.jpg "Indonesian Folktales from East Java: 26 Tales & Legends")
Welcome to a collection of folktales and legends told by the Javanese people of East Java. Its capital is the city of Surabaya, on the eastern side of Java island, next to Central Java, Madura, and Bali. Many of its stories are loved all over Indonesia, such as Reog Ponorogo, Keong Mas, Timun Mas, the Origins of Banyuwangi, and Cindelaras. More tales will be added soon, and we hope you enjoy them!
In the city of Surabaya stands a stone statue called Joko Dolog, a treasure left behind by the great Majapahit Kingdom. But the old folktale says this statue was once a young prince named Jaka Taruna, son of the Duke of Kediri. Jaka Taruna wished to marry Purbawati, the daughter of Duke Jayengrana, who ruled Surabaya. Sadly, he lost a fight against Prince Situbondo and Jaka Jumput, and he was turned into a statue.
Long, long ago, a big crocodile named Baya and a mighty shark named Sura were bitter enemies. Almost every day they fought, but because both were strong, tough, and quick, neither one ever won. When they battled, the water around them grew rough and muddy, and the other animals nearby were very troubled. They tried to make peace between the two, but Sura and Baya would not stop being enemies.
One night, under a bright full moon, Aryo Menak rested beneath a big tree beside a lake after a long walk through a thick forest. Suddenly, he saw a soft light glowing from the water. He crept closer and was amazed to find seven heavenly angels bathing in the lake. The seven beautiful angels splashed and laughed happily, never knowing that Aryo Menak was watching them.
Once upon a time, Raden Inu Kertapati, the crown prince of Jenggala, was engaged to Dewi Candra Kirana, a princess of Kediri. The Kediri kingdom had two lovely princesses, Dewi Candra Kirana and Dewi Ajeng. But Prince Inu Kertapati loved only Dewi Candra Kirana with all his heart.
Cindelaras was a handsome boy who grew up with his mother deep in the forest. Since he was little, he had played with the forest animals, and they were his good friends who listened to him. He also had a fighting rooster that never lost a match. What Cindelaras did not know was that he was the son of Raden Putra, the king of Jenggala. It was his brave rooster that finally led him to meet his father.
Long ago, at the eastern tip of East Java, there was a great kingdom ruled by a fair and wise king. The king had a dashing son named Raden Banterang. Raden Banterang loved to go hunting in the forest, and that is where this tale of Banyuwangi begins.
Damar Wulan was a strong and powerful young man who helped Queen Ayu Kencana Wungu, the ruler of the Majapahit Kingdom. In Blambangan lived a duke named Menakjingga, who was mighty but cruel and often unkind to others. Damar Wulan bravely defeated Menakjingga. This is a well-loved legend of East Java.
Keong Mas, or the Golden Snail, is a famous folktale from East Java. Candra Kirana, the daughter of King Daha, was cursed by a wicked witch and turned into a golden snail. The story is much like the tale of Raden Inu Kertapati, and people say they are two versions of the same story that grew as the tale was passed from person to person.
This is the tale of a proud crow who was never thankful for what he had, and whose story ended sadly. Once upon a time, a crow lived in the wilderness together with other crows. One day, he found a beautiful peacock feather that had fallen to the ground. Even though it was only one feather, it was so lovely to look at.
Long ago, a fair and wise king ruled a kingdom on the island of Java. One day, the gods sent the king a magical whisper, warning that a sickness would soon spread through the land. The gods told him to hold a contest, so that everyone in the kingdom would search for a golden orange fruit, which would be offered up to chase the sickness away.
A very long time ago, chickens lived side by side with people. But one day, a family of chickens decided to leave the village and make their home in the forest. They became the grandparents of all the partridges we know today.
Kyai Tapiogo was a village elder from Tingan village in East Java, who came from a place called Sendang Darajat. One day, Kyai Tapiogo gave gifts to the poor and invited the elder of Kapal village to join him. At first the two elders chatted happily, but slowly they began to argue. In the end, the elder of Kapal village lost the debate.
In the little hamlet of Kudur in East Java, people say that whenever someone passes away, another person passes away at the very same time. The story tells us this is because of the special bond between two men, Kyai Bonten and Ki Jalono.
This is the story of Mbah Irapati and a crocodile. Long ago, Mbah Irapati lived beside the Yellow River, and everyone along the river respected her because she had magical powers. She had a beloved child, and she loved her little one dearly.
During the war against the Dutch Company, a brave man named Sura Alap Alap was chosen to lead the fighters of Rajekwesi in the east. The battle was not fair, because the local fighters had far fewer weapons than the Company. Worried that many people would be hurt, Sura Alap Alap asked all of his villagers to leave their village to stay safe.
Long ago, Javanese people called Chinese people "Babah." According to one East Javanese tale, the word comes from "mbabah," which means "finding a way." Some say this story was made up by Chinese Indonesians themselves, as a way to keep a little distance from the Javanese.
In ancient times, it is said, teak trees were small, not big and tall like today. They grew to their great size during the days of the Medang Kamulan kingdom. The story is about King Medang, who felt so ashamed of his son that he buried him alive.
This is a tale of why the sparrow has a little bulge at the back of its neck, and why the parrot has a curved beak. Long ago, in the days of Prophet Sulaiman, a great famine came to the land. Many plant diseases spoiled the crops, so food was very hard to find.
The Brantas River winds and twists on its way, and its water never runs dry. It begins in the Malang area, flows south to Blitar, turns toward Kediri, and finally bends again toward Surabaya. East Javanese folklore says the river twists so and never runs out of water because of a wise snake who lived on the mountains.
East Javanese folklore says that when the sun sets, Den Bagus Sandhekala goes out for a walk. "Den Bagus" is a title of respect for a young man, and "Sandhekala" means twilight. He is said to love eating the heads of tigers and thieves. He also likes the heads of children who stay out playing at dusk, so children should always go home before the sun goes down.
Long ago, a poor old grandfather lived with his little son, because the boy's mother had passed away many years before. The old man felt sad whenever he thought about his young child's future. He knew he would not live much longer, and he had nothing to give his son except the wisdom his own teacher had taught him long ago.
The Mendong family was very poor, and they often had no money to buy food. Mr. Mendong got his name from his work, weaving mats from mendong grass. His wife helped him, and together they made mats to sell in the city. They had a small child named Sumi, who was thin from not having enough to eat and wore tattered clothes. The family lived in a tiny hut with a narrow yard.
The people of Madura believe that when a husband and wife have names that go well together, good luck will follow them. This East Javanese tale is about a couple named Lasmudin and Mukdima, who were lucky because their names matched so well.
Once upon a time in East Java, there lived a kind and patient couple, Mr. Sabar and Mrs. Sabar. They were very poor and often had nothing to eat for a day or two because they had no money to buy food. But they never complained, and they stayed patient through every hard day.
This is an East Javanese tale about how the Reog Ponorogo art began. It is said that the lion figure in Reog Ponorogo is King Singabarong. In the Kediri kingdom lived Dewi Sanggalangit, the king's daughter, who was famous for her beauty. Many princes and kings wanted to marry her, but she said no to all of them because she did not wish to be married.
Long ago, there lived a young man named Rangga Gading. He was very powerful, but sadly he often used his magic to steal and rob. He was such a clever thief that he was never caught, because he could change himself into anything he wished: an animal, a tree, a rock, or even water.