Category Archives: cerita/kisah

Talaga Warna

telaga-biruLong long ago there was a kingdom in West Java. The kingdom was ruled by a king. People called their king His Majesty Prabu. Prabu was a kind and wise king. No wonder if that country was prosperous. There’s no hunger in this kingdom.

It was a very happy condition. But it was a pity that Prabu and his queen hadn’t got any children. It made the royal couple very very sad. Some old men and women who was respected by Prabu suggested the king to adopt a child. But Prabu and the queen didn’t agree. “No, thank you. But for us, our own daughter or son is better than adopted children.”

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Timun Mas, Folk story from Central Java.

tmTimun Mas retold by Renny Yaniar Long long time ago, there was a farmer couple. They were staying in a village near a forest. They lived happily. Unfortunately, they hadn’t had any children yet. Every day they prayed to God for a child. One day a giant passed their home. He heard what they were praying. Then the giant gave them a cucumber seed. “Plant this seed, then you’ll get a daughter,” said the giant. “Thank you, Giant,” said the couple. “But in one condition, in her 17-th birthday, you must give her to me,” said the Giant. The couple wanted a child so much that they agreed without thinking first. Then the couple planted the cucumber seed. Each day they took care the growing plant so carefully. Months later, a golden cucumber grew from the plant.

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Damar Wulan

damarDamarwulan is is a prince by birth, a nephew of the prime minister, Patih Logender, but was raised in the hermitage of his grandfather. Following his grandfather’s advice, he goes to the Majapahit court seeking employment. His cousins, the prime minister’s sons, mistreat him when he arrives. Patih Logender, not wanting him to compete with his own sons, assigns him as grass-cutter and stableboy. Though he is stripped of his fine garments, he still has his striking beauty. Rumors of this beauty eventually reach Anjasmara, the prime minister’s daughter. She seeks him out secretly and they fall in love and are clandestinely married. One night, Anjasmara’s brothers overhear voices in her chamber.

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Folklore from North Sumatra “Sampuraga”

sampuragaOnce upon a time in Padang Bolak, North Sumatra, lived a man named Sampuraga. He lived with his mother. His father had passed away when Sampuraga was a baby. Sampuraga and his mother lived in a hut. They were poor. Sampuraga worked in his neighbor’s rice field. When they had harvest, the neighbor gave some money to Sampuraga for his work.
Sampuraga worked in the morning and went home in the afternoon. One day while he was working, his neighbor told him about a place named Mandailing.

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Sangkuriang the legend of sundanese

sangkuriangAccording to local folklore, the formation of the Tangkuban Parahu volcano began with a young man SANGKURIANG who fell in love with his own mother, DAYANG SUMBI.

One day, when he was hunting, Sangkuriang accidentally killed his beautiful black dog (Si TUMANG). This dog is actually Sangkuriang’s father who had been condemned to live the life of a dog by his GURU. However, Sangkuriang never knew it.

Sangkuriang had been separated by his mother since childhood. Yet, he was destined to meet his mother again. When on his way home, he stopped at a small village and met and fell in love with a beautiful girl. He didn’t realised that the village was his homeland nor that the beautiful girl was his own sacred mother (remain young & pretty).

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Malin Kundang – An Indonesian myth

malin A long time ago, in a small village near the beach in West Sumatera, lived a woman and her son, Malin Kundang. Malin Kundang’s father had passed away when he was a baby, and he had to live hard with his mother.

Malin Kundang was a healthy, dilligent, and strong child. He usually went to the sea to catch fish, and brought it to his mother, or sold it in the town.

One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing as usual, he saw a merchant’s ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. With his brave and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. Malin Kundang agreed.

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