New Javanese encyclopedia launched<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Most people understand kyai to mean a Muslim
\nscholar, a Muslim leader or a teacher of Islam. But how about
\nKyai Slamet?<\/p>\n
Kyai Slamet is a white buffalo belonging to the Surakarta
\nPalace which is believed to have magic or supernatural powers. In
\nfact, the title of kyai can be applied to sacred objects, such as
\nthe gamelan, or a kris, or even animals.<\/p>\n
A definition for Kyai Slamet might not be available in your
\ndictionary, but it is included in Ensiklopedi Kebudayaan Jawa
\n(The Encyclopedia of Javanese Culture), which was launched on
\nOct. 21 at the opening of the Museum of Javanese Culture by the
\nYogyakarta Institute of Javanese Studies.<\/p>\n
Other books that are often mentioned as the encyclopedia of
\nJavanese culture are Geillustreerde Encyclopedia van
\nNederlandsch-Indie published in 1934 and Serat Centini (the
\nLetter of Centini).<\/p>\n
However, unlike those two books, the newly launched
\nencyclopedia is considered more comprehensive because it covers
\nseven -- and not just one -- aspects of Javanese culture. The
\nseven subject areas are the arts, technology, language, customs
\nand traditions, social organizations, income generating systems
\nand knowledge systems.<\/p>\n
"These aspects make our encyclopedia different from other
\nexisting encyclopedia of Javanese culture," director of the
\ninstitute Fadzar Vyaktatomo told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The 349-page encyclopedia currently consists of 1,128 entries
\nwith 146 illustrations. The institute initially printed 3,000
\ncopies with a production cost of about Rp 40,000 per copy. All
\nare distributed for free to institutions or individuals with a
\nspecial interest in Javanese culture.<\/p>\n
Vyaktatomo said the encyclopedia was only the first of a
\nseries of editions that the institute was preparing. In order to
\nmake it a complete edition, the institute plans to supply the
\npublished serial with supplements consisting of both new entries
\nand additional information about published entries.<\/p>\n
"We plan to make about 25 series of complete editions in the
\nnext five years. Then, a complete edition with entries put in an
\nalphabetical order will be published in the end," Vyaktatomo
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Vyaktatomo said that validation of entries was the main
\nproblem in preparing the encyclopedia. Many of the terms or
\nentries that it has received lack a valid source or reference.
\nSometimes, the definition it received even differs from other
\nexisting definitions. That explains why only 1,128 entries were
\nprinted in the first edition, even though the institute has so
\nfar collected 3,383 entries for the book.<\/p>\n
The first edition starts with the term Abah-abah, a set of
\nhorse-riding equipment consisting of reins, saddle, pedals,
\nstomach wrapping cloths, the rope connecting the horse's tail and
\nthe saddle and blinkers for the horse's eyes.<\/p>\n
The last entry is Tembung Yogyaswara, i.e. words consisting of
\ntwo words with a similar pronunciation, such as dewa-dewi (gods
\nand goddess), batara-batari (gods and goddess) and raseksa-
\nraseksi (male and female giants).<\/p>\n
The encyclopedia also describes various names or terms related
\nto anything about Javanese culture. Just a sampling of these
\nentries include debeg (traditional art performances),bulusan
\n(traditional food),megengan (religious rituals) and Reksapustaka
\n(the name of a library belonging to the Pura Mangkunegaran
\nPalace).<\/p>\n
Edited by Marsono and Waridi Hendrosaputro, the encyclopedia
\nalso provides information about prominent figures related to
\nJavanese culture. They include the Javanese poet Yasadipura, the
\nJavanese singer of keroncong stambul and langgam Waljinah, the
\nlegendary shadow puppet master Ki Nartosabdo and former vice
\npresident and Yogyakarta ruler, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX.<\/p>\n
"We hope that the encyclopedia will make it easier for people
\nto understand various terminology and figures related to Javanese
\nculture," Vyaktatomo said. (swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/new-javanese-encyclopedia-launched-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}