258

31.300 Historical Novels.

The increasing interest in helletristic literature induced Javanese authors of the nineteenth century to write novellistic tales and poems. Partly the tales were set in historical surroundings so> as to make the impression of trustworthy information on interesting events occurring in former times at Court or in the country. The Prana Citra and Jaka Paqasih historical novels, which are set in Central Java in the seventeenth or the eighteenth century, probably are based on old folk-tales. Some interrelationship with the Nitik Sultan Aguqan tales (26.000) and the wali legends (24.500) seems likely. The Javanese-Madurese Barjsa Cara legend (22.390) is also to be mentioned in this connection. The Javanese-Balinese ballads dealing with the history of Majapahit, Rat}ga Lawé etc., which have been discussed in 20.700, seem to be closely related with epic litera ture. They turn on warlike exploits of noble heroes. Therefore they have been registered in Part Two, History, of the Synopsis. The novellistic character of the poems which are listed below is apparent from the choice of the heroes and heroines, who belong mostly to the middle classes of society, and from the plots of the tales, which turn on romantic adventures. The authorship of the Jaka Paijasih his torical novel is ascribed to 1 the younger Yasa- dipura. The Prana Citra has been translated into Dutch by Berg. Ragsaq Tuban is a historical novel which was published by “Volkslektuur”. 31.301 Prana Citra: cod. BCB prtf 46.

31.302 Jaka Parjasih: cod. 6688. 31.303 Sèh Gawaran: cod. 7377. 31.304 Rat}ga Séna of Pajajaran: cod. 7421. 31.320 J avanese-Chines e roman ces. In all periods of Javanese history Chi nese immigrants have played an important role. In Javanese art Chinese influence is ap parent (see the present author’s “Javaanse “Volksvertoningen”, register, under the catch word Chinese). In the eighteenth and nine teenth centuries Chinese traders became well-nigh predominant agents in Javanese inland economy, and in the first decades of the twentieth century wealthy Chinese mer chants were leading residents in all Java nese towns. Trade flourished where peace and order were ensured by the presence of Dutch authority. In Chinese communities in the Archipel ago, Malay, the interinsular medium of trade, was the dominant language. In consequence of connections with native women the Chi nese idioms of the immigrants were super seded within the time of two or three gener ations. In many districts Chinese traders grew familiar with local manners and the local idiom. Some members of Chinese fam ilies of long standing in Java developed into connoisseurs and patrons of Javanese art and literature. Some became Javanese authors themselves. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries there were Chinese patrons of literature who, in memory of their origin, caused Chinese