Kota Kapur Inscription is an inscription discovered on the western coast of Bangka Island, off coast South Sumatra, Indonesia, by J.K. van der Meulen in December 1892. It was named after the village of the same name which is the location where these archaeological findings were discovered. This inscription uses Old Malay language written in Pallava script. It was one of the oldest surviving written evidence of the ancient Malay language. The inscription dated the first day of half moon Vaiśākha in the year 608 Śaka (28 February 686 CE), mentioned the curse of whoever committed treason against Srivijaya and the beginning of Srivijayan invasion against Java. The inscription was first examined and dated by H. Kern, a Dutch epigrapher who worked for Bataviaasch Genootschap in Batavia. At first, he thought that Srivijaya was the name of a king. George Cœdès noted the name on the inscriptions was that of Srivijaya, a Buddhist kingdom in 638–86, "that had just conquered the hinterland of Jambi and the island of Bangka and was preparing to launch a military expedition against Java." The name corresponds to Yijing's.

Content

Kota Kapur inscriptions is one of the five inscriptions edited by Sri Jayanasa, the ruler of Srivijaya. Most of these inscriptions contain curses for crime, trespassing, and treason against Srivijaya. The contents were translated by Cœdès:

Transliteration

Translation

The inscriptions was carved on a pinnacle stone with several sides, with 177 cm height, 32 cm width on base and 19 cm width on top.

Significance

Kota Kapur inscription was the first Srivijayan inscription discovered, long before the discovery of the Kedukan Bukit Inscription on 29 November 1920, and before the Talang Tuwo inscription that was discovered several days earlier on 17 November 1920. The Kota Kapur inscription, together with other archaeological findings in the region, was the testament of Srivijaya era. It has opened a new horizon and revealed the history of Hindu-Buddhist era in that area. This inscription also uncovered the ancient society inhabiting the region during 6th and 7th century that clearly shows Hindu-Buddhist influence.