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Land of the Ancestors

All of our needs have been provided by this earth which we live in.  The earth’s elements of dirt, water, air, fire and all kind of vegetation and animals provide a conducive climate for men.

Of course, back then the  air is still fresh and clear.  The forests and all kind of plants grew everywhere, and there were still very few human beings.  Food and dwelling were provided by the earth.  All year through in any season, there was not a lack of food.  There was also enough protection for mankind to survive and to continue their existence.


Irrigation of paddy field

One of the many technology founded by the ancestors was the irrigation system for the paddy field or the wet rice cultivation.

The progression of this irrigation system grew in time as according to the needs of the people.  Small villages started as men beings started to feel the need to live as a group.  These villages were located in low terraces where there was plenty of water available to them.  This water is used to farm, to plants and to grow paddies.
Men also started to build houses for their dwellings and protections, leaving the caves behind.  The houses were built by resources provided by the earth such as bamboo, wood, coconut leaves, dirt, stone etc.

Dwelling, Food and Clothes

Men have been largely provided by the earth, to continue their existence.  There have always been plenty of resources to build dwelling and food to eat.  Our physical body we cover with cloth to protect us from the cold weather, or other threats,  such as animal bites and thorns.  We then learnt  to cover for politeness as well.

The above needs of dwelling, food and cloth are the same needs we have today.

Mudita and Men

The seniors of Kejawen explained that men live in the habitat of the world of mudita (meaning men and women, the most perfect being in the world, which existence in this world is by the will of God).

The existence of mudita started when the earth has been completed with resources needed to support the life of men.

God, the Creator, gave mudita the right to name everything there is in this world, everything from an object to feel to taste.  So then, men started to create words.  Imagine without mudita in this world, there will be no words.

The world is now filled with mudita, this goes along with the Kejawen philosophy, ‘witing rame saka sepi, witing gumelar saka sonya’ –nothing was the beginning of many, the earth is the result of what once was emptiness’.

Since then on, the mudita is considered as the most important being who own the life of this earth.

Human being (Manusia)

With time, the seniors of Kejawen referred to human being as ‘manusia’.   This word came from the word ‘manu’ which means shame and ‘swa’ which means animal.  Meaning that manusia is a person who understands shame.  It does not mean that manusia is an animal without shame.  

The real understanding of ‘manusia’ is one of the core teachings of Kejawen philosophy.  A person who understands shame, is a person with integrity.  If a person does not understand shame, he lost his value as a human.  

The land of Kabuyutan (Ancestor)

Men grew to be smarter.  The way of living is now being handled strategically, by working together to create a life that is orderly, safe and neighborly.  

Since 10,000 BC, the farmers in Java have started implementing irrigation system.  Since they learnt to live by groups in villages, they also learnt a small form of government.  A respected and obeyed leader was the most senior of the people in the village.  The Javanese tradition to respect the elderly have started since ancient time.

So where is this land of Ancestor led by a group of the elderly is located?  It is normally built in a fertile land, where the river flows, or by a lake or swamp, this would be where the land is, the country with the Kabuyutan system.

A Kabuyutan country consists of five villages.  The locations of each village is determined by compass points.

The center of the country is the village located in the middle of the other four villages which surround it.  All five villages known as the country of Kabuyutan is led by a leader of the country which is referred to as Kliwon, which means the wise one.  The middle village is also referred to as Kliwon.  The leader of the country is referred to to as Buyut by the people.

Buyut means great grandparent, it is of course a title for the elderly, those who have children and grand children.  The other four villages are referred to as follows:

The village in the east is called Legi.
The village in the south is called Paing.
The village in the west is called Pon.
The village in the north is called Wage.

The above villages are each led by a leader referred to as Lurah, or known to the people as Ki, short for grand father.

All of the leaders, Kliwon and Lurah, were the elderly of the country, they were those seen as the respected seniors, everything they said were obeyed and every advice followed.

Other titles in the government

Kliwon and Lurah in their daily responsibilities were assisted by other government officials, among others:

Carik, in today’s world Carik is the Secretary General, the person with the notes of all the rules and any matter that has been decided by the Country.

Mentri Ulu-Ulu, is the official who is responsible of irrigation.  This is one of the key title, the one who made sure that each farmer received their portion of water.

Mantri Jagabaya, the official who is responsible of order and safety.

In these days danger and obstacles came from animals and from the people who were lazy but wanted to live comfortably.  These people became thieves.  Evil and good prevail in this world from ancient days.

In a ritual ceremony, the implementation of it is trusted to a Pandhita (priest), a person who is able to describe the mission and goal of spirituality and understands the steps for it.  In the future the spiritual ceremony is often led by an elderly.

When the wayang story is well known in society, stories like Ramayana and Mahabarata were famous and known by all, there was a title called “Juru Udhalan”.  What this title mean is that the person can explains the meaning of a ritual ceremony.  The word ‘udhalan’ turned into ‘dhalan’ and finally ‘dhalang’, which is later known as Ki Dhalang, a respected and trusted elderly.

When wayang started to be performed and gained popularity, Ki Dhalang led the ritual ceremony of the wayang performance which signified the learning and the guidance of an orderly life.

Since the old days, there had been a person, called dhukun, whose activities includes healing or assisting those who are in misery or suffering and need help.  Dhukun is a an expert or master in physical healing utilizing both herbs (jamu) or medicine and mantra to bring in healing energy.

Basically, a dhukun utilizes his expertise, knowledge and intelligence to assist others.  This knowledge is based on his or her super natural talent, intuition or based on the teaching of the elderly.  In carrying his or her duties everything is based on the blessing of Lord, God.  Therefore, dhukun in general acts as the channel of Divine Energy.

In the society, there are different type of dhukuns:  the dhukun of birth, who assists  the women during delivery of their babies, the massage dhukun who assists those who sprain their muscles or want their bodies to be fit, the healer dhukun also known as the alternative healer who helps those who ill. 

There are also dhukuns who give advice on life matters, eliminate mental problems.  These dhukuns are referred to as paranormal or psychic.  A traditional bridal and groom beautician or make up artist, who also runs the wedding ceremony, is also referred to as a dhukun, a bridal dhukun

Basically, the dhukun professions are needed and acknowledged, as long as it is seen from a positive point of view.   The dhukun who uses his knowledge as “black magic” to do bad deeds such as voodoo, or to gain wealth by evil doing, is walking against his or her calling.  It is wrong to use one profession to do evil in this world.


Market Days

The villages mentioned above: Legi, Paing, Pon, Wage, Kliwon mean East, South, West, North and Center.  These names are also known as market days.  And also known as the five days.  This is the original and oldest calendar in the land of Java.  There were only five days instead of seven in the ancient times, Sunday and Monday did not exist.

In the old days, trade for products was needed, until money in the form of coins was invented.  The place to conduct the trades was called the market.  In the past, since it was relatively quiet, the market was conducted every single day in different areas.  Every Legi, the market was conducted in the east, every Paing day the market was located in the south, etc.

These terms were also used for invitations of the country’s meetings.  When the meeting is held on Kliwon that means that the meeting would be held in Kliwon village.  So it was easy for everyone to understand.

The five original days of Java also have philosophical meanings which will be explained in a different chapter.

Jagad Kejawen,
Suryo S. Negoro
Translated by Nurul Kartikasari