMuslims,onabroadcontinuumbetweenabangan(more
traditional)andsantri(moremodernist).TheMuslimscholarofthewrit
(Kyai)becamethenewreligiouseliteasHinduinfluencesreceded.
Islamrecognisesnohierarchyofreligiousleadersnoraformal
priesthood,buttheDutchcolonialgovernmentestablishedanelaborate
rankorderformosqueandotherIslamicpreachingschools.InJavanese
pesantren(Islamicschools),TheKyaiperpetuatedthetraditionofthe
resi.Studentsaroundhimprovidedhisneeds,evenpeasantsaroundthe
school.[40]
PreIslamicJavantraditionshaveencouragedIslaminamystical
direction.ThereemergedinJavaalooselystructuredsocietyofreligious
leadership,revolvingaroundkyais,possessingvariousdegreesof
GedanganRomanCatholicChurchin
proficiencyinpreIslamicandIslamiclore,beliefandpractice.[40]The
Semarang,CentralJava,constructed
kyaisaretheprincipalintermediariesbetweenthevillagesmassesand
between1870and1875,isoneofthe
therealmofthesupernatural.However,thisverylooseneessofkyai
oldestchurchesinIndonesia.
leadershipstructurehaspromotedschism.Therewereoftensharp
divisionsbetweenorthodoxkyais,whomerelyinstructedinIslamiclaw,
withthosewhotaughtmysticismandthosewhosoughtreformedIslamwithmodernscientificconcepts.Asa
result,thereisadivisionbetweensantri,whobelievethattheyaremoreorthodoxintheirIslamicbeliefand
practice,withabangan,whohavemixedpreIslamicanimisticandHinduIndianconceptswithasuperficial
acceptanceofIslamicbelief.[40]
TherearealsoChristiancommunities,mostlyinthelargercities,thoughsomeruralareasofsouthcentralJava
arestronglyRomanCatholic.Buddhistcommunitiesalsoexistinthemajorcities,primarilyamongtheChinese
Indonesian.TheIndonesianconstitutionrecognisessixofficialreligions.

Awidereffectofthisdivisionisthenumberofsects.Inthemiddleof
1956,theDepartmentofReligiousAffairsinYogyakartareported63
religioussectsinJavaotherthantheofficialIndonesianreligions.Of
these,35wereinCentralJava,22inWestJavaandsixinEastJava.[40]
TheseincludeKejawen,Sumarah,Subud,etc.Theirtotalmembershipis
difficulttoestimateasmanyoftheiradherentsidentifythemselveswith
oneoftheofficialreligions.[41]

Economy

WaterBuffaloploughingricefields
nearSalatiga,CentralJava

MosqueinPati,CentralJava,during
colonialperiod.Themosque
combinedtraditionalJavanesestyle
(multitieredroof)withEuropean
architecture.

InitiallytheeconomyofJava
reliedheavilyonriceagriculture.
Ancientkingdomssuchasthe
Tarumanagara,Mataram,and
Majapahitweredependenton
riceyieldsandtax.Javawasfamousforricesurplusesandriceexport
sinceancienttimes,andriceagriculturecontributedtothepopulation
growthoftheisland.TradewithotherpartsofAsiasuchasIndiaand
Chinaflourishedasearlyasthe4thcentury,asevidencedbyChinese
ceramicsfoundontheislanddatedtothatperiod.Javaalsotookpartin
theglobaltradeofMalukuspicefromancienttimesintheMajapahit
era,untilwellintotheVOCera.

DutchEastIndiaCompanysettheirfootholdonBataviainthe17thcenturyandwassucceededbyNetherlands
EastIndiesinthe19thcentury.Duringthesecolonialtimes,theDutchintroducedthecultivationofcommercial
plantsinJava,suchassugarcane,rubber,coffee,tea,andquinine.Inthe19thandearly20thcentury,Javanese
coffeegainedglobalpopularity.Thus,thename"Java"todayhasbecomeasynonymforcoffee.
JavaisthemostdevelopedislandinIndonesiasincetheeraof
NetherlandsEastIndiestomodernRepublicofIndonesia.Theroad
transportationnetworksthathaveexistedsinceancienttimeswere
connectedandperfectedwiththeconstructionofJavaGreatPostRoad
byDaendelsintheearly19thcentury.TheJavaGreatPostRoadbecome
Javatransportnetwork
thebackboneofJava'sroadinfrastructureandlaidthebaseofJava
NorthCoastRoad(Indonesian:JalanPantura,abbreviationfrom
"PantaiUtara").Theneedtotransportcommercialproducessuchas
coffeefromplantationsintheinterioroftheislandtotheharbouronthe
coastspurredtheconstructionofrailwaynetworksinJava.Todaythe
industry,businessandtrade,alsoservicesflourishedinmajorcitiesof
Java,suchasJakarta,Surabaya,Semarang,andBandungwhilesome
traditionalSultanatecitiessuchasYogyakarta,Surakarta,andCirebon
preserveditsroyallegacyandbecomethecentreofart,cultureand
tourisminJava.Industrialestatesalsogrowingintownsonnorthern
coastofJava,especiallyaroundCilegon,Tangerang,Bekasi,Karawang,
GresikandSidoarjo.Thetollroadhighwaynetworkswasbuiltand
CentralJakarta
expandedsinceSuhartoerauntilnow,connectingmajorurbancentres
andsurroundingareas,suchasinandaroundJakartaandBandungalso
theonesinCirebon,SemarangandSurabaya.Inadditiontothesemotorways,Javahas16nationalhighways.
Basedonthestatisticaldatabytheyearof2012which'sreleasedbyBadanPusatStatistik,JavaIslanditself
contributesatleast57.51%ofIndonesia'sGrossDomesticProductorequivalentto504billionUSDollars.

Seealso

HistoryofIndonesia
ListofmonarchsofJava

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ISBN0300105185.

Furtherreading
Cribb,Robert(2000).HistoricalAtlasofIndonesia.LondonandHonolulu:RoutledgeCurzonPress,
UniversityofHawaiiPress.ISBN0824821114.

Externallinks
Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Java&oldid=748372589"
Categories: Java GreaterSundaIslands IslandsofIndonesia
MaritimeSoutheastAsia

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