CULTURE OF INDONESIA

Indonesian culture :z has been shaped by long interaction between original indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Indonesia is central along ancient trading routes between the Far East and the Midle East, resulting in many cultural practices being strongly influenced by a multitude of Religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, confucianism and, all strong in the major trading cities. The result is a complex cultural mixture very different from the original indigenous cultures.

Examples of cultural fusion include the fusion of Islam with Hindu in Javanese Abangan belief, the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism and animism in Bodha, and the fusion of Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan; others could be cited.

Indonesian art-forms express this cultural mix. Wayang, traditional theater-performed puppet shows, were a medium in the spread of Hinduism and Islam amongst Javan villagers. Both Javanese and Balinese dances have stories about ancient Buddhist and Hindu Kingdoms, while Islamic art forms and architecture are present in Sumatra, especially in the Minangkabau and Aceh regions. Traditional art, music and sport are combined in a martial art form called Pencak Silat.

Western culture has influenced Indonesia most in modern entertainment such as television shows, movies and songs. India has notably influenced Indonesian songs and movies. A popular type of song is the Indian-rhythmical dangdut, which is often mixed with Arab and Malay folk music.

Despite the influences of foreign culture, some remote Indonesian regions still preserve uniquely indigenous culture. Indigenous ethnic groups of Mentawi, Asmat, Dani, Dayak, Toraja and many others are still practising their ethnic rituals, customs and wearing traditional clothes.

Traditional performing arts

1. Music

   Indonesia is home to hundreds of forms of music, with those from the islands of Java, Sumatra and Bali being frequently recorded. The traditional music of central and East Java and Bali is the gamelan.

   In 1966, a law was passed (Panpres 11/1965) banning Western-style pop or rock music. On June 29, 1965, Koes Plus, a leading Indonesian pop group in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, was imprisoned in Glodok, West Jakarta, for playing Western-style music. After the resignation of President Sukarno, with the anti-Western Partai Komunikasi Indonesia disbanded, the law was rescinded, and in the 1970s the Glodok prison was destroyed to be replaced with a large shoping mall. The new mall in Glodok is now the centre of recording, production and distribution of modern Indonesian pop and rock music.

   Kroncong is a musical genre that uses guitars and ukuleles as the main musical instruments. This genre had its roots in Portugal and was introduced by Portuguese traders in the fifteenth century. There is a traditional Keroncong Tugu music group in North Jakarta and other traditional Keroncong music groups in Maluku, with strong Portuguese influences. This music genre was popular in the first half of the twentieth century; a contemporary form of Kroncong is called Pop Kroncong. In addition, there are regional variations such as Langgam Jawa, which is most popular in Central Java and Yogyakarta.

   The soft Sasando music from the province of East Nusa Tenggara in West Timor is completely different. Sasando uses an instrument made from a split leaf of the Lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer), which bears some resemblance to a harp.

2. Dance

   It is not difficult to see a continuum in the traditional dances depicting episodes from the Ramayana and Mahabrata from India, ranging through Thailand, all the way to Bali. There is a marked difference, though, between the highly stylized dances of the courts of Yogyakarta and Surakarta and their popular variations. While the court dances are promoted and even performed internationally, the popular forms of dance art and drama must largely be discovered locally.

   During the last few years Saman from Aceh in North Sumatra has become rather popular and is often performed on TV.

3. Drama and theatre

   The Javanese and Balinese shadow puppet theatre shows display several mythological events; and more.

   Randai is a folk theatre tradition of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, usually performed for traditional ceremonies and festivals. It incorporates music, singing, dance, drama and the silat martial art, with performances often based on semi-historical Minangkabau legends and storys.

Traditional visual arts

1. Painting

   Indonesia is not generally known for paintings, aside from the intricate and expressive Balinese paintings, which often express natural scenes and themes from the traditional dances.

   Other exceptions include indigenous Kenyah paint designs based on, as commonly found among Austronesian cultures, endemic natural motifs such as ferns, trees, dogs, hornbills and human figures. These are still to be found decorating the walls of Kenyah Dayak longhouses in East Kalimantan's Apo Kayan region.

   Calligraphy, mostly based on the Qur'an, is often used as decoration as Islam forbids naturalistic depictions. Some foreign painters have also settled in Indonesia. Modern Indonesian painters use a wide variety of styles and themes.

2. Sculpture

   Indonesia has a long-he Bronze and Iron Ages, but the art-form particularly flourished in the eighth to tenth centuries, both as stand-alone works of art, and also incorporated into temples.

   Most notable are the hundreds of meters of relief sculpture at the temple of Borobudur in central Java. Approximately two miles of exquisite relief sculpture tell the story of the life of Budda and illustrate his teachings. The temple was originally home to 504 statues of the seated Buddha. This site, as with others in central Java, show a clear Indian influence.

Architecture

For centuries, the most dominant influences on Indonesian architecture were Indian, although European influences have been particularly strong since the nineteenth century and modern architecture in Indonesia is international in scope.

As in much of South East Asia, traditional buildings in Indonesia are built on stilts, with the significant exceptions of Java and Bali. Notable stlit house are those of the Dayak people in Borneo, theRumah Gadang of theMinangkabau people in western Sumatra, the Batak people in northern Sumatra, and the Tongkonan of the Toraja people in Sulawesi. Oversized saddle roofs with large eaves, such as the homes of the Batak and the tongkonan of Toraja, are often bigger than the house they shelter. The fronts of Torajan houses are frequently decorated with buffalo horns, stacked one above another, as an indication of status. The outside walls also frequently feature decorative reliefs.

The eighth-century Borobudur temple near Yogyakarta is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and is notable for incorporating about 160 relief panels into its structure, telling the story of the life of the Buddha. As the visitor ascends through the eight levels of the temple, the story unfolds, the final three levels simply containing stupas and statues of the Buddha. The building is said to incorporate a map of the Buddhist cosmos and is a masterful fusion of the didactic, the monumental and the serene.

The nearby ninth-century temple complex at Prambanan contains some of the best preserved examples of Hindu temple architecture in Java. The temple complex comprises eight main shrines, surrounded by 250 smaller shrines. The Indian influence on the site is clear, not only in the style of the monument, but also in the reliefs featuring scenes from the Ramayana which adorn the outer walls of the main temples, and in the votive statuary found within.

Crafts

Several Indonesian islands are famous for their batik, ikat and songket cloth. Once on the brink of disappearing, batik and later ikat found a new lease of life when former President Soeharto promoted wearing batik shirts on official occasions. In addition to the traditional patterns with their special meanings, used for particular occasions, batik designs have become creative and diverse over the last few years.

Literature

Pramoedya Ananta Toer was Indonesia's most internationally celebrated author, having won the Magasaysay Award as well as being considered for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Other important figures include the late Chairil Anwar, a poet and member of the "Generation 45" group of authors who were active in the Indonesian independence movement. Tight information controls during Suharto's presidency suppressed new writing, especially because of its ability to agitate for social reform.

In the book Max Havelar, Dutch author Multatuli criticised the Dutch treatment of the Indonesians, which gained him international attention.

Modern Indonesian authors include Seno Gumira Adjidarma, Ayu Utami, Gus tf Sakai, Eka Kurniawan, Ratih Kumala, Dee, Oka Rusmini. A few of their works have translated into other languages.

1. Poetry

There is a long tradition in Indonesia, particularly among ethnically Malay populations, of extemporary, interactive, oral composition of poetry. These poems are referred to as Pantun.

Recreation and sports

Many traditional games are still preserved and popular in Indonesia, although western culture has influenced some parts of them. Among three hundred officially recognized Indonesian cultures, there are many kinds of traditional games: cockfighting in Bali, annual bull races in Madura, and stone jumping in Nias. Stone jumping involves leaping over a stone wall about up to 1.5 m high and was originally used to train warriors. Pencak Silat is another popular form of sport, which was influenced by Asian culture as a whole. Another form of national sport is sepak takraw^. The rules are similar to volleyball: to keep the rattan ball in the air with the players' feet.

Popular modern sports in Indonesia played at the international level include association football and badminton. Indonesian badminton athletes have played in Indonesia Open Badminton Championships, All England Open Badminton Championships and many international events, including the Summer Olympics since badminton was made an Olympic sport in 1992. Rudy Hartono is a legendary Indonesian badminton player, who won All England titles seven times in a row (1968 through 1974). Indonesian Teams have won the Thomas Cup (men's world team championship) thirteen of the twenty-two times that it has been contested since they entered the series in 1957. In the hugely internationally popular sport of soccer (football), Indonesian teams have been active in the asian Footbal Confederation (AFC).

Sporting events in Indonesia are organised by the Indonesian National Sport Committee (KONI). The Committee, along with the government of Indonesia, have set a National Sports Day on every Septembar 9 with "Sports for All" as the motto. Jakarta has hosted the Southeast Asian Games three times, in 1979, 1987 and 1997, and won gold medals in each of these years. Indonesia has won gold medals at nine of the fifteen games it has attended.

Cuisine

The cuisene of Indonesia has been influenced by Chinese culture and Indian Culture, as well as by Western culture. However in return, Indonesian cuisine has also contributed to the cuisines of neighboring countries, notably Malaysia and Singapore, where Padang or Minangkabau cuisine from West Sumatra is very popular. Also Satay (Sate in Indonesia), which originated from Java, Madura, and Sumatra, has gained popularity as a street vendor food from Singapore to Thailand. In the fifteenth century, both the Portugese and Arab traders arrived in Indonesia with the intention of trading for pepper and other spices. During the colonial area, immigrants from many different countries have arrived in Indonesia and brought different cultures as well as cuisines.

Most native Indonesians eat rice as the main dish, with a wide range of vegetables and meat as side dishes. However, in some parts of the country, such as Irian Jaya and Ambon, the majority of the people eat sago (a type of tapioca) and sweet potato.

The most important aspect of modern Indonesia cuisine is that food must be halal, conforming to Islamic food laws. Haraam, the opposite of halal, includes pork and alcoholic drink. However, in some regions where there is significant non-Muslim population, non-halal food are also commonly served.

Indonesian dishes are usually spicy, using a wide range of chili peppers and spices. The most popular dishes include nasi goreng (fried rice), Satay, Nasi Padang (a dish of Minangkabau) and soy-based dishes, such as tofu and tempe. A unique characteristic of some Indonesian food is the application of spicy peanut sauce in their dishes, as a dressing for Gado-gado or Karedok (Indonesian style salad), or for seasoning grilled chicken satay. Another unique aspect of Indonesian cuisine is using terasi or belacan, a pungent shrimp paste in dishes of sambal oelek (hot pungent chili sauce). The sprinkling of fried shallots also gives a unique crisp texture to some Indonesian dishes.

Chinese and Indian cultures have influenced the serving of food and the types of spices used. It is very common to find Chinese food in Indonesia such as Dim Sum as well as noodles, and Indian cuisine such as Tandoori chicken. In addition, Western culture has significantly contributed to the extensive range of dishes. However, the dishes have been transformed to suit Indonesian people's tastes. For example, steaks are usually served with rice. Popular fast foods such as Kentucky Fried Chicken are served with rice instead of bread, and sambal (spicy sauce) instead of ketchup. Some Indonesian foods have been adopted by the Dutch, like Indonesia rice table or 'rijsttafel'.

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Souvenir from Belitung

Visiting unique place such as Belitung, it woulb be good if you can find something special, likes souvenir. Before you got disappointed, honestly we would like to tell you that souveneer in Belitung is still very limited, meaning the souvenir industry still not yet exist likes in Bali or Jogja. This is caused by minimum number of visitor in Belitung. We expect people likes you who reading this website and decite to visit Belitung will create more demand for souvenir industry in Belitung to become growing.

Despite above condition, there is always a creative person in every place. Regardless they can make money or not, they will create something unique from their place. In this page, we would like to share information about creativity of people from Belitung:

Satam stone

As you can see from above photo, Satam is a black stone likes ordinary stone for jewerly. The uniques about Satam is random nature carving on its surface, and this is the unique thing about Satam. According to local people, Satam stone that called Billitonite by dutch collony, can only be found in Belitung. People said Satam came from asteroid who fall in Belitung thousands of years ago and burried into underground.

Satam stone was found when tin minng company start their operation in Belitung. Satam came up to surface all together with sands dig by tin mining machine. Accidently, it is later than found by tin mining workers. Because of its unique carving in its surface, people use this stone for jewerly for ring or neckles. Satam can be found in jewerly stores in Belitung.

Kerupuk Belitong

It is actually an ordinary seafood chips snack likes you can find from other areas. The difference, these chips are made from several types of seafood. There is fish chips, prawn chips and calamary chips. Since there are many seafood in Belitung, the taste of Kerupuk Belitung more likes original made from fish, prawn or calamary. These chips can easlily found in shops in Tanjungpandan or Manggar.

Shell Handycraft

As you can see from the pictures, there are many colourful and funny handicraft made from shell. It can can be formed likes a bird, turtle, horse, etc. Those shell collected from beaches of Belitung and after it then connected one each other by glue. It is quite nice to placed in the table of wardrobe. You can find this handycraft from KUKM shop in Tanjungpandan.

Belacan Belitong

It is a kind of condiment made from pounded and fermented shrimp or small fish. Balacan or terasi is only special for people, maily Indonesia, who enjoy terasi sauce that usually consume with vegetables. The famous terasi from Belitung come from Sijok (Sijuk) village. Because probably it is made from fresh shrimp, terasi from Sijok is special taste compare to terasi from other areas. The package of terasi from Sijok is also uniques. It is made from Lais leaf,

the same material used for leaf carpet, also made by people of Belitung village. Belacan Belitong (Terasi) can be easily found in shops or local market in Tanjungpandan.

Sambal Lingkong

People from Jakarta call it Abon Ikan (shredded fish that has been boiled and fried), because is is more likes abon that sauce (sambal). But, people of Belitung classify this as sauce because the taste is a bit spicy. Sambal Lingkong made from shredded Tenggiri fish mixed with spice with chilli and coconut, and then cooked together likes fried without oil until they are all dry. The taste can be very spicy.

People of Belitung cook Sambal Lingkong in every Idul Fitri festival to be consumed together with Ketupat (rice cake bilded in a shombu-shape packet of plaited young coconut leaves). Sambal Lingkong (Abon Ikan) can easily found at local markets in Tanjungpandan and Manggar.

Rattan Handycraft

Rattan handycraft can be your special souveneer from Belitung, eventhough similar handycraft may be found from other places in Indonesia. There are several items such as: rattan basket, carpet leaf or Tudung Saji (to cover food on the table). Rattan handycraft can only be found in villages in rural area of Belitung. If you are interested, we sugest you to place order in advance.

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Batu Satam craft of stone Meteor Khas Belitung Island (Belitong)

A large Meteor stone or more than the earth, known by experts Armageddon Astronomy setelit detected from space to earth with a cruise speed which is very unusual, it is estimated meteor rock in a few months and then will hit and destroy the earth and seisinya the astronomy of the space to gather to save the earth from destruction, the stone meteor is destroyed only with nuclear bombs to embed in a layer of stones falling, and the astronauts to make a rocket mission, kemilauan Lights visible from earth and stone meteor is split into two, sepihanya stone meteor strike destroy the earth buildings in various countries terselamatkan However the earth's impact dasyat. The text above is a scene from Hollywood movies, the Armageddon

However, on the island of Belitung serpihan stone Meteor from the sky is the charm of the stone itself as a unique decoration for a pair of gold, such as necklaces, ear stud, a ring brooch, stick command and rosary jewelry pengerajin by the better known by the term of Satam, one pengerajin He is the Word which is called the Word Satam man who was born in Belitung island living in this village Pangkalalang Tanjungpandan has menekuni this business for 19 years and have carried the name of Belitung islands, known in National and International via various exhibitions both within the country or abroad, various awards diterimahnya has been one of them is the award image of Asean Development Award 2007-2008, the program anugrahi by Asean Consultant India Consortium. And the word is not always pass each event akbar anniversary of Jakarta International Exfo namely Jakarta, albeit without the support of the local government district Belitung. As a campaign souvenir satam, as this time in Jakarta Fair 2008 Firman represent Belitung Regency in Bangka Belitung Province stand according to the Word so the visitors are very enthusiastic to buy or just see a craft satam the various forms, Sovenir satam says that the selling price of 100 thousand to one million, but many dipasaran also satam in the sale of fake people who are not responsible for the benefit, to find out satam original letakan palm over satam akan then feel the energy field.

Soevenir Satam this may be the only world that is coming from the island of Belitung, although there is not easy to get on the island of Belitung satam to be kerajianan, usually the pengerajin get satam Stone penambang lead from the land, they found this satam chance of of the earth to the depth of 50 meters, the pipe terbawah by the water pump penghisap akan kesakan directed at the place to separate the sand and lead. Term satam taken by the language of the descendants of the china is in the island of Belitung SA which means sand while TAM means bile. So satam mean bile sand while indigenous people themselves interpret satam Belitung is a black stone. However, a description of the book de Ontwikkeling van het Eiland Bilitton, Van De Billiton maatschappij door JC essay published mollema S graven Maartinus Nijhoff 1922. berkebangsaan a Dutch named Ir.N Wing Eston Amesterdam Netherlands Academy of menamain meteor rocks with this term which means Billitonite Belitung islands of stone, this stone come from outside the spacecraft exploded several thousand years ago and sepihan-sepihan small glass particles berkilauwan like falling rain kebumi spread to several areas such as Java near Solo, Arabia, Australia, Czech ago buried in the surface water to carve these stones form outline form outline-carving-carved natural beautiful, sedangakan black color of the stones came from mixing oxygen carbon mangan and substances not found although there is more rocks didaerah other than to Belitung Island in a variety of kerajianan jewelry.

Stone satam also in the community have trusted Belitung magical power as a prophylactic repellent and toxic elements of supernatural beings-jin form, for this may be to believe or not, but some tourists who visit this island always want to buy Souvenir menyempatkan themselves as typical cendramata Belitung Island

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Strained Crafts of Lampung

Original Lampung Society has a distinctive tradition structure. Form of customary law in the community different between a groups of people with each other. In general can be distinguished in two groups of the indigenous communities Saibatin and Pepadun.
Lampung society based on ties kekerabatannya can be divided into classes-a small group, which is often called Buay / Kebuayan.

Lampung tribe that habitual Pepadun can be grouped into:
• Abung Siwo Mego (abung nine clans)
• Mego Mr Tulang Bawang (onion four bones clan)
• Pubian Telu tribe (the tribe of three pubian)
• Buay Lima (right way)

Lampung tribe that habitual Saibatin consists of:
• Peminggir Melinting (Meninting) / Rajabasa
• Peminggir Bay
• Peminggir Semaka
• Peminggir Sekala Brak
• Komering

Based on the distribution of the population of all the fork is known as the Province Lampung Sang Bumi Ruwa sequence that can mean "Earth In The Two Unity."

Lampung known in various equipment and custom equipment to someone who symbolizes the status of tenure marked with a traditional cloth that is strained Kain Lampung.


The strained Lampung

The fabric is strained gown Lampung tribe that shaped the fabric sheath made of woven cotton with a motif or decoration materials toothpick, thread or silver thread with a gold system Sulam (Lampung; "beak").
Thus, the filter is the result of Lampung woven cotton with a motif, or silver thread and gold thread is a typical tribal dress Lampung. This type of weaving is usually used at the waist to the bottom of the shaped sheath made from cotton with natural motifs such as motifs, flora and fauna disulam with gold thread and silver thread.
Strained Lampung including traditional craft because the equipment used in making cloth and basic motives hiasnya is simple and is done by pengerajin. This craft is made by women, both housewives and girls (muli-muli), which in the beginning to fill leisure time with the goal to meet the custom demands that are considered sacred. Cloth filter at this time produced by the whim of the decorative variety of goods as a commodity that has economic value that is high enough.


History Kain strained Lampung

Fabric filter is one type of traditional society in Lampung coordinate both of their lives and the environment, the Creator of Hosts. Therefore, the emergence of the fabric filter is applied through the stages that lead to the perfection tenunnya techniques, and ways to provide a decorative fad in accordance with the cultural community.
According to Van der Hoop lampung mentioned that people have been weaving brocade called trays (handsome) and cloths Pelepai since II century BC. Motif fabric hook and this is the female friend (Key and Rhomboid shape), tree of life and the building containing the human spirit that has died. There are also motifs of animals, sun, moon and jasmine. Also known that woven filter cloth, the disulam with white silk called Kain Inuh strained.
Trappings of the woven fabric Lampung also have elements with the same protean tub in other regions. This can be seen from the elements that influence taradisi Neolithikum is usually found in Indonesia.
Inclusion of Islam in Lampung, also appeared to enrich the development of the craft is strained. Although new elements have been influential, the elements remain long maintained.
There is communication and traffic between the islands of Indonesia is very possible to develop a population maritime network. Kemaritiman world or with a charming era has started growing since Hindu kingdom era and achieve success in the growth and development of the Islamic kingdoms between the years 1500 1700.

Starting from the historical background, the creative imagination of artists and creators clearly affect the results of creation to take the ideas in the everyday life that goes around the environment where the artist lived it.
The use of sea transport at the sea and the natural environment has given the idea of decorative motifs on the cloth ship. Variety ship motif on the cloth indicates the existence of diversity of ships and the construction of ships used.
In its development, it appeared that not all tribes use Lampung strained supplies as a means of living. Lampung tribe known that produce and develop a common woven filter tribe Lampung is a habitual Pepadun.

Materials and Equipment Woven filter Lampung

Basic Materials strained Lampung:
Lampung filter cloth which is a traditional handicraft weaving community Lampung is made from cotton thread and gold thread. Yarn cotton yarn is derived from cotton material and is used as basic material in making the cloth filter, while the gold thread is used to create a fad in the tub with a strained system Sulam.
In 1950, the craftsmen still use the filter material results of their own, especially for woven materials. The process of using the processing system bundle, while the use of gold thread has been known since long.

Materials, raw materials are:
• Khambak / cotton used to make yarn.
• silkworm cocoon to make silk.
• Pantis / wax hive for tense yarn.
• Roots Serai wangi preservative for yarn.
• betel leaves to make cloth the color does not fade.
• Fruit matchmaker, girl leaves, bark kejal to red coloring.
• Skin regards wood, bark rambutans to black coloring.
• Skin or mahogany wood kalit durian for coloring chocolate.
• deduku fruit or leaf talom for blue dye.
• Kunyit for whiting and yellow coloring.

At this time the materials mentioned above are rarely used anymore, because of the materials above are already many are in the market.

Woven fabric filter equipment:
The process of weaving cloth filter menggunakn equipment as follows:
• Sesang is a tool for preparing the yarn before weaving equipment is installed on.
• Mattakh is a tool for weaving cloth filter that consists of the

Tools:
• Terikan (tool rolls thread)
• Cacap (a tool for placing equipment mettakh)
• Belida (a means to strengthen thread)
• Kusuran (a tool for preparing the separate thread and yarn)
• trim (rentangan tool for holding rolls of yarn and weaving)
• Guyun (a tool to set the thread)
• Ijan or Peneken (foot allowance weavers)
• Sekeli (tool to roll the yarn feed, the yarn is inserted crosswise)
• Terupong / Teropong (a tool to enter the feed yarn to weave)
• divan (retainer back weavers)
• Tekang that is a means to stretch the fabric during the embroidery of gold thread.

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