Myth of Marriage between Sundanese and Javanese

A prohibition of marriage between Sundanese and Javanese is still heard up to the present. Why such a prohibition happens in our community? It is said that the marriage age between Sundanese and Javanese will not last very long. The reason is that when there is a marriage between Sundanese and Javanese, a disaster may happen. For instance, one of the couple will die. Another reason is that Javanese culture is older than Sundanese. So, a Sundanese man can not marry a Javanese woman. There is also another point of view, the characteristic of Sundanese differ widely from a Javane. The Sundanese are known for their extravagant way of life while the Javanese characterized by their low profile, acceptable and willing to work hard. The belief or myth is still used by some of our community. The origin of the myth may be traced back to or related to the story of Bubat War which is known as Kidung Sindanglaya by the Sundanese.

Long ago when the Chief Minister of Majapahit Kingdom named Gajah Mada took the oath to unite kingdoms in Indonesian archipelago. His oath was known as Palapa Oath. He succeeded to unite the kingdoms but there was a kingdom which was not united yet, that was KingdomKahuripan (Land of Pasundan).. Even Majapahit Kingdom was famous and had reach prosperity with Gajah Mada as the chief minister, King of Majapahit, Hayam Wuruk had not get a first wife (consort of king). It was said that Hayam Wuruk fell in love with a Sundanese Princess, Dyah Pitaloka Citrasemi. Anepaken, a high ranking court servant of Majapahit Kingdom was sent to meet Dyah Pitaloka Citrasemi and his father, King of Pasundan. They agreed to talk the matter. Dyah Pitaloka Citrasemi and his father soon go to Majapahit Kingdom.On their way to Majapahit, the father of Dyah Pitaloka Citrasemi caught a bad sign, but he and his group continued to take the trip. At last, the group of Sunda Kingdom reached a village, called Bubat and was received by Gajah mada group. But, when the group of Sunda Kingdom met Majapahit, there was a misunderstanding. King of Pasundan had an opinion that his daughter would marry the King of Majapahit, but Gajah mada had an opinion that King of Pasundan deliberately gave his daughter as gift for political reason. The misunderstanding caused war between the two groups. King of Pasundan was killed in the war. Dyah Pitaloka Citrasemi, seeing her father was killed became sorrow and she ended her life. King Hayam Wuruk, was deeply in love with Dyah Pitaloka and he died a few years later without having first wife.

Nyi Roro Kidul, the Queen of the South Sea

The story of the queen of the South Sea, known as Nyi Roro Kidul, is very familiar amongst the people in Yogyakarta and Surakarta, Central Java and is also known in East and West Java. In Yogyakarta, the story is always connected to the story of Mataram’s kings. While in Ngliyep Coast, South of Malang, East Java, Nyi Roro Kidul is called Kanjeng Ratu Kidul. In Ngliyep Coast, a traditional ceremony, called Labuhan, is often held. The ceremony is a dedication to Kanjeng Roro Kidul for her help in raising wealth for the people there. The myth connected to Nyi Roro Kidul is that a prohibition to wear green colored clothing in the coast. Those who wear green colored clothing will be fetched by the queen and taken into the bottom of the sea and they will never be brought back to the land. Another myth is that hotels in the coastal area of the South Sea provide a room decorated in green color which is dedicated to the queen of the South Sea.

The story related to Nyi Roro Kidul is as follows: Nyi Roro Kidul was a beautiful queen and she was like a fairy. Her beauty was never faded away all along the age. In the bottom of the South Sea, or nowadays called Indian Ocean – in the south of Java Island, she reigned a big and beautiful kingdom inhibited by supernatural creatures. In the beginning, the Queen of the South Sea was a beautiful young woman, named Kadita. Due to her beauty she was also known as Dewi Srengenge, which meant sweet goddess of the Sun. Kadita was a daughter of King Munding Wangi. Even Kadita was very beautiful, the King was sorrowful, because he did not have a son to be the crown prince as his successor. Then, the King married to Dewi Mutiara and he got a son from her. Dewi Mutiara, the king’s concubine asked some requests that her son to be the successor of the king. The second request was that Kadita should be thrown away the king’s palace. The first request was agreed but the king did not agree with the second request to drive away Kadita from the palace. The King was angry and he said, “This is far too much. I will not agree with your shameful request.” Listening to such an answer, Dewi Mutiara even smiled sweetly, so the king’s angry slowly subsided. But, still the king’s concubine hid her burning revenge.

The following days, in the early morning, Dewi Mutiara sent a nursemaid to fetch a witch craft. He asked the witch that Kadita should be ruined using magic. She ordered, “Make her body full of scabies. If you succeed, you will get big reward.” The Witch promised to do that. In the following night, when Kadita was sound asleep, the gentle wind came into her room. The wind brought bad odor, like the smell of a rotten body. When Kadita was awake, she cried out. Her body was covered inhibited with scabies, and was suppurated and badly smell.

When the King Munding Wangi heard the news the following morning, he was very sorrowful. He knew that his daughter’s illness was uncommon, but the victim of a witch. The King presumed and was sure that it was Dewi Mutiara’s plan. But, he could do nothing, how to prove it? In a heavy dizziness, he should make a decision.
What to do with Kadita. On his chief minister’s request, the king’s daughter should be thrown away in order not to bring disgrace.
So, Kadita leaf the palace by her own self, like a beggar, thrown out from her parent’s house. She was sorrowful. Her tear fell down. But, she still belief that the creator would not let It’s creature tortured by others. The Creator’s help would surely come. So, as her late grandmother told her that she should not take revenge and hate those who hate her.

Days and nights she walked and it was already seven days and seven nights. Lastly she arrived at the coast of the South Sea. Then, she stood by the sea and looked at the wide sea. As if, she heard a voice calling her that she should went into the sea. She followed the call and when she touched the sea water. Suddenly her scabies body recovered. Her beauty was back as before. Then she had a mythical power to reign the South Sea and its content. She established a new big kingdom where she was the queen, Queen of the South Sea.

Kian Santang, Sundanese myth

Kian Santang was a son of King Siliwangi, a Kingdom in West Java. He had a supernatural power so he could not be defeated by anyone. It was said that he looked for a rival who could wound him so he could see his own blood. He was advised to meditate in Ujung Kulon to get an answer. In his meditation he heard a voice that he should go to the west direction. He made a journey to the west and arrived in Arabia land. There, he met an old man whom he later knew him as His majesty Ali, the follower of the Prophet Muhammad. The old man was willing to confront Kian Santang with whom he was looking for all this time.

On their way, the old man asked Kian Santang to take his walking stick which was accidentally left behind. Kian Santang went to fetch the stick, which was planted in the sand, but the stick could not be lifted up, though he had used all his power. The old man came to his side, and he easily took the stick out. Kian Santang was aware that the old man was the follower of a man whom he was looking for, the prophet Muhammad. He recognized that the old man was very strong and robust. Then, he thought that the man he was looking for might be more powerful than the old man. Kian Santang acknowledged the superiority of the old man. He asked God for forgiveness and became a Moslem. Then, he was back to his country and taught Islam to his people. Kian Santang got Islamic teaching from the prophet himself, and he also participated in erecting one of the mosque’s pole in Mecca.

Indonesian Journal for Art, Literature and History

Arsitektur | sea | 720

Arsitektura | sea | 720

Diakronik | sea | 959

Diakronika | sea | 900

Dewa Ruci |sea | 700

Dimensi | sea | 700

Dimensi Interior | sea | 720

Dinamika Kerajinan dan Batik | n.a. | 740

2d3d | sea | 740

Forum Geografi | sea | 910

Fortius | sea | 796

GEA | sea | 910

Idea | sea | 740

Imaji | sea | 700

Indonesian Journal of Geography | sea | 910

Journal of Architecture <&=and>Environment | sea | 720

Jurnal Geografi | sea | 910

Jurnal Penelitian STSI Padang panjang | sea | 700

Jurnal Sastra Jepang | sea | 895.6

Jurnal Spatial | n.a. | 910

Keteg | sea | 781.23

Kilas | sea | 720

LaGeografia | sea | 959

Literarate | n.a. | 800

Madaniya | sea | 800

Majalah Geografi Indonesia | sea | 910

Mudra | n.a. | 700

Nalars | sea | 720

Natah | sea | 720

Nirmana | sea | 740

Padma | 3/year | 700

Patra Widya | 3/yr \ 900

Pelangi Sastra | sea | 899

Prasasti | qua | 800

Ruas | sea | 720

Sinektika | sea | 720

Somba Opu | sea | 959.8

Tamaddun | sea | 892

Tekstual | sea | 800

Tonil | 3/yr | 792

Uvula | qua | 800

Wacana Seni Rupa | n.a. | 740

Burung Sikatan

Kampung Dua Ratus Bekasi pada tahun 70-an masih banyak terdapat kebun-kebun tanaman keras, seperti Durian, Kecapi, rambutan, nangka, jambu, bambu, dll. Pada siang hari banyak burung sikatan, terbang melayang dari pohon ke pohon dan turun ke tanah. Entah apa yang dicari. Mungkin serangga atau binatang-binatang kecil yang menjadi makanannya. Ekor burung sikatan biasa terbentang seperti kipas dan selalu bergerak-gerakan. Burung itu sebesar tekukur, berwarna abu-abu kehitam-hitaman. Agak gesit, kalau kita mendekat, ia segera terbang. Ada lagi binatang tonggeret, suaranya nyaring, bersahut-sahutan dan riuh.

Story of Copper Marsh

Located in Bekasi regency on the eastern side of Jakarta.
Copper Marsh (local name: Rawa Tembaga) was very large and well known with its myths. A railway was constructed over the marsh. When we were on our travel from Krawang regency to Jatinegara, we would cross the marsh with its clear water. Lotus plants growing here and there added to the beauty of the scene. On early evening, the sun set just in the end of Copper Marsh, reflecting the early evening sun light coloring red copper. The scenery was enchanting for the tourists traveling above the Copper Marsh. The name of Copper Marsh came from the myth: a big ship carrying an abundance of copper. The ship wrecked and went into the bottom of the marsh. Then, people tried to search for the copper from the ship. When they found strips of copper and tried pulling out them, the strips was never broken off. Last, they did not dare to take out the copper from the marsh.
Another myth: The large area of Copper Marsh was occupied by supernatural creatures. The creature was not higher than an elder man’s upper thigh. The creature was like a small child with its bald head, bloated stomach, small and thin legs and hands.

Copper Marsh is now only a name for place, a sweet memory for the elder people of the past. The area has now changed into housing estate, a sport building, and other buildings.

Seni Ketangkasan Ujungan

Ujungan merupakan seni permainan ketangkasan di Kabupaten Bekasi. Permainan dilakukan oleh dua orang laki-laki yang saling berhadap-hadapan sebagai lawan. Kedua orang itu masing-masing memegang sebatang rotan yang panjangnya kurang lebih 60 cm dan garistengahnya 1,5 sentimeter. Kedua orang tersebut memukulkan tongkat rotannya masing-masing ke kaki lawannya. Bagian yang boleh dipukul ialah dari lutut ke bawah. Permainan tersebut diiringi musik tradisional. Ketika musik berbunyi seorang pemain akan tampil di arena ujungan sambil menari-nari seperti pemain pencak silat. Pemain tersebut menantang orang-orang berada di sekitar arena permainan. Jika tidak ada penantang yang muncul orang tersebut akan ke luar arena. Musik pun terus berbunyi, kemudian muncul pemain baru sambil menantang orang-orang di sekitar arena. Jika ada orang masuk ke arena atau sebagai penantang maka permainan ujungan dimulai. Permainan tersebut diawasi seorang wasit yang dipanggil bobotoh. Permainan selesai jika ada salah satu orang yang menyerah dan lari keluar arena. Ujungan biasanya dilakukan setelah melakukan panen padi dan tempatnya di sawah, kadang-kadang juga pada acara-acara hari besar.