Suryya Dan Namora Pande Bosi

Menelusuri Jejak Tokoh Pandai Besi Dalam Prasasti Gunung Tua (Studi Epigrafi, Arkeologi, Dan Literatur)

Abstract

The Gunung Tua inscription (1024 CE) mentions a metalworker named Suryya who created a bronze statue of Bhatara Lokanatha. The uniqueness of this inscription lies in the mention of the artisan's name a rare occurrence in Nusantara epigraphy. Suryya's special expertise in creating Buddhist statues indicates he was not an ordinary metalworker (Amerta, 1985). This article traces the relationship between Suryya and Namora Pande Bosi (estimated 14th century) based on epigraphic, archaeological, and literary sources on Mandailing oral tradition. This study finds that despite the chronological gap, the tradition of high-level metalworking continued sustainably in the South Tapanuli region from the 11th to the 14th century. This study also examines Daeng Malela's acculturation strategy through mastering metalworking skills as an entry point for integration with local society a pattern aligned with the cultural da'wah strategy in the Nusantara archipelago during a roughly contemporaneous period (Baron et al., 2025; Jati & Bantolo, 2025; Sukartini & Mahmuddin, 2025). This research is a library research based on published written sources.