Barong blends Balinese and Chinese cultures

I Wayan Juniarta

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The Chinese New Year will fall next week (Feb.5, 2000), and many Balinese people are busy preparing various events to celebrate the event that was once banned in Indonesia.

Among the events is the month-long Month of Oriental Classics, to be held at Garuda Wisnu Kencana (GWK) Cultural Park in Bukit Ungasan, Jimbaran.

During the Chinese New Year Eve on the night of Feb. 4, 2000, people will be able to watch performances of Barong dances and drama, glittering fireworks, martial art exhibitions and the traditional drama Sam Pek Engtay, a tragic love story based on Chinese legend.

Throughout February, series of Barong performances including Barong Brutuk, Calon Arang, Barong Gajah and Barong Asu will be performed at the cultural park's amphitheater.

A Chinese New Year celebration will be held at the plaza of GWK Cultural Park where the 140-meter statue Garuda Wisnu Kencana is being erected.

Dewi Aryanti, one of GWK's staff, mentioned that the event is aimed at exploring the closeness of Balinese, Chinese and Javanese cultures.

The influence of Chinese and other cultures is not lost upon the Balinese. Many Hindu temples are beautifully decorated with Chinese ceramics. The sacred Baris dance is believed to incorporate Chinese elements including the costumes which are reminiscent of Chinese martial art masters.

Many Balinese legends profile Chinese figures. The love tale of King Dalem Bekung of an ancient Balinese kingdom in the Kintamani area featuring Chinese Princess Kang Si Hwi is associated with the development of Barong Landung drama.

One of the characters in Barong Landung is a fair skinned lady with slit eyes believed to represent the Chinese princess. The princess is accompanied by her faithful dog.

It is presumed that the princess and her followers brought dogs from China to the island of Bali.

Barong refers to a mythological animal mask with a long and hairy tail resembling a lion, dog, tiger or cow. Rangda appears as a wicked creature with shaggy hair, large tusks and a horrifying face.

Many scholars estimated that the Barong figure has its roots in the ancient Chinese lion dance. The appearance of Barong reflects the strong influence of Chinese culture. The colorful, decorative Barong mask and body resemble those used in Chinese dances and theatrical costumes.

In many art performances, especially those presented for tourists such as Barong and Kris Dance episode, these two mythical creatures are portrayed as enemies. Barong is usually described as a manifestation of virtue, while Rangda is an incarnation of evil.

In reality, the Balinese people highly praise the two creatures as their spiritual patrons. The original Barong and Rangda masks were placed together in many Hindu temples. Barong, also called Ratu Gede (the great queen), has long been considered as the village protector, while Rangda is greeted as Ratu Ayu (the beautiful lady). Their outfits and masks are regarded as sacred by the Balinese.

The water used to cleanse them is regarded as Tirta, holy water. During religious prayers, the priest sprinkles this holy water on worshipers.

In certain times, the Barong will be taken in procession through the village. The Barong processions, dances and games are usually used by the youth from neighboring villages to get acquainted with each other.

When a village is hit by an epidemic, Barong and Rangda dancers perform a sacred dance in trance to protect the village and its people from bad omens.

Many people in Bali believe that Barong and Rangda are able to shed their physical bodies and fly around the village to observe its condition.

"I happened to hear twinkling noises passing over my house. I truly believe it was Ratu Gede," said an owner of a restaurant in Ubud.

In Pura Dalem (cemetery temple) Peggrebongan in Kesiman village, a ritual is held twice a year to honor Barong and Rangda.

"It is just an old but wise policy practiced by our ancestors to maintain brotherhood among the neighboring villagers," said Anak Agung Ngurah Gde Kusuma Wardhana, an aristocrat from Puri (Palace) Kesiman.

In the year 2000, Barong and Rangda still have significant roles in the lives of Balinese people as a cultural bond. Both figures also show that Bali is open and tolerant to other cultures.