Cirebon's carriages bear historical legacy
Cirebon's carriages bear historical legacy
By R. Agus Bakti
CIREBON, West Java (JP): Situated on the north coast of West
Java, Cirebon is famous for its shrimp and the sweltering heat
which engulfs the city during the day.
It is also known for its kraton (palaces), such as Kasepuhan
(for elder nobles), Kanoman (for younger people) and Kacirebonan,
which signifies it is of and for Cirebonese culture. They are
hallmarks of the city's identity as one of the historical
gateways of Java, a home to bustling commercial interests as well
as the spread of Islam throughout the island.
The palaces would not be complete without their famous
carriages, which have played a great role in the making of
history.
Several carriages are found in Kanoman palace, according to
Ratu Mawar Kartina, the 26-year-old daughter of Sultan Kanoman.
She said the most significant vehicles in the collection are two
dating back to the 15th century.
"To the palace, these two old carriages are more significant
(historically) than they are in terms of tourism," she said.
"That is why they continue to be conserved."
The carriages originally functioned as the means of
transportation for court nobles, bearing them to the homes of
their relatives and fellow aristocrats. They were the luxury
sedans of their day.
The carriages, made of wood, iron and other materials, are
kept in the palace museum.
They are called the Paksi Naga Liman and Jempana carriages.
The Paksi Naga Liman is the sultan's vehicle and the Jempana is
for the use of palace noblewomen.
Mawar said the carriages were made during the rule of
Panembahan Losari in 1428, making them older than the palace,
which was established in 1675.
Up close, the carriages show specific characteristics,
including the typical batik motifs of the area. It is said Paksi
Naga Liman was the royal carriage of Sunan Gunungjati, one of the
propagators of Islam in Java.
There is a significant difference from the carriages, such as
the Kangjeng Kyai Garudayaksa, of the Yogyakarta palace, which
were usually gifts from the Netherlands. The locally built
Kanoman carriages have a lower driver's seat and lack the
spacious interior of their Yogyakarta counterparts.
As ancient objects, the carriages were not separated from the
mystical values in society and were viewed as sacred; to this
day, there are those who continue to worship them. In a rite
involving the washing of the carriages, some people believe they
will gain good fortune by taking part.
The few visitors to the palaces on regular days are usually
not tourists, but people conducting research for academic papers.
"It's crowded during school holidays and also on the
anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, as it coincides
with the rite marking the washing of the palace's objects," said
Mawar.
Today, the carriages are rarely used, except for the
coronation of a new sultan or other ceremonies of exceptional
pomp and grandeur.
Still, the carriages continue to serve their role in history.
"When revealed, their story is endless, either regarding their
history, myths and uniqueness," Mawar said.