The Greatest Literary Works: Javanese Literature

Written by eastern writer on Thursday, May 01, 2008

textual tools for reading the Encyclopedia of Javanese Culture

Tim Behrend, a researcher from University of Aukland, has been working on a study of the manuscript record and literary corpus of the Serat Centhini for a number of years. In its current form this study is entitled Passe-Partout to the Book of Centhini: textual tools for reading the Encyclopedia of Javanese Culture, and contains complete reference information about more than a dozen versions or recension of this important text, including lists of first lines of cantos, narrative précis, and a study of the development of the text.

Visit http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/staff/index.cfm?P=6673

Written by eastern writer on Thursday, May 01, 2008

Serat Centhini is a name of a well known ancient Java literature. A National Cultural Heritage, 12 volume named as an Ancient Java Encyclopedia, about 6000 pages, not explored yet. Originally wrote in Ancient Java letters and language, presented in a
poetics style, and at the time rode with a certain rhythm like a song.

The original 12 volume was mysteriously unknown where is its place right now, but only its copy (a hand re-writing at about 1800 ) kept somewhere outside of Indonesia, when colonialism era at the time.

Wrote in 1742 by The Prince of Soerakarta Kingdom, at the time, later crowned as His Excellency The King Pakoeboewono The V th, with a team of three best kingdom writer at the time.

Its contents include science of Medicine, Architecture, Sufism, Mysticism, History, Literature, Romance ( some very Vulgar), Agriculture, Forestry, Astronomy, etc., packed as a literature of a legendary adventure wandering of knights and their followers.

Some was translated to Indonesia Language (Bahasa Indonesia) for Volume I, II, III, but stopped because the translator not supported by market. Also founded (2008) the resume of the Serat Centhini, but seem like a summary, which did not show its beautifully legend as a literature.

Not supported by Market, that is the real problem. Hopefully someday later the Government, and / or UN / UNESCO will be aware of its mission as an inheritance of mankind.

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