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Folklore of Indonesia is known in
Indonesian as ''dongeng'' (), ''cerita rakyat'' () or ''folklor'' (), refer to any
folklore
Folklore is shared by a particular group of people; it encompasses the traditions common to that culture, subculture or group. This includes oral traditions such as tales, legends, proverbs and jokes. They include material culture, ranging ...
found in
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
. Its origins are probably an
oral culture
Oral tradition, or oral lore, is a form of human communication wherein knowledge, art, ideas and cultural material is received, preserved, and transmitted orally from one generation to another. Vansina, Jan: ''Oral Tradition as History'' (1985) ...
, with a range of stories of heroes associated with
wayang and other forms of theatre, transmitted outside of a written culture. Folklore in Indonesia are closely connected with
mythology
Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narra ...
.
Themes
Indonesian folklore reflects the diverse
culture of Indonesia
The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by long interaction between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is centrally-located along ancient trading routes between the Far East, South Asia and the Middle East, ...
as well as the diversity of
ethnic groups in Indonesia
There are 1,340 recognised ethnic groups in Indonesia. The vast majority of those belong to the Austronesian peoples.
Based on ethnic classification, the largest ethnic group in Indonesia is the Javanese who make up about 40% of the total pop ...
. Many ethnic groups have their own collection of tales and folklores that have been told for generations. The stories are usually told to children as bedtime stories, and have
pedagogical
Pedagogy (), most commonly understood as the approach to teaching, is the theory and practice of learning, and how this process influences, and is influenced by, the social, political and psychological development of learners. Pedagogy, taken as ...
values such as kindness, benevolence, modesty, honesty, bravery, patience, persistence, virtue, and
morality
Morality () is the differentiation of intentions, decisions and actions between those that are distinguished as proper (right) and those that are improper (wrong). Morality can be a body of standards or principles derived from a code of co ...
. For example, one popular theme is "the truth will always prevail, and evil will always be defeated."
While most Indonesian folkloric stories have happy endings and 'happily ever after' themes, some employ
tragedy
Tragedy (from the grc-gre, τραγῳδία, ''tragōidia'', ''tragōidia'') is a genre of drama based on human suffering and, mainly, the terrible or sorrowful events that befall a main character. Traditionally, the intention of tragedy ...
and have sad endings.
Forms
Most Indonesian folklore started as oral tradition told by storytellers and parents for generations within Indonesian villages. The stories were often sung or chanted in several oral traditions such as
pantun
''Pantun'' ( Jawi: ) is a Malay oral poetic form used to express intricate ideas and emotions. It is generally consists of even-numbered lines and based on ABAB rhyming schemes. The shortest consists of two lines better known as the in Mal ...
,
tembang, or children's chants. Some were performed in performing arts such as
wayang and sendratari (
dance drama). In Malay tradition, some of them are written in scripture as
hikayat, while in Javanese tradition, several stories are connected with historical figures and historical records such as
babad
Javanese literature has a very large historical component. In all sorts of texts, such as laudatory poems, chronicles, and travelogues, writers have interpreted the how and why of certain circumstances.
These texts are important for the knowl ...
or older
kakawin
Kakawin are long narrative poems composed in Old Javanese, also called "'' Kawi''", written in verse form with rhythms and meters derived from Sanskrit literature. Poets used a formalized literary language, rather than the vernacular. Poets c ...
scriptures such as
Pararaton
The Pararaton (''Book of Kings''), also known as the Katuturanira Ken Angrok (''Story of Ken Angrok''), is a Javanese historical chronicle written in Kawi (Old Javanese). The comparatively short text of 32 folio-size pages (1126 lines) contains ...
. Indian Hindu-Buddhist epics also influenced Indonesian folklore, especially through wayang and dance drama in Java and Bali. The Hindu epics the
Ramayana
The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th ...
and
Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit literature, Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the s ...
have become their own separate versions with Indonesian twists and interpretations that often differ from the Indian versions. The Buddhist
Jataka tales
The Jātakas (meaning "Birth Story", "related to a birth") are a voluminous body of literature native to India which mainly concern the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. According to Peter Skilling, this genre is ...
also has made its way into Indonesian fables and animal folklores. Jataka stories are found carved as narrative bas-reliefs on ancient Javanese
candis, such as the
Mendut
Mendut is a ninth-century Buddhist temple, located in Mendut village, Mungkid sub-district, Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. The temple is located about three kilometres east from Borobudur. Mendut, Borobudur and Pawon, all of which are ...
,
Borobudur
Borobudur, also transcribed Barabudur ( id, Candi Borobudur, jv, ꦕꦤ꧀ꦝꦶꦧꦫꦧꦸꦝꦸꦂ, Candhi Barabudhur) is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Magelang Regency, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indone ...
and
Sajiwan
Sojiwan ( Javanese orthography: Såjiwan, or sometimes spelled Sajiwan) is a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple located in Kebon Dalem Kidul village, Prambanan, Klaten Regency, Central Java. The temple is located nearly two kilometres southea ...
temples; telling animal fables about the virtues of Buddha, who performed exceptional acts of kindness in his animal incarnations before being reborn as a Boddhisattva and the future Buddha.
These stories have been collected and used in the
Indonesian education system, in small cheap books, usually tied in with a district or region of Indonesia. Many stories explain events or establish moral allegories using iconic or symbolic characters of the past. They also seek to explain the origins of names of people and places from
Folk etymology.
During the
Suharto era, there were sections of the Indonesian Department of Education and Culture that researched and wrote reports on collected ''cerita rakyat''.
List of Indonesian folklore
There are several genres of Indonesian folklore.
Tales
The story of the struggle of a common protagonist to finally achieve happiness despite facing many problems.
*
Ande Ande Lumut
*
Bawang Putih Bawang Merah
Bawang merah dan bawang putih ( Indonesian for Shallots and Garlic) is a popular traditional Malay and Indonesian folklore involving two siblings with opposite characters (one good and one bad), and an unjust step mother. The folktale has the simi ...
*
Jaka Tarub
*
Timun Mas
*
Roro Mendut
*
Putri Tangguk
*
Calon Arang
Calon Arang is a character in Javanese and Balinese folklore dating from the 12th century. Tradition calls her a witch, a master of black magic. It is unknown who composed the story, but a manuscript of the Calon Arang text (written in the Lati ...
Legends
The stories that try to explain the origins of certain places, names and/or things.
*
Aji Saka
*
Banyuwangi
Banyuwangi, previously known as Banjoewangi, is the administrative capital of Banyuwangi Regency at the far eastern end of the island of Java, Indonesia. It had a population of 106,000 at the 2010 Census and 117,558 at the 2020 Census.
The tow ...
*
Dewi Sri
Dewi Sri or Shridevi ( Javanese: ꦢꦺꦮꦶꦱꦿꦶ, Balinese: ᬤᬾᬯᬶᬲ᭄ᬭᬶ, Dewi Sri)( Sundanese: ᮑᮄ ᮕᮧᮠᮎᮤ ᮞᮀᮠᮡᮀ ᮃᮞᮢᮤ, Nyai Pohaci Sanghyang Asri) is the Javanese, Sundanese, and Balinese Hindu ...
*
Lanun
*
Legend of the Centipede Lake
*
Lutung Kasarung
*
Minangkabau Minangkabau may refer to:
* Minangkabau culture, culture of the Minangkabau people
* Minangkabau Culture Documentation and Information Center
* Minangkabau Express, an airport rail link service serving Minangkabau International Airport (''see belo ...
*
Malin Kundang
*
Parahyangan
Parahyangan ( su, ᮕᮛᮠᮡᮀᮠᮔ᮪; Bantenese: Priangan; Dutch: Preanger) is a cultural and mountainous region in West Java province on the Indonesian island of Java. Covering a little less than one sixth of Java, it is the heartla ...
*
Rara Jonggrang
*
Sangkuriang
*
Sulanjana
*
Watu Gunung Watu Gunung is a figure in the foundation mythology of the Indonesian island of Java (island), Java. He is a descendant of the gods, the son of King Palindriya of Gilingwesi and Sita, Dewi Sinta. One day, when he is very young, his mother scolds him ...
Epic
Heroic tales of struggles, battles and war. The story of a hero adventure and their exploits.
*
Ciung Wanara
*
Damarwulan
Damarwulan is a Javanese legendary hero who appears in a cycle of stories used in the performance of wayang klitik, as well as Langendriya (female dance-opera) and '' ketoprak'' (popular theater). These stories tell of the struggles between the ...
*
Dayang Bandir and Sandean Raja Dayang Bandir and Sandean Raja is Simalungun folklore that located at Sumatera Utara.Z. Pangaduan Lubis. 1996. Cerita Rakyat dari Simalungun (Sumatera Utara). Jakarta: Grasindo. Hlm 13. Dayang Bandir and Sandean Raja are brother and sister.Monika Cr ...
*
Ken Arok and Ken Dedes
*
Lutung Kasarung
*
Mundinglaya Dikusumah
*
Pangeran Katak
*
Panji Semirang
*
Siliwangi
*
Si Pitung
Si Pitung (Old spelling: Si Pitoeng; or sometimes written just Pitung) was a 19th-century bandit in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (modern-day Jakarta, Indonesia). His exploits have since become legendary, with numerous accounts of his life, deeds, an ...
Fable
Animal tales, featuring animals that behave like humans or interact and speak with humans.
*
Leungli
Leungli or Si Leungli is a tale from Sundanese folklore, of West Java, Indonesia. The folktale tells the story of a beautiful friendship between a poor girl and her magical pet goldfish named "Leungli", who helped and cheered her whenever her olde ...
*
Sang Kancil
*
Keong Emas
*
Cenderawasih
Myth
Witch, demon, spirit or
ghost tales, based on urban legends or supernatural phenomena.
*
Calon Arang
Calon Arang is a character in Javanese and Balinese folklore dating from the 12th century. Tradition calls her a witch, a master of black magic. It is unknown who composed the story, but a manuscript of the Calon Arang text (written in the Lati ...
*
Kuntilanak
The Kuntilanak (Indonesian name), also called Pontianak (Malay name), is a mythological creature in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. It is similar to Langsuir in other Southeast Asia regions. The Pontianak usually takes the form of a pregnant ...
*
Nyai Roro Kidul
''Kanjeng Ratu Kidul'' Sundanese: ᮑᮤ ᮛᮛ ᮊᮤᮓᮥᮜ᮪, Nyai Rara Kidul) ( Javanese: ꦚꦻꦫꦫꦏꦶꦢꦸꦭ꧀, Nyi Rara Kidul) ( Balinese: ᬜᬶᬭᭀᬭᭀᬓᬶᬤᬸᬮ᭄, Nyi Rara Kidul) is a supernatural being in In ...
*
Rangda
Rangda is the demon queen of the Leyaks in Bali, according to traditional Balinese mythology. Terrifying to behold, the child-eating Rangda leads an army of evil witches against the leader of the forces of good — Barong. The battle betw ...
*
Wewe Gombel
*
Sundel Bolong
*
Toyol A toyol or tuyul is an undead infant in Indonesian and Malay folklore. It appears in the mythology of Southeast Asia and is invoked as a helper by shamans ( dukun or bomoh) by the means of black magic. The creature is used to rob people of their r ...
By region
Folklore from Java
# Kalarahu
# Jaka Tarub and Nawangwulan
# Origin of the Name Banyuwangi
# Origin of the Kelud Mountain
# Origin of the Baturaden
# Bawang Putih and Bawah Merah
# Asal Mula Huruf Jawa/Aji Saka
# Si Wuragil
# Loro Jonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso
# Legend of Suronggotho
# Dewi Sri and Sedana
# Ande-Ande Lumur and Klenting Kuning
# Awan Wedus Gembel
Folklore from Bali
# Cupak ajak Gerantang
# I Belog Pengangon Bebek
# I Duma
# I Ketimun Mas
# I Lutung Teken I Kakua
# I Pucung
# Siap Selem
# I Sugih ajak I Tiwas
# Naga Besuki
# Ni Bawang Teken Ni Kesuna
# Calon Arang
Folklore from Sumatera
# Asal Mula Danau Laut Tawar
# Asal Mula Dana Si Losung dan Si Pinggan
# Asal Mula Sungai Ombilin dan Danau Singkar
# Asal Usul Silampari
# Buaya Perompak
# Hang Tuah
# Hikayat Keramat Bujang
# Kera Putih dan Tali Kapal
# Kisah Pohon Enau
# Legenda Batu Gantung
# Legenda Beru Ginting Sope Mbelin
# Legenda Danau Toba
# Legenda Ikan Patin
# Legenda Lau Kawar
# Legenda Mas Merah
# Legenda Namora Pande Bosi
# Legenda Pulau Kapal
# Legenda Putri Bidadari
# Legenda Putri Hijau
# Legenda Putri Nai Mangale
# Legenda Putri Runduk
# Legenda Putri Ular dari Simalungun
# Legenda Sampuraga
# Si Gale-Gale Legend
# Legenda Simardan
# Legenda si Lancang
#
Legenda Ular Kepala Tujuh
# Musang Berjanggut
# Pati Enggang dan Rio Brani
# Putri Pandan Berduri
# Dragon Princess
# Raja Pareeket
# Raja yang Culas
# Malin Kundang
# Si Miskin yang Tamak
# Si Pahit Lidah
# Si Sigarlaki dan si Limbat
# Sungai Jodoh
# Ting Gegenting
# Ular n'Daung
#The Legend Of The Origin Of The Silver Catfish
#Kisah Putri Ular
Folklore from Kalimantan
#
Legend of the Centipede Lake (''Legenda Danau Lipan'')
#
The Greedy Fisherman (''Asal Muasal Danau Kawat'')
Folklore from Papua
# Biwar the Dragon Slayer
# Kweiya
# The Story of the Caracal and the Quail
#
Watuwe the Mystic Crocodile
# The Origin of the Irian Island
Folklore from Sulawesi
#
The Origin of the Mermaid
# Legend of the La Dana and Buffalo
# La Upe and Stepmother
# Pakande the Grandmother
# Putri Tandampalik
# Sawerigading & We Tenriabeng
# Lamadukelleng the Crowned Prince
Folklore from Moluccas
# Nenek Luhu
# Batu Badaong
# Bulu Pamali
#
Suanggi
# Legenda Tanifai
# Buaya Tembaga
# Petualangan Empat Kapiten
# Batu Belah
# Asal Mula Telaga Biru
References
Further reading (in English)
*
Further reading (In Indonesian)
* Danandjaja, James (1992) ''Cerita Rakyat dar Jawa Tengah'' Jakarta: Grasindo.
* Setyawan, Dwianto (1992) ''Cerita Rakyat dari Jawa Timur'' Jakarta: Grasindo.
* Soemanto, Bakdi (1992) ''Cerita Rakyat dari Yogyakarta'' Jakarta: Grasindo.
* Soemanto, Bakdi (1995) ''Cerita Rakyat dari Yogyakarta 2 '' Jakarta: Grasindo.
* Soepanto, ed (1976) ''Ceritera Rakyat Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta'' Yogyakarta: Proyek Penelitian dan Pencatatan Kebudayaan Daerah.
External links
Folklore IndonesiaFolk Orientation in HalmaheraDedy Supriadi Adhur, ''Selling the Sea, Fishing for Power: A Study of Conflict Over Marine Tenure''
{{Asia in topic, Folklore of
Indonesian folklore
Indonesia
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
Folklore by region