The Fair and Wise King Behind the Sacred Myth of Puak Reflected the Leader Horizon Representation of Kampong Tua Malay Nongsa: Ethnoecological Approach
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Tonil: Jurnal Kajian Sastra, Teater dan Sinema Copyright © 2020 by 2020, Vol. 17, No.2, 63-76 Teater FSP - ISI Yogyakarta63 The Fair and Wise King behind the Sacred Myth of Puak Reflected the Leader Horizon Representation of Kampong Tua Malay Nongsa: Ethnoecological Approach Tomi Arianto1 Universitas Putera Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia [email protected] Melly Siska Suryani 2 Universitas Putera Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia [email protected] Abstract: Longing for a just and wise leader built a horizon of hope for society behind the mythical stories of the king of dreams. Like the fringe warriors in Javanese society, the Malays in Kampong Tua Nongsa have a role model king known as The King of Fuang. This study aimed to reveal the theme of ethnoecology in the Malay community behind the mythical story of Puak sacred in Nongsa, a Batam district. The ethnoecology approach connected a community paradigm that is formed due to natural phenomena. The interaction between humans and nature through the sacred existence of Puak was created by the role model of the king. This study used a qualitative descriptive method with observation data collection techniques and in-depth interviews. Analytical criticism techniques become a means to reveal the ethnoecology behind the story. The results of this research show that there are two important things to discuss, namely the representation of the just king and cultural products from nature in the form of prohibitions. A king whose role model serves for the hope of a community leader in the form of a king who is honest and keeps his promises, a king who does not want to be exalted and exalted, a king who is just and wise, a king who is simple, a king who protects and preserves nature. Meanwhile, the resulting cultural products are in the form of prohibitions on destroying forests, prohibitions on cutting hills, prohibitions on lying, prohibitions on speaking arrogantly, prohibitions on speaking dirty, and prohibitions on wasting wealth. Keyword: The Sacred of Puak, Myth, Kampong Tua Nongsa, Etnoecological 63 64 1. INTRODUCTION Malay in the archipelago which is increasingly eroded (Hamid, 2016). The just and wise king who is the The information regarding the hope of all society until now is existence of King Fuang tomb and his increasingly difficult to find. Various descendants was obtained by researchers political promises during the campaign to from the caretaker or guardian of the be elected as leader were scattered Puak Sacred Temple. We got other everywhere. The public is even bored information from the advice of the with various political promises which Nongsa people and native Nongsa Malays they forget after they have been elected. who understand the history of Tuanku This is in line with the opinion written by Raja Fuang. The origins stories of Tuanku Ghafur (2018) that the fundamental Raja Fuang are still very little published. reason behind the emergence of His name is also less famous than other community disappointment is due to Malay kings such as Nong Isa, Raja Ali, election promises that never come true. or Raja Jaffar. However, the Nongsa People begin to realize and feel that their Malay community believes in the myths votes are only needed during elections, related to the existence of Keramat Puak and then they are ignored when power has as a representation of King Fuang's been achieved. wisdom. The presence myth of a fair and The researcher in this case drew this wise leader is not only appearing in the phenomenon in ethnoecological studies to legend of the Pralembang Jayabaya with analyze the relationship between nature the presence of Ratu Adil or Satria and interactions that affect the behavior of Pingitan (Palix, 2018). The Malay the surrounding community. In relation to community since the 12th century AD has humans and nature, Malinowski (1987) had the figure of a king who can bring the explained that humans cannot be nation to the glory of the archipelago that separated from the environment in which can rule over the Malay plains in they live, one of which is the physical Singapore and Malaysia. The history environment. With that, the cultural began from the resident of King Isa who behavior, norms, ethics of the community received a mandate from Sultan Abdul are related to the environment and nature Syah until the resident of Riau to the just that shapes it. This is also related to and simple king of Tuanku Fuan (Dahlan, ethnoecological understanding. Nazarea 2019). This hidden myth of the king is (1999) explained that ethnoecology is a what the Malay community continues to bridge to understanding human behavior crave to be able to bring back the glory of 65 and nature and the characteristics that king who does not want to be exalted and shape it. exalted, a king who is just and wise, a According to Hilmanto (2010), king who is simple, a king who protects ethnoecology is understood as the mother and preserves nature. Meanwhile, the of all scientific studies. Ethnoecology, resulting cultural products are in the form although in its studies touches many other of prohibitions on destroying forests, fields, for example: migration prohibitions on slashing hills, prohibitions (sociology), traded commodities on lying, prohibitions on speaking (economics), the characteristics of life for arrogantly, prohibitions on speaking dirty certain groups of people (anthropology), and prohibition on wasting wealth. the location of longitude and latitude of The relationship between an area (geography), ethnoecology ethnoecological studies and literature is actually examines the the distinctive linked by an analysis of the myths being character of a place in the broad or discussed. Oral literature is literature that narrow sense inhabited by humans or includes literary expressions that are society. passed down and spread orally (Zaimar, Regarding the data source chosen 2008). Taum (2011) further explains that by the researchers, the interaction with the main element of oral literature is the existence of the Keramat Puak myth aesthetics. Taum added that oral literature creates people's daily behavior, including expresses the collective awareness of the how to place them as the leader of hope. local community (mentifact) about life, Hilmanto in Ambarwati & Istianah (2018) customs and beliefs. Referring to the explained that ethnoecology is a branch previous concept of oral literature, it is of science that examines the ways in clear that myth is an inseparable part of which people use ecology and live in the study of oral literature. harmony with their natural and social environment. Thus, the behavior of the Malay Nongsa community in treating the 2. LITERATURE REVIEW Sacred of Puak is an ethnoecological 2.1.Myth as part of Oral Literature study. This behavior is the key point in Oral literature is literature that the discussion in this article. includes literary expressions that are There are two important things passed down and spread orally (Zaimar, discussed, namely the representation of 2008). Taum (2011) further explains that the just king and cultural products from the main element of oral literature is nature in the form of prohibitions. A king aesthetics. Taum added that oral literature who is a role model for the hope of a expresses the collective awareness of community leader in the form of a king local communities (mentifact) about life, who is honest and keeps his promises, a customs and beliefs. The myth itself 66 according to Sarkki et al., (2018) is the two different things. Steward's cultural disclosure and giving of identity to ecology theory stated that environment certain values as a sign of meaning that is and culture are inseparable and both are a believed and held firmly. Myths are mixture that processes through a conveyed through oral stories of their reciprocal relationship. If previously predecessors from generation to explained that the environment plays an generation and then manifest in obedience important role in shaping people's culture, and submission to their existence. then in fact the culture that develops in Referring to the previous oral literary the community also plays an important concept, it is clear that myth is an role in the sustainability of the existence inseparable part of the study of oral of an environment. Thus the concept of literature. ethnoecology can be used to see the 2.2.Etnoecology meaning of society towards myths, as a One of the studies that discussed form of adaptation that gives birth to their the relationship between humans as conservative attitudes towards the natural objects and their environment is environment. ethnoecology. Ethnoecology is a branch 2.3.Previous Research of science that examines the ways in Research with the theme of which people use ecology and live in ethnology in literature is in great demand harmony with their natural and social by international writers but is very rare in environment. People's lives in general Indonesia. The following researchers depend on nature so they should be closer describe several references taken from the to nature so that they can observe nature Journal and their reviews: properly, observe its characteristics, and Research written by (Bracke, know how to manage it (Gasouka, 2017). 2018) in the ISLE Journal entitled “A In this study between humans and Man is the Story-Telling Animal: Graham the natural environment, an Ecological Swift's Waterland”. Bracke viewed that approach is used. The Ecological Waterland reveals eco-centrism in approach is a study that discussed and narrative to narrative that shapes analyzed an ecological phenomenon that perceptions of nature. The difference with is focused on the relationship between this study is the theory used and the data humans and the natural environment. sources and methods. While the equation Residential areas, agriculture, urban, is because it uses the object of ecology industrial and others are examples of research in oral literature ecological ecosystems that are formed Adam J.