Ancient Chinese ceremony revived at a Yogya beach
Ancient Chinese ceremony revived at a Yogya beach
By Tarko Sudiarno
YOGYAKARTA (JP): After a long absence due to the former New
Order regime's ban on Chinese cultural activities, the Peh Cun
celebration has returned to Parangtritis beach, Bantul regency,
Yogyakarta.
Peh Cun, better known by the Chinese as Twan Yang , is a
traditional ceremony which had its roots in the Han dynasty. The
ceremony later became associated with the commemoration of a hero
named Khut Gwan who lived in 340-238 BC.
Khut Gwan, known as an honest, kind, intelligent and wise man,
was named minister. But he became the envy of others who told
lies about him to the emperor.
He was banished from the palace, but his removal from power
led to chaos in the kingdom. Khut Gwan, unable to witness the
misery befalling his fellow citizens, committed suicide by
plunging into the sea. Since then, his loyal followers have kept
his memory alive through this ceremony.
In some parts of the world, the ceremony includes dragon boat
racing (peh means oar, cun is boat), but this is not possible in
the rough seas off Parangritis. The ceremony in Central Java
instead shows strong influence of the syncretic local culture
such as in the use of offerings.
When all Chinese festivals were banned after the abortive 1965
coup, which was blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI),
Peh Cun became a memory for most people in the area. It's revival
came with Soeharto's resignation in 1998; the ceremony held in
late June was the second in the last three years.
Peh Cun's return has been enthusiastically welcomed by the
ethnic Chinese in Yogyakarta and Central Java, and the general
public alike. Bantul Regent Hj. Muhamad Idham Samawi attended the
ceremony and said he hoped it would become a tourist attraction.
The thousands of people who came for the celebration were
particularly interested in seeing objects such as eggs being
balanced upright when the sun is directly overhead and also the
seemingly miraculous parting of the sea when the Labuhan
(offerings) are made.
Most of the visitors, especially young children, brought eggs
with them to see if the phenomenon would occur. They balanced
them on even surfaces such as plates or planks, and at precisely
noon, after the opening prayers were said, their wish came true.
"Mom, mom, look the egg can stand by itself" cried Citta,
eight, when her egg stood upright on a plastic beaker. The large
goose egg remained upright despite the blustery winds.
This spectacle continued for an hour, and then all efforts to
make the eggs stand failed.
A local figure from the Chinese community, Kanjeng Mas
Tumenggung Tirtodopuro, said the phenomenon could be explained
scientifically.
"At a certain time of the year, the Earth's gravity will reach
its culminating point and the gravitational force will be
perpendicular to the equator, so wherever we are on the equator,
we can do the same thing, whether at home or anywhere else, not
only on this beach."
But he added that the phenomenon could only happen once a
year, on the fifth day of the fifth month when Peh Cun was held.
Second phenomenon
No less astonishing was the second phenomenon, which would be
hard to believe if one did not witness it.
Offerings of Chang cakes, made of ground glutinous rice and
nuts, were carried to the sea. Suddenly, the water began to part,
as if the fairies of the Kingdom of the Queen of the South Sea
was creating a pathway for the followers. Only a few minutes
before the same area was being beaten by waves.
When the offerings were cast in the water, people swarmed like
bees to grab them, believing they would bring good luck.
"Wonderful and miraculous, this is the first time I have seen
such a bizarre phenomenon," said a first-time visitor from
Salatiga, Central Java.
Peh Cun is a ceremony to thank God for his grace and
blessings. The chairman of the Kong Hu Cu Association in
Indonesia (Pakin), Hak Su Tjie Tjai Ing, led the prayers to ask
God to bring peace and prosperity to Indonesia.