We l c o m e t o o u r

readings in philippine
history class
 HOW ARE
YOU TODAY?
TODAY
WE'LL
DISCUSS
• Laguna Copper Plate
INTRODUCTIO
N
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is the name of
an inscription written on an artifact that has great
significance for the understanding of the history of
the Philippines during the 10th century AD – a time
when many scholars believed that the area was
isolated from the rest of Southeast Asia.
Political Entities in Southeast Asia in the 10th Century

During the 10th century, a number of political entities were

in existence in Southeast Asia. One of the most famous of
these was the Khmer Empire, which dominated much of the
Southeast Asian mainland. To its east, the modern country of
Vietnam was divided between the Chinese in the north, and
the Kingdom of Champa in the south. The seas below the
Southeast Asian mainland were beyond the reach of the
Khmers and were largely controlled by a maritime empire
known as Srivijaya.
The maximum extent of
the Srivijaya Empire
during the 8th century. (
CC BY SA 3.0)
However, there is little information on the area in the part of this region where the
modern country of the Philippines is now situated. This lack of information led many
scholars to believe that it was isolated from the rest of the region. Thus, the Laguna
Copperplate Inscription is an important artifact, as it has allowed scholars to re-
evaluate the situation in this part of Southeast Asia during the 10th century AD.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAGUNA
COPPERPLATE

• thin piece of copper sheet

• measuring about 20 x 20 cm (7.9 x
7.9 inches)
• was discovered around 1987
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAGUNA
COPPERPLATE
• It has been reported that this artifact
was found during dredging activities
with a mechanical conveyor in the
Lumbang River, which is situated in
the Province of Laguna.

• This province is located to the east of

Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LAGUNA
COPPERPLATE
• It is interesting to note that the Laguna
Copperplate only came to the attention
of scholars in 1990, when it was
offered for sale to the National
Museum in Manila, after attempts to
sell it in the antiques market had been
met with little interest.
 AN INCOMPLETE
ARTIFACT
Investigations by Antoon Postma, a Dutch anthropologist, have revealed that the inscription on the
Laguna Copperplate is incomplete, and it is highly likely that there was another similar piece of
copperplate with inscriptions on it that has been lost. In an article published in 1992, Postma wrote
that:

“Moreover, certain persons, after viewing a photo of the

LCI (Laguna Copperplate Inscription), alleged, without
being asked, that they had seen a similar piece of
copperplate with inscriptions around the same time
(1987). Its importance, however, was not realized then,
and the possible second page of the LCI might have
ended up in a local junk yard and been irretrievably lost
to posterity.”
 ORIGINS OF THE INSCRIPTION ON THE
LAGUNA COPPERPLATE
• The inscription on the surviving copperplate
is in itself intriguing, and has provided
enough material for scholars to analyze.

• The type of script used in the Laguna

Copperplate Inscription has been identified
as the so-called‘Early Kawi Script,’ a
writing system that originated in the
Indonesian island of Java, and was used
across much of maritime Southeast Asia
during the 10th century AD.
 ORIGINS OF THE INSCRIPTION ON THE
LAGUNA COPPERPLATE
• In fact, this script is said to have been
derived from the Pallava script, which
has its origins in India. As for the
language of the inscription, it has been
found to be heavily influenced
linguistically by Sanskrit, Old Malay,
and Old Javanese. Both the type script,
and the language of the Laguna
Copperplate Inscription, therefore,
shows that this area was not actually
isolated from the rest of Southeast Asia,
as had been previously assumed
Places mentioned in the Laguna Copperplate Inscription. (
Hector Santos)
 THE INSCRIPTION
The inscription begins by providing a date:
“Hail! In the Saka-year 822; the month of March-April; according to the astronomer:
the fourth day of the dark half of the moon; on Monday.”

The Saka era has its origins in India (supposedly marking the ascension of the Kushan
emperor Kanishka), and the year 822 is said to correspond with the year 900 AD in the
Gregorian calendar. The use of this calendrical system is further evidence that there
were cultural links between this area of Southeast Asia and its neighbors, which at that
time, were largely under the cultural influence of India.
 THE INSCRIPTION
As for the subject matter of the
Laguna Copperplate Inscription,
it has been suggested that the
inscription is a “semi-official
certificate of acquittal of a debt
incurred by a person in high
office, together with his whole
family, all relatives and
descendants.”
 THE INSCRIPTION
This acquittal is also said to be confirmed
by other officials/leaders, some of whom
have been mentioned by name, along
with their area of jurisdiction. These
officials include “His Honor the Leader
of Puliran, Kasumuran; His Honor the
Leader of Pailah, representing Ganasakti;
(and) His Honor the Leader of
Binwangan, representing Bisruta.” The
recording of these names suggests that
there was some sort of political and social
organization in the Philippines of the 10th
century AD.
To conclude, the Laguna Copperplate, which would
probably not attract instant public attention as gold
or silver artifacts would, is in fact an immensely
important object. This seemingly insignificant
artifact has sparked a re-assessment of the history of
the Philippines prior to the coming of the Spanish, in
particular the 10th century AD, and the archipelago’s
relationship with the rest of Southeast Asia.
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