Indonesian Manuscripts from the Islands of Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok: (24 Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 3 Southeast Asia)

Indonesian Manuscripts from the Islands of Java, Madura, Bali and Lombok discusses aspects of the long and impressive manuscript traditions of these islands, which share many aspects of manuscript production. Many hitherto unaddressed features of palm-leaf manuscripts are discussed here for the first time as well as elements of poetic texts, indications of mistakes, colophons and the calendrical information used in these manuscripts. All features discussed are explained with photographs. The introductory chapters offer insights into these traditions in a wider setting and the way researchers have studied them. This original and pioneering work also points out what topics needs further exploration to understand these manuscript traditions that use a variety of materials, languages, and scripts to a wider public.

About the Author :
Dick van der Meij (Ph.D. Leiden 2002) has published editions and translations of Balinese, Malay, and Javanese texts and articles on Indonesian literature and manuscripts. His latest work is an edition and translation (with N. Lambooij) of the Malay Hikayat Mi’raj Nabi Muḥammad (Brill, 2014).

Review :
“This is a masterpiece of codicology, the like of which I have never encountered before. It is a comprehensive work of reference by a master of the subject with unparalleled expertise, presenting and preserving a vast knowledge.” – Prof. M.C. Ricklefs, Professor Emeritus, The Australian National University “This is a very interesting and original book on Indonesian manuscripts, by someone with a very wide and deep knowledge of the subject, clearly accumulated over a long period of time." – Annabel Teh Gallop, Lead Curator for Southeast Asia, British Library, London "With its publication, this book became an indispensable tool for all those with an interest in the manuscript traditions of Indonesia, including those not falling within its specific geographical and cultural bailiwick. The somewhat conglomerative make-up of the book in no way detracts from its value (...) Here we have an assortment of assay tools gathered in this one hefty volume, a one-stop compilation of reference and research tools of the sort that until now have only existed in the form of field notes and personal research databases assembled individually (and rarely circulated) by scholars working in the field. Dr. van der Meij has provided in an instant a point of reference that all English-speaking investigators can use and cite as the field of Indonesian codicology, nearly unknown three decades ago, continues its rise to prominence amongst domestic and international scholars." – Timothy E. Behrend, in BEFEO 104 (2018). "Van der Meij bravely tackles a great many issues belonging to an immense field of study, more often than not breaking completely new ground. The fact cannot be lauded enough that in doing so, Van der Meij concretely discusses all kinds of aspects pertaining to the manuscripts of 'the Javanese-inspired world' with the help of photographs. This is a tremendous premium, because hitherto studies of Indonesian philology rarely contain images of the manuscripts under discussion." – E.P. Wieringa, University of Colone, in Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde 174 (2018).