Damarwulan
Encyclopedia
Damarwulan is a Java
nese cultural hero who appears in a cycle of stories used in the performance of wayang klitik
, as well as Langendriya (female dance-opera) and ketoprak
(popular theater). These stories tell of the struggles between the Majapahit and Blambangan kingdoms, in which Damarwulan gains honor. The stories are especially popular in East Java
.
, at which time there was a war with Blambangan. However, the names of the characters Damar Wulan ("radiance of the moon") and Menak Jingga ("red knight") suggest that it may incorporate elements of an older sun-moon myth. It is uncertain when the story was first recorded and by whom.
Meanwhile, Menak Jingga has wrote a letter to the queen asking for her hand. When the queen rejects him, he declares war on the Majapahit kingdom. He is successful in dispatching Majapahit's allies, and finally the kingdom is threatened by his forces directly. In distress, the queen announces that whoever kills Menak Jingga and brings her his head can have her hand. Worried when no saviors present themselves, she has a divine revelation that a young knight named Damarwulan can overcome him. She orders Patih Logender to release him from jail and send him forth on his mission.
Damarwulan, accompanied by his servants, makes his way to Blambangan. Arriving at night, he steals into the gardens and manages to overhear a conversation at the pavilion between two resentful captive princesses. Damarwulan enters the pavilion and confides in them, and, enraptured by his beauty, they become devoted to him. At this time, Menak Jingga decides to visit the princesses, and discovers Damarwulan. They fight, but Damarwulan is unable to hurt Menak Jingga, and, severely wounded, appears to die. Menak Jingga leaves, ordering his servants to guard the body. However, they fall asleep, and the two princesses carry him away, revive him, and explain to the secret of Menak Jingga's magic invulnerability, a club of yellow iron kept behind his headrest. If the king is hit on his left temple with this club, he will die. Risking their lives for the sake of their lover, the princesses manage to steal the club while the king is asleep. A second battle between Menak Jingga and Damarwulan follows, in which Damarwulan manages to behead the king. Successful, he returns to Majapahit, but the prime minister's sons ambush him outside the palace, killing him and presenting Menak Jingga's head to the queen. However, a hermit revives Damarwulan, and the queen learns what happened. In a final battle, Damarwulan defeats his cousins, is crowned King of Majapahit, and is permitted to retain Anjasmara as his other wife.
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
nese cultural hero who appears in a cycle of stories used in the performance of wayang klitik
Wayang
Wayang is a Javanese word for theatre . When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theatre, sometimes the puppet itself is referred to as wayang...
, as well as Langendriya (female dance-opera) and ketoprak
Ketoprak
Ketoprak may refer to:* Ketoprak, a traditional theater genre of Java, similar to wayang wong* Ketoprak , a salty West Javanese version of Gado-gado with tahu, bihun, cucumber and sprouting....
(popular theater). These stories tell of the struggles between the Majapahit and Blambangan kingdoms, in which Damarwulan gains honor. The stories are especially popular in East Java
East Java
East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and islands to its east and to its north East Java is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and includes neighboring Madura and...
.
Origin
The Damarwulan legend is associated with the Majapahit court at the time of the queen SuhitaSuhita
Suhita was a Javanese queen regnant and the sixth monarch of the Majapahit empire, ruling from 1429 to 1447. She was the daughter of Wikramawardhana, her predecessor, by a concubine who was the daughter of Wirabhumi, who was killed in the civil war with Wikramawardhana...
, at which time there was a war with Blambangan. However, the names of the characters Damar Wulan ("radiance of the moon") and Menak Jingga ("red knight") suggest that it may incorporate elements of an older sun-moon myth. It is uncertain when the story was first recorded and by whom.
Characters
- Prabu Kenya, the maiden queen of Majapahit
- Patih Logender, her prime ministerPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
- Layang Seta and Layang Kumitir, the prime minister's sons
- Dewi Anjasmara, the prime minister's daughter
- Damarwulan, the prime minister's nephew, raised away from court by his grandfather
- Menak Jingga, the King of Blambangan, a vassal of Majapahit
- Dewi Wahita and Dewi Puyengan, princesses held captive by Menak Jingga
- Sabdapalon and Nayagenggong, Damarwulan's servants
Synopsis
Damarwulan is a prince by birth, a nephew of the prime minister, Patih Logender, but was raised in the hermitage of his grandfather. Following his grandfather's advice, he goes to the Majapahit court seeking employment. His cousins, the prime minister's sons, mistreat him when he arrives. Patih Logender, not wanting him to compete with his own sons, assigns him as grass-cutter and stableboy. Though he is stripped of his fine garments, he still has his striking beauty. Rumors of this beauty eventually reach Anjasmara, the prime minister's daughter. She seeks him out secretly and they fall in love and are clandestinely married. One night, Anjasmara's brothers overhear voices in her chamber. They break in and try to kill Damarwulan, but he is able to overcome them. They flee to their father, who orders that Damarwulan be executed. Anjasmara pleas for her lover, and he doesn't execute Damarwulan, but imprisons the pair.Meanwhile, Menak Jingga has wrote a letter to the queen asking for her hand. When the queen rejects him, he declares war on the Majapahit kingdom. He is successful in dispatching Majapahit's allies, and finally the kingdom is threatened by his forces directly. In distress, the queen announces that whoever kills Menak Jingga and brings her his head can have her hand. Worried when no saviors present themselves, she has a divine revelation that a young knight named Damarwulan can overcome him. She orders Patih Logender to release him from jail and send him forth on his mission.
Damarwulan, accompanied by his servants, makes his way to Blambangan. Arriving at night, he steals into the gardens and manages to overhear a conversation at the pavilion between two resentful captive princesses. Damarwulan enters the pavilion and confides in them, and, enraptured by his beauty, they become devoted to him. At this time, Menak Jingga decides to visit the princesses, and discovers Damarwulan. They fight, but Damarwulan is unable to hurt Menak Jingga, and, severely wounded, appears to die. Menak Jingga leaves, ordering his servants to guard the body. However, they fall asleep, and the two princesses carry him away, revive him, and explain to the secret of Menak Jingga's magic invulnerability, a club of yellow iron kept behind his headrest. If the king is hit on his left temple with this club, he will die. Risking their lives for the sake of their lover, the princesses manage to steal the club while the king is asleep. A second battle between Menak Jingga and Damarwulan follows, in which Damarwulan manages to behead the king. Successful, he returns to Majapahit, but the prime minister's sons ambush him outside the palace, killing him and presenting Menak Jingga's head to the queen. However, a hermit revives Damarwulan, and the queen learns what happened. In a final battle, Damarwulan defeats his cousins, is crowned King of Majapahit, and is permitted to retain Anjasmara as his other wife.
Further reading
- Yoe Djin Lim. The story of Damar-Wulan the most popular legend of Indonesia Semarang: Lim Yoe Siang. OCLCOCLCOCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. is "a nonprofit, membership, computer library service and research organization dedicated to the public purposes of furthering access to the world’s information and reducing information costs"...
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