Yogyakarta, September 30, 2024 – Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a farewell lecture for Prof. Dr. Phil. Vincent Houben, a distinguished professor of Southeast Asian history and society, on Monday morning at the 7th Floor Auditorium of Soegondo Building. The event was attended by students in general, especially UGM history students, as well as Prof. Houben’s fellow lecturers.

In a lecture entitled “Area History in the Age of (De)globalization – a Retrospective and Prospective View,” Prof. Houben discussed the dynamics of regional history in the context of globalization and deglobalization, highlighting how these changes affect historical understanding. In his presentation, he invited students to reflect on the historical journey that has been taken and the challenges that will be faced in the future.

Prof. Houben recounted his academic journey, which began with the study of Indonesian history and Indonesian language at Leiden University from 1980 to 1987. He then continued his career as a lecturer in Indonesian history at Leiden from 1986 to 1997, before entering the maturity phase of his career by becoming a professor at Passau University and Humboldt University until 2022.

This event was a valuable opportunity for students to learn directly from the experiences and insights of an academic who has contributed greatly to the study of Southeast Asian history. With the spirit of sharing knowledge, this farewell lecture is expected to motivate students to continue to explore and develop the field of history in Indonesia. FIB UGM will always remember Prof. Houben’s contribution and wish him all the best for his next journey in retirement and future projects.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Monkeypox a global health emergency. The disease, which was first transmitted to humans in 1970 in the Republic of Congo, has been detected in Indonesia, and as of August 17, 2024, there were 88 confirmed cases (Rokom, 2024).  This incident reminds us of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in 2020.

The history of disease outbreaks is not new. The Asian Flu (1957-1958), Spanish Flu (1918-1920), and The Black Death (1346-1353) (Kautsar, 2024), are just some examples of major outbreaks that have hit the world. In addition to major epidemics, various small endemics also often occur in certain regions.

Various disease outbreaks have been recorded in manuscripts and written records. Taruna Dharma Jati, Muhammad Ibu Prarista, Zalsabila Purnama, & Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah (2022) in a scientific article entitled Lawe Wĕnang Singid: The Red Thread of Pagĕblug Handling Continuity in the Perspective of Javanese Literature explains that Javanese written literature has contained information in the form of traces and handling of physical and cosmological plagues in Javanese oral and written literature.

Some manuscripts that contain information on the physical treatment of disease outbreaks include Naskah Ngelmu Kawarasan by Sardjita (1920), Naskah Lĕlĕmbut Kolerah by Samsimihardja (1914), and Naskah Lĕlara Gudhig by Sardjita (1921). These texts provide guidance on the prevention and treatment of various diseases that once plagued society in their day.

1. Manuscript of Ngelmu Kawarasan

The Ngelmu Kawarasan manuscript contains knowledge about diseases such as malaria, smallpox, bubonic plague, and tuberculosis. One part of the manuscript explains how to deal with bubonic plague:

[…] Rekadaya kangge nanggulangi pes, botĕn wontĕn malih kajawi tikus-tikus punika kĕdah dipuntumpĕs. Griya-griya ingkang kĕrĕp dipunrĕsiki. Sarta sampun nyimpĕni sisa tedha

“There is nothing more effective against bubonic plague than culling rats, cleaning houses frequently, and not storing leftover food.”

This guide shows the importance of environmental hygiene as a preventive measure against infectious diseases such as bubonic plague, which is transmitted by rats.

2. Manuscript of Lĕlĕmbut Kolerah

The Lĕlĕmbut Kolerah manuscript focuses on ways to avoid cholera. Here is one of the contents of the manuscript:

[…] Prentah nagara dikon ngombe banyu bening wedang ora kĕna mamangan kang ora matĕng, ora kalawan diratĕngi adus ing bangawan.

“The state commandment says to drink boiled water, not to eat raw food, and to bathe frequently in the river.”

Here, there is an emphasis on drinking boiled water and personal hygiene as preventive measures.

3. Manuscript of Lĕlara Gudhig 

The Lĕlara Gudhig manuscript explains how to prevent and cure gudik (gudhig), a contagious skin disease. One of the quotes from this manuscript states:

[…] Supaya wong sing wis waras iku ora kumat maneh. Yen panyegahe lalara gudhig iku arĕp ditindakake supaya wong-wong bumi liya-liyane padha bisa milu. Dheweke kudu dipĕrdi rĕsikan, yaiku: ngrĕksa rĕsiking kulite ing panggonan-panggonan sing pĕrlu. Sedhiyan banyu adus kudu dibecikake. Sarta kudu ambudidaya supaya rĕgane sabun dimurah bangĕt, nganti wong miskin padha kelar sabunan. Wong-wong mau ditĕrangake sing tĕmĕnan, yen ora mung awake bae sing mesthi rĕsikan nanging sandhangan lan paturone uga mangkonoa. […]

“So that people who are already healthy from scabies do not relapse, prevention of scabies should be carried out so that people in other areas can follow each other. They should be accustomed to clean living, keeping their skin and other places clean. Good water should be provided for bathing, and efforts should be made to reduce the price of soap so that the poor can use it. These people are to be explained seriously, that not only the self must be clean but also the clothes and bedding as well. […]”

This message highlights the importance of personal hygiene with access to hygiene tools, such as soap, as well as ensuring that clothes and bedding are clean, to prevent skin diseases.

The above are just a few of the various explanations of plague prevention in Javanese literature. Although it can be said to be old stuff, the principles contained are still relevant today, especially in the context of preventing disease outbreaks that are transmitted through unsanitary environments.

Further exploration of ancient Javanese manuscripts is an important step to broaden our horizons on the history of health and medicine in Indonesia. Collaboration between academics, philologists, and health practitioners can help develop the knowledge recorded in these manuscripts, so that it can benefit the wider community.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bestari, N.P. (2022, July 24). ). Sejarah Perjalanan Cacar Monyet dari Afrika sampai Mendunia. Cnbcindonesia.com. Accessed from https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220724153248-4-358100/sejarah-perjalanan-cacar-monyet-dari-afrika-sampai-mendunia.

Jati, T.D., Prarista, M.I., Purnama, Z. & Aminullah, Z.P. (2022). Lawe Wĕnang Singid: Benang Merah Kontinuitas Penanganan Pagĕblug dalam Perspektif Kesusastraan Jawa. Jumantara: Jurnal Manuskrip Nusantara,  13(01), 95-112, from https://doi.org/10.37014/jumantara.v13i1.2847.

Rokom. (2024, August 18). 88 88 Kasus Konfirmasi Mpox di Indonesia, Seksual Sesama Jenis jadi Salah Satu Penyebab. Sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id., Accessed from https://sehatnegeriku.kemkes.go.id/baca/rilis-media/20240818/1546252/88-kasus-konfirmasi-mpox-di-indonesia-seksual-sesama-jenis-jadi-salah-satu-penyebab/.

LIST OF IMAGES

Cebu.fkkmk.ugm.ac.id. (2020, August 19). ). CE&BU Bersama PKMK dan Cochrane Indonesia Menyelenggarakan Webinar Mengenai Bukti Ilmiah tentang Penanganan Wabah Pandemik COVID-19. Retrieved from https://cebu.fkkmk.ugm.ac.id/2020/08/19/cebu-bersama-pkmk-dan-cochrane-indonesia-menyelenggarakan-webinar-mengenai-bukti-ilmiah-tentang-penanganan-wabah-pandemik-covid-19/

 

Author : Haryo Untoro

Editor : FIB Public Relation Team

 

 

Yogyakarta, September 11, 2024 – Room S709 Soegondo Building 7th Floor Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) was filled with academics, students, and the general public who enthusiastically attended the national seminar entitled “Palestine: From Nakba to Tufan Al-Aqsa” on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The seminar was held to celebrate the retirement of Dr. Hindun, M.Hum., an expert in language, communication, and culture who has devoted herself for many years at UGM.

Dr. Hindun, M.Hum. is a lecturer at Faculty of Humanities UGM with specialization in Arabic literature, communication, and culture. She completed her master’s degree at the Faculty of Humanities UGM with a thesis on Emha Ainun Nadjib’s Asmaul Husna poems and Al-Ghazali’s “Al-Maqshadul-Asna”. In 2016, he earned his doctorate at the Department of Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM with a thesis entitled “Palestinian Arab Resistance in the Poetry of Maḥmūd Darwīsh: A Study of Adab al-Muqāwamah al-Ayyūbī.”

The seminar, hosted by Dr. Hindun, presented an in-depth discussion on Palestinian history and literature, focusing on two major events that shaped the narrative of the Palestinian struggle. “Nakba” refers to the tragedy of the expulsion and suffering of the Palestinian people in 1948, and ‘Tufan Al-Aqsa,’ a term used to describe the current situation in the region.

With the end of the seminar, the Faculty of Humanities UGM affirmed its commitment to continue supporting research and studies relevant to global issues, including the Palestinian conflict and literature. The seminar was also a moment of reflection and appreciation for the dedication of Dr. Hindun who has made great contributions in the academic and research fields over the years.

Indonesia is popular for its global spice culture. One form of the archipelago’s natural wealth has been glimpsed by foreign nations since ancient times because of its motive as a food flavor enhancer. Spices are a form of plant variety that has multifunctions in people’s lives, with limited use. In addition to their function as a flavor enhancer, spices are also used in medicine. The existence of spices in Indonesia still survives in terms of function until now. Each region has its own characteristics in utilizing spices in everyday life, both in traditional and modern ways.

The world has begun to change, the times are changing by showing new cultural entities. Nevertheless, the memory of knowledge about spices in the archipelago is still documented in several literary works. In the Javanese literary tradition in Yogyakarta, there are several ancient manuscripts that discuss spice processing, one of which is Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi. Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi is one of the manuscripts in the library collection of the Dewantara Museum Kirti Griya Taman Siswa Yogyakarta, with the entire content of the manuscript discussing traditional medicine. Interestingly, the ingredients used in the treatment are mostly spices.

The life of Javanese people in the past could not be separated from spices. In Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi, there is some information about spices as ingredients for traditional herbal medicine, which are used to cure complaints of pain experienced by the community. Even the use of several types of spices is also explained in Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi in chapters XXVI-XLII. The traditional medicine methods in this manuscript are quite interesting when compared to modern medicine. One of the contents of the manuscript that is rarely explored is the knowledge about menstruation from a traditional Javanese perspective.

In chapter XXII, it discusses the treatment of menstruation in adult women. In this chapter, traditional recipes are explained to overcome menstrual problems and facilitate the menstrual cycle. As well as recipes for herbal medicine during pre-menstruation, and post-menstruation.

1. If a woman is about to menstruate, it is recommended to grind the root of walulangan grass, betel leaf root, alas root, pulasari, when it becomes a fine powder, then rub it on the genitals. In Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi, it is explained as follows: /Badhe sukêr : 1. Oyod rumput walulangan, 2. Oyod sêdhah, 3. Oyod alas, 4. Pulasari, kapipis lêmbat kaparêmakên ing baga/.
2. When not menstruating, it is recommended to consume preparations of orang-aring, pulasari, shallots, and menyan honey, mashed until soft, then drunk. This is in line with the contents of Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi, which reads: /Botên sukêr : 1. Ron orang aring, 2. Adas, 3. Pulasari, 4. Brambang, 5. Mênyan mabên, kapipis lêmbat kaombe/.
3. If a woman does not menstruate and feels hot, then garurames, jadam, ginger, and keji leaves can be a remedy. These spices are boiled and then drunk. The text explains: /Botên sukêr ingkang kraos bênter : 1. Garuramês, 2. Jadham, 3. Jae, kagodhog kaangge omben-omben utawi => Ron kêji kagodhog kaliyan bêling, kaangge omben-omben/.
4. After menstruation, one should consume a drink of empu turmeric, mesoyi, white cumin, black cumin, trawas, sidawayah, kencur, mungsi, manis jangan, cloves, nutmeg, secang, kelabu, and shallots. The spices are burned, mashed, and drunk. This is in accordance with the contents in Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi, as follows: /Bakda sukêr : 1. Êmpu kunir kabakar, 2. Mêsoyi, 3. Jintên pêthak, 4. Jintên cêmêng, 5. Trawas, 6. Sidawayah, 7. Kêncur, 8. Mungsi, 9. Manis jangan, 10. Cêngkeh, 11. Pala, 12. Sêcang, 13. Klabêt, 14. Brambang kabakar, kapipis kaombe/.

The traditional herbal medicine recipe for smooth menstruation above is explicitly mentioned in the text. Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi is a literary work that contains an encyclopedia of spices as ingredients for traditional medicine in the Yogyakarta area. Although literary works emphasize aesthetic aspects, with a lack of authenticity and accuracy, the information contained in literary works is a reflection of the culture at that time. Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi is a literary work, but information about the function of spices as traditional medicine may have existed in the past. The utilization of spices in the smooth menstrual phase of women is one proof of the diversity of spice functions in Yogyakarta in the past.

Yogyakarta is a city of culture. The vortex of spice development in this city seems quite complex, this is evidenced by the existence of ancient manuscripts that discuss the use of spices, either medicinally or in food. Some examples of such manuscripts are Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi. Serat Kawruh Bab Jampi-jampi Jawi, Serat Centhini, etc. Seeing the abundance of literary works on herbal medicine proves that the life of the people of Jogja cannot be separated from spices and their utilization.

Bibliography

Utami, R, R, P. 2010. Serat Primbon Jampi Jawi Koleksi Perpustakaan Museum Dewantara Kirti Griya (Suntingan Teks dan Terjemahan). Thesis. Yogyakarta: Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Image credit: https://www.halodoc.com/kesehatan/menstruasi

Author : Muhammad Siswoyo

Editor : Haryo Untoro

At the ‘English and TOEFL ITP Training’ activity held on 24-26 June 2024 via online yesterday, Adiba Qonita Zahroh, S.S., M.Litt., who is an Expert Assistant at the Department of Language and Literature, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, introduced a TOEFL Pocket Book. This book is specifically designed to help students, educators, and institutions in understanding and preparing for the TOEFL Institutional Testing Programme (ITP) exam.

The book, titled ‘Handbook of TOEFL ITP’, is a comprehensive guide that provides detailed information on the structure of the TOEFL ITP exam, question types, preparation strategies, as well as additional resources to ensure examinee success. ‘The purpose of this book is to provide a useful tool for those who want to better prepare for the TOEFL ITP. We hope that this book can be the main reference that facilitates the learning process and prepares test takers for the TOEFL challenge,’ said Adiba Qonita Zahroh.

This project has the support and co-operation of Bappenas NTB, demonstrating their commitment to educational development and exam quality improvement at the local level. This handbook is expected to be a valuable resource for various groups involved in TOEFL ITP preparation. With the launch of this book, Adiba Qonita Zahroh hopes to make a significant contribution towards improving TOEFL ITP exam results as well as supporting broader education efforts in the area.