Puppet (wayang) is the masterpieces of Indonesian
culture among many other exotic cultures. puppet show covering various arts,
such as acting, singing, music, speech arts, literary arts, painting,
sculpture, and art is also symbolic. Puppets, which continues to grow from
antiquity to the present, also a lighting media, propaganda, education,
entertainment, philosophical understanding and of course entertainment.
According to the research of the history, wayang
kulit is native culture of Indonesia, particularly in Java. Puppet existence
centuries before the Hindu religion into Java. Although a popular puppet story
in today's society is an adaptation of the works of Indian literature, the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both mother story then changes and additions to
fit the original philosophy of Indonesia.
This adjustment also involves the philosophical view
of Java against the gods in the puppet position. The gods in the puppet is no
longer something that is free from wrong, but like the other God's creatures,
sometimes acting wrong, and it could be a blunder. The presence punakawan (joker)
in puppet characters were created to
reinforce the concept of cultural Javanese philosophy that in this world there
is no creature that is really good, and really nasty. Every creature is always
bearing elements of good and evil.
Punokawan
Dutch cultural
historian Dr. GA.J. Hazeau said that the puppet is a native Java performance.
Understanding puppet in the dissertation Dr. Hazeau it is walulang inukir
(carved leather) and seen its shadow on the screen. Thus, the question of
course is Wayang kulit as we know it
today.
Origin of a Wayang
There are two opinions on the origins of wayang kulit
. First, puppets originated and was first born on the island of Java, precisely
in East Java. This opinion than embraced and advanced by researchers and
experts in the nation of Indonesia, also the research scholars of the West.
Among Western scholars belonging to this group, is Hazeau, Brandes, Kats,
Rentse, and Kruyt.
The reason they are strong enough. Among other
things, that the art of wayang kulit is still closely related to sociocultural
and religious state of the Indonesian people, especially the Javanese.
Punakawan, the most important figures in the puppet, that are Semar, Gareng,
Petruk, Bagong, are only the Indonesian wayang, and not in other countries. In
addition, names and technical terms puppet, all derived from the Old Javanese
language, and not the other languages.
gareng
Meanwhile, a second opinion suspected puppets from
India, brought together by the Hindu religion to Indonesia. They include
Pischel, Hidding, Krom, Poensen, Goslings, and Rassers. Most of this second
group is the British scholar, the European country that once colonized India. However,
since the 1950s, the books seemed to have agreed that the puppet puppet is
derived from Java, and in no way are imported from other countries.
Estimated puppet culture is born at least in the
reign of King Airlangga, king of Kahuripan (976 - 1012), when the kingdom in
East Java is in the peak of its prosperity. Literary works that became the
puppet story was written by the Javanese poet, since the X Century. Among other
things, the literature script- Ramayana Kakawin
with Old Javanese language was written during the reign of King Dyah Balitung
(989-910), which is the composition of the book of Ramayana written by Indian
poet Valmiki. Furthermore, the Javanese poet no longer just translating the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata into Old Javanese language, but compose and
retelling the Javanese philosophy by incorporating into it. For example, the
work of the empu Kanwa “Arjunawiwaha Kakawin”, which is a book of compositions from
Mahabharata. Another composition that very different from the original version
of the India story, is the work of master Sedah and master Panuluh “Baratayuda
Kakawin”. Great work done during the reign of King Jayabaya, king of Kediri
(1130-1160).
Puppet as a performance and spectacle had already
started there since the reign of King Airlangga. Some inscriptions were made at
that time, among others, already mentions the words "mawayang 'and` aringgit' which means that the puppet
show.
Ir. Sri Mulyono in his book symbolism and mysticism
in the Puppet (1979), estimate the puppet has existed since Neolithic times,
that is approximately 1,500 years before Christ. His opinion was based on the
writings Robert von Heine Geldern Ph.. D, Prehistoric Research in the
Netherland Indies (1945) and Prof. writing. K.A.H. Hidding in Indonesian Encyclopedia
page 987.
The word “wayang” probably derived from the word “wewayangan”,
which means shadow. This is consistent with the fact alleged in Wayang kulit performances that use “kelir”, a piece of
cloth, as a barrier between the puppeteer who plays the puppet, and the
audience behind the curtain. Spectators only seeing puppet movements through
the shadows fall on the screen. At that time puppet performances accompanied
only by a simple set of gamelan consist of saron, he argued (a type of flute),
and kemanak. Another type of gamelan and singer at that time suspected no.
gamelan, music instrument to play wayang
Introduction of Islam to Indonesia since the 15th
century was also a big influence on the culture of puppets, especially the
religious concept of the philosophy of the puppet. In the early 15th century,
the kingdom of Demak era, began to use specially shaped oil lamps called
blencong in Wayang kulit performances.
Since Kartasura age, composing wayang kulit story are
getting far from Ramayana and Mahabharata as the original story. Since the days
that people know genealogy enthusiasts puppet characters, including gods
figure, which originated from the Prophet Adam. It genealogy continues to come
to the kings of Java. And furthermore, also known as the story began to grip
puppet. appropriate standards of the story, and the story lines beyond puppet
carangan standard. In addition there's more drama called splinter, which was
too far out of the story grip.
Indeed, because the strength of puppet art is rooted
in the culture of Indonesia, so there was some confusion between the wayang
kulit stories, legends, and history. If the Indians think that the story of
Mahabharata and Ramayana actually happened in his country, regarded Javanese wayang
kulit story actually happened on the island of Java.
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