The Kadiri Period (12th – Early 13th Century) Reconsidered: Chronology and Artistic Attribution

Eko Bastiawan

Unlike the relatively well-established periodization of the Singhasari era (early thirteenth century) and the Majapahit era (late thirteenth to early sixteenth century) in the study of Old Javanese history, the chronological framework of the Kadiri period (twelfth to early thirteenth century) remains a subject of ongoing debate. This lack of consensus has significant implications, particularly for the classification of artistic styles—both sculpture and architectural structures—that are often attributed to the Kadiri period. In practice, various figures, objects, and sites or temples are frequently assigned to different time spans by different scholars, depending on the assumptions and chronological models they employ. This situation not only produces divergent interpretations but also creates confusion in understanding the development of art and culture in East Java during this time. Drawing on written sources such as inscriptions and Old Javanese literary works, this paper seeks to critically reassess the temporal boundaries of the Kadiri period and to re-evaluate the historiographical constructions of its chronology proposed by earlier scholars. It will also highlight several important objects and architectural remains that have received limited attention but deserve consideration in discussions of artistic styles associated with Kadiri. Ultimately, this study aims to establish a more solid academic foundation for discussing the Kadiri period – especially its artistic production – and to propose alternative terminology for works that have been inaccurately classified as Kadiri.