Thursday, August 29, 2024, became a special moment for the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada with the holding of the Mangayubagya Graduation of Undergraduates period IV of the 2023/2024 academic year. A total of 244 graduates celebrated their graduation, holding a bachelor’s degree after completing their studies at FIB. The solemn graduation ceremony was made even more lively with a dance performance from Ratnaraya, a student dance unit of the Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program.

Four students, Audrey Gisela, Ganes Larasati, Novalia Hidayatus S., and Wening Hidayati, presented Geol Denok Dance as part of the graduation ceremony. Geol Denok dance is a typical Semarang dance that depicts the joy of Semarang girls who dance with lively, energetic movements and accompanied by dynamic music. Etymologically, the word “geol” refers to the dance movements of the knees and hips, while “denok” is a term for girls in Semarang.

In an interview with Wening Hidayati, one of the performers, she said that Geol Denok Dance was a new dance for Ratnaraya members. “We try to give our best in this performance, and are very happy to be able to welcome the graduates of FIB UGM with Geol Denok Dance,” said Wening (09/05/2024).

Ratnaraya’s performance is not only for entertainment, but also reflects the Faculty’s commitment to preserving Nusantara culture, especially Javanese culture. This cultural preservation requires support and collaboration from various parties, and FIB UGM plays an active role by providing the widest possible space for art and cultural exploration, so that the nation’s identity remains relevant and provides benefits to people’s lives.

Author : Haryo Untoro

Yogyakarta, Monday night 19th of August 2024, the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), organized a shadow puppet show in the framework of the anniversary of the Faculty of Philosophy. The performance featured a special play, Gajah Mada Suci, which was performed collaboratively by UGM students who are members of the UGM Surakarta Style Javanese Arts Unit (UKJGS). One of the important roles in this performance was carried out by M. Rafi Nur Fauzy, a student of the Javanese Language, Literature, and Culture Study Program class of 2023, chosen to perform a play that was collaboratively worked on by the academics community of Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The script for the performance of Gajah Mada Suci was written by Dr. Rudy Wiratama S.I.P., M.A., lecturer of Javanese Language, Literature and Culture Study Program. Gajah Mada Suci tells the story of the scapegoating of Gajah Mada under the pretext of the failure of the Majapahit Kingdom expansion. The expansion also coincided with the kingdom’s internal political turmoil. To make matters worse, Gajah Mada was accused by the elites of trying to remove him from the kingdom. As a result, Gajah Mada felt desperate and afterward he visited the residence of his friend, Mpu Tantular. After a long dialog, Gajah Mada was finally enlightened, that the efforts he had made so far were not in vain. The spirit of Amukti Palapa to unite the archipelago will continue in the next era.

“The performance of the Gajah Mada Suci is a form of depiction of the Indonesian nation that has experienced an identity crisis by winning over an interest and power through any means. Gajah Mada, who was a knight, finally moksa due to the deviant behavior of the Majapahit elite. After that, the Majapahit Kingdom lost its authority and then receded until it reached its collapse,” explained Rafi in an interview (05/09/2024).

As a special play, Rafi and his fellow UKJGS students practiced hard for a maximum performance. “The performance of Gajah Mada Suci has its own challenges for us. We practiced preparing for the performance in only half a month. Plus, this is my first time to play the Gajah Mada puppet, so it must be carefully prepared.”

“With these challenges, Alhamdulillah, the show can run smoothly. It was a great experience for me,” he continued.  Rafi hopes that the Gajah Mada puppet show will be held continuously because it is the work and identity of UGM as well as containing values that need to be socialized.

The existence of the Gajah Mada puppet is a real effort to promote the history and culture of the archipelago while still applying its relevance to the times. Through culture, we are not only ‘displaying’ aesthetics, but also reaffirming the nation’s identity through noble values for a better Indonesia.

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

Saturday, August 31, 2024 Faculty of Cultural Sciences together with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Seoul organized the opening of King Sejong Institute (KSI) Korean language course. The opening of the KSI class this period was held at CGV Pakuwon Yogyakarta. Attended by course participants and KSI managers, this opening went very well and was greeted with enthusiasm. The event began with opening remarks by Suray Agung Nugroho, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., as the chief manager of KSI Indonesia. The next agenda was the most awaited by every participant of this period’s KSI class opening, which was watching a movie.

In collaboration with CGV Pakuwon Yogyakarta, a Korean movie titled “Revolver” was shown. This action movie with a criminal theme tells about the journey of a woman who is trapped in a prison scheme to get some money in return. Directed by Oh Seung-uk, the movie managed to impress the participants of the King Sejong Institute (KSI) Korean language course opening. Hopefully, this event will motivate the participants of the KSI course to achieve brilliant achievements in the field of Korean language and literature.

Suaraya – Suakarsa Mahadaya, the Expo activity of the UGM Faculty of Arts Student Activity Unit was successfully held with great fanfare on Friday, August 30, 2024 in the Greendland area and the Margono building of the Faculty of Arts UGM. Organized by the ministry of interest and talent LEM FIB Abra Nirmala cabinet. The event involved 20 Semi-Autonomous Bodies, Communities, and SMEs at the faculty level with the aim of orientation and introduction to new FIB students about the dynamics, achievement opportunities, soft skills sharpening, and non-academic activities that students can undergo during college. The 20 units are:

1. Sanggar Lincak
2. Kapalasastra
3. UPI-Humanika
4. Paramadya
5. Rampoe
6. KMIB
7. Teater Terjal
8. Saskine
9. Bejomulyo
10. KMK
11. PKM Corner
12. Sastra Kanuragan
13. Dian Budaya
14. PMK
15. Sastra Budaya
16. Sastra Oebah
17. Suar Asa
18. Senat Mahasiswa FIB
19. LEM FIB
20. DKIB

Held overnight, Suaraya gave a pleasant impression to FIB students by packaging the BSO Performance and Introduction in a lively Collaborative Drama. The distribution of door prizes and prizes for the “Gemilang Tujuh Belasan FIB” competition was also a series that was awaited by the students who attended and the winners of the competition held a few weeks ago. The participating food tenants became friends of the students in fulfilling their hunger and thirst throughout the event.

The success of Suaraya cannot be separated from the support of the Dean, Lecturers and Staff of FIB, LEM FIB Management, General Committee, and BSO FIB UGM Community, as well as 8 Sponsors, namely;

1. Awor Coffe
2. Morse Board Game and Cafe
3. Sari Wangi Parfum
4. Imperial Digital Printing
5. Sari Roti
6. Yamie Panda
7. Sidodadi Soundsystem
8. Aka4 Lighting