Kasepuhan Banten Kidul

The Kasepuhan Banten Kidul are a traditional Sundanese community of approximately 5,300 people. They live in the southern part of Gunung Halimun National Park, in the Indonesian province of West Java. Mount Halimun Salak National Park is located within the borders of the Sukabumi Regency, Bogor and southern Banten province.

The Kasepuhan are called "Kasepuhan Banten Kidul" (Kasepuhan of Southern Banten). Their main village is Ciptagelar in the Cisolok subdistrict (kecamatan) in the western part of the Sukabumi Regency. The current head of the community, Abah Ugih, inherited his position from his late father, Abah Anom.^[1]

Etymology

The word kasepuhan is formed on sepuh, which means "old" in the Sundanese language. It refers to a way of life based on ancestral traditions and, eventually, to the local community that lives according to these traditions.

History

According to oral tradition, the Kasepuhan have lived in this area (Banten Kidul or South Banten) since 1368. The ancestors of the Kasepuhan are said to have lived in the area of Bogor, east of Mount Halimun. At that time, their ancestors were part of the Sunda Kingdom, that encompassed the province of West Java and Banten.

Kasepuhan history was first recorded in 1368. The Banten Kidul area is divided into three regency areas (Lebak, Bogor, and Sukabumi). The Kasepuhan practice their ancestral traditions and continue living on rice plantations. As of 2014, 167 original and 300 new varieties were cultivated.

Economy

They primarily live via agriculture, split in two categories: huma (dry rice cultivation) and sawah (wet rice cultivation). The dry system is the original way. The Dutch introduced the wet system.

About 85% of Kasepuhan agricultural land is sawah, 10% consists of ladang, and 5% kebun. They emphasise eco-friendly techniques. The surrounding land is mostly forest. The three forest categories are Leuweung Tutupan (forbidden forest), Leuweung Titipan (forbidden forest), Leuweung Garapan (cultivated forest).^[2]

Culture

The Kasepuhan claim they are linked with the Baduy, another traditional group in West Java. The main belief system of Kasepuhan people is Sunda Wiwitan. The Kasepuhan combine Islam with animism, Sundanese traditions, Pajajaran traditions and thus Hinduism.

The main ritual of Kasepuhan community is Seren Taun, or rice harvest thanksgiving. The festival marks the new agriculture year. Seren Tuan festival is also celebrated by other Sundanese traditional communities in other areas, such as Sundanese community in Cigugur, Kuningan.^[3]

References

^ J. Adiguna, 'Living in harmony with the nature' Archived 2014-05-14 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Post, 11 August 2008.
^ Sri Wahyuni, 'Painting campaign calls for justice on climate change', The Jakarta Post, 25 October 2008.
^ Seren Taun Bogor

External links

Bas Bolman (2006). Wet rice cultivation in Indonesia - A comparative research on differences in modernisation trends. Major Thesis, Wageningen University.

[1] J. Adiguna, 'Living in harmony with the nature' Archived 2014-05-14 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Post, 11 August 2008.

[2] Sri Wahyuni, 'Painting campaign calls for justice on climate change', The Jakarta Post, 25 October 2008.

[3] Seren Taun Bogor

[1]