Sailendra

A Mahayana Buddhist empire established in Java in the 8th century. Its name ('King of the Mountain') has been seen as the claim to 'Universal Rulership', taken over from the kings of Funan. In the 9th century, the dynasty left Java for Sumatra where they continued to hold power for several centuries.

Mahayana Buddhist dynasty that appeared suddenly in the late 8th century in Central Java. Its name (‘King of the Mountain’) has been seen as the claim to ‘Universal Rulership’, taken over from the kings of Fun an ; indeed, the Sailendras exercised a sort of hegemony in the region, extending even to parts of the Indochinese Peninsula. In the 9th century, the dynasty left Java for Sumatra where they continued to hold power at Srivijaya for several centuries. See also Borobudur and Sanjaya.