View source for Bhinneka Tunggal Ika

{{Short description|Indonesian national motto}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Italic title}}
[[Image:Coat of Arms of Indonesia Garuda Pancasila.svg|thumb|right|''Bhinneka Tunggal Ika'' included in the [[National emblem of Indonesia]], the [[Garuda Pancasila]]]]
'''''Bhinneka Tunggal Ika''''' is the official [[national motto]] of [[Indonesia]]. It is inscribed in the [[national emblem of Indonesia]], the [[Garuda Pancasila]], written on the scroll gripped by the [[Garuda]]'s claws. The phrase comes from [[Kawi language|Old Javanese]], meaning "[[Unity in Diversity]]," and is enshrined in article 36A of the [[Constitution of Indonesia]]. The motto refers to the unity and integrity of Indonesia, a nation consisting of various cultures, regional languages, races, ethnicities, religions, and beliefs.

The phrase is a quotation from an Old Javanese poem [[Kakawin Sutasoma]], written by [[Mpu Tantular]], a famous [[poet]] of [[Javanese literature]] during the reign of the [[Majapahit]] empire in the 14th century, under the reign of King [[Rājasanagara]] (also known as [[Hayam Wuruk]]).

==Meaning==
Translated word for word, '''''bhinnêka''''' is a [[sandhi]] form of '''''bhinna''''' meaning "different"; the word '''''tunggal''''' means "one" and the word '''''ika''''' means "it". Literally, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is translated as "It is different, [yet] it is one". Conventionally, the phrase is translated as "Unity in Diversity",<ref name="auto">{{cite book|author=Mpu Tantular|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q10OAAAAYAAJ&q=unity%20in%20diversity|title=Sutasoma, a Study in Old Javanese Wajrayana|publisher=International Academy of Culture|year=1975|editor-last=Santoso|editor-first=Soewito|page=9}}</ref> which means that despite being diverse, the Indonesian people are still one unit. This motto describes the unity and integrity of Indonesia, which consists of various cultures, regional languages, races, ethnicities, religions, and beliefs. As head of the [[Faculty of Philosophy]] of [[Gadjah Mada University]], [[Rizal Mustansyir]], writes, "the motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika explains clearly that there is diversity in various aspects of life that makes the Indonesian nation a unified nation."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Mustansyir|first=Rizal|date=2007-08-15|title=Bhinneka Tunggal Ika dalam Perspektif Filsafat Analitik|url=https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/wisdom/article/view/31582|journal=Jurnal Filsafat|language=en-US|volume=1|issue=1|pages=46–58|doi=10.22146/jf.31582|doi-broken-date=1 July 2025|issn=2528-6811}}</ref>

==History==

=== Origins ===
The phrase originated from the Old Javanese poem Kakawin Sutasoma, written by [[Mpu Tantular]] a famous poet of Javanese Literature during the reign of the Majapahit empire sometime in the 14th century, under the reign of [[Rājasanagara|King Rājasanagara]], also known as Hayam Wuruk.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Zulfikar|first=Fahri|title=Bhinneka Tunggal Ika bagi Bangsa Indonesia, Ini Artinya|url=https://www.detik.com/edu/detikpedia/d-5706084/bhinneka-tunggal-ika-bagi-bangsa-indonesia-ini-artinya|access-date=2021-09-30|website=detikedu|language=id-ID}}</ref> The [[Kakawin]] contains epic poems written in [[poetic meter|metres]]. The poem is notable as it promotes tolerance between [[Hindu]]s (especially [[Shaivism|Shivaites]]) and [[Buddhist]]s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Worshiping Siva and Buddha: The Temple Art of East Java|first1=Ann R. |last1=Kinney|first2= Marijke J. |last2=Klokke|first3= Lydia |last3=Kieven|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|year=2003|isbn=9780824827793 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfa2FiIERLYC&q=bhineka}}</ref>

=== Adoption ===
The phrase Bhinneka Tunggal Ika was published in an article entitled ''Verspreide Geschriften'' which was written by a Dutch linguist orientalist [[Johan Hendrik Caspar Kern|Johan Hendrik Casper Kern]]. Kern's writings were later read by [[Mohammad Yamin]], who then brought the phrase to the first [[Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence]] (BPUPK) session, between 29 May to 1 June 1945.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Waskito |editor-first=Ratna|editor-last=Nuraini|title=Sebuah Filsafat Perenialisme Tertua|url=https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/komoditas/1631/sebuah-filsafat-perenialisme-tertua|access-date=2021-11-10|date=2020-02-01|website=indonesia.go.id|language=id}}</ref>

The motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika was later incorporated into the state emblem, the [[National emblem of Indonesia|Garuda Pancasila]]. Reporting from the Directorate General of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, the state symbol was designed by [[Syarif Hamid II of Pontianak|Sultan Hamid II]] and announced to the public on 15 February 1950.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Silmi Nurul|last=Utami |editor-first=Serafica|editor-last=Gischa|date=2021-04-28|title=Sejarah Bhinneka Tunggal Ika|url=https://www.kompas.com/skola/read/2021/04/28/180743569/sejarah-bhinneka-tunggal-ika|access-date=2021-09-30|website=KOMPAS.com|language=id}}</ref>

The phrase, along with [[Pancasila (politics)|Pancasila]] as national emblem and 20 other articles, is officially included into the [[Constitution of Indonesia]] after the second amendment of the constitution was ratified on [[People's Consultative Assembly]] (MPR) parliamentary session in 7–18 August 2000.<ref name=tirto2>{{cite web|title=Isi Perubahan Kedua & Sejarah Amandemen UUD 1945 Tahun 2000|url=https://tirto.id/ejFV|first=Iswara N.|last=Raditya|work=Tirto.id|date=14 October 2019|access-date=28 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite wikisource|title=The 1945 Constitution of The Republic of Indonesia|wslink=Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia}}</ref>

== Full stanza ==

===Original===
This quotation comes from Canto 139, stanza 5. The full stanza reads as follows:

<blockquote><poem>''Rwāneka dhātu winuwus Buddha Wiswa,''
''Bhinnêki rakwa ring apan kena parwanosen,''
''Mangka ng Jinatwa kalawan Śiwatatwa tunggal,''
'''''Bhinnêka tunggal ika''' tan hana dharma mangrwa.''</poem></blockquote>

===Translation===
<blockquote><poem>It is said that the well-known Buddha and Shiva are two different substances.
They are indeed different, yet how is it possible to recognise their difference in a glance,
since the truth of Jina ([[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]) and the truth of [[Shaivism|Shiva]] is one.
They are indeed different, but they are of the same kind, as there is no duality in Truth.</poem></blockquote>

This translation is based, with minor adaptations, on the critical text edition by Soewito Santoso.<ref name="auto"/>

== Other sources ==
This idea is a constant theme throughout Mpu Tantular's writings and can also be found in his other writing, the [[Kakawin Arjunawijaya]], canto 27 stanza 2:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Supomo |first=S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fRYACQAAQBAJ&dq=k%C4%81lih+sira+san+dharma&pg=PA7 |title=Arjunawijaya: A Kakawin of Mpu Tantular |date=2013-11-11 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-94-017-4963-3 |page=7 |language=en}}</ref><ref>Supomo, S., ed. (1977). ''Arjunawijaya: A Kakawin of Mpu Tantular''. Springer Dordrecht. p.&nbsp;222. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:[[doi:10.1007/978-94-017-4961-9|10.1007/978-94-017-4961-9]]. {{ISBN|978-94-017-4961-9}}. Translation note 27,2b: "''Or: hyaṅ Buddha rakwa kalawan Śiwa, rājadewa (i.e. the god Buddha and siwa, [both are equally] kings of the gods) ? Syntactically, such a reading (and its translation) is not impossible. However, as far as I am aware, Buddha has never been directly connected with the gods (dewa), and so the appelation 'king of the gods' as applied to Buddha is therefore doubtful.''"</ref>

===Original===
<blockquote><poem>''ndan kantênanya, haji, tan hana bheda saṅ hyaṅ''
''hyaṅ Buddha rakwa kalawan Śiwarājadewa''
''kālih samêka sira saṅ pinakeṣṭi dharma''
''riṅ dharma sīma tuwi yan lêpas adwitīya''</poem></blockquote>

===Translation===
<blockquote><poem>Clearly then, Your Majesty, there is no distinction between the Deities: 
the ''hyaṅ'' Buddha and Siwa, the lord of gods,
both are the same, they are the goals of the religions; 
in the ''dharma sīma'' as well as in the ''dharma lêpas'' they are second to none.</poem></blockquote>

==See also==
{{portal|Indonesia}}
* ''[[E pluribus unum]],'' national motto of the [[United States of America]], which has a similar meaning.
* [[National motto]]
* [[National emblem of Indonesia]]
* The [[2018 Asian Games]]' official mascots, Bhin Bhin, Atung, and Kaka, which are named after the motto.

==References==
<references/>

{{Indonesia topics}}

[[Category:National symbols of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Culture of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Kakawin]]
[[Category:National mottos]]
[[Category:Javanese culture]]
[[Category:Buddhism and Hinduism]]