Wates, Solo or where? Colonial views on Javanese cultural centres, 1811-1843

Abstract

This article discusses the founding of the Instituut voor de Javaansche Taal (Institute for the Javanese Language, 1832-1843) in the city of Soerakarta, also known as Solo. It covers the background of its establishment, how 19th-century Dutch people viewed the Javanese culture, and why Soerakarta was chosen as a play to study Javanese culture. Using a historical approach, this article explores colonial government sources found in the Algemeene Secretarie collection. The colonial government created the institute to help young Dutch people learn about Javanese culture as a way to support long-term colonial rule. Soerakarta was chosen as a place to study Javanese language and culture because of its purity of Javanese culture, colonial politics, and scientific education. Later, a change in perspective regarding this reason led the center of Javanese cultural studies to be moved to the Netherlands.