Folklore in Indonesia

By Hanatya Mandarani Desideria

This book is rich with stories of folklore in Indonesia. Instead of describing a single form in the presentation, it comprises variations in histories, tales, rituals, figures, places, living myths, legends, and many more from diverse areas where the authors came from. To some extent, those demonstrate how the world would work in some places and may be a way of life to some individuals or groups in contemporary culture. Taking the choice of not following any of the norms or regulations found in the stories, can work as well for today’s generation. However, by recognizing, reading, or listening to stories, we get pulled into a point to realize that life can be rich and fulfilling. More importantly, this folklore book appears to represent Indonesia.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Garudhawaca
• Release date: Dec 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9786236521960

Hanatya Mandarani Desideria

Student of Vocational School, University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Book preview

We are grateful to the Lord the Almighty for giving us health, protection, and strength that we are alive, and given the opportunities to be productive during this pandemic. This folklore book project of Indonesian Cross-cultural Communication Course, Bachelor of Applied English Study Program, the Department of Foreign Language, Arts and Culture Management, Vocational College Universitas Gadjah Mada, would not be possible without the care of the following individuals. We would like to extend our appreciation and thankfulness to:

Our families for being with us and for their constant support.

Vocational College Universitas Gadjah Mada for the support so that we could publish this book.

Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati, M.Pd, the Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Arts and Culture Management, Vocational College for her constant support towards the lecturer and the students in making positive achievements.

Erlin Estiana Yuanti, MA, the Head of the Bachelor of Applied English Study Program for her assistance in the production process.

Our editors: Ms. Harriet Crisp, MA, Ms. Gladhys Elliona Syahutari, Mr. Bartoldus Sora Leba, M.Hum and Ms. Germana Oreng Ritan, M.Pd for your generous efforts during editing process.

Dr. Eddy Pursubaryanto, M.Hum for sharing and exchanging ideas on folklore.

Performing Arts and Visual Arts Studies UGM, Center for Religious and Cross-cultural Studies UGM, and Institut Keguruan dan Teknologi Larantuka for supporting this book project.

Aris Damar, the staff of DBSMB SV UGM for the assistance given to this project.

Ahmad Jalidu dan Garudhawaca Printing House for the assistance in publishing this book.

Yogyakarta, September 2021

The Authors

PREFACE

The authors of the essays in this book, the students of Indonesian Cross-cultural Communication, Bachelor of Applied English Study Program, have undergone series of experience in life. They also have worked with peers and lecturers to discuss many issues in this class, and one of them is folklore.

Folklore expresses people's culture and heritage. It helps define our ethnic and cultural identities. While some argue that online and digitalization may endanger folklore in some ways, online and digital skills have enabled better folklores retold and recreated for business and or entertainment. New media are used both for serious business and for entertainment, as well as for sharing personal opinions and emotions. In this case, folklore benefits from this too.

This book is presented as a global folklore voyage, not only through retelling the traditional existing folklores, but also through collecting folklores. This book feeds curiosity of the world of folklore, which forms a major part of our collective cross-culture class outputs.

Yogyakarta, 19 September 2021

Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Arts and Culture Management, Vocational College, Universitas Gadjah Mada

Dr. Endang Soelistiyowati, M.Pd

EDITOR’S FOREWORD

Living stories have the power to manipulate our psychology. Happiness, fear, concern, astonishment, doubts, sadness, pride, grief, pressure, hope, excitement, triumph, moral or curiosity are among the sentiments the stories would tell through the plot and messages. And when receiving and absorbing stories, we might come up with emotions. Moreover, if the stories are associated with sacredness or festive events. In addition to that, how life cycles are either celebrated or remembered would give a glimpse of awe, not only upon those who were performing the rituals but also those who came as an audience. 

In stories, not only human beings that are depicted, the environment including animals and the invisibles are also there taking the parts. Hence, stories are not just tales for children. They describe people, places, and conducts that we may have encountered. It is just amazing to know others through stories. Somehow the stories have lived and worked on the various societies and areas. Still, they may share similar meanings and values as there are lessons to learn about life, and about giving and receiving. Philosophical understandings also live within stories that provide spaces for those who believe and would take them to lead their path in living their everyday life. And learning about others gives our selves an opportunity to reflect how we experience our life at the end.  

This book is rich with stories of folklore in Indonesia. Instead of describing a single form in the presentation, it comprises variations in histories, tales, rituals, figures, places, living myths, legends, and many more from diverse areas where the authors came from. To some extent, those demonstrate how the world would work in some places and may be a way of life to some individuals or groups in contemporary culture. Taking the choice of not following any of the norms or regulations found in the stories, can work as well for today’s generation. However, by recognizing, reading, or listening to stories, we get pulled into a point to realize that life can be rich and fulfilling. More importantly, this folklore book appears to represent Indonesia.

Yogyakarta, September 2021

The Editors

Daftar Isi

Acknowledgements

Preface

Editor’s Forerword

Introduction

Part 1. Figures

Ki Ageng Mangir

The Keraton Kartasura, A Witness to The Hatred Between Brothers

Sunan Pandanaran and The Origin of Wedi

Part 2. Stories of Cities

Madioen, Madiun, Hantu Berayun

The Unpredictable Story of The Beginning of Muntilan

The History of Banjarnegara

The History of Jumprit

The History of Kampung Vietnam on Galang Island

Part 3. Folk Tales

The Tale of Ikan Larangan Sungai Janiah

Sarip Tambak Oso, Si Pitung from Sidoarjo

Sungai Jodoh : The Matchmaking River

The Story of Pasirluhur

The Prohibition of Green Clothes on the South Coast

Part 4. Origins

The Story of Gendruwo Village

The Legend of Jatijajar Cave

The Legend if Candhi Pari and Candhi Sumur ; Candhi Lanang and Candhi Wadon

Legend of White Crocodile in Bekasi River

The Legend of Golan and Mirah in Ponorogo

Part 5. Sacred Places

The Myth of Ketonggo Srigati Forest

The Myth of Tunggu Wulung

Belik Pitu Sacred Springs in Onje Village

Part 6. Rituals

The Saparan Event in Ambarketawang, Gamping

Laku Tapa Bisu : The Silent Walk in the Eve of Satu Sura

Gecok Pitik Crancam Terong Giling Pitu

Ratu Kalinyamat and Jembul Tulakan Ritual

Prohibition of Getting Married in The Moth of Suro

Part 7. Urban Legends

Masangin : Make Your Wish Come True

Palbapang Crossroad

The Myth of Tanjakan Gombel

Pulung Gantung

The Mysteri of Casablanca Tunnel

The Editors

INTRODUCTION

Dewi Cahya Ambarwati

Teaching Folklore

Folklore has been one of the class topics in the English Study Program for Diploma students since 2013 for second year students. I incorporated this topic part of a Cross-culture Understanding. I was not very thorough in teaching the topic in terms of the studies because the nature of the college was vocational. However, I managed to focus on the documentation of folklore for more vocational aspects. The title was Folklore and How to Document Folklore. In this meeting, we discussed mini research on a form of folklore. By their study in this program the students were required to produce a graduating paper and pass the defense exam. Thus, this folklore research provided a small training for the long-term goals. Most of the students chose to take cultural phenomena as their focus of research eventually. 

In class, although being limited by 100 minute-teaching durations, I talked about how to make research questions. Addressing more on why and how after what would prolong the discussion and obtain more information. Also, it was necessary to stimulate the students towards the question of Do you know what you are doing? when starting the preliminary exploration of the phenomena they would observe and when they were conducting a field observation. I truly thanked Mark Woodward from Arizona State University, USA for this when he was supervising my study back then in 2011-2012. This also included the item of how to select a case or a subject or a focus of research. We started from the cultural traits in the areas where the students came from. 

The discussion continued about the methods. I shared about how to undertake direct observation, participant observation, interviews, field notes,