Yogyakarta, September 11, 2024 – Located in the Auditorium of Soegondo Building 7th Floor, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) hosted a visit from MAN 2 Blitar students. The event which took place from 09.00 to 11.00 am was filled with high enthusiasm from the participants.

During this visit, MAN 2 Blitar students had the opportunity to explore various information related to FIB and UGM. The material presented by the faculty covered various aspects of the available study programs, facilities, and campus life at UGM. The detailed and interactive explanation made the students very involved and excited during the event.

The discussion session became one of the most anticipated moments. The students did not hesitate to ask various relevant questions, such as information about scholarships available at UGM, average SNBP scores, and UTBK scores needed to enter the Faculty. In addition, they also asked about achievements that can be obtained through memorizing the Quran and organizational experience of UGM Faculty of Arts students. All these questions were answered directly by UGM students who shared their experiences with enthusiasm.

The visit ended with a very memorable gift. MAN 2 Blitar students donated their calligraphy works and typical Blitar food as a form of appreciation and memento for the Faculty of Arts UGM. The souvenirs were warmly received and became a symbol of the friendship that existed between the two parties. This visit is expected to strengthen the relationship between MAN 2 Blitar and UGM and provide a clearer picture of academic life and opportunities at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM.

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

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences Universitas Gadjah Mada held a Research Progress Seminar for the Professor Scheme on 4 September 2024. This seminar was held online and open to all FIB UGM academic community, with the aim of monitoring and advancing the research process of Professors in this faculty.

The Professor Research Scheme is a stimulus programme designed to improve the quality and quantity of research publications. The programme aims to assist Professors in finalising their scientific papers to be ready for publication, either as books with ISBN or articles in international journals. To achieve this goal, all academic potential at FIB UGM is optimised through various integrated programmes supported by strict quality assurance mechanisms.

This year, the professors participating in the research scheme are:

• Dr I Dewa Putu Wijana, S.U., M.A. with research entitled ‘Literary Vocabularies in Indonesia.’
• Dr Faruk, S.U. who presented research entitled ‘Post-Classical Naratology: Theories and Applications.’
• Dr Bambang Hudayana, M.A. with research titled ‘Money Politics Culture in the 2024 Presidential Election: A Case Study in Dusun Community, Yogyakarta Special Region.’

Each presentation session was followed by an interactive discussion involving seminar participants. The event aimed to provide constructive feedback and facilitate the exchange of ideas between researchers and the audience. The Professors’ Scheme Research Progress Seminar is expected to continue to support professors in achieving quality publication targets and strengthen the position of the Faculty of Humanities UGM in the international academic world.

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.