Cirebon's carriages bear historical legacy<\/p>\n
By R. Agus Bakti<\/p>\n
CIREBON, West Java (JP): Situated on the north coast of West
\nJava, Cirebon is famous for its shrimp and the sweltering heat
\nwhich engulfs the city during the day.<\/p>\n
It is also known for its kraton (palaces), such as Kasepuhan
\n(for elder nobles), Kanoman (for younger people) and Kacirebonan,
\nwhich signifies it is of and for Cirebonese culture. They are
\nhallmarks of the city's identity as one of the historical
\ngateways of Java, a home to bustling commercial interests as well
\nas the spread of Islam throughout the island.<\/p>\n
The palaces would not be complete without their famous
\ncarriages, which have played a great role in the making of
\nhistory.<\/p>\n
Several carriages are found in Kanoman palace, according to
\nRatu Mawar Kartina, the 26-year-old daughter of Sultan Kanoman.
\nShe said the most significant vehicles in the collection are two
\ndating back to the 15th century.<\/p>\n
\"To the palace, these two old carriages are more significant
\n(historically) than they are in terms of tourism,\" she said.
\n\"That is why they continue to be conserved.\"<\/p>\n
The carriages originally functioned as the means of
\ntransportation for court nobles, bearing them to the homes of
\ntheir relatives and fellow aristocrats. They were the luxury
\nsedans of their day.<\/p>\n
The carriages, made of wood, iron and other materials, are
\nkept in the palace museum.<\/p>\n
They are called the Paksi Naga Liman and Jempana carriages.
\nThe Paksi Naga Liman is the sultan's vehicle and the Jempana is
\nfor the use of palace noblewomen.<\/p>\n
Mawar said the carriages were made during the rule of
\nPanembahan Losari in 1428, making them older than the palace,
\nwhich was established in 1675.<\/p>\n
Up close, the carriages show specific characteristics,
\nincluding the typical batik motifs of the area. It is said Paksi
\nNaga Liman was the royal carriage of Sunan Gunungjati, one of the
\npropagators of Islam in Java.<\/p>\n
There is a significant difference from the carriages, such as
\nthe Kangjeng Kyai Garudayaksa, of the Yogyakarta palace, which
\nwere usually gifts from the Netherlands. The locally built
\nKanoman carriages have a lower driver's seat and lack the
\nspacious interior of their Yogyakarta counterparts.<\/p>\n
As ancient objects, the carriages were not separated from the
\nmystical values in society and were viewed as sacred; to this
\nday, there are those who continue to worship them. In a rite
\ninvolving the washing of the carriages, some people believe they
\nwill gain good fortune by taking part.<\/p>\n
The few visitors to the palaces on regular days are usually
\nnot tourists, but people conducting research for academic papers.<\/p>\n
\"It's crowded during school holidays and also on the
\nanniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, as it coincides
\nwith the rite marking the washing of the palace's objects,\" said
\nMawar.<\/p>\n
Today, the carriages are rarely used, except for the
\ncoronation of a new sultan or other ceremonies of exceptional
\npomp and grandeur.<\/p>\n
Still, the carriages continue to serve their role in history.<\/p>\n
\"When revealed, their story is endless, either regarding their
\nhistory, myths and uniqueness,\" Mawar said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/cirebons-carriages-bear-historical-legacy-1447893297",
"image": ""
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