BALINESE CULTURE HISTORY.

The broad outline of the Balinese culture history.

The Balinese culture existence has a long noted history started from the pre-historic time advancing up to modern era and global civilization. In relation to modernization and globalization, the Balinese culture indicates a dynamic, selective flexible and adaptative characteristic initially more reflecting a configuration of an expressive culture dominated by religions, solidarity and esthetic values being nowadays more developed along with the adoption of progressive values covering the economic, science and technology aspects.

In broad outline, the history of the Balinese culture periodically develop within three main phases,i.e :

1. The era of pre-historic culture.
2. The influence of Hindu-Buddhis era.
3. The influence of modern culture era.

Some remains prove that pre-historic era in Bali derived from the oldiest era i.e. the era of hunting and foods-stuff collecting in the simplest way.

Later on, were also found some tools and equipments for hunting and foodstuff collecting, planting as well as building-construction system of advanced time a particular communication, later has a significant meaning for the existence and further development of the Balinese culture, was the interwoven between the culture itself with Hinduism, started since the initial Christian time. The communication nowadays comes to a perfect intergration between religions, tradition and culture or a cultural configuration being, as a matter of fact the identity of the Balinese community.

The influence of western culture introduced by Dutch later on intergrated with Indonesia culture and then being internationally opened through tourism.

Bali history also reveals the existence of several dynasties and local Kingdoms with the first, Warmadewa dynasty existed in around 913 AD while King Dharma Udayana of the dynasty, ruled Bali from 989-1011 AD.

The King ruled over Bali accompanied by His Queen, Gunapriya Dharmapatni, a princess from East Java, from the marriage of which then born three Princess i.e.: Airlangga, Marakata, and Anak wungsu.

Since 1343 AD, Bali was under the might of Majapahit and then since 1352 was under the reign of Kresna Kepakisan dynasty residing at Samprangan.

After several years at Samprangan, the palace was move to GELGEL in 1380 and then to Klungkung in 1686.

Instead of the Klungkung kingdom, in Bali at that time, there were also some other Kingdoms like : Gianyar, Karangasem, Bangli, Badung, Tabanan, Mengwi and Jembrana which also functioned as the development centres of culture.

Bali history also noted the arrival of Islam to Bali at around 14th century and Dutch invasion in 1597.

The war against the Dutch invader broke out in Buleleng { north Bali} in 1849, in Badung known as ” Puputan Badung” in 1906 and Klungkung { Puputan Klungkung } in 1908. Then come the time of the Japanese invasion followed by physical revolution against the re-invasion of Dutch through the great war known as ” Puputan Margarana”, 20 November 1946 under the command of Luitenant Colonel I Gusti Ngurah Rai who died as National Hero.

THE PEOPLE’S LIVEHOOD.

The people earn their living mostly on farming while, the other occupations are : crafting { home industry }, trading and various services mainly in tourist business.

Agriculture covers farming { ricefield } and plantation. In agricultural system in Bali, known a traditional institution called ” Subak ” as an asscociation of owners or workers who get water from the same irrigation water-source or certain dam.

It is also functioned as an organization of economic, social and religious of the locals with obligation of the member mainly to regulate the distribution of water, to maintain and fix up the irrigation instrument, to control pests, to do farming, innovation and to prepare and organize the rituals as well. There are 1611 units of subak listed in Bali.

SETTLEMENT PATTERN.

The structure of the Balinese settlement can be classified into two kinds i.e : concentric pattern like that in Bali highland and spreading pattern like in Bali mainland. In concentric pattern, the traditional village { desa adat } is the central point while in spreading pattern, the village is divided into smaller social units called : Banjar.

Building within the Balinese settlement according to its function can be differed into three kinds :

1. Holy building { shrine / temple }.
2. Public building.
3. Family compound consisted of various kinds of constructions according to the Balinese compound pattern is rather complex.

The cultural system defining the Balinese living settlement is based on ” Tri Hita Karana” conceipt as well as dual conceipt that differs two categories namely : Direction or points of the compass { north-south } in connection with upper-lower and holy-disgrace { sacred-profane} conceipts.

Everything considered holy or sacred occupies a position on the upper part called ” hulu” at the direction of the mountain or rising sun, so the location of temple or the worshipping direction is on always the upper part of a compound.

On the contrary, everything considered unholy or profane will occupy the lower part { teben } that is on the south, to the direction to the sea like : cemetery, toilet, rubbish disposal, cattle stable, etc.

TRADITIONAL INSTITUTION.

Traditional instituon within the Balinese community known as village { desa }, Banjar { small unit}, Subak { water irigation group } and specific social group{ sekehe }.

Desa is traditional institution formed basing on regional aspect with two conceipts known as traditional village { desa adat } and official village { desa dinas }. Desa adat {traditional village } is a unit of traditional community connected by similar custom and social intercourse of Hindu Balinese from generation to generation within definitive region bound by the obligation of maintaining the village temples called Kahyangan Tiga, with own properties to be concerned with ” Tri Hina Karana” conceipt.

Official village { desa adat } is an administrative area belong a district. In Bali, there are 1.305 traditional village and 612 official villages. Tri Hita Karana conceipt is coceipt of intergration of three living components towards prosperity and happiness believed by the Balinese. The three living components are :

1.

“Parhyangan” or God Almighty who grants and protects life.
2.

“Palemahan”, the entire region of certain village institution.
3.

“Pawongan”, human resources consisted of the whole members of the village concerned.

According to the structure, traditional villages in Bali { 1.371 } can be classified into two patterns :

1.

Traditional village with centralization pattern.
2.

Traditional village with decentralization pattern in which the village divided into several smaller-units called “banjar”, having religious, social, economic and cultural functionsn as well. There are : 3.945 banjar existing in Bali.

Subak, as mentioned prevously, is an organization of land owners or landworkers having their water irrigation from the same watersource or certain dam. The Subak structure is based on Tri Hita Karana conceipt because it has its own temple, area and member of organization.

“Sekehe” is voluntarily institution formed on the base of particular objectives. There are various kinds of ” Sekehe” in Bali according to its specifications such as : agriculture, home-industry, performing art, spiritual,etc. More about Balinese art and Hindu religion.

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