.jpg "17 Javanese Folktales from Central Java Legends & Fairy Tales")
Welcome to a collection of folktales, legends, and fairy tales told by the Javanese people of Central Java. The province's capital is Semarang, a city in the middle of Java island, where West Java, East Java, and Yogyakarta are its neighbors. Many of these stories are loved all across Indonesia, such as Timun Mas, Rawa Pening, and the Origin of Salatiga. The tales come from many different sources, and new ones will be added whenever they are found. I hope you enjoy them!
Long ago, the name Baturaden came from two Javanese words: batur, which means servant, and raden, which means noble. This is a gentle love story about Suta, a kind young man who took care of the horses of the Duke of Kutaliman, and the Duke's daughter, who was born into a royal family. Their hearts grew close even though they came from very different places in life.
Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Medang Kemulan, there lived a cruel king named Dewata Cengkar. The people of the kingdom were very frightened of him and wished for someone to help them. Then a handsome and brave young man named Aji Saka arrived, ready to protect the villagers from the king's unkindness.
High up in the Dieng Plateau of Central Java, there are many volcanic craters and little mountain peaks. One of them is Sikidang Crater, which is famous because its steam and gas keep jumping from place to place, just like a deer. Kidang is the Javanese word for deer, which is how the crater got its name! The people of Dieng also tell that some children there are born with curly, dreadlocked hair, and they are said to be the children of Princess Shinta Dewi.
A long, long time ago, in the land of Central Java, there stood a grand kingdom called Jenggala. The king had a crown prince named Raden Putra, and the prince's wife was the lovely Dewi Candra Kirana, who was known far and wide for her beautiful face. This is the story of what happened to them, and how kindness and patience were rewarded.
The story of Jaka Tarub and the heavenly princess Dewi Nawang Wulan is one of the treasured folktales of Central Java. It is written down in the Babad Tanah Jawi, a very old collection of Javanese poems that tells the history of the many kings who once ruled the island of Java. Among those royal tales, this story shines like a star, for it is about a young man and a angel who came down from the sky.
Once upon a time, there lived a kind old woman named Mbok Sirni, who wished with all her heart for a child. Her husband had passed away, and she was growing old, but her dream never faded. She hoped that someone kind would one day give her a child to love and who would care for her in return. Her wish came true when she received a little girl named Timun Mas, who later had to escape from a scary giant.
Rawa Pening is a beautiful lake in Semarang Regency, and its story begins with a young boy named Jaka Baru Klinting. Today, the lake is covered with green water hyacinth plants, and the villagers use them to make lovely things like bags, belts, and wallets. Let us find out how this magical lake came to be.
Long ago, when the Sultanate of Demak ruled over Central Java, a wealthy merchant named Ki Ageng Pandanaran became the leader of Semarang. Little by little, he became so busy making himself richer that he forgot to care for the people he was meant to protect. This tale tells how that mistake led to the name of the city we now call Salatiga.
Kanjeng Ratu Kidul, also called Nyi Roro Kidul, is the magical queen who rules the southern sea of Java. In the folktales of Central Java, she was once a princess named Kadita, the daughter of King Munding Wangi. Sadly, she was sent away from her kingdom, and that was where her magical journey began.
Lemah Gempal is a place in the city of Semarang, and this folktale tells how it got its name. During the time of the Dutch, Semarang was close to the sea and had a big river flowing through its middle, so floods often came. Whenever the rainy season arrived, the water washed away many belongings, and the townspeople felt worried and uneasy.
Once upon a time, the island of Java was a wild place with no people, only animals and mysterious spirits. A few humans lived here and there, but they moved from place to place because the land was rough and unfriendly. These few people did not know that the whole island was tilting toward the south, and that something very special would have to happen to set it right.
Karimunjawa is a group of small islands with breathtaking views of sparkling seas and green shores. Hidden among its beauty is a legend about how the islands got their name, filled with old stories and history. The people of the islands have shared this tale for many generations, along with the good lessons it teaches.
Long ago, in a small kingdom in Central Java, there lived a king named King Subrata. He was not as famous as Panembahan Senopati or Sultan Agung, but he was wise, humble, and always thought about the happiness of his people. He lived with his family in a splendid palace, yet he never forgot that a good leader must take care of others.
Dewi Lanjar is remembered as a beautiful lady with magical powers. In some tales, she is thought to be Nyi Roro Kidul, the Queen of the South Sea, who rules over the northern sea. Other people believe that she is a special lady all her own, with a kingdom that belongs only to her.
In Pati Regency, Central Java, there is a small hamlet called Klotok, which belongs to Margorejo Village in Margorejo District. This is a folktale about how the little hamlet of Dukuh Klotok got its name. Come along and discover the story that the villagers still tell today.
Ki Ageng Selo is said to have lived about five hundred years ago, in the time of the Sultanate of Demak. He was a wise and spiritual man with wonderful, magical gifts. His real name was Ki Ageng Ngabdurahman, but people called him Ki Ageng Selo after Selo Village in Grobogan, where he lived.
In a quiet village in the Wonogiri area of Central Java, there is a spring called Sendang Ariwulan. It gives fresh water to the village, but it also holds a very special folktale. The villagers have passed this story down from grandparents to grandchildren for many years, and it is full of wise lessons about life.