The secrets and specialty of the 'lontar' manuscripts<\/p>\n
By Rosa Widyawan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): For some ethnic groups, lontar was more than
\npalmyra leaf. It also meant paper and manuscripts.<\/p>\n
Its function was to record knowledge relating to local
\nbeliefs, reflecting the values of peace and happiness. Beliefs
\nsuch as magical spells, holy mythology, epics or chronicles. In
\nlater development, profane literature such as law and
\nlegislation, architecture, construction, and medicines were
\nwritten on lontar.<\/p>\n
In Bugis, South Sulawesi, people used to write on lontar
\nbefore the introduction of Islam and the concepts of modernism.
\nAmong Bugis and Makassar people, Attlolong is the most popular
\nscript. It records the family trees of noblemen.<\/p>\n
The lontar writing and reading tradition was apparent in
\nJavanese palaces such as Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and Cirebon.
\nUnfortunately, society did not support and maintain the
\ntradition, so it is now extinct in these places. Perhaps, the
\nJavanese aristocrats preferred new information storage mediums,
\nthe so-called Chinese or Japanese papers.<\/p>\n
Unlike Sulawesi and Java, Bali still maintains the tradition
\nof lontar writing. On this paradise island, there is Mabebasan, a
\ngathering where people read ballads, or sayings, and the
\naccompanying interpretation of them. The Balinese have ceremonies
\nlike Maligia in Ngaben, or cremations which involve lontar
\nreading to guide the spirit to the eternal world.<\/p>\n
The most popular lontar in Bali is the Usada manuscript, about
\nmedicines, curtain methods, or pest control. Generally, Usada
\nexplains the use of medicinal plants and their magical spells. A
\npart of Usada, the so-called Taru Permana lontar, for example,
\ndescribes 100 kinds of medical plants. The Balinese also widely
\nuse lontar as a medium to write about horoscopes, to identify the
\ncharacters of newborns.<\/p>\n
The process of lontar manufacturing is somewhat time
\nconsuming. It begins with the identification of suitable palmyra
\nleaves. The best are picked during Kartika, around September-
\nOctober, and Kasanga or Kadasa, during March-April, before the
\nfull moon. The leaf picked in other months is either immature, or
\ntoo old.<\/p>\n
Selected leaves are wilted by exposing them to open air.
\nAfter their color changes, their ribs are taken out, and then
\nthey are rolled and soaked in clean water for a day. Later, they
\nare dried under the sun for three days. The dried leaves are
\nrubbed with coconut husk to make them shiny, and the tips are
\ncut.<\/p>\n
Continuing, they are boiled for a night in a large water jar
\nwith itaran barks, root of sikapa, coconut husks, turmeric and
\ngambier. The turmeric is included to avoid pest attack. Next
\nmorning, with the leaf becoming elastic, it is washed with clean
\nwater, rubbed with soft cloth, and dried in open air.<\/p>\n
The lontar is then straightened by clamping it for 10 days,
\nbut some people treat them for two galungan ceremonies. (A
\ngalungan ceremony is conducted every 210 days). Still, others
\nclamp the lontar for 310 days. When the lontar is dry enough, it
\nis cut according to standard sizes. Holes are made at two ends by
\nusing a tool called cempurit, and they are bundled using thread.
\nIn making reading easier, some may loosen the string. Finally,
\nthe leaves' edges are painted red.<\/p>\n
The ready-to-write lontar is placed on a small round table.
\nIn making the writing neat, the lontar is stripped with a pencil
\nbefore it is engraved with two kinds of tools called pangrupak.
\nOne is for writing, the other for illustrations. The scratch is
\nthen polished with sap mixed with oil.<\/p>\n
Normally, the manuscripts are stored in temples or houses.
\nThose stored in temples deal with the history of that particular
\nshrine. Other subjects are stored in houses, and from time-to-
\ntime they are taken to the temple to be read. The lontar are
\nalways stored in the ceiling, and before removal from their place
\nof rest, one should make an offering and pray to Dewi Saraswati,
\nthe Goddess of Knowledge.<\/p>\n
In the past, only those belonging to higher castes, such as
\nBrahmana or Ksatria, had the right to read and write lontar.
\nToday, anyone well trained can access the scripts.<\/p>\n
With particular rites the lontar manuscript, wrapped in white
\ncloth, is brought forth to create a sacred atmosphere. But it is
\nnot always read. Sometimes a priest might read the copy, written
\non another piece of paper.<\/p>\n
The importance of the information on, and the artifactual
\nvalue of lontar is illustrated by the 1988, local government
\nestablished foundation, named the Documentation Center of
\nSanglah, formed to support the heritage.<\/p>\n
There is another lontar center in Singaraja called Balai
\nLontar Gedong Kirtya. The latter was formerly called Kirtya
\nLiefinch-Van der Took and was established in June 1928, and named
\nunder the resident Dutch expert on Balinese culture and
\ncivilization.<\/p>\n
Both institution's aims are the preservation of Balinese
\nlontar manuscripts and as such they collect, process, and
\ndisseminate information on the lontar. Most activities involve
\ntranslating lontar, but include transferring them to other media
\nsuch as microfiche and magnetic types. These institutions also
\ncooperate with others, such as the Center for Scientific
\nDocumentation and Information at the Indonesian Science
\nInstitute, the Ford Foundation and IBM Corporation.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, there is currently a dispute on the methods
\nused to preserve lontar collections. Most experts agree they
\nshould be handled in accordance with a proper preservation
\nprocedure, otherwise valuable, fragile manuscripts will become
\nbrittle.<\/p>\n
But, some research suggests many lontar manuscripts, which are
\nsimply stored in ceilings without following any preservation
\nprocedures, can stay intact for more than 100 years. Perhaps the
\nsecret lies in the age-old manufacturing techniques.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-secrets-and-specialty-of-the-lontar-manuscripts-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}