Latest / Majapahit: The Empire That Once Ruled Indonesia — Fexingo History / Majapahit's Secret Fleet: The Javanese Jong and Maritime Empire
Transcript
- Lucas: Luna, we've covered a lot about Majapahit — the politics, the wars, the coins, the keris — but there's one aspect that still doesn't get enough attention, even though it was the very backbone of their power: their fleet. Luna: The navy? I thought they were more of a land-based empire. Lucas: That's exactly the misconception. Majapahit is often seen as a Javanese kingdom that controlled land on Java and parts of Sumatra and Bali, but the Negarakertagama describes a far-reaching maritime domain. The empire's influence extended across the Nusantara archipelago and beyond, and that was only possible because of their ships — especially a type of vessel called the jong. Luna: Jong — I've heard that term. It means 'ship' in Javanese, right? Lucas: Exactly. But in the Majapahit context, a jong wasn't just any ship. These were massive, ocean-going vessels, some over 200 feet long, capable of carrying hundreds of men and tons of cargo. Chinese chronicles from the 14th century, like Wang Dayuan's Daoyi Zhilüe, mention Javanese jong that could sail directly to ports in India, Sri Lanka, and even the Maldives and Madagascar. Luna: Madagascar? That's thousands of miles across open ocean. Lucas: Right. And there's linguistic evidence — the Malagasy language has about 40% of its vocabulary derived from the Ma'anyan language of Borneo, but also some Javanese influences. It's likely that Javanese ships, including jong, were part of the early settlement of Madagascar. Some historians even argue that the Majapahit fleet maintained regular routes across the Indian Ocean, connecting Java to East Africa. Luna: So these weren't just coastal boats. They were true ocean-going ships. Lucas: Absolutely. The jong had multiple masts, lashed-lug construction, and used teak or other hardwoods. They could carry up to 700 tons of cargo, and the largest could accommodate 500 to 1000 passengers. To put that in perspective, that's comparable to European carracks of the 16th century, but built centuries earlier. The technology was highly sophisticated. Luna: Where did the Majapahit build these ships? Lucas: The main shipbuilding centers were along the north coast of Java, especially in ports like Tuban, Gresik, and Surabaya. These were bustling trade hubs where Javanese shipwrights worked alongside Chinese, Persian, and Indian merchants. The jong were built using techniques that combined indigenous Javanese knowledge with influences from the Srivijaya tradition and even from Chinese shipbuilding. Luna: I remember you mentioned the Srivijaya empire in earlier episodes — they were also a maritime power. Lucas: Exactly. Srivijaya, based in Palembang on Sumatra, controlled the Strait of Malacca from the 7th to the 13th centuries. When Majapahit rose in the late 13th century, they inherited and expanded that maritime legacy. Gajah Mada's Palapa Oath was not just about conquering land — it was about securing the sea lanes for trade and tribute. Luna: The Palapa Oath — he swore not to eat any spiced food until he had unified the Nusantara. That's a lot of islands to control. Lucas: It is. And the fleet was the key. The Negarakertagama lists dozens of territories under Majapahit's control, from Malaysia and the Philippines to Papua New Guinea. But scholars debate whether this represents direct rule or just tributary relationships. What's clear is that Majapahit had a powerful navy that could project force across the region. Luna: So the jong were used for both trade and war? Lucas: Yes. They were versatile. In wartime, they transported troops, carried supplies, and even served as platforms for cannon — though Majapahit likely used small bronze cannons called cetbang, which were early gunpowder weapons. But primarily, the jong were merchant vessels, carrying spices, rice, textiles, and ceramics from Java to ports as far as Aden and the east coast of Africa. Luna: Was there any archaeological evidence of these ships? Lucas: There's the Java Sea Wreck, a 13th-century ship discovered in the 1980s off the coast of Sumatra. It carried a cargo of mostly Chinese ceramics and iron, but the ship itself was likely built in Southeast Asia, possibly in Java. It's not a full-sized jong — it's smaller — but it gives us a glimpse of the shipbuilding traditions. Unfortunately, very few jong have been found because they were made of wood and deteriorated in tropical waters. Luna: That's a shame. But we do have written records. Lucas: We do. Chinese sources are particularly helpful. Wang Dayuan visited Java in the 1330s and described the jong as 'the largest of all ships.' Later, Zheng He's admiral, Fei Xin, wrote about the 'large Javanese ships' that could carry up to 1,000 people. And the Portuguese, when they reached the region in the early 16th century, were astonished by the size of Javanese vessels. One Portuguese account says their ships had three masts and were built without nails, using only wooden pegs. Luna: No nails? That sounds fragile. Lucas: Actually, it was a very strong technique. Lashed-lug construction uses wooden dowels and lashings to fasten planks to the frames, giving the hull flexibility. In rough seas, a nailed ship might split, but a lashed-lug vessel could flex and survive. This was an ancient Southeast Asian tradition, perfected over centuries. Luna: So the jong were both technologically advanced and well-adapted to the ocean. Lucas: Exactly. And that's why Majapahit's influence reached so far. But after the fall of Majapahit in the early 16th century, the jong tradition declined. The Islamic sultanates that emerged, like Demak, focused more on smaller, faster vessels for coastal trade and warfare. The Portuguese also disrupted the old trade networks, and the huge jong slowly disappeared from the seas. Luna: It's fascinating that such a massive fleet existed and then just vanished from history. Lucas: It's a reminder that technology can disappear when the political and economic systems that support it collapse. The jong were not just ships — they were the embodiment of Majapahit's ambition and its ability to unite the Nusantara. Without them, the empire would have been just another land kingdom on Java. Instead, it became a maritime power that left a lasting legacy in the cultures of the Indian Ocean. Luna: Thanks for bringing that to light, Lucas. I never thought of Majapahit as a naval empire. Lucas: It's one of those hidden chapters. When you look at the evidence — the jong, the trade routes, the cultural influences — you realize that the water was their true domain. The land was just the foundation.