5 Characteristic Features of Traditional Historiography

Illustration of History (Unsplash)

YOGYAKARTA - In writing history, researchers have various methods, one of which is traditional historiography. This traditional historiography method is closely related to the traditional history of a region or country. The typical feature of traditional historiography is generally influenced by cultural factors. To understand more, see the following article.

Characteristic of Traditional Historiography

As is known, historiography is a field of study that studies how history is written, presented, or reported after research is conducted. In historiography, historians will conduct research to analyze existing history. After that, history can only be reconstructed.

Meanwhile, the traditional historiographical approach is historical sources obtained from existing sources, where the source is influenced by the culture of the community at that time. This means that historical sources can be very influenced by personal views or based on the interests of rulers and dominant groups.

In the Characteristics of Traditional, Colonial and Modern Historiography, compiled by Hasnawati T., S.Pd, it is said that the historical sources used in traditional historiography were originally not to write history, but as a recognition and were intended for the eternity of the ruler.

There are several characteristics of traditional historiography that can be known, namely as follows, quoted from various sources.

Centralist palace

Traditional historiography is usually palace-centric, meaning that the source of history is centered on life in the palace. For example, historical sources that discuss the life of the king or other members of the royal family. While the life of the common people is not well described.

Religious-magical in nature

In traditional historiography, the king will be written as a sakti human who has supernatural advantages or is able to manage creatures that are not visible. This portrayal is done so that the king gets a certain impression from his people. In this way, the people become respectful, obedient, and do not rebel. In some sources, the king is also considered a drop of god or a supernatural being.

Region-centricity

Usually the source only emphasizes events or figures related to a certain area or region. For example, history that emphasizes the role of a certain city, province, or kingdom in the historical development of a country or the world. Examples are the Cirebon Chronicle, the Bugis Chronicle, the Banten Chronicle, and so on.

Ethnocentric in nature

Traditional historiography is written by emphasizing or highlighting the ethnic groups and cultures that exist in the kingdom. This means that the source only explains things that are close to the kingdom or keraton. While the scope outside the kingdom is not touched.

Psycho-political centrism

Traditional historiography is also written by certain poets or figures that are full of the psychic load of the king. Usually these sources become a political tool for the king to perpetuate his power. These sources are usually influenced by the ideology or political interests of the king or the dominant group so that there must be bias.

Those are some of the characteristics of traditional historiography. Visit VOI.id for other interesting information.