Pencak Silat Art and Culture

"PENCAK SILAT (IBING PENCA)"

Pencak Silat is an all comprising martial art from Indonesia. It is a form of self-defense which combines kicking, punching, grabbing, locking and several weapon-techniques to a graceful and dynamic hard-soft style. The emphasis lies in the agility, explosiveness and flexibility in combination with the surprise effect. All these aspects go hand in hand with traditional norms and values as brotherhood, self-discipline, politeness, loyalty and respect for others.Pencak Silat’s origin is from the Indonesian-Malaysian archipelago. When the Pencak Silat was established can not exactly be determined. Although the oldest archeological findings in the Indonesian archipelago which refer to the existence of martial arts in Indonesia are dated approximately in the year 800 A.C. Therefore one is convinced that Pencak Silat is at least older than 1200 years. Through the centuries Pencak Silat has developed it self to the extremely varied martial art it is today. At this moment there are at least 800 different Pencak Silat styles in Indonesia and is practiced in many countries in the world.In the past several names were given to this Indonesian martial art, which was mainly dependent on the region. The names used were parmoca, silat sile, silat, pencak, penak, etc. The name Pencak Silat as we know it today already existed before WWII. It was officially used the first time not until 1946, during the establishement of the first national Pencak Silat association (the IPSSI – Ikatan Pencak Silat Seluruh Indonesia). This organization is the predecessor of the current Pencak Silat association in Indonesia, the IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia).
There is no overall standard for Pencak Silat. Each style has its own particular movement patterns, specially designed techniques and tactical rationale. The richness of terms reflects a wide diversity in styles and techniques across the regions due to the fact that pencak silat has been developed by different masters who have created their own style according to their preferences and to the physical environment and social-cultural context in which they live. Lets take as example West Java, Central Java and Sumatra. West Java is inhabited by a specific ethnic group with specific cultural and social norms. For them, pencak silat is part of their way of life or as they say is "the blood in their body". In their language they say "penca" or "menpo" (from "maen poho', which literally means play with trickery) to indicate their main four styles Cimande, Cikalong, Timbangan, and Cikaret and all the schools and techniques which have derived from them. The Sundanese people have always utilized penca/mempo' for self-defense and recreation, and only recently have started to use it as a sport in national and regional competitions. In its self-defense form, using hands fighting techniques combined with a series of characteristic footsteps such as langka sigzag (zigzag step), langka tilu (triangular step), langka opat (quadrangular step) and langka lam alip, penca can be very dangerous. Therefore it is kept secret and, especially its magic (tenaga dalam or inner power) component is only taught in phases to selected students.
Penca as art (penca ibing) has been a source of inspiration for traditional Sundanese dances such as Jaepongan, Ketu'tilu', Dombret, and Cikeruhan and actually it resembles dance in its use of music instruments. These instruments, called "pencak drummers" (gendang penca), are devoted exclusively to penca performances and consist of two sets of drummers (gendang anak dan kulantir), a trumpet (tetet) and a gong. Pencak performances also use standard music rhythms such as tepak dua, tepak tilu, tepak dungdung, golempang and paleredan. Penca as art is not considered dangerous and can be openly shown to everyone. From generation to generation until today, penca performances animate wedding parties, rituals of circumcision, celebrations of the rice harvest and all kind of national festivities.
After analizing the Pencak Silat the grandmasters agreed upon a structure. This structure emphasizes the versatility of the Indonesian-Malaysian martial art. In this structure the Pencak Silat is devided in 4 aspects, namely;

• Kebatinan (mental-spiritual, such as meditation)

• Seni (cultural/art)

• Bela Diri (self-defense)

• Wiralaga/Tanding (sport)

Please take a look Pencak Silat video here or here

West Java Art and Culture

"Wayang Golek"

Wayang golek is an original tradition from West java Indonesia. Wayang golek are three dimensional wooden puppets which similar to human face. Wayang Golek puppets have very finely detailed carvings on the head and body, with vivid color and detailed paintings. Like other craft In Indonesia, making wayang golek is a skill handed down through families. The master puppet-maker usually makes the head because it expresses the personality of the puppet. The Wayang Golek body is beautifully decorated in beads and Batik. Some Wayang Golek puppets have wings carved of either leather or wood and are painted by hand. Wayang golek show is usually done during traditional parties, marriages, and circumcision. No pays for watching wayang golek, people come and go as they please. The showtime could reach whole night or only several hours. The plays and stories are based on the Ramayana or Mahabharata epics. The man who plays wayang golek is called “dalang”. A dalang, or puppet master, manipulated the puppets, spoke their parts, and coordinated the puppets' actions with music from a gamelan orchestra. If you are interest to listen the gamelan orchestra of wayang golek and having wayang golek as your collection please find at the right side of this page.

"Sumedang is Beautiful Paradise"

“Recreation and Amusement”

• “Toga Village / Togahills”

Toga Village offers the visitors with good view of mountain, good panorama of sumedang. In a land area over 32 hectares, togahills has many facilities. Villa, Caraoke, Restourant, and Souvenir can be found here. And for the visitors who like an outdoor activity like paragliding, toga village also has this facility, which ensures a perfect setting for a memorable adventureous holiday. Toga village just 15 minutes from city center

• “Cadas Pangeran”

The visitor who likes anthrophology, cadas pangeran is the best choice. Here the visitors will introduce a long way with deep valley. The road is inheritance of jenderal dendels which is still has the power in Sumedang when colonial era. The monument are built for remember that era.

• “Gunung Kunci”

This place is inheritance of netherland colonial. The visitors can found the cave here; the cave has a function as a nest of colonial in that era. Now the cave becomes interesting place for tourism in Sumedang.

• “Prabu Geusan Ulun Museum”

The weapons, tools and war costume from Sumedang Larang kingdom and Pajajaran kingdom can be found here. the location are in the center city of sumedang.

• “Lingga”

This monument was built by Pangeran Siching from netherland and inaugurate on 22nd July, 1922 by Jenderal Mr. D.Folk to respect Pangeran Surya Atmaja for developing Sumedang at that time. This monument becomes the symbol of sumedang till now.
“Cut Nyak Dien Graveyard”
Cut Nyak Dien is an Indonesian hero from aceh. She died on 58 years old. She has been captured by colonial in aceh when Acehnese struggle for independence war. She was isolated from aceh to sumedang until die. This location is located in Gunung Puyuh and only 1 km from city center.

• “Conggeang Hot Spring Water”

This location is around 30 km from city center. The visitors can found a natural hot water from Tampomas Mount. The people soruonded believe that the hot water can recover the illness skin and make healty the people who take a bath in this area.

• “Cut Nyak Dien Graveyard”

Cut Nyak Dien is an Indonesian hero from aceh. She died on 58 years old. She has been captured by colonial in aceh when Acehnese struggle for independence war. She was isolated from aceh to sumedang until die. This location is located in Gunung Puyuh and only 1 km from city center.

“Hotel”

Hotel is one of the important sectors in supporting tourism program and promoting region to the visitors. Sumedang has one hotel (4 stars) Puri Khatulistiwa that located in Jatinangor Sumedang. Several hotels in medium class are also available in sumedang city. For suggestion the visitors can rent a villa in Toga Village. The cost are begin from ± 80 US$ - 150 US$ depend on Villa location. The Villa offers eksotic panorama of sumedang city at night.

“Accessibility Approaches to Sumedang”

From International Airport, Jakarta, travel cars with air conditioner are available. If the visitors choose train services, it must be stop in Bandung. And from Bandung the visitors can take a bus as alternative way to sumedang. Travel cars are available too from Bandung, but the most comfortable is using a taxy from train station to Sumedang.

"Lets Visit Sumedang"

" Visit Indonesia - Visit Sumedang "

So far, there is reason to believe that Indonesia is still unknown (except Bali) and even alien to a large part of the foreign community. Actually Indonesia has a huge potential tourism for visitors, for example Sumedang.
Sumedang as a tourist resort promises maximum facilities, services and satisfaction for visitors. Beautiful view, beautiful mountain, unique culture and good foods also. Sumedang famous with “Kota Leutik Campeurnik”, in English we called “A beautifull little City” and also famous with “kota tahu” or “city of tofu”. There we can found a lot of mountain that suruonded sumedang city.

• Geographic Details

The town is just south of volcanic 1,684m mount tampomas, which is usually climbed from the subdistrict of cimalaka, around 6 km from Sumedang. Sumedang is located in west java, bordered on the south by Majalengka regency, on the north by majalengka and indramayu regency, on the west by Bandung and Subang and on the east bordered by garut regency. The area of the Sumedang Regency reached 153,124 Ha, with the number of inhabitants around one million persons who were spread in 26 subdistrict territories. Sumedang has transport connections only by bus. Later, in majalengka region has planned to build International airport, so it’s easier to get sumedang by plane. Sumedang regency geographically located almost equidistant from Indonesia’s three most important big cities, about 200 kms from Jakarta, 40 kms from Bandung (Paris van Java) and 1400 kms from Bali.

• The History and The Culture of Sumedang

Typical of Sumedang regency is one ancient city in Java Island, that is alun-alun as a center of the city and Mesjid Agung Sumedang on the right, beside the Jail on the left and the government office in front of alun-alun.
As the former capital and the big kingdom in the past, Sumedang and its people are very rich in its cultural heritage. Civilization, art and culture had developed respectively in the era of “Sumedang larang kingdom” until this time. “Sumedang Larang kingdom” has built by Prabu Geusan Ulun which is a part of galuh Kingdom. After a period of timeSumedang larang kingdom has several change name
1. Tembong Agung Kingdom (12nd century) and Prabu Guru Adji Putih as a king. Tembong’s mean “appear” and Agung means “high degree position”.
2. On 14th century the name becomes “Himbar Buana” and Prabu Tajimalela as a king, which is means as the famous kingdom which can be a lighter in the life.
3. “Sumedang Larang” still on the period of Prabu Tajimalela. This name is connected with the magic power action of Prabu Tajimalela in the period of his life. The last king of Sumedang Larang kingdom Is Prabu Geusan Ulun. Sumedang larang becomes from two words, Sumedang comes from “Insun Medal/ insun Medangan” that means “I was born”, and “larang” which is mean “has incredible power”.

• Population

As of 2008, the total population of sumedang regency amounted to 1000.000. The majority of resident are Javanese whose language derives from ancient sanscrit. However, Sumedang is considered to be “Indonesian academic city” especially in Jatinangor and Angkrek due to the numerous centers for higher learning, many of the inhabitants are students who come from all over Indonesia to study. Majorities of Sumedang people are worked in the agriculture sector.

• Cultural Performances

As the ancient culture, Sumedang shows its importance as a cultural and art especially in the art of performing and magical traditional dancing. The following art froms all can be found in and around sumedang. Kuda Renggong, Tarawangsa, Tari Umbul, Reog and Calung.

"Kuda Renggong"
Kuda Renggong is held on “salametan” (safe ceremony) and “Sunatan” (circumcision ceremony), at present is the most popular type of cultural performance in Sumedang. Kuda Renggong consist wonderful costumes and use a horse as a symbol, followed by magical dancing.

"Umbul Dance"
As the ancient cultural city, sumedang is richness in classical and traditional dances. Umbul Dance can still be found in the villages and are usually presented by local performer, especially in Situraja subdistrict. Umbul dance is holding on specific ocasions such us wedding celebrations.

• Art and Craft In Sumedang

• Bamboo Carve and Craft

The finished product bamboos craft can be found in the form of furniture, bamboo carve. The market of this product has run through to international.

• AirGun Craft

Airgun is a unique art form, a combimation between artistic expression and technical skills. Airgun craft can be fount at the west of Sumedang, especially in Cipacing.

• Furniture

Subdistrict Tanjungsari is famous as a centre of furniture production. The visitors are welcomed to tour the workshops to see the work process. It.s located 15kms from the city center.

• Special Foods

“Tahu Sumedang”

The Special Foods from Sumedang is “Tahu Sumedang” or we can call it “Sumedang Tofu” in English. This food is really famous in Indonesia. Much local visitors come to Sumedang to try “Tahu Sumedang”. The Taste of Tahu Sumedang is different from the other of Tahu in all over the world. The tofu is more delicious and crispy. You can find the tofu in all over the street in Sumedang. The famous of “tahu sumedang” are bungkeng, palasari, and alamsari.

“Boled Cilembu”

Sumedang has many special foods and “boled cilembu” is the other famous food from sumedang. In English we can call it “kaspe cassava”. The taste of this food is very sweet and delicious. We can found boled cilembu at tanjungsari and cadas pangeran. This food contains high carbohidrat and glucose.

“Salak Fruit”

Salak Fruit is a special fruit from bongkok village. And the people call it as “salak bongkok”. The peoples in sumedang especially in bongkok are worked as a salak farmer. This fruit are different from salak in other place. The taste is sweet and softer texture in your mouth.

“Sale Pisang”

“banana-fig” or Sale pisang is a product result of banana. In Sumedang you can
Found it at almost the store that sold the special food. Is a good idea when you eat this food with hot milk.

“Comet and Comring”

Comet is special food from sumedang. You can not find this food in other place. Comet is a product result from cassava. The taste is salty and crispy. Comet is good serve when coffe time.

“Opak ODED”

Opak Oded is a product result of “ketan rice”. You can find this food in conggeang subdistrict. The taste is salty and crispy but different from comet. The visitors can taste this food as introducing from a seller without pay.