Sundanese people

TheSundanese(Indonesian:Orang Sunda;Sundanese:ᮅᮛᮀ ᮞᮥᮔ᮪ᮓ,romanized:Urang Sunda) are anAustronesianethnic groupnative towestern region of Javaisland inIndonesia, primarilyWest Java. They number approximately 42 million and formIndonesia's second most populous ethnic group. They speak theSundanese language, which is part of theAustronesian languages.
The western area of the island of Java, namely the provinces ofWest Java,Banten, andJakarta, as well as the westernmost part ofCentral Java, is called by the Sundanese peopleTatar SundaorPasundan(meaning Sundanese land).
Sundanese migrants can also be found inLampung,South Sumatra, and, to a lesser extent, inCentral JavaandEast Java.
The Sundanese people can also be found on several other islands in Indonesia such asSumatra,Kalimantan,Sulawesi,BaliandPapua.
The Sundanese are ofAustronesianorigins and are thought to have originated inTaiwan. They migrated through the Philippines and reached Java between 1,500 BC and 1,000 BC.Nevertheless, there is also a hypothesis that argues that the Austronesian ancestors of contemporary Sundanese people originally came fromSundaland, a massive sunken peninsula that today forms the Java Sea, the Malacca and Sunda Straits and the islands between them.According to a recent genetic study, Sundanese, together withJavaneseandBalinese, has an significant admixture ofAustroasiaticandAustronesianancestries.
TheSunda Wiwitanbelief contains the mythical origin of Sundanese people; Sang Hyang Kersa, the supreme divine being in ancient Sundanese belief created sevenbataras(deities) inSasaka Pusaka Buana(The Sacred Place on Earth). The oldest of these bataras is called Batara Cikal and is considered the ancestor of theKanekes people. The other six bataras ruled various locations in Sunda lands in Western Java. A Sundanese legend ofSangkuriangcontains the memory of the prehistoricancient lake in Bandung basinhighland, which suggest that Sundanese already inhabit the region since theMesolithicera, at least 20,000 years ago.Another popular Sundanese proverb and legend mentioned the creation ofParahyangan(Priangan) highlands, the heartland of the Sundanese realm; "When thehyangs(gods) were smiling, the land of Parahyangan was created". This legend suggested the Parahyangan highland as the playland or the abode of gods, as well as suggesting its natural beauty.
The earliest historical polity that appeared in the Sundanese realm in the Western part of Java was the kingdom ofTarumanagara, which flourished between the 4th and 7th centuries.Hinduinfluences reached the Sundanese people as early as the 4th century AD, as is evident inTarumanagara inscriptions. The adoption of this dharmic faith in the Sundanese way of life was, however, never as intense as their Javanese counterparts. It seems that despite the central court beginning to adopt Hindu-Buddhist culture and institution, the majority of common Sundanese still retained their native natural and ancestral worship. By the 4th century, the older megalithic culture was probably still alive and well next to the penetrating Hindu influences. Court cultures flourished in ancient times, for example, during the era ofSunda Kingdom. However, the Sundanese appear not to have had the resources nor desire to construct largereligious monuments.The traditional rural Sundanese method of rice farming, byladangorhuma(dry rice farming), also contributed to small populations of sparsely inhabited Sundanese villages.
Geographic constraints that isolate each region also led Sundanese villages to enjoy their simple way of life and their independence even more. That was probably the factor that would contribute to the carefree nature, egalitarian, conservative, independent and somewhat individualistic social outlook of the Sundanese people. The Sundanese seems to love and revere their nature in spiritual ways, leading to them adopting some taboos to conserve nature and maintain the ecosystem. The conservative tendency and their somewhat opposition to foreign influences are demonstrated in extreme isolationist measures adopted keenly by Kanekes orBaduy people. They have rules against interacting with outsiders and adopting foreign ideas, technology, and ways of life. They have also set some taboos, such as not cutting trees or harming forest creatures, to conserve their natural ecosystem.
One of the earliest historical records that mention the name "Sunda" appears in theKebon Kopi II inscriptiondated 854 saka (932 AD) discovered inBogor. In 1225, a Chinese writer namedChou Ju-kua, in his bookChu-fan-chi, describes the port ofSin-t'o(Sunda), which probably refers to the port ofBantenorKalapa. By examining these records, it seems that the name "Sunda" started to appear in the early 11th century as a Javanese term used to designate their western neighbours. A Chinese source more specifically refers to it as the port of Banten or Sunda Kelapa. After the formation and consolidation of theSunda Kingdom's unity and identity during thePajajaranera under the rule ofSri Baduga Maharaja(popularly known asKing Siliwangi), the shared common identity of Sundanese people was more firmly established. They adopted the name "Sunda" to identify their kingdom, their people and theirlanguage.
Inland Pasundan is mountainous and hilly, and until the 19th century, it was thickly forested and sparsely populated. The Sundanese traditionally live in small and isolated hamlets, rendering control by indigenous courts difficult. The Sundanese, traditionally engage in dry-field farming. These factors resulted in the Sundanese having a less rigid social hierarchy and more independent social manners.In the 19th century, Dutch colonial exploitation opened much of the interior forcoffee,tea, and quinine production, and the highland society took on a frontier aspect, further strengthening the individualistic Sundanese mindset.
There is a widespread belief among Indonesian ethnicities that the Sundanese are famous for their beauty. In his report "Summa Oriental" on the early 16th centurySunda Kingdom, Portuguese apothecaryTomé Piresmentioned: "The (Sundanese) women are beautiful, and those of the nobles chaste, which is not the case with those of the lower classes". Sundanese women are, as the belief goes, one of the most beautiful in the country due to the climate (they have a lighter complexion than other Indonesians) and a diet featuring raw vegetables (they are said to possess especially soft skin). Bandungite ladies, popularly known asMojangPrianganare reputedly pretty, fashion smart and forward-looking.Probably because of this, many Sundanese people today pursue careers in the entertainment industry.
TheSundanese languageis spoken by approximately 36 million people in 2010and is the second most widely spoken regional language in Indonesia.The 2000 Indonesia Census put this figure at 30.9 million. This language is spoken in the southern part of theBantenprovince,and most ofWest Javaand eastwards as far as thePamali Riverin Brebes,Central Java.
Sundanese is also closely related toMalayandMinangas it is to Javanese, as seen by the Sundanese utilising different language levels denoting rank and respect – a concept borrowed from the Javanese.It shares similar vocabularies with Javanese and Malay. There are several dialects of Sundanese, from the Sunda–Banten dialect to the Sunda–Cirebonan dialect in the eastern part of West Java until the western part of Central Java Province. Some of the most distinct dialects are from Banten, Bogor, Priangan, and Cirebon. In Central Java, Sundanese is spoken in some of the Cilacap region and some of the Brebes region. It is known that the most refined Sundanese dialect — which is considered as its original form – are those spoken in Ciamis, Tasikmalaya, Garut, Bandung, Sumedang, Sukabumi, and especially Cianjur (The dialect spoken by people living in Cianjur is considered as the most refined Sundanese). The dialect spoken on the north coast, Banten and Cirebon are considered less refined, and the language spoken byBaduy peopleis considered the archaic type of Sundanese language,before the adoption of the concept of language stratification to denote rank and respect as demonstrated (and influenced) byJavanese.
Today, the Sundanese language is primarily written inLatin script. However, there is an effort to revive theSundanese script, which was used between the 14th and 18th centuries. For example, street names in Bandung and several cities in West Java are now written in both Latin and Sundanese scripts.
The initial religious systems of the Sundanese wereanimismanddynamismwith reverence to ancestral (karuhun) and natural spirits identified ashyang, yet bears some traits ofpantheism. The best indications are found in the oldest epic poems (wawacan) and among the remoteBaduytribe. This religion is calledSunda Wiwitan("early Sundanese").Thericeagriculture had shaped the culture, beliefs and ritual system of traditional Sundanese people, among other the reverence toNyai Pohaci Sanghyang Asrias the goddess of rice and fertility. The land of Sundanese people in western Java is among the earliest places in the Indonesian archipelago that were exposed to Indian Hindu-Buddhist influences.Tarumanagarafollowed bySunda KingdomadoptedHinduismas early as the 4th century. TheBatujayastupacomplex in Karawang shows Buddhist influences in West Java, whileCangkuangShivaic temple nearGarutshows Hindu influence. The 16th-century sacred textSanghyang siksakanda ng karesiancontains the religious and moral rules, guidance, prescriptions and lessons for ancient Sundanese people.
Around the 15th to 16th centuries,Islambegan to spread among the Sundanese people by Indian Muslim traders, and its adoption accelerated after the fall of the Hindu-animistSunda Kingdomand the establishment of the Islamic Sultanates ofBantenandCirebonin coastal West Java. Numerousulama(locally known as "kyai") penetrated villages in the mountainous regions ofParahyanganand established mosques and schools (pesantren) and spread the Islamic faith amongst the Sundanese people. Small traditional Sundanese communities retained their indigenous social and belief systems, adopting self-imposed isolation, and refused foreign influences, proselytism andmodernisationaltogether, such as those of theBaduy(Kanekes) people of inlandLebak Regency. Some Sundanese villages such as those in Cigugur Kuningan retained theirSunda Wiwitanbeliefs, while some villages such asKampung Nagain Tasikmalaya, and Sindang Barang Pasir Eurih in Bogor, although identifying themselves as Muslim, still uphold pre-Islamic traditions and taboos and venerated thekaruhun(ancestral spirits). Today, most Sundanese areSunniMuslims.
After western Java fell under the control ofDutch East India Company(VOC) in the early 18th century, and later under theDutch East Indies,Christianevangelism towards the Sundanese people was started by missionaries of Genootschap voor In- en Uitwendige Zending te Batavia (GIUZ). This organisation was founded by Mr F. L. Anthing and Pastor E. W. King in 1851. However, it was Nederlandsche Zendelings Vereeniging (NZV) that sent their missionaries to convert the Sundanese peoples. They started the mission in Batavia, later expanding into several towns inWest Javasuch asBandung,Cianjur,Cirebon,BogorandSukabumi. They built schools, churches and hospitals for native people in West Java. Compared to the large Sundanese Muslim population, the numbers of Christian Sundanese are scarce. Today, Christians in West Java are mostlyChinese Indonesiansresiding in West Java, with only small numbers of native Sundanese Christians.
In contemporary Sundanese social and religious life, there is a growing shift towardsIslamism, especially amongst urban Sundanese.Compared to the 1960s, many Sundanese Muslim women today have decided to wearhijab. The same phenomenon was also found earlier in theMalay communityin Sumatra and Malaysia. Modern history saw the rise of political Islam through the birth ofDarul Islam Indonesiain Tasikmalaya, West Java, back in 1949, although this movement was later cracked down by the Indonesian Republic. In modern contemporary political landscapes, the Sundanese realm in West Java and Banten also provides widespread support for Islamic parties such as theProsperous Justice Party(PKS) and theUnited Development Party(PPP). There are numbers of Sundanese ulama and Islamic preachers who have been successful in gaining national popularity, such as KyaiAbdullah Gymnastiar, UstadzAdi HidayatandMamah Dedehwho have become TV personalities through theirdakwahshow. There is an increasing number of Sundanese people who consider theHajj(pilgrimage to Mecca) as something that enjoys social prestige. On the other hand, there is also a movement led by the minority Sundanese conservative traditionalistadat, theSunda Wiwitancommunity, who are struggling to achieve wider acceptance and recognition of their faith and way of life.
Sundanese culture is similar to that of Javanese culture. However, it differs in that it has a much less rigid system of social hierarchy.The Sundanese, in their mentality and behavior, greater egalitarianism and antipathy to yawning class distinctions, and community-based material culture, differ from the feudal hierarchy apparent among the people of Javanese principalities.Central Javanese court culture nurtured an atmosphere conducive to elite, stylised, impeccably polished forms of art and literature. Sundanese culture bore few traces of these traditions.
Culturally, the Sundanese people adopt abilateral kinship system, with male and female descent of equal importance. In Sundanese families, the important rituals revolved around life cycles, from birth to death, adopting many previous Animist and Hindu-Buddhist, as well as Islamic, traditions. For example, during the seventh month of pregnancy, there is a prenatal ritual calledNujuh Bulanan(identical toNaloni Mitoniin Javanese tradition) which traces its origins to Hindu ritual. Shortly after the birth of a baby, a ritual calledAkekahan(from Arabic word:Aqiqah) is performed; an Islamic tradition in which the parents slaughter a goat for a baby girl or two goats for a baby boy, the meat later being cooked and distributed to relatives and neighbors. Thecircumcisionceremony is performed on prepubescent boys and celebrated with Sisingaan (lion) dance.
The wedding ceremony is the highlight of Sundanese family celebration involving complex rituals fromnaroskeunandneundeun omong(marriage proposal and agreement conducted by parents and family elders),siraman(bridal shower),seserahan(presenting wedding gifts for the bride),akad nikah(wedding vows),saweran(throwing coins, mixed with flower petals and sometimes also candies, for the unmarried guests to collect and believed to bring better luck in romance),huap lingkung(bride and groom feed each other by the hand, with arms entwined to symbolize love and affection),bakakak hayam(bride and groom ripping a grilled chicken through holding each of its legs; a traditional way to determine which one will dominate the family which is the one that gets the larger or head part), and the wedding feast inviting whole family and business relatives, neighbours, and friends as guests. Death in a Sundanese family is usually performed through a series of rituals in accordance with traditional Islam, such as thepengajian(reciting Al Quran) including providingberkat(rice box with side dishes) for guests. The Quran recitation is performed daily, from the day of death through the seventh day following; later performed again on the 40th day, a year, and the 1,000th day after the passing. This tradition today, however, is not always closely and faithfully followed since growing numbers of Sundanese are adopting a less traditional Islam which does not maintain many of the older traditions.
Sundanese literature was basically oral. Their arts (such as architecture, music, dance, textiles, and ceremonies) substantially preserved traditions from an earlier phase of civilization, stretching back even to the Neolithic, and never overwhelmed (as eastward, in Java) by aristocratic Hindu-Buddhist ideas.The art and culture of Sundanese people reflect historical influences by various cultures that include prehistoric nativeanimismandshamanismtraditions, ancientHindu-Buddhistheritage, andIslamic culture. The Sundanese have very vivid, orally-transmitted memories of the grand era of theSunda Kingdom.The oral tradition of Sundanese people is calledPantun Sunda, a chant of poetic verses employed for story-telling. It is the counterpart of the Javanesetembang, similar to but independent from Malaypantun. The Pantun Sunda often recount Sundanese folklore and legends such asSangkuriang,Lutung Kasarung,Ciung Wanara,Mundinglaya Dikusumah, the tales ofKing Siliwangi, and popular children's folk stories such asSi Leungli.
Traditional Sundanese arts include various forms of music, dance, and martial arts. The most notable types of Sundanese music areangklungbamboo music,kacapi sulingmusic,gamelan degung, reyog Sunda and rampak gendang. The Angklung bamboo musical instrument is considered one of the world heritages of intangible culture.
The most well known and distinctive Sundanese dances areJaipongan,a traditional social dance which is usually, but mistakenly, associated witheroticism. Other popular dances such as theMerak dancedescribe colourful dancing peafowls.Sisingaandance is performed mainly in theSubangarea to celebrate thecircumcisionritual where the boy is seated upon a lion figure carried by four men. Other dances such as the Peafowl dance, Dewi dance and Ratu Graeni dance show JavaneseMataramcourtly influences.
Wayang golekpuppetry is the most popular wayang performance for Sundanese people. Many forms ofkejawendance, literature,gamelanmusic andshadow puppetry(wayang kulit) derive from the Javanese.Sundanese puppetry is more influenced by Islamic folklore than the influence of Indian epics present in Javanese versions.
ThePencak silatmartial art in Sundanese tradition can be traced to the historical figureKing Siliwangiof the Sunda Pajajaran kingdom, with Cimande as one of the most prominent schools. The recently developedTarung Derajatis also a popular martial art in West Java.Kujangis the traditional weapon of the Sundanese people.
The architecture of a Sundanese house is characterised by its functionality, simplicity, modesty, uniformity with little details, its use of naturalthatchedmaterials, and its quite faithful adherence to harmony with nature and the environment.
Sundanese traditional houses mostly take basic form ofgable roofedstructure, commonly calledkampungstyle roof, made of thatched materials (ijukblackarenfibers,kirai,hateupleaves or palm leaves) covering wooden frames and beams, wovenbamboowalls, and its structure is built on shortstilts. Its roof variations might includeshipandgablet roof(a combination of gable and hip roof).
The more elaborate overhanging gablet roof is calledJulang Ngapak, which means "bird spreading wings". Other traditional Sundanese house forms includingBuka Pongpok, Capit Gunting, Jubleg Nangkub, Badak Heuay, Tagog Anjing, andPerahu Kemureb.
Next to houses,rice barnor calledleuitin Sundanese is also an essential structure in the traditional Sundanese agricultural community.Leuitis essential duringSeren Taunharvest ceremony.
Sundanese cuisineis one of the most famous traditional food in Indonesia, and it is also easily found in most Indonesian cities. The Sundanese food is characterised by its freshness; the famouslalab(raw vegetables salad) eaten withsambal(chili paste), and alsokaredok(peanuts paste) demonstrate the Sundanese fondness for fresh raw vegetables. Similar to other ethnic groups in Indonesia, Sundanese people eatricefor almost every meal. The Sundanese like to say, "If you have not eaten rice, then you have not eaten at all." Rice is prepared in hundreds of different ways. However, it is simple steamed rice that serves as the centerpiece of all meals.
Next tosteamed rice, the side dishes ofvegetables,fish, ormeatare added to provide a variety of tastes as well as for protein, mineral and nutrient intake. These side dishes are grilled, fried, steamed or boiled and spiced with any combination of garlic,galangal(a plant of the ginger family), turmeric, coriander, ginger, and lemongrass. The herb-rich food wrapped and cooked inside banana leaf calledpepes(Sundanese:pais) is popular among Sundanese people.Pepesare available in many varieties according to their ingredients; carp fish, anchovies, minced meat with eggs, mushroom, tofu or oncom.Oncomis a fermented peanut-based ingredient that is prevalent within Sundanese cuisine, just like its counterpart, Tempe, which is popular among Javanese people. Usually, the food itself is not too spicy, but it is served with a boiling sauce made by grinding chilli peppers and garlic together. On the coast, saltwater fish are common; in the mountains, fish tend to be either pond-raised carp or goldfish. A well-known Sundanese dish islalapan, which consists only of raw vegetables, such aspapayaleaves,cucumber,eggplant, andbitter melon.
In general, Sundanese food tastes rich and savoury, but not as rich asPadang food, not as sweet asJavanese food.
In Sundanese culture, there is a culture of eating together known asCucurakin theBogorarea orMunggahanin thePrianganarea. This tradition is usually carried out together with extended family or colleagues when approachingRamadan.
The traditional occupation of Sundanese people isagricultural, especiallyricecultivation. Sundanese culture and tradition are usually centred around the agricultural cycle. Festivities such as theSeren Taunharvest ceremony are held in high importance, especially in the traditional Sundanese community inCiptagelarvillage, Cisolok,Sukabumi; Sindang Barang, Pasir Eurih village, Taman Sari,Bogor; and the traditional Sundanese community in CigugurKuningan.The typical Sundaneseleuit(rice barn) is an important part of traditional Sundanese villages; it is held in high esteem as the symbol of wealth and welfare. Since early times, the Sundanese have predominantly been farmers.They tend to be reluctant to be government officers or legislators.
Next to agriculture, Sundanese people often choose business and trade to make a living although most are traditional entrepreneurs, such as travelling food or drink vendors, establishing modestwarung(food stalls) or restaurants, as the vendor of daily consumer's goods or open a modestbarber shop. Their affinity for establishing and running small-scale entrepreneurship is most likely contributed by the Sundanese tendency to be independent, carefree, egalitarian, individualistic and optimistic. They seem to abhor the rigid structure and rules of government offices. Several traditional travelling food vendors and food stalls such asSiomay,Gado-gadoandKaredok,Nasi Goreng,Cendol,Bubur Ayam, Roti Bakar(grilled bread),Bubur kacang hijau(green beans congee) andIndomieinstant noodle stall are notably run by Sundanese.
Nevertheless, there are numbers of Sundanese that successfully carved their career as intellectuals or politicians in national politics, government offices and military positions. Some notable Sundanese has gained positions in the Indonesian government as governor, municipal major, vice president and state ministers, also as officers and general in theIndonesian military.
Sundanese is also popularly known as cheerful and mercurial folks, as they love to joke and tease around. Thewayang golekartform ofCepot, Dawala, and Gareng punakawan characters demonstrate the Sundanese quirky side. Some Sundanese might find art and culture as their passion and become artists, either in fine art, music or performing art. Today, there are several Sundanese involved in the music and entertainment industry, with some of Indonesia's most famous singers, musicians, composers, cinema directors, film andsinetrons(soap opera) actors being of Sundanese origin.
Notable Sundanese that has been recognised asIndonesian national heroesincludeDewi Sartikathat fought for equality for women's education, and statesmen such asOto Iskandar di NataandDjuanda Kartawidjaja. Former governor of JakartaAli SadikinandAnies Baswedan, former vice presidentUmar Wirahadikusumah, and former defence ministerAgum Gumelar, and ministers of foreign affairs such asMochtar Kusumaatmadja,Hassan WirajudaandMarty Natalegawa,Meutya Hafidare among notable Sundanese in politics.Ajip RosidiandAchdiat Karta Mihardjaare among Indonesian distinguished poets and writers.
The modern Indonesian entertainment industry employs large numbers of Sundanese artists that have become Indonesia's most famous singers, musicians, composers, cinema directors, film andsinetronactors. FamousdangdutsingersRhoma Irama,Elvy Sukaesihand, musicians and composers such asErwin Gutawaand singers such asAdhisty Zara,Roekiah,Hetty Koes Endang,Vina Panduwinata,Nicky Astria,Nike Ardilla,Poppy Mercury,Rossa,Gita GutawaandSyahrini, Indonesian sinetrons actors such asRaffi Ahmad, Jihan Fahira andAsmirandah Zantman, also stunt choreographer, movie action star Kang Cecep Arif Rahman, also film directorNia Dinata, are among artists of Sundanese background. Famous wayang golek puppet master wasAsep Sunandar Sunarya, whileSule, Jojon and Kang Ibing are a popular comedians. In sports, Indonesian athletes of Sundanese background include badminton Olympic gold medalistsTaufik Hidayat,Ricky SubagjaandRizki Juniansyah.