UNESCO recognizes Hikayat Aceh Manuscripts as World Heritage

Published on 18 May 2023

UNESCO has recognized the unique Hikayat Aceh manuscripts, which are held by Leiden University Libraries (UBL) and the National Library of Indonesia, as World Heritage. The manuscripts describe daily life in the former sultanate of Aceh in Indonesia. Only three manuscripts of the Hikayat Aceh - the story of Aceh - exist worldwide. UBL and the National Library of Indonesia collaborate in several areas and have jointly put forward the proposal for recognition and submitted it to UNESCO. Both institutions are grateful to UNESCO for this honourable award.

These manuscripts are inscribed in the global UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This list contains documentary heritage of exceptional importance that must be preserved for future generations. Together with the granting of World Heritage status this year to the Magellaan/Oliveira manuscript (VLF 41), the UBL now holds five documents with this international UNESCO status. The UBL already holds three documents with this international UNESCO status. La Galigo (2011), Babad Diponegoro (2013) and Panji (2017). These documents have been digitised and are freely available for research and education via Digital Collections.

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Sultan Iskander Muda

The Hikayat Aceh is an indigenous history of the former sultanate of Aceh on the island of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia. Written in Malay in Arabic script, it describes and praises the Acehnese sultan Iskandar Muda (1583-1636), a national hero in Indonesia. The Hikayat Aceh is believed to have been commissioned by Sultana Safiyyat al-Din Syah, the daughter of Sultan Iskandar Muda. The text contains many stories about life and customs in the Acehnese courts, relations with Portugal, China and Turkey, among others, internal rivalries, wars and (Islamic) religion. It is a unique work that uses traditional Malay literary styles with a rich Persian influence, full of information and historical detail.

The older and more complete manuscript, c. 1675-1700 (Or. 1954)
The copy written in Batavian Malay, from 1847 (Or. 1983)

Three manuscripts

Two Hikayat Aceh manuscripts (Or. 1954 and Or. 1983) are held by the UBL and one manuscript (ML 421) by the National Library of Indonesia. The Leiden manuscript Or. 1954 is the oldest (ca. 1675-1700) and most complete manuscript. Or.1983 is a copy of this work in Batavian Malay, from 1847. ML 421 is also a copy of Or. 1954 and dates from the early 20th century. With only three surviving manuscripts, the Hikayat Aceh is an exceedingly rare text. The Hikayat Aceh is therefore an important source for anyone interested in Islam, international relations and the history of Aceh. Manuscripts Or. 1954 and Or.1983 have been digitised by the UBL and are freely available in Digital Collections.