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The angklung is an Indonesian musical instrument found in records since 1704. It consists of two to four tuned bamboo tubes tied in a rectangular, partitioned frame made of white bamboo, which is tightly bound with rattan cord. The angklung is traditionally played on important events and ceremonies during periods of rice planting, harvest, and circumcision. Angklung culture was transmitted through non-formal education within each family, but has since been incorporated into the formal education curriculum. The shape of the angklung has both symbolic and philosophical values: the tubes of varying sizes symbolize the duty of the strong and powerful to protect the weak and vulnerable.

00:25:59
Indonesia 2019

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Batik is a type of traditional Indonesian handcrafted textile that emerged in the Java region in the early nineteenth century and became widespread across Indonesia in the mid 1980s. Batik is made by applying dots and lines of hot wax to cloth using a copper pen or stamp and then placing the cloth in a dye bath. The earliest reference to batik is found in the text of Siksa Kanda in ad 1517. Batik patterns are inspired by social status, local community, nature, history, and cultural heritage. Batik is an art form that promotes cultural diversity, cultural industries, and human creativity through its symbolic and cultural values.

00:26:14
Indonesia 2019

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Gamelan is the generic term for traditional instrument ensembles found throughout Indonesia. The history and complexity of gamelan are comparable to those of the symphony orchestras of Europe. Gamelan ensembles consist of various instruments, mainly percussion. Gamelan music runs the full gamut from fast, powerful dynamics to slow, meditative, and quiet set pieces. The drummer leads the gamelan orchestra as there is no conductor nor musical score. Gamelan is played widely on a variety of important occasions, such as weddings, celebrations, national events, and holidays.

00:26:18
Indonesia 2019

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Jamu is a traditional medicine used in Indonesia. It is made primarily with natural ingredients such as roots, bark, flowers, seeds, leaves, and fruits, sometimes mixed with animal products such as honey, royal jelly, milk, and egg. Jamu originates from two ancient Javanese words, djampi meaning "medicine" and "healing," and oesodo meaning "health." Jamu is used all across Indonesia but most prevalently in Java. In large cities, sweet, refreshing drinks that contain bitter jamu and honey or palm sugar are sold on the streets.

00:26:18
Indonesia 2019

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The kris is a cultural masterpiece handed down by the ancestors of modern Indonesians. It is a dagger with a length of 15-50 cm, adorned with asymmetrical and elaborate designs and sharp edges. The kris embodies tradition, social function, art, philosophy, and mysticism. Kris blades, hilts, and sheaths are occasionally decorated and inlaid with gold, silver, and jewelry to be given as precious gifts on national occasions, Kris production involves a number of spiritual aspects, as well as metalwork techniques. The kris is more of a talisman than a functional weapon and has always been associated with the historic moments of Indonesia, including the Indonesian War of Independence.

00:26:27
Indonesia 2019

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The kolintang is a traditional musical instrument of the Minahasa community in North Sulawesi. The word "kolintang" comes from the sounds "tong", "ting" (referring to low-, high-, and medium-pitch notes, respectively). The kolintang is made of a special lightweight yet dense wood, and is usually played in ensembles. Kolintang ensembles have played for many centuries in Eastern Indonesia. The instrument's significance stems from its association with Indonesia's indigenous culture prior to the arrival of outside influences such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity.

00:26:15
Indonesia 2019

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Noken is a traditional handicraft of the communities across Papua Province, Indonesia. Noken is a knotted net or woven bag made from wood fiber of leaves. The original function of the large noken was carrying babies, though it evolved to be employed for many other uses such as carrying and storing farm produce, seafood catches, wood, and more. The small noken is used to carry personal effects such as food or books and for covering the wearer's head or body. The people of Papua typically learn to craft noken from their parents. All raw materials used for making noken are sourced naturally, imbuing noken with a sense of harmony with nature.

00:26:20
Indonesia 2019

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Saman is a traditional dance of the Gayo people, which can be traced back to the fourteenth century. The dance is performed in a religious space called mersah with an odd number of male dancers sitting in neat lines who dance to verses and fall into a trance-like state as the tempo quickens. This dance, which incorporates thousands of hands, shows the Gayo tribe's sense of solidarity and ancestral wisdom toward life. Saman has maintained its value as a source of vitality for the community in accepting innovation and change with flexibility, while simultaneously preserving the identify of the Gayo.

00:26:20
Indonesia 2019

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The main idea of tari Bali, or Bali dance, is to maintain balance in life. Balinese dance reflects a proper balance between the physical and mental, between men and women, and between spiritual and physical senses. Since Indonesia gained independence, a variety of dance creations have been developed, though still based on traditional values. There are three general types of Balinese dance: Wali, or or sacred dance; Bebali, derived from Indonesian classic dances such as the Ramayana Ballet; and Balih-Balihan, a dance performed both within and outside temples for entertainment.

00:26:20
Indonesia 2019

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Wayang, the traditional shadow puppet theater of Indonesia, is a style of original dramatic performance that demonstrates the creativity of the Indonesian people. It has expanded into myriad styles and forms across Indonesia over a thousand years. References to it appear in Old Javanese text from as early as the twelfth century. This shadow puppet theater requires sophisticated techniques and was once only performed to entertain aristocrats, but it gradually became more popularized and beloved among people of all social backgrounds. Today, wayang is handed down from one generation to the next through professional training programs.

00:26:17
Indonesia 2019