The Government of Brunei Darussalam
 
History Exhibition
 
The history of Negara Brunei Darussalam from the past until the present is very important to be known by all groups of citizens and residents of this country. The past events in history can be used as the guidance and lesson for the present and future generations.

With respects to the important events of this country to be known, an exhibition related to Brunei History is held with the aim that it can create proud feelings towards the state history until it can raise the felling of awareness towards the race and nation.

The history exhibition display pictures, documents, letters of agreements, mandates and objects of tombstone artifacts with the aim that the visitors especially the students, researchers and writers particularly to the citizens can be get a very useful informations that can be used as the basic for growth and development of the country, race and religion.
The exibition is divided into fives areas, there are:
   
Area 1: The area exhibits the Genealogical Stone Tablet (Batu Tarsilah) that engrave on it the genealogy of Brunei Kings that were from Awang Alak Betatar, the first king who embraced Islam (Year 1368 AD) until Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (the 19th Sultan of Brunei, reign between years 1795-1804 AD and 1804-1807 AD). The Genealogical Stone Tablet is very important to the history of Brunei, because on its surface was noted down the Sultans that governed and the genealogy of their ancestors. The Genealogical Stone Tablet was completed by Khatib Haji Abdul Latif during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Tajuddin (1795-1804AD) and (1804-1807AD).
   
Area 2: This area exhibits the early history of Brunei. Brunei is one of the ancient states in Malay World. The existence of Ancient Brunei can be founf based on the statement of the Arabian, Chinese and oral traditions. In Chinese History, it was known as Po-li, Po-lo, Poni or Puni and Bunlai. In Arabic Records it was known as Dzabaj or Randj.
According to the oral tradition of Awang Semaun Poem (Syair Awang Semaun), it was said that Brunei was from a word of 'Baru nah' after a group of Sakai tribes led by Pateh Berbai went to Brunei River to find a place to build a new territory. They found that the place was located in a strategic geographical location that was surrounded by hill, water, can be found easily and there were plenty of fishes in the river, than they said a new word 'baru nah' which means very good, satisfaction and suitable for them to make a country as they need. After that a word 'baru nah' finally changed to Brunei. The Brunei pronunciation was then mispronounce by Chinese and become Wen-lai or Bun-lai. European people pronounce it with the name Borneo based on the statement of J.N. Moor.
   
Area 3: This area displays the impression of Islam in Brunei. The existence of Stupa indicated that Brunei people adopted the Hinduism-Buddhism long time ago. Because it became accustomed for the missionaries of the religion whenever they stopped in certain places, they would build a stupa as a sign and make the local people aware of their arrival to spread the religion in that area.
The existence of tombstone of Pu' Kung Chih Mu, the tombstone of Rokayah binti Sultan Abdul Majid ibni Hasan ibni Muhammad Shah Al-Sultan, and the tombstone of Sayid Alwi Ba Faqih (Mufaqih) reflected about the coming of Islam in Brunei that was brought by the Muslim traders and missionaries, until the influence of Islam attracted the local people and the royal family of Brunei to embrace.
   
Area 4: The area exhibits the effect of goldern age of the Brunei Sultans and the coming of western people to Brunei. The materials such as copies of documents, manuscripts, letter of agreements, mandates, maps and tombstone objects are displayed in this area.
The materials display likes copies of laws documents, maps, pictures of Pedang Si Bongkok and objects of tombstone showing the splendor of Islamic Government in Brunei and its continuation with the great and grand empire of Brunei especially during the reign of Sultan Bolkiah until Sultan Muhammad Hasan.
The display pictures such as picture of pitis (coin) and tombstone objects represented the wisdom and the stablilise administration that bring the prosperity and pleasure to be experienced by all Brunei citizens and people during that time.
Materials such as tombstone objects, pictures, copies of agreement letters, mandates and pitis (coin) can give information about the coming of western people to Brunei and the effect of the involvement of western people in Brunei.
   
 
Area 5: This area exhibits the developing period of Brunei and Brunei independence era.
Apart from the above mention exhibition, it also display (in area 2 & 3) the genealogy of the Brunei Sultans and their relation with the Kings of Malay Kingdom. They also display the genealogy of Sultan Sharif Ali, a replica of Patrana (name of the throne) and pictures of historical events in Lapau Lama builiding.
Visiting Hours

Entrance is free:

Monday-Thursday & Saturday:
9.00 am to 12.00 noon
1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Close:
Friday & Sunday and Public Holiday