Wayang Kulit, A Cultural History Of Puppets From Java

Wayang Kulit, An Arts Culture That Is Full Of The Javanese Philosophy

The art of shadow wayang was one of the original art and culture of Indonesia, particularly in the areas of Java, the most prominent. Wayang culture include acting, voice, music, art, literary arts, said art painting, sculpture, and art philosophy of living. Wayang culture, evolving from era to era, is also the media light, religious teachings, education, entertainment, understanding of the philosophy, as well as entertainment.

The performances of the wayang kulit, the Javanese culture, Indonesia

The presence of wayangs already centuries before Hinduism came to the island of Java. Although the story of the wayang, are adaptations of literary works of India, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Both parents the story, many experienced wayang story changes and additions to the original philosophical was matched with Indonesia.

Adjustments to the concept of philosophy is also concerned at the philosophical view of the Javanese community, against the position of the gods in the wayang. The gods in the wayang no longer is something that is free of fault, but rather God's creatures as well as other, sometimes acting wrongly, and it could be momentarily led astray. The presence of the wayang, the Punakawan series deliberately created the directory of Indonesia (Javanese cultural observers to be exact), to strengthen the concept of philosophy, that in this world there is no creature that is really good, and really bad. Every creature always bore the elements of good and evil.

The Origins Of Wayang Kulit

About the origin of this wayang, in the world there are two opinions. First, the opinion that the wayang originated and first born on the island of Java, in East Java. This opinion is also held and expressed by researchers and historians of Indonesia, also the results of the study of Western scholars. Among the Western scholars who belong to this group, is Rentse, Brandes, Kats, Hazeau, and Kruyt.

The Dalang is playing wayang kulit performances

Their reasons are strong enough. Among other things, that the wayang art is still very closely related to the State's social and religious culture of Indonesia, particularly Java. The most important figures in the punakawan series, wayang, i.e. Semar, Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong, there is only a wayang in Indonesia, and not in other countries. In addition, the names and technical terms wayang, are all derived from the Java language (Old Javanese language), and not other languages.

Meanwhile, a second opinion suspected wayang originated from India, who brought along with the Hindu religion into Indonesia. They include Pischel, Hidding, chrome, Poensen, Goslings, and Rassers. The majority of the second group are the United Kingdom, European Affairs scholar ever to invade India.

However, since the 1950s, books about wayangs, seems to have agreed that the wayangs were indeed stemming from Java, and not imported from other countries. Wayang culture is thought to have been born in Indonesia at least in the reign of King Airlangga, the King of Kahuripan (976-1012). That is when the Kingdom in East Java that is being managed. A literary work into a wayang story material already written by the Bard Indonesia, since X. among other things, a literary manuscript book of Ramayana Kakawin, in old Javanese written during the reign of King Balitung (989-910), which is the adjustment from the book of the Ramayana by India, the poet Valmiki.

Furthermore, the Bard of Java is no longer just translated the Ramayana and Mahabharata, into old Javanese, but adapted and retold by incorporating the philosophy of Java in it. For example, the works of masters of the Kakawin Arjunawiwaha Kanwa, the adjustments which confers a benefit on a book of the Mahabharata. Other more noticeable adjustment is the difference with the original version of the story of India, is the commencement of work by masters of Baratayuda 4th Masters Panuluh. This great work was done during the reign of Lord Jayabaya, King of Kediri (1130-1160).

Some of the Wayang Kulit characters

Is a wayang show and spectacle that has already started there since the reign of King Airlangga. The inscriptions were made at that time among other things already mentioned the words "the mawa" and ' aringgit ' meaning is a wayang show.

The word ' wayang ' is thought to derive from the word ' wewayangan ', which means shadow. This corresponds to the fact alleged in the Wayang Kulit uses fewer than the screen, that is a piece of cloth, as a delimiter between the wayangeer who plays wayang, with the audience, who are behind the screen of it. The audience only sees the wayang movements through the shadows on the screen. At that time it served as the wayang only accompanied by a gamelan, consisting of a simple, saron, todung (a type of flute), and the kemanak. Other types of gamelan and pesinden at that time supposedly does not exist.

To further add to the philosophy of Java on a cultural wayang, since the early days of the Majapahit Kingdom introduced the story of another wayang not sourced on the book of the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Since then the story story Banners; the story of the ancestor of the Kings of Majapahit, was initiated as one form of another wayang. Panji story was then more widely used for Wayang Beber. Javanese tradition of giving philosophy on shadow wayangs, also passed by some Islamic scholars, among them by the Trustees of Sanga. They start using wayangs on the acts of the King of Majapahit, the story of which Damarwulan.

The inclusion of Islam into Indonesia since the 15th century also gives big influence on culture wayangs, especially on the religious concept of the philosophy of the wayang. At the beginning of the 15th century, the era of the Kingdom of Demak, began to use oil lamps in the shape of a special called, served the blencong Wayang Kulit.

Since the days of Kartasura, adjustment of wayang stories which confers a benefit on the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics vanishingly distant from the original. Since the time that the community knows the wayang wayang lineage, including figures incorporated, which originated from the Prophet Adam. The Sisilah continues until it came to the Kings in Java. And Furthermore, is best known as an existing wayang stories. the standard story, and the story line of the outside carangan wayang standard. In addition there is still more that called the play a splinter, which was too far out of the existing story.

Some of the singer (sinden) in wayang kulit performances

Indeed, because it's so tight the wayang art is rooted in the culture of the peoples of Indonesia, so there was some confusion between a wayang stories, legends and history. If people think that the story of India as well as Mahabharata Ramayana really happened in his country, the Javanese wayang story assumes absolutely ever occurred on the island of Java.

And in the area of Kulon Progo Yogyakarta, wayangs are still highly sought after by all walks of life. Not only by parents, but also older children, even young children have also been commonly seen wayang show. In addition, the wayang also commonly in use in certain events in the area of Kulon progo, both in areas of the city or in the corners of Wates in Kulonprogo.

Shadow wayangs is a traditional art that flourished in Indonesia, especially Java. Wayang is derived from the word Ma Hyang, meaning to the one true God,. Leather wayang show performed by a wayangeer who is also the narrator of wayang characters dialogue, accompanied by gamelan music played a bunch of nayaga, and the song was sung by the pesinden. Play wayang kulit dalang behind the screen, the screen is made of white cloth, while behind him glowing electric lamp or an oil lamp (blencong), so that the audience is on the other side of the screen can see shadow wayangs fall to the screen. To be able to understand the story of wayangs (play), the audience should have the knowledge of the wayang figures his shadow appears on the screen.

In general the wayangs take the story of the Mahabharata and Ramayana, but is not restricted to the existing (standard), the storyteller can also play the story carangan. Some of the stories are taken from the Banner story.

Wayang kulit performances have been recognized by UNESCO on November 7, 2003, as an amazing cultural works in the field of narrative story and the beautiful and precious heritage (a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity). Shadow wayangs are more popular in Central and eastern part of Java.