Gedong Kirtya preserves tradition in computer age

Gedong Kirtya preserves tradition in computer age

By Nyoman Suwela

DENPASAR (JP): In the current era of advanced electronic
technology, with computers replacing typewriters and disks have
replacing paper, the Gedong Kirtya library continues its careful
preservation of palm leaf manuscripts.

This unique library in Singaraja, the capital of Buleleng
regency, collects, copies and stores thousands of lontar (palm
leaf) manuscripts. Books in Balinese, Indonesian, Dutch and
German dealing with Balinese culture are also available at Gedong
Kirtya.

The only library of its kind in the world, Gedong Kirtya is
located at Jalan Veteran No. 20, Singaraja, next to the Sasana
Budaya Cultural Center (formerly the Buleleng Palace). It is
frequently visited by tourists and local residents interested in
learning about Balinese culture.

The library was established on June 2, 1928, by L.J.J. Caron,
who was then the "resident" (a Dutch colonial government
official) of Bali and Lombok. Gedong Kirtya was officially opened
to the public on Sept.14, 1928, by A.C.D.de Graff, then the
Governor of the East Indies.

Gedong Kirtya commemorates the work and dedication of two
Dutch scholars, F.A. Liefrienk and Dr.N.Van der Tuuk. These men
extensively researched the Balinese language, customs and
culture.

The place was originally called after its foundation,
Stichting van der Tuuk. Its name was later changed to Gedong
Kirtya under the advice of I Gusti Putu Djelantik, then the King
of Buleleng. Kirtya is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning "to
do" or "to endeavor" and gedong means building.

The foundation was avidly supported by many scholars
interested in learning more about Hindu-based culture in
Indonesia. Among them were Dr. R.Ng.Pubacaraka, Dr. W.F.
Stuterheim, Dr. R.Goris, Dr. Th. Pigeand and Dr. C.Hooykaas.

The many manuscripts stored so carefully in this library are
made of the leaves of the lontar palm tree, which is called the
"fan tree" because of the shape of its leaves. These leaves are
widely used in Bali for mat plaiting, palm sugar wrappers, water
scoops, ornaments and ritual items.

Lontar books were made from specially selected leaves with
tips of about 2.5 centimeters wide. After a leaf was dried for
one day, it center spine was removed and the unusable parts
discarded.

The leaf was then soaked in water for three days to remove the
chlorophyll, which made it green. A coconut fiber brush was used
to clean off any insect eggs and dirt. It was later dried again
for another day.

The next process was the steaming of the leaf until it became
yellowish red in color. The water used for steaming had to
contain a dye made from liligundi (vitex trifolia) leaves and a
certain amount of gambir (uncaria). Too much gambir would make
the red too dominant.

The leaf was later dried slowly in a damp place to prevent it
from becoming wrinkled.

The processed leaves were then piled up and pressed. Holes
were made in each leaf for the binding. But this was not the end
of the process.

Each lontar leaf needed to be pressed again, trimmed and
colored with kincu (a sort of lipstick). The leaves were then
stored for about six months before anything could be inscribed
upon them. The longer a leaf was stored, the straighter and
tighter it would be and therefore easier to write on.

A special tool called pengutik or pengerupak was used for
writing on the lontar leaves. The tool was made of iron with the
tip sharpened into a triangular shape so that the scratch could
be made either thick or thin. There were different pengerupak for
writing, drawing and cutting.

The library also has a collection of prasi. Prasi is lontar
with pictures depicting shadow puppet (wayang) play characters.

A great deal of perseverance and patience was required to draw
a prasi. Each scratch and line had to be engraved carefully. No
scratch was meaningless. When transcribing a wayang character, no
details could be left out. Talent and patience was a must in the
creation of a beautiful and harmonious drawing. Most of the
drawings came with texts, including poems.

Because the lontar manuscripts tell not only the history of
Bali, but also of the arts and the culture of its people, the
lontar collection at the Gedong Kirtya library is obviously a
very important part of this nation's heritage.