Valient Kujang Macan

[Pangeran Datu]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

Pangeran Datu

I have noted your response to Sigit Subagio, and I thank you most sincerely for sharing this information with us, however, regretably , for me, the list of names you have provided raises more questions than it answers.

I would beg your indulgence in this matter, as the information that you provided in your intial post is information that I believe all of us with an interest in Indonesian weaponry would find most interesting. My own experience is in Central Jawa, and I have very little knowledge of Sundanese culture or institutions. I am sure, that those readers who have no understanding at all of the Indonesian language would be even more mystified than I am by the list of names you have provided.

Accordingly, I would be greatly obliged if could expand your explanation just a little by the provision some notes on your sources. For instance, I only know of the word "pantun" as a poetry form. Is Pantun Bogor, a particular piece of poetry? Composer known? Traditional? Dates from?How does it contribute to your data?

Wawacan terah Pasundan I do not understand. "wawacan" I do not understand, Pasundan I understand, "Terah" I have no idea of the meaning of.

Musium sri Baduga in Bandung--understood, but in what sense is this your source? Are you quoting from a musium publication, or a display tag? Do we know the author?

Yayasan Pangeran Sumedang, alright, the Pangeran Sumedang Foundation, but what is this foundation, what does it do, and how is the source for your information?

Paguyuban Pasundan, The Sundanese Association, ( or, as you say, whatever they may call themselves now), again, what is this association, what does it do, and how is it the source for your information?

As I said earlier:- your information is very interesting for many of us, if you could expand, your additional contribution would be of inestimable value.

I apologise to putting these questions to you, but I am sure that you understand just how important it is to adequately record any information of this kind.

I thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Alan.

Hello Alan,

As you noted, my response to Sigit Subagio was primarily intended for him. I assumed that he lived in Jember and therefore would be in a position to follow up on what I provided.
I listed what I would consider sources more readily available in the public arena. Unfortunately, I cannot provide specific details about sources. Sources may vary from books in libraries to 'paririmbon' (family histories); from officials to private individuals. Some people wanted to maintain their anonymity while others wanted to keep their paririmbon private.
In any event, it is of little concern to me.
Being eclectic, anything I encounter I analyse to my satisfaction before I commit to memory. I document very little, otherwise my life would not be as rich. I leave that to academia and those better versed in scientific methodologies. However, all my knowledge is under a continuing and iterative process of evaluation, in the light of more recent data.

To answer your questions:

- 'Pantun' is a traditional (pre-16thC.) Sunda activity performed either as a ritual or as entertainment. It is chanted in verse form by a bard to the accompaniment of a 'pantun' (a plucked, stringed instrument similar to that used in 'gamelan')
Each pantun is a lengthy, descriptive story.
In ritual pantun, due to the sacredness of the occasion, the stories tend to be more religious in nature, while in entertainment pantun, the stories tend to be about some pre-Islamic prince/ruler or local lore/yore.
Entertainment pantun performances usually begin in the early evening and end at dawn. Ritual pantuns, on the other hand, usually start early before dawn and take a lot longer.
Pantuns were passed down in the oral tradition.
'Pantun Bogor', is a collection of such stories which were actually transcribed before WW II.

- 'Wawacan' is a story which fulfils a set ctriteria. It was not meant to be read in a personal way, like a paperback; rather, it was delivered to a selected audience. Its target audience were usually two groups within the community: 'pesantren' (religious scholars) and 'menak' (aristocracy). That is why wawacans were written in two scripts: 'pegon' (pesantren) and cacarakan (menak).
Wawacan Terah Pasundan is a publication dealing with Sunda heritage.

- Museum Sri Baduga probably is the best museum source on Sunda. It also has a collection of traditional weapons.

- Yayasan Pangeran Sumedang is a foundation dedicated to preserving the heritage of Sumedang, one of the oldest kingdoms. It also has a collection of kujang.

- Paguyuban Pasundan seeks to preserve/ develop Sunda language, history and culture. A good source for contacts.

Cheers,