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PAGE 37 | MOW 13 Exploring Indonesia
Exploring Indonesia

The Manuscript of

Sang Hyang Siksa Kandang Karesian

I n d o n e s i a

The Sanghyang Siksa Kandang Karesian (SSKK) manuscript
is an important legacy from the early 16th century that
contains Sundanese customary law in an encyclopedic style.
It contains extensive knowledge of the Sundanese people at
that time, ranging from law, religion, art, astronomy,
politics, to maritime affairs. This manuscript shows that the
Sundanese people had an advanced civilization and
interacted with the international community, proving that
they were not merely a local group, but part of the global
community. Therefore, this manuscript deserves to be
recognized as part of the Memory of the World and an
irreplaceable source of Sundanese cultural history.

Besides its historical value, this manuscript is still relevant
today because it contains ancient Sundanese social
concepts and moral values that are still alive in traditional
communities, even though the language is no longer
understood. This tradition, which has endured for more than
five centuries, demonstrates the role of manuscripts as a
link between the past and the present. Universal values such
as honesty, ethics, loyalty, and professionalism contained
therein remain relevant in the modern era, proving that long
before colonialism, Sundanese society already had a value
system and civilization that was as advanced as other
nations in the world.