Folklore of Indonesia


Folklore of Indonesia is known in Indonesian as dongeng, cerita rakyat or folklor, refer to any folklore found in Indonesia. Its origins are probably an oral culture, with a range of stories of heroes associated with wayang and other forms of theatre, transmitted outside of a written culture. Folklores in Indonesia are closely connected with mythology.

Themes

Indonesian folklore reflects the diverse culture of Indonesia as well as the diversity of ethnic groups in Indonesia. Many ethnic groups have their own collection of tales and folklore that have been told for generations. The stories are usually told to children as bedtime stories and have pedagogical values such as kindness, benevolence, modesty, honesty, bravery, patience, persistence, virtue, and morality. For example, one popular theme is "the truth will always prevail, and evil will always be defeated."
While most Indonesian folkloric stories have happy endings and 'happily ever after' themes, some employ tragedy and have sad endings.

Forms

Most Indonesian folklore started as an oral tradition told by storytellers and parents for generations within Indonesian villages. The stories were often sung or chanted in several oral traditions such as pantun, tembang, or children's chants. Some were performed in performing arts such as wayang and sendratari. In Malay tradition, some of them are written in scripture as hikayat, while in Javanese tradition, several stories are connected with historical figures and historical records such as babad or older kakawin scriptures such as Pararaton. Indian Hindu-Buddhist epics also influenced Indonesian folklore, especially through wayang and dance drama in Java and Bali. The Hindu epics the Ramayana and Mahabharata have become their own separate versions with Indonesian twists and interpretations that often differ from the Indian versions. The Buddhist Jataka tales also has made their way into Indonesian fables and animal folklore. Jataka stories are found carved as narrative bas-reliefs on ancient Javanese candis, such as the Mendut, Borobudur and Sajiwan temples; telling animal fables about the virtues of Buddha, who performed exceptional acts of kindness in his animal incarnations before being reborn as a Boddhisattva and the future Buddha.
These stories have been collected and used in the Indonesian education system, in small cheap books, usually tied in with a district or region of Indonesia. Many stories explain events or establish moral allegories using iconic or symbolic characters of the past. They also seek to explain the origins of names of people and places from Folk etymology.
During the Suharto era, there were sections of the Indonesian Department of Education and Culture that researched and wrote reports on collected cerita rakyat.

List of Indonesian folklore

There are several genres of Indonesian folklore.

Tales

The story of the struggle of a common protagonist to finally achieve happiness despite facing many problems.
The stories that try to explain the origins of certain places, names and/or things.
Heroic tales of struggles, battles and war. The story of a hero's adventure and their exploits.
Animal tales, featuring animals that behave like humans or interact and speak with humans.
Witch, demon, spirit or ghost tales, based on urban legends or supernatural phenomena.

Folklore from Java

  1. Ciung Wanara
  2. Entong Emas
  3. Keong Emas
  4. Jawara Sagara Kidul
  5. Sangkuriang
  6. Si Buncir, Anak Jelata Jadi Raja Salaka
  7. Si Buntung Jago Tutugan
  8. Si Kebayan
  9. Si Keling
  10. Si Rawing
  11. Legenda Batu Menangis
  12. Leungli
  13. Lutung Kasarung
  14. Nini Anteh
  15. Nyai Anteh and the Moon
  16. Situ Bagendit
  17. Telaga Warna
  18. Kalarahu
  19. Jaka Tarub and Nawangwulan
  20. Origin of the Name Banyuwangi
  21. Origin of the Kelud Mountain
  22. Origin of the Baturaden
  23. Bawang Putih and Bawah Merah
  24. Asal Mula Huruf Jawa/Aji Saka
  25. Si Wuragil
  26. Loro Jonggrang and Bandung Bondowoso
  27. Legend of Suronggotho
  28. Dewi Sri and Sedana
  29. Ande-Ande Lumur and Klenting Kuning
  30. Awan Wedus Gembel

    Folklore from Lesser Sunda Islands

  31. Cupak ajak Gerantang
  32. I Belog Pengangon Bebek
  33. I Duma
  34. I Ketimun Mas
  35. I Lutung Teken I Kakua
  36. I Pucung
  37. Siap Selem
  38. I Sugih ajak I Tiwas
  39. Naga Besuki
  40. Ni Bawang Teken Ni Kesuna
  41. Calon Arang
  42. Legenda Komodo
  43. Ebu Gogo

    Folklore from Sumatra

  44. Asal Mula Danau Laut Tawar
  45. Asal Mula Dana Si Losung dan Si Pinggan
  46. Asal Mula Sungai Ombilin dan Danau Singkar
  47. Asal Usul Silampari
  48. Buaya Perompak
  49. Hang Tuah
  50. Hikayat Keramat Bujang
  51. Kera Putih dan Tali Kapal
  52. Kisah Pohon Enau
  53. Legenda Batu Gantung
  54. Legenda Beru Ginting Sope Mbelin
  55. Legenda Danau Toba
  56. Legenda Ikan Patin
  57. Legenda Lau Kawar
  58. Legenda Mas Merah
  59. Legenda Namora Pande Bosi
  60. Legenda Pulau Kapal
  61. Legenda Putri Bidadari
  62. Legenda Putri Hijau
  63. Legenda Putri Nai Mangale
  64. Legenda Putri Runduk
  65. Legenda Putri Ular dari Simalungun
  66. Legenda Sampuraga
  67. Si Gale-Gale Legend
  68. Legenda Simardan
  69. Legenda si Lancang
  70. Legenda Ular Kepala Tujuh
  71. Musang Berjanggut
  72. Pati Enggang dan Rio Brani
  73. Putri Pandan Berduri
  74. Dragon Princess
  75. Raja Pareeket
  76. Raja yang Culas
  77. Malin Kundang
  78. Si Miskin yang Tamak
  79. Si Pahit Lidah
  80. Si Sigarlaki dan si Limbat
  81. Sungai Jodoh
  82. Ting Gegenting
  83. Ular n'Daung
  84. The Legend Of The Origin Of The Silver Catfish
  85. Kisah Putri Ular

    Folklore from Kalimantan

  86. Legend of the Centipede Lake
  87. The Greedy Fisherman

    Folklore from Papua

  88. Biwar the Dragon Slayer
  89. Kweiya
  90. The Story of the Caracal and the Quail
  91. Watuwe the Mystic Crocodile
  92. The Origin of Four Kings

    Folklore from Sulawesi

  93. The Origin of the Mermaid
  94. Legend of the La Dana and Buffalo
  95. La Upe and Stepmother
  96. Pakande the Grandmother
  97. Putri Tandampalik
  98. Sawerigading & We Tenriabeng
  99. Lamadukelleng the Crowned Prince

    Folklore from Moluccas

  100. Nenek Luhu
  101. Batu Badaong
  102. Bulu Pamali
  103. Suanggi
  104. Legenda Tanifai
  105. Buaya Tembaga
  106. Petualangan Empat Kapiten
  107. Batu Belah
  108. Asal Mula Telaga Biru
  109. Ma Kolano o Kariànga