structural:scholar_edition, structural:reformatting, linguistic:voice_change, linguistic:paraphrasing
Majapahit Empire

Malang was not the center of the power struggle between Jayakatwang, Raden Wijaya, and Kublai Khan's army from Mongol. After winning the succession of power, Raden Wijaya, who held the title of Kertarajasa Jayawardhana moved the center of power to the area he had built in the Tarik Forest (now around Mojokerto and District Tarik, Sidoarjo). However, the Malang region witnessed history from the fate of Jayakatwang who was exiled to another spring in Polaman (now Kalirejo Village, Lawang District, Malang Regency). According to Pararaton and Kidung Harsyawijaya, this was where Jayakatwang was inspired to write Wukir Polaman, his last literary work before being executed by Raden Wijaya.

In the Majapahit government structure according to the Waringin Pitu Inscription (AD 1447), the Malang region is included in the Bhumi or the capital of empire. He is a nagara (provincial equivalent) named Tumapel which is led by a rajya (governor) or natha (master) or bhre (nobleman / prince) —such as dukes.

Negarakertagama also recorded King Hayam Wuruk's visit to several places in the Malang region in 1359 AD. According to Yudi Anugrah Nugroho, the tour was part of a series of trips by King Hayam Wuruk to review the development around Lumajang. This visit is usually done when the harvest period is over. There are at least two contexts of the tour, namely recreation and pilgrimage. For the recreational context, the first place was Kasuranggan Park in the Sumberawan area (Toyomarto Village, District Singosari, Malang Regency). It was here that King Hayam Wuruk built a stupa as a place of worship for Buddhists so that it became the Sumberawan Temple as it is now. The second is Kedung Biru. Some historians connect Kedung Biru with the location now called Dusun Biru, Gunungrejo Village, District Singosari, Malang Regency. It is called kedung (meaning: ravine) because it is on the edge of a cliff near the Klampok River. In addition to the recreational place of Raja Hayam Wuruk, it is said that this place is a sanctuary for kris made by Mpu Gandring and other royal weapons. The third is the Bureng area identified as the Wendit natural bath in Mangliawan Village, District Pakis, Malang Regency.

For the context of pilgrimage, King Hayam Wuruk visited several heritage temples of the Singhasari Kingdom which aimed to dharma the ancestors (Wangsa Rajasa). Some of the temples visited include Kidal Temple (in honor of King Anusapati), Jago Temple (in honor of King Wisnuwardhana), and Candi Singasari (in honor of Raja Kertanegara). Especially for Singasari Temple, there is debate about whether it was built during the reign of Singhasari or Majapahit Kingdom. Because, according to the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia, Singosari Temple was built around 1300 AD (the reign of King Raden Wijaya) as a temple of respect, if not dharma, Raja Kertanegara along with Jawi Temple. However, there is an argument which states that this temple was being built during the reign of King Kertanegara itself as a public worship temple. The consequence of this last argument is that the construction of the temple was not completed due to the occupation of Singhasari by Jayakatwang.

The Malang region (Tumapel) became one of the objects of political conflict when the Regreg war erupted (1404–1406). This area is claimed by Aji Rajanata, Bhre Wirabhumi II (Blambangan, Banyuwangi). However, the claim was opposed by Manggalawardhana, Bhre Tumapel II, who was still the son of King Hayam Wuruk. Therefore, this area is considered as the frontline of the battle involving Majapahit (West) and Blambangan ('East Majapahit). However, because Regreg war was won by King Wikramawardhana, Tumapel returned to Majapahit power.

When the Majapahit Kingdom arrived Admiral Cheng Ho from China (Ming dynasty) in 1421 AD, he agreed with King Wikramawardhana (1389–1429 AD) to place Ma Hong Fu and Ma Yung Long as ambassadors of the Ming dynasty at Tumapel. This can be attributed to Admiral Cheng Ho's diplomatic efforts to ensure the security of ethnic Chinese in the Majapahit region. During the War of Regreg (1406), around 170 delegates from the Ming dynasty were sent by Admiral Cheng Ho to re-establish diplomatic relations between China and Majapahit after the conflict of the Jayakatwang-Raden Wijaya-Kublai Khan in the era of transition from Singhasari to Majapahit. However, all the envoys were massacred by King Wikramawardhana who could not distinguish their arrival status as an enemy or not. The role of Admiral Cheng Ho was also significant for the Malang region (Tumapel) in 1432 when he was with his subordinates, Gan Eng Cu and (Duke (Bhre) of Arya Teja I of Tuban) and his younger brother, Gan Eng Wan, helped Ratu Maharani Sri Suhita (1429–1447 AD) to unite Daha (Kadiri) and Tumapel after internal conflict. For his services, Bro Eng Wan was given the title Raden Arya Suganda was appointed as an official at Tumapel.