EMPIRISMA: JURNAL PEMIKIRAN DAN KEBUDAYAAN ISLAM
Vol. 35 No. 2 (2026): Empirisma: Jurnal Pemikiran dan Kebudayaan Islam

Leadership Philosophy In Javanese Tradition: A Hermeneutic Semiotic Study of Classical Manuscripts

Purwadi (Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Indonesia)
M Dimyati Huda (UIN Syekh Wasil Kediri, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Sep 2026

Abstract

This article outlines the concept of leadership philosophy in classical Javanese culture as embodied in various traditional literary works. Javanese society holds that ideal leadership is inseparable from moral and spiritual dimensions; consequently, Javanese sages consistently embedded leadership guidelines in classical literary narratives to transmit values. These guidelines encompass teachings on theology, humanity, nationalism, prosperity, and justice elements that collectively shape the indigenous community's ethical consciousness and serve as benchmarks for exemplary leadership conduct. This study aims to interpret these Javanese leadership concepts in depth to understand how local wisdom can serve as a reference for achieving social harmony. The research employs a hermeneutic method to interpret Javanese cultural texts rigorously and systematically, combined with a semiotic approach to dissect the symbolic meanings underlying leadership expressions found in classical manuscripts. The findings indicate that an authentic concept of traditional Javanese leadership can be derived from a profound reading of local wisdom, and that interpreting this moral leadership offers insights relevant to the contemporary context. From the Javanese perspective, leadership practices that align with these values foster goodness and happiness. These findings hold significant implications for the government and state apparatus, highlighting the importance of understanding traditional cultural concepts as a foundation for building sustainable social harmony.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

empirisma

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Humanities Social Sciences

Description

Focus The focus of this journal is to publish the results of research and thoughts on Islamic studies in the form of research articles and book reviews and thoughts. Scope since 2017 the journal focuses more on various dimensions of Islamic thoughts and cultures with the scope limited to the ...