Javanese Culture Needs Renaissance

It is time that bad suppose about Javanese mythology system must be cleaned. Javanese mythology is not bad or dirty. The bad perception about Javanese mythology is an irrational, myth came from modern rationalist point of view.

Now, modern rationalist keep on redefine because of wrong way in defining the world. So that Javanese culture needs to wake from the wrong domination that comes from out side of Javanese point of view. Javanese culture should be renaissance.

Sugeng Priyadi a Javanese culture expert who has believed about myth stated that Javanese myth has much values to build up the noble civilization. A lecturer of Muhammadiyah University of Purwokerto (UMP) also member of Paguyuban Kerabat Mataram (Pakem) has commitment to his aspiration at the International Javanese Culture Conference (KIKJ) 2008.


The main point of his idea is breaking negative suppose or perception about Javanese myth, but studying myth is to find the value of mind (logos). The value becomes basic of renaissance growing up. The redefine mind also needs an implementation effort as a basic to build up the society.

Those values are Javanese wise ness exist on power and welfare ness. Now, both values become a measurement of successfulness. In philosophical Javanese point of view both values only have function as long as under the wise ness control. “In Javanese philosophy wise ness has include power and welfare. By the wise ness people can be stated has freedom” Sugeng said.

The Javanese wise ness builds up to the heterogenic people of java, but it can accept the local characteristic. Each local character has their own wise ness it is a result of their dialogue with their own social environment. “Now, its important to create relation among the local, each local must realize their life is being integration,” he said.

The understanding that the noble of Javanese culture is only dominated by kingdom must be broken. Perception that the culture is out side the kingdom is worse must be leave. The kingdom is not the only one of central culture, that is not true.

“Modernity is egalitarian society all the wise ness which having by local has the same noble. Its mean Javanese cultural contemporary also must be suitable with the period. So that the Javanese culture can enter the renaissance” said Sugeng.