Hierarchical ranks in the Surakarta keraton

A. G. Maisey · 23rd July 2018, 11:07 PM

Bupati --- a regent, the highest ranking administrative officer in a regency, but also there are 'inside" bupatis and outside bupatis, the outside bupati is the regent, the inside bupati is a very highly ranked officer working within the Karaton itself.

Pangeran --- prince , it is the title for the son of a ruler

Penewu --- literally it means an officer in charge of 1000 men, in olden times, when a kingdom was at war, the peneqwu would have been in charge of 1000 men, but in more recent times that title has been used as a middle ranking ranking official, in 21st century terms, a "middle manager", "Sewu" mean "one thousand".

Jajar --- lowest rank for a karaton official

Cantung Balung --- this is not translatable, and to explain fully would need a 5000 word paper. The Canthung Balung can be thought of as humourously fierce cross between warrior and clown who precedes some traditional Surakarta Karaton parades.

Lurah --- usually understood as the chief, head, administrator of a village or small administrative area, but can also be the person appointed to supervise other people in the carrying out of specific duties. This is the same idea as the Bupati, an inside lurah, and an outside lurah. Working in the karaton he is a supervisor, appointed outside the karaton he is a village head. They used to be appointed as village heads by the Ruler, Sinuhun, in Surakarta, the Sunan or Susuhunan, these days they are appointed by the government.

Mentri --- this is a confusing word. There are several spellings used, I understand the correct (if there is such a thing) Javanese romanised spelling is "mantri", but in Javanese both vowels and consonants can be subiect to change by the user of the word. In Javanese "mantri" can have several meanings, but in the context of karaton hierarchy it should be understood as "an official", in other words a fairly low ranking official in charge of a certain function, not a highly ranked administrative official. The word comes through into Bahasa Indonesia as "menteri', which is a government minister.

Poleng motif is black and white squares, it can be thought of in the sense of "good/bad", "day/night", the idea of opposites necessary to balance all in the cosmos.

Sunggingan is painted, but specifically the painted ornamention on furniture, a form of ornamentation that was very popular in Europe in past times.

Pendok (pendhok) is keris specific

Rojomolo --- another 5000 word job, but quickly and simply, the water spirit of the Bengawan Solo

Ukiran --- a carving

Bjorn · 24th July 2018, 12:46 PM

Thank you for taking the time to write that down, Alan. It's nice to have a better idea of what these words actually refer to.

Paul B. · 26th July 2018, 12:02 PM

If we consider these Sunggigan krisses as being used for formal events then there is no difference in the dress code for a Gayaman versus Ladrang as opposed to the unpainted versions?
Here is one with a black back ground?
Decorated with Kala and one eyed Bintulu creature (along the opening of the blewah).

A. G. Maisey · 26th July 2018, 01:04 PM

Paul, there are events of varying natures. The style of dress, and the style of keris dress can vary according to the nature of the event. In some instances it may be acceptable for some people to wear gayaman keris dress, but not for other people. The answer to what is acceptable when, where and by whom is really a question that can only be answered by an authority on the protocol that applies in a particular kraton or social setting. My knowledge does not extend that far.

Black is the colour for a jajar.

Jean · 26th July 2018, 01:33 PM

So it is better to buy a white sunggingan scabbard in ladrang style than a black gayaman!

Paul B. · 26th July 2018, 08:34 PM

A kris for a Jajar based on the pendok (or the main black colour of the scabbard) but what if the pendok was a red one initially?

A. G. Maisey · 26th July 2018, 11:07 PM

Conflict in colour combinations can indicate a couple of things, it could be a case of an hereditary entitlement and an administrative or military entitlement for the same individual, or it could simply be a case of incorrect mixing by somebody who did not understand the rules.

26th July 2018, 12:02 PM	#3
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	If we consider these Sunggigan krisses as being used for formal events then there is no difference in the dress code for a Gayaman versus Ladrang as opposed to the unpainted versions? Here is one with a black back ground? Decorated with Kala and one eyed Bintulu creature (along the opening of the blewah). Attached Images

23rd July 2018, 11:07 PM	#1
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	Bupati --- a regent, the highest ranking administrative officer in a regency, but also there are 'inside" bupatis and outside bupatis, the outside bupati is the regent, the inside bupati is a very highly ranked officer working within the Karaton itself. Pangeran --- prince , it is the title for the son of a ruler Penewu --- literally it means an officer in charge of 1000 men, in olden times, when a kingdom was at war, the peneqwu would have been in charge of 1000 men, but in more recent times that title has been used as a middle ranking ranking official, in 21st century terms, a "middle manager", "Sewu" mean "one thousand". Jajar --- lowest rank for a karaton official Cantung Balung --- this is not translatable, and to explain fully would need a 5000 word paper. The Canthung Balung can be thought of as humourously fierce cross between warrior and clown who precedes some traditional Surakarta Karaton parades. Lurah --- usually understood as the chief, head, administrator of a village or small administrative area, but can also be the person appointed to supervise other people in the carrying out of specific duties. This is the same idea as the Bupati, an inside lurah, and an outside lurah. Working in the karaton he is a supervisor, appointed outside the karaton he is a village head. They used to be appointed as village heads by the Ruler, Sinuhun, in Surakarta, the Sunan or Susuhunan, these days they are appointed by the government. Mentri --- this is a confusing word. There are several spellings used, I understand the correct (if there is such a thing) Javanese romanised spelling is "mantri", but in Javanese both vowels and consonants can be subiect to change by the user of the word. In Javanese "mantri" can have several meanings, but in the context of karaton hierarchy it should be understood as "an official", in other words a fairly low ranking official in charge of a certain function, not a highly ranked administrative official. The word comes through into Bahasa Indonesia as "menteri', which is a government minister. Poleng motif is black and white squares, it can be thought of in the sense of "good/bad", "day/night", the idea of opposites necessary to balance all in the cosmos. Sunggingan is painted, but specifically the painted ornamention on furniture, a form of ornamentation that was very popular in Europe in past times. Pendok (pendhok) is keris specific Rojomolo --- another 5000 word job, but quickly and simply, the water spirit of the Bengawan Solo Ukiran --- a carving

24th July 2018, 12:46 PM	#2
Bjorn Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Netherlands Posts: 188	Thank you for taking the time to write that down, Alan. It's nice to have a better idea of what these words actually refer to.

26th July 2018, 01:04 PM	#4
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	Paul, there are events of varying natures. The style of dress, and the style of keris dress can vary according to the nature of the event. In some instances it may be acceptable for some people to wear gayaman keris dress, but not for other people. The answer to what is acceptable when, where and by whom is really a question that can only be answered by an authority on the protocol that applies in a particular kraton or social setting. My knowledge does not extend that far. Black is the colour for a jajar.

26th July 2018, 01:33 PM	#5
Jean Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,740	So it is better to buy a white sunggingan scabbard in ladrang style than a black gayaman!

26th July 2018, 08:34 PM	#6
Paul B. Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 205	A kris for a Jajar based on the pendok (or the main black colour of the scabbard) but what if the pendok was a red one initially?

26th July 2018, 11:07 PM	#7
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,056	Conflict in colour combinations can indicate a couple of things, it could be a case of an hereditary entitlement and an administrative or military entitlement for the same individual, or it could simply be a case of incorrect mixing by somebody who did not understand the rules.