Javanese People

Javanese people are an ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Java. At approximately 100 million people (as of 2011), they form the largest ethnic group in Indonesia. They are predominantly located in the central to eastern parts of the island. There are also significant numbers of people of Javanese descent in most Provinces of Indonesia, Malaysia, Suriname, South Africa and the Netherlands.

Ethnic Javanese has many sub-ethnic such as Mataram, Cirebonese, Osing, Tenggerese, Boyanese, Samin, Naganese, Banyumasan, etc. Today the majority of the Javanese people identify themselves as Muslims, with a minority identifying as Christians and Hindus, but because Javanese civilization has been influenced by more than a millennium of interactions between the native animism Kejawen and the Indian Hindu—Buddhist culture, the influence is still visible in Javanese history, culture, traditions and art forms.

Social Structure

Javanese priyayi and servants, c. 1865. The American anthropologist Clifford Geertz in the 1960s divided the Javanese community into three aliran or "streams": santri, abangan and priyayi. According to him, the Santri followed an orthodox interpretation Islam, the abangan was the followed a syncretic form of Islam that mixed Hindu and animist elements (often termed Kejawen), and the priyayi was the nobility.

But today the Geertz opinion is often opposed because he mixed the social groups with belief groups. It was also difficult to apply this social categorisation in classing outsiders, for example other non-indigenous Indonesians such as persons of Arab, Chinese and Indian descent. Social stratification is much less rigid in northern coast area, which is much more egalitarian.

Ancient Javanese kingdoms

The Prambanan temple complex, built during Mataram kingdom. Hindu and Buddhist influences arrived through trade contacts with the Indian subcontinent. Hindu and Buddhist proselytizers arrived in the 5th century. The Hindu, Buddhist and Javanese faiths blended into a unique local philosophy.

The cradle of Javanese culture is commonly described as being in Kedu and Kewu Plain in the fertile slopes of Mount Merapi as the heart of the Medang i Bhumi Mataram kingdom. Earliest dynasties, Sanjaya and Sailendra has their power base there.

Center of Javanese culture and politics was moved to eastern part of the island when Mpu Sindok (r. 929-947) moved the capital of the kingdoms eastward to the valleys of Brantas River in the 10th century CE. The move was most likely caused by volcanic eruption of Merapi and/or invasion from Srivijaya.

The major spread of Javanese influence occurred under King Kertanegara of Singhasari in late 13th century. The expansionist king launched major expeditions to Madura, Bali in 1284, Borneo and most importantly to Sumatra in 1275. Following the defeat of Melayu Kingdom, Singhasari controlled trade in the Strait of Malacca.

Singhasari dominance was cut short in 1292 by Kediri's rebellion under Jayakatwang, killing Kertanegara. However, Jayakatwang reign as king of Java soon ended as he was defeated by Kertanegara's son-in-law, Raden Wijaya with the help of invading Mongol troops in March 1293.

Raden Wijaya would later established Majapahit near the delta of Brantas River in modern-day Mojokerto, East Java. Kertanegara policies would later be continued by the Majapahits under King Hayam Wuruk and his minister Gajah Mada.

Kingdoms of Java actively involved in spice trade in the sea route of Silk Road. Although not a major spice producer itself, they were able to stockpile spice by trading it with rice, of which Java was a major producer.  Majapahit is usually regarded as the greatest of these kingdoms. It was both an agrarian and a maritime power, combining wet-rice cultivation and foreign trade. The ruin of their capital can be found in Trowulan.

Javanese Sultanates

Sultan Amangkurat II of Mataram (upper right) watching warlord Untung Surapati fighting Captain Tack of the Dutch East India Company (VOC). ca 1684 AD. Islam gained its foothold in port towns on Java northern coast such as Gresik, Ampel Denta (Surabaya), Tuban, Demak and Kudus. The spread and proselytizing of Islam among Javanese people was traditionally credited to Wali Songo.

Following succession disputes and civil wars, Majapahit power collapsed. Java underwent major changes as Islam spread. After the collapse of Majapahit, its various dependencies and vassals broke free. Sultanate of Demak became the new strongest power, gaining supremacy among city-states on the northern coast of Java. Apart from Javanese city-states, it also gained overlordship of ports of Jambi and Palembang in eastern Sumatra. Demak played major role opposing the newly arrived colonial power, the Portuguese. Demak twice attacked the Portuguese following their capture of Malacca. They also attacked alliance between Portuguese and the Sunda Kingdom, establishing in process the Sultanate of Banten.

Demak was succeeded by Kingdom of Pajang and finally Sultanate of Mataram. The center power moved from coastal Demak, to Pajang in Blora, and later further inland to Mataram lands in Kotagede near present day Yogyakarta. Mataram Sultanate reach its peak of power and influence during the reign of Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo in 1613-1645.

Read more »

Baduy from Banten

Baduy is one of the original tribes of Banten Province. The Baduy tribe population numbers approximately 5000-8000 people. The dwelling of Baduy Tribe are in the Kendeng mountains Kanekes village, District Leuwidamar, district-Rangkasbitung, Lebak, Banten, is about 40 km from the town of Rangkasbitung. Baduy tribe territory itself is divided into two areas namely Inner Baduy tribe and Outer Baduy tribe. The Inner Baduy tribe who actually still maintain traditions while the Outer Baduy tribe Baduy tribe who had mingled with the surrounding community.

Ethnically the Baduys belong to the Sundanese ethnic group. Their racial, physical and linguistic traits bear much resemblance to the rest of the Sundanese people; however, the difference is in their way of life. Baduy people resist foreign influences and vigorously preserve their ancient way of life, while modern Sundanese are more open to foreign influences and a majority are Muslims.

The Baduy are divided into two sub-groups; the Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy), and the Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy). No foreigners were allowed to meet the Inner Baduy, though the Outer Baduy do foster some limited contacts with the outside world. The origin of the word Baduy may come from the term "Bedouin", although other sources claim the source is a name of a local rive

Religion and Beliefs

The religion of the Baduy is known as Agama Sunda Wiwitan, a combination of traditional beliefs and Hinduism. However, due to lack of interaction with the outside world, their religion is more related to Kejawen Animism, though they still retain many elements of Hindu-Buddhist religion influences, like the terms they use to define things and objects, and the rituals in their religious activities.

According to kokolot (elder) of Cikeusik village, Kanekes people is not adherent of Hinduism or Buddhism, they follow animism, the belief that venerated and worshiped the spirit of ancestors. However in its development this faith is influenced and incorporated Hindu, and to some extent, Islamic elements.

A certain amount of Islamic influence has also penetrated into the religion of a few of the Baduy Luar in recent years (especially in Cicakal Girang village), with some original ideas thrown in for good measure. The ultimate authority is vested in Gusti Nu Maha Suci, who according to the Baduy sent Adam into the world to lead the life of a Baduy.

The Baduy also observe many mystical taboos. They are forbidden to kill, steal, lie, commit adultery, get drunk, eat food at night, take any form of conveyance, wear flowers or perfumes, accept gold or silver, touch money, or cut their hair. Other taboos relate to defending Baduy lands against invasion: they may not grow sawah (wet rice), use fertilizers, raise cash crops, use modern tools for working ladang soil, or keep large domestic animals.

There is evidence that they were originally influenced by Hindu, but retain much of their native animism ancestral veneration beliefs. They have adopted this many centuries before foreign influence including Arab (Islam), European (Christianity) etc.

Social Classes

Generally, the Baduy are divided into two groups: The Baduy Dalam and The Baduy Luar. The community of villages in which they live are considered mandalas, derived from the Hindu/Buddhist concept but referring in the Indonesian context to places where religion is the central aspect of life.

The population of about 400 Baduy Dalam consists of 40 families Kajeroan who live in the three villages of Cibeo, Cikertawana, and Cikeusik in Tanah Larangan (forbidden territory) where no stranger is permitted to spend the night. They are probably the purest Baduy stock. The Dalam follow the rigid buyut taboo system very strictly,(see Religion and Beliefs for more information about their taboos) and thus they have made very few contacts with the outside world as they are considered as "People of the sacred inner circle". The Dalam are the only one of these two major clans that have the Pu'un, the spiritual priest of the Baduy. The Pu'un are the only people that visit the most hallowed and sacred ground of the Baduy which lies on Gunung Kendeng, in a place called Arca Domas. Unlike the Luar, the Dalams are hardly influenced by Islam.

The Baduy Luar make up the remainder of the Baduy population, living in 22 villages and acting as a barrier to stop visitors from entering the Sacred Inner circle. They do follow the rigid taboo system but not as strictly as the Dalam, and they are more willing to accept modern influence into their daily lives. For example, some Luar people now proudly sport the colorful sarongs and shirts favored by their Sundanese neighbours. In the past the Baduy Luar only wore only their homespun blue-black cloth, and were forbidden to wear trousers. Other elements of civilization (toys, money, batteries) are rapidly infiltrating especially in the villages to the north, and it is no longer unusual for an outer Baduy to make a journey to Jakarta, or even to work outside as a hired hand during the rice planting and reaping seasons. Some even work in big towns and cities like Jakarta, Bogor and Bandung. Animal meat is eaten in some of the outer villages where dogs are trained for hunting, though animal husbandry is still forbidden.

Read more »

Asmat People

Asmat comes from Papua Province. Asmat were among the tribes Mappi, Yohukimo and Jayawijaya between various tribes in the Papua island. As with other tribes that are in Papua island, there Asmat tribe who live in the coastal areas with the distance of 100 km to 300 km, even Asmat are located in the countryside, surrounded by heterogeneous forests containing rattan plants, wood (aloes) and tubers.

Asmat tribe scattered and inhabit around the coast of Arafuru sea and Jayawijaya mountains. In the

life of the Asmat, stones that we usually see on the street is very valuable to them. The residence of Asmat that shaped swamp making it very difficult to find stones. They use the stones to make axes, hammers, and so on. In fact, the stones can be used as a dowry. 

Asmat has a very simple way to make up themselves. they just need the red soil to produce a red color, to produce white color they use clamp shells that have been mashed. black color they produced from pulverized wood charcoal. How to use is very simple, by mixing the materials with a little water and dye then use to color the body.

Asmat traditional house known as the Jew, is a home designed for all activities that are traditional. For example, for a custom meeting, doing the work make noken (traditional bag Asmat), wood carving, and also the house of Bujang. Therefore, the ouse also called as a  Bujang house. This House is unique because it was made very long, even up to 50 meters. Because the Asmat are not familiar with the nails, they making the Jew house without nails.

There is another traditional house Asmat, Tysem. This house can also called as a family home, because that stay in this house are those who have married. Usually, there are 2 to 3 pairs of families who stay in Tysem. The size of Tysem is smaller than the Jew house. The location of the Tysem house usually around the house Jew. A Jew house normally surrounded about 15 to 20 Tysem houses.

In the Asmat tribe they also know spirits and magical power. Demons Life, Asmat people closely to the natur. They belief that the place where they life is inhabited by spirits, devils, which are all called with devil.

The devil classified into two categories: 

• The Satan life threatening. The Satan who is believed to endanger life by the Asmat as demons that threaten life and soul. Like the pregnant women devil who have died or demons that live in the beringin tree, the spirit that brought disease and disasters (Osbopan). 
• The Satan are not life threatening. The Satan in this category are considered by Asmat as the devil that does not endanger the life and soul of a person, just like to scare and disturb it. In addition, the Asmat also familiar to good spirits especially for his descendants., Which is derived from ancestral spirits known as yi-ow. 

Magical powers and magic. Asmat People also believe in the existence of magical powers that are mostly existence as a taboo. Many things done in a manner that abstinence doing everyday activities, such as in the case of collecting food such as sago, fishing, and hunting. This magical powers can also be used to find lost things, swag or show the thiefed goods. There is also the use of this magical power to dominate nature and brings out the wind, thunder, rain, and typhoons.

Read more »