Majapahit Gold or Srivijaya Gold? Riddle of Fort Canning Gold Medallion & Chain

National Treasure at National Museum of Singapore

One of the most fascinating artefacts at the National Museum of Singapore is this gold armlet known as Majapahit Gold.

It was discovered in 1928 near the summit of today's Fort Canning Hill when workers were doing earthworks for the sewage system.

The gold armlet consists of gold chains and a medallion once believed to bear the face of the Hindu deity Kala, protector from evil and misfortune.

British historian Richard Winstedt in consultation with Dutch archeologist P.V. van Stein Callenfels assessed that it could be of Javanese Majapahit origin or influence as similar jewelry were found in Java.

Hence, this artefact is often referred to as Majapahit Gold since its discovery.

Who was the Owner of Majapahit Gold?

In 1299, a Srivijayan empire prince Sang Nila Utama left the capital Palembang and landed in Tumasik (Temasek) where he founded his own kingdom which he called Singapura. Singapura prospered as a trading port, lasting 99 years till 1398 when it was invaded and razed by either the Siamese Ayutthaya empire or the Javanese Majapahit empire.

The gold armlet's location near the summit of Fort Canning Hill indicates that it was probably at the palace or temple.

The gold armlet likely once adorned a Singapura royal or priest. It could have been hurriedly buried to keep it from invaders that destroyed Singapura in 1398, only to be rediscovered 530 years later in 1928.

The gold armlet is one of the best evidence that the kingdom of Singapura once existed in the 14th century at today's Fort Canning Hill.

The kingdom of Singapura was mentioned in the Sulalat al-Salatin (Genealogy of Kings) better known as Sejarah Melayu or Malay Annals. An account of its inhabitants was also documented by Chinese traveller Wang Da Yuan.

A Majapahit era manuscript Kakawi Nagarakretagama listing its vassal states included a "Tumasik" as one of them. "Tumasik" was the old name of Singapura before it was founded by Sang Nila Utama. The Fort Canning gold medallion and chain resembling Majapahit jewelry further reinforced the Majapahit vassal narrative, hence Majapahit Gold.

If Not Majapahit, what?

In her 2023 “The So-Called ‘Kāla Head’ Armband of Temasek: A Preliminary Report”, Natalie S. Y. Ong suggests that the armlet motif represents Simhamukha (female lion diety) and had connections with northwest South Asia.

Ong's proposal seems to have replaced the long held "Majapahit Gold" thesis. The new National Museum of Singapore plaque describing the gold armlet (exhibit reopened to public in Oct 2026) reflected the shift from the "Kala" motif to the Simhamukha lion motif.

Ong's Simhamukha thesis is aligned with the possibility that the erstwhile "Majapahit Gold" armlet has Srivijayan roots. The Simhamukha lion thesis is a step towards the Sivijayan hypothesis.

The Srivijaya empire (7th - 13th century) based in South Sumatra preceded the Majapahit empire (13th - 16th century) based in East Java.

During its heyday, the Srivijaya empire controlled both the Malacca and Sunda Straits from its capital city, Palembang.

In 1864, Dutch military doctor EP Tombrink discovered an abandoned Hindu temple complex at Bumi Ayu village about 140km southwest of Palembang.

No one knows the abandoned temple's original name now, so it was simply called Candi Bumi Ayu, naming it after the village.

Many artefacts were excavated from Candi Bumi Ayu. Thankfully, they are now safely at the Candi Bumi Ayu Museum. Among the artefacts, there were statues of deities wearing armlets.

The armlet had motif that resembles Kala the protector.

There were also large statues of Kala which were placed at Hindu temple entrances as guardians and protectors.

Therefore, the Kala motif was used in Sri Vijaya as well as in Majapahit.

There were also guardian lion statues at the Candi Bumi Ayu site.

But, were the Srivijayans capable of the level of exquisite craftsmanship evident in the gold medallion and chain now at the National Museum of Singapore?

I feel yes.

Since 2021, treasure hunters were recovering gold jewelry from the river bed of Sungai Musi at Palembang, the old capital city of the Sri Vijaya empire.

Though no Kala or Simhamukha medallion have been found so far, some of the jewellery such as this gold necklace and pendant, exhibit intricate design and exquisite craftsmanship.

There could be more Kala or Simhamukha motif medallion and gold chains waiting to be discovered in places where the Srivijayans once reigned supreme.

Majapahit Gold or Srivijaya Gold?

There are evidence that support either and, in my opinion, not enough to be conclusive yet. Nevertheless, I am leaning on the Srivijayan hypothesis. It's the Simhamukha lion motif, the Srivijayans were accomplished goldsmiths, so the gold armlet could be a powerful symbol of Singapura (Srivijayan prince Sang Nila Utama's Lion City) on the arm of a king.

The riddle will be solved when more evidence surfaces in time to come.