Kampar in Geolinguistics and Geoculture of Malay

(Kampar dalam Geolinguistik dan Geobudaya Melayu)

Abstract

This article discusses the linguistic, cultural, and family relationship of the people of Kampar in Sumatera and those of Kampar origin residing in Peninsular Malaysia, in various states, such as Pahang, Perak, Selangor, and to some extent Kedah. Clear evidence of this relationship is seen in the history of the Melaka Empire of the 15th century C.E., particularly when a son of Sultan Mahmud, the last ruler of Melaka, was installed as the ruler of Kampar, then a vassal of Melaka. It was this ruler, Sultan Mudzaffar, who went on to become the sultan of Perak and thereby started the present-day Perak ruling dynasty. However, Kampar had already existed in the history of the Malay world in the 7th century C.E., as given in readings of the Sriwijaya inscription of Kedukan Bukit (682 C.E.). Studies differ in their interpretation of the phrase minanga tamvan (following Coedès' transcription), used in the inscription. This article examines the meaning of this phrase as well as those which provide the context to its usage in an effort to explicate the position of Kampar in history as recorded in the said inscription.

Keywords: Kampar, Coedès' transcription, Srivijaya inscription, minanga tamvan