@Tribunshitpost 8 November 2022

I will introduce Sundanese customs to all of you. The Sundanese are an ethnic group of people who mostly inhabit the west of Java Island or the Pasundan Tatars. In addition, this tribe is also spread in various regions in Indonesia. The Sundanese are mostly concentrated in West Java, Banten, and Jakarta. According to the 2003 census data, the Sundanese population in Indonesia reached 34 million people. The uniqueness of the Sundanese people is that they are easily united through the Sundanese language and culture. Ethnic Sunda is a group of people who highly uphold the customs of their ancestral heritage. Sundanese word origin The word Sunda comes from the word "sund" or "sudsha" from Sanskrit. The word has the meaning of bright, shining, white, sparkling. Many assume that the term is addressed to the Sundanese because they generally have a clean skin color. But this is of course just an assumption that has not been proven true. In addition, in Balinese and Kawi (Old Javanese) there are also Sundanese words. The meaning is more or less the same, namely clean, pure, holy, spotless, without blemish. The Sundanese interpret the origin of this word as the daily practice of the ethos or character called Kasundaan. This character is used as a guide to the virtues of life. The characters adopted by the Sundanese are cageur which means healthy, bageur which means good, true means true, singer means introspective, wanter means brave, and smart means intelligent. The character of Kasundaan has been applied by the Sundanese people since ancient times, precisely since the days of the Salakanagara Kingdom, Tarumanegara, Sunda-Galuh, Pajajaran, and even now. Meanwhile, the name Sunda was used by King Purnawarman in 397 to refer to the capital of the Tarumanegara Kingdom whose power began to recede. Then in 680, Tarusbawa, a ruler of Tarumanegara in the 14th century, changed the name of the Tarumanegara Kingdom to the Sunda Kingdom. Sundanese Character Sundanese people are known to be friendly, cheerful, optimistic, polite, and tend to live a simple daily life. The Portuguese also noted in the Suma Oriental, that the Sundanese were brave and honest. These traits are part of the characteristics of the Sundanese people, as well as Indonesians in general. History also records that the Sundanese were the first group to have diplomatic relations with other nations on an equal footing. In the 15th century diplomatic relations between the Sundanese and the Portuguese were established which resulted in the Sunda-Portuguese Treaty Inscription This agreement was carried out by King Samian or another designation was Sang Hyang Surawisesa. He was the first king of the homeland to make a pact with another nation. What needs to be underlined is that this agreement is carried out on an equal footing, not out of necessity. In modern times, some political figures are also quite a lot of ethnic Sundanese. From ministers to vice presidents. In addition to important positions in the field of government, many Sundanese are also involved in the arts. Many prominent musicians, actors, and singers from the past until now have come from Sunda. Sundanese language Sundanese is still preserved and is generally used in rural areas and small towns. Meanwhile, in big cities such as Bandung, Bogor, and Tangerang, the people often speak Indonesian. Even so, there is still a thick Sundanese accent in every pronunciation. Sundanese consists of several dialects, including: The Western dialect is used in the Banten area and is also known as Sundanese Banten Northern dialect is used in North Sunda such as Bogor and some areas of the Pantura Southern dialect is widely used in Priangan which is used in Bandung and its surroundings The Northeastern dialect is spoken around Kuningan and Cirebon, therefore it is also known as Cirebon Sundanese Middle Eastern dialect spoken in Indramayu and Majalengka The Southeastern dialect is used in Ciamis and its surroundings, and also in Banyumas and Cilacap which have entered the Central Java region. Sundanese belief Most of the Sundanese are followers of Islam, which is about 99%. The rest embrace Christianity and Sunda Wiwitan. The Sunda Wiwitan belief is a traditional belief inherited from ancestors that is still held by several Sundanese communities in rural areas, for example in Kuningan and the Baduy community in Lebak, Banten. In addition to religion and belief, the Sundanese also have their own way of life which is inherited from their ancestors. This view of life does not conflict with religion, because it can go hand in hand. The content and values ​​in this view of life also exist in the religion that is embraced, especially Islam. Sundanese Art Although some Sundanese arts are extinct, quite a lot of traditional Sundanese arts are still preserved today. An example is the most famous dance art, namely Jaipong Dance. However, Jaipong Dance is actually a contemporary or modern dance, because it is a modification of the traditional Tap Tilu dance. The music that stomps with the sound of drums is one of the characteristics of Jaipong Dance. This dance can be performed alone, in pairs, or in groups. In addition to regional dance arts, there is also Sundanese music. An example is the musical accompaniment of the Jaipong Dance which uses a typical Sundanese gamelan, namely Degung. If likened, gamelan is almost the same as orchestras in Europe. The musical instruments used are various, namely go'ong, sarin, drum, Kacapi, flute, angklung, and others. The Sundanese people also have many popular folk songs, such as Es Lilin, Manuk Dadali, Bubuy Bulan, and Tokecang. Another well-known art form is the Wayang Golek which is a play using wooden puppets. The person who plays the puppet show is called the Dalang. Usually, a puppeteer is an expert in imitating various sounds. So that when staging a play, it will appear more alive. When performed, wayang golek is also accompanied by gamelan and is also accompanied by the sweet voice of a sinden. The stories told in wayang golek shows are usually about good and evil. The stories of the Ramayana and the Battle of Baratayudha are some of the most popular stories. In its development, wayang golek was also staged with a comedy theme. The character named Cepot is the most anticipated by the audience. Sundanese Traditional House In contrast to the traditional houses of many tribes in Indonesia which often display luxury and splendor, the traditional house of the Sundanese looks simple. This is in line with one of the characteristics of the Sundanese people who are known to be unpretentious. The traditional Sundanese house is a stilt house with a height of about 0.5 to 0.8 meters from the ground. There are also those that reach 1 meter. The height of the house is not too high compared to other traditional houses. The section under the house is usually used for cattle pens, such as horses and cows. In addition, it can also be used to store agricultural tools such as rakes, hoes, and plows. Because it is a house on stilts, to enter the house, a ladder is used which is located at the front called Golodog. This ladder is also used to clean the feet so as not to pollute the house. Sundanese house roofs have various forms. This difference in the roof is also reflected in its name. Examples are the Jubleg Nangkub House, Jolipong, Capit Gunting, Bula Pongpok, Dog Tagog, and Badak Heuay. The naming of the Sundanese traditional house actually illustrates that the people really appreciate everything around them. Some houses take the names of animals. This signifies their closeness to living things in their environment. In addition, the construction does not use nails or iron elements, but uses materials from nature such as coconut fiber and fibers as a binder. Sundanese Script & Language Sundanese people have known writing or script since the 14th century. The Sundanese script is also known as the Ngalagena script and is one of the most valuable cultural heritages. The heritage of Sundanese script is found in historical evidence in the form of the Kawali Inscription or the Astana Gede Inscription which was built to commemorate Prabu Niskala Wastukencana who ruled in Kawali, Ciamasi between 1371 and 1475. Along with the times, the use of Sundanese script has decreased. This is the same fate with the use of Javanese script. Therefore, it is hoped that future generations can learn and preserve the original script heritage of the country. Sundanese Kinship System In family life, Sundanese people recognize a bilateral kinship system, both for the descendants of the father and mother. The form of the family in the Sundanese society is called the Batih Family, consisting of a husband, wife and children. The following are the names for the seven generations below and above Sunda, among others: Seven generations and above: old-fashioned, grandparents, great-grandfather, bao, jangga wareng, udeg-udeg, and hanging siwur. Seven generations down: son, incu, great-grandfather, bao, jangga wareng, udeg-udeg, and hanging siwur.