Mataram archery continues despite lack of promotion<\/p>\n
Bambang M, Contributor\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Every 70 days, on a Selasa wage day according to the Javanese
\ncalendar, archers, in Mataram-kingdom style, gather at
\nKemandungan, inside the Yogyakarta Palace complex, to compete.<\/p>\n
Dressed in complete Javanese costume, except for the women
\narchers, these Javanese archers -- who are mostly over 50 years
\nof age, aim at the bandulan (targets) set some 30 meters away.<\/p>\n
The bandulan, or wong-wongan, which are made to resemble a
\nhuman body, are made of dried rice stalks. Some 30 centimeters
\nlong, each is wrapped in a piece of white cloth and hung a meter
\nabove the ground.<\/p>\n
The upper part of the bandulan is colored red and is
\nconsidered by the archers to be the head, while the rest is the
\nbody. Once the official shouts \"start\" in Javanese, dozens of
\narrows are fired at the bandulan.<\/p>\n
A bende (small gong) is struck every time an arrow hits a
\ntarget.<\/p>\n
\"One strike for the body, two for the head,\" Kanjeng Raden
\nTumenggung (KRT) Seno Broto, chairman of the organizing committee
\nof the traditional archery competition Jemparingan Mataraman
\nSelasa Wagen, explained.<\/p>\n
Selasa wage day is chosen to commemorate the birthday of the
\nsultan of Yogyakarta Palace, Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. During the
\nrule of Hamengkubuwono IX, the traditional archery competition
\nwas held every Sabtu pahing, HB IX's birthday, or every 35 days.<\/p>\n
Besides Yogyakarta Palace, a similar competition is also
\nconducted every 35 days at Puro Pakualaman principality every
\nSabtu pahing, the birthday of KGPAA Paku Alam IX.<\/p>\n
The traditional archery competition is unique and quite unlike
\nmodern archery.<\/p>\n
Instead of standing, for example, the archers are seated,
\nwhile aiming at the target.<\/p>\n
Traditional gamelan music, usually music with a slow beat like
\nuyon-uyon gadon, accompanies them while shooting. In the past,
\nthe music was performed live.<\/p>\n
At present, however, due to a lack of funds, a cassette is
\nused.<\/p>\n
A lack of funds, too, according to Seno Broto who is also a
\nroyal servant of the Yogyakarta Palace, has impeded the
\nregeneration of this unique sport. It's not surprising,
\ntherefore, to note that most of the participating archers are
\nover 50.<\/p>\n
Relaxing is another word to describe how the participants feel
\nabout the traditional archery competition. In this particular
\ncompetition, participating archers are required to have 20
\nrambahan, or rounds each, in which a maximum of four arrows may
\nbe released by each of the archers.<\/p>\n
When all the participants have had their turn, the official
\nwill signal them to stop and let the cucuk, children assigned to
\npick up the arrows and give them back to the archers, do their
\njob.<\/p>\n
In refined Javanese, the official will then politely invite
\nall the participants to take a break to enjoy the prepared snacks
\nor the strong, sweet tea served. Some are seen smoking during the
\nbreak.<\/p>\n
\"I like the sport because it is relaxing. It's not emotional;
\njust like fishing,\" said Sujarwardi, 64, a participant from
\nImogiri, Bantul who had two white flags with him that afternoon
\nmeaning that two of his arrows had successfully hit the target.<\/p>\n
Rimawan, a royal servant of Puro Pakualaman principality,
\nconcurred, saying that the sport was not only good for his
\nhealth, but was also good for his emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\"If you want success, you have to shoot with feeling.
\nOtherwise the arrow will break like this one,\" said Rimawan,
\nshowing a broken arrow he had just released that hit the wall
\nbehind the target.<\/p>\n
Indah Yuwono, a woman archer from the neighboring town of
\nKlaten, Central Java, says she likes the sport because it is
\nstress releasing. That afternoon Indah had two red flags and a
\nwhite flag with her, meaning that two of her arrows had hit the
\nhead of the bandulan while one had hit the body.<\/p>\n
In the competition, Indah, like the other women, is not
\nrequired to wear a complete Javanese costume. A jarik (long batik
\ncloth that a Javanese woman usually wears around her waist down
\nto the feet like a skirt) is enough.<\/p>\n
The happiest archer that Tuesday afternoon was Sukro Kusmanto,
\nas three of his four arrows hit the bandulan in a single round.<\/p>\n
For the achievement he got the selaksan or prize of Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
In the past, according to Seno Broto, in such a competition
\narchers competed for a gold medal from the palace or ekoloyo. The
\nmedal was given only to the archer whose all four arrows hit the
\nbandulan in a single round. \"It's of course very difficult to
\nachieve,\" Seno said.<\/p>\n
The traditional archery competition usually finishes when dusk
\nis approaching and ends with the presentation of the prizes and
\ntrophies from the sponsors. In 70 days, these archers will meet
\nagain for another competition.<\/p>\n
It is unfortunate indeed that such a rare and unique
\ntraditional sport and cultural event seems to have been
\noverlooked by both domestic and foreign tourists visiting
\nYogyakarta. In fact, it could be an interesting tourist
\nattraction.<\/p>",
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