Wayang Kulit, sublime culture of Indonesia

Wayang Kulit, sublime culture of Indonesia - Wayang  Kulit is one of indonesia's art and culture that most visible among many other cultural works. Culture  Wayang Kulit is a blend of acting, sound art, music, speech arts, literary arts, painting, sculpture, and art of the emblem. From age to age the development of wayang kulit culture has many functions other than just as a means of art, it is also serves as a medium of information, media propaganda, education, entertainment, philosophical understanding, as well as entertainment.

Many studies of various art and cultural historians say this culture is the culture of Wayang Kulit from Indonesia, particularly in Java. The existence of this culture of wayang kulit diketahi already centuries before Hinduism dataang to Java. Although the concept of the story and puppet characters are popular in today's society is an adaptation of two major works of Indian literature, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The two main story in the puppet much overhauled to fit the philosophy and traditions of native Indonesia, especially among Javanese.

Adjustment procedure philosophical thought is also touching the public perception of the existence of Java and hierarchy of the gods in the puppet. The presence of the gods in many stories pewayagan has been composed by the poet, produced a new paradigm that the gods are always right is not absolute. The gods also may commit sin and error as well as other creatures that are not free from sin as well. To realize this unique character, the humanists Indonesia (ed: java) made the character of old Punakawan. The remedy is Punakawan reinforce the concept that everything in this world nothing is absolute. Nothing really evil or really good. Everything always wear two elements, namely the other side bad, the other side is true.

Regarding the beginning of the existence of Wayang Kulit, there are two strong opinions. The first is an argument which says that the Wayang Kulit was first originated and was born on the island of Java, precisely in East Java. This opinion is widely followed and culture presented by scientists from Indonesia, also the research scholars of the West. Among Western scholars who belong to this group, is Hazeau, Brandes, Kats, Rentse, and Kruyt.

Another opinion is the opinion of the suspect that the Wayang Kulit are from India, which brought together the arrival of Hinduism in Indonesia. This opinion was followed by western scientists, among others, is Pischel, Hidding, Krom, Poensen, Goslings, and Rassers. Most of the latter group is the British scholar, the European country that once colonized India.

The word 'wayang' it self some say comes from `wewayangan ', which has meant the shadow. This opinion is consistent with a puppet who always use the color that is a piece of cloth as a boundary between the puppeteer and the audience who was behind the cloth. The audience can only see the shadows of the puppets are moved by the puppeteer from behind the cloth. In ancient times, puppet performances accompanied only by a few simple gamelan consist of saron, he argued (a kind of flute), and kemanak. Other types of gamelan and singer at that time believed no.

There is no mention that this puppet culture in Indonesia at the time of the kingdom of King Airlangga, king Kahuripan (976 -1012), ie when the kingdom in East Java was in its golden age. Many poets Javanese literature containing the X century the concept of different views taken of the stories that exist in the puppet. Among other things, the text of the Book of the Ramayana literature Kakawin Old Javanese language written in the reign of Dyah Balitung (989-910), which is a spin-off of the book of Ramayana written by Indian poet Valmiki. Then the pujanagga Java is not just copying the ancient Javanese language, but also to change the story to suit the philosophy of Java. Like for example, the creation of professor Kanwa, Arjunawiwaha Kakawin, which is a spin-off of the book of Mahabharata. Another spin-off of the more obvious the difference between the original version of the story derigan India, is Baratayuda Kakawin work professor and professor Panuluh Sedah. Great work was done during the reign of King Jayabaya, king of Kediri (1130-1160).