Tadj-oel-moelk (“Crown of the Realm,” full title “Rijkskroon, ingezet met allerlei geordende parelen en edelgesteenten” — “Crown of the realm, set with all manner of ordered pearls and precious stones”) was a 141-page Atjèhnese-popular Malay compilation by Teungkoe Koetakarang, containing chronology, astrology (èleumèë noedjöm), medical recipes, and magical formulas. It was allegedly compiled at the request of Sultan Mantsoer Sjah (1838–1870).
Contents
The Tadj-oel-moelk was a compilation of various forms of magical and divinatory knowledge:
- Chronology — systems of time-reckoning and calendar calculation
- Astrology (èleumèë noedjöm) — divination by the stars
- Medical recipes — traditional remedies and treatments
- Magical formulas — incantations and spells
The work served as a reference for soerat phaj (divination books) — collections of prayers, formulas, amulets, recipes, aphrodisiacs, medical prescriptions, mystical figures, and tables for calculating favorable times, comparable to Javanese primbon’s.
The Mantsoer Sjah attribution
The Tadj-oel-moelk was allegedly compiled at the request of Sultan Mantsoer Sjah (reigned 1838–1870), the voorlaatste (next-to-last) Sultan. Mantsoer Sjah also issued sarakata’s to the heads of Paté and Lhö Gloempang and to the bestuurder of Lhö Kroeët, and granted the Tadj-oel-moelk request.
Author
Teungkoe Koetakarang (real name Nja Abbas) was an eccentric Atjèhnese oelama who was contemptuous of Tjhèh Saman, whom he called “Leubè Saman.” He also wrote the Tadkirat ar-rakidïn — Arabic-titled pamphlets containing political-religious teachings. He withdrew from active opposition in 1893 and died in 1895.
See Also
Source
Atjèh. Algemeen samenvattend overzicht van land en volk van Atjèh en onderhoorigheden, door J. Kreemer, Archivaris van het Atjèh Instituut. Tweede Deel. Leiden: N.V. Boekhandel en Drukkerij voorheen E.J. Brill, 1923.
Identifier: Delpher MMKB02B:000001798; PPN 395084288. Koninklijke Bibliotheek.