Between Solo and Yogya

[ganjawulung]

Originally Posted by Raden Usman Djogja

after paliyan negari
If in Keraton Jogja, there are Kiai Plered & Kiai Kopek. There is Kiai Wewe Putih (Gumarang) in Pakualaman. How about in Keraton Solo and Mangkunegaran.

Usmen

That's beyond my knowledge, Raden. There is still a tradition of "sinengker" (people outside kraton may not know), especially about the pusakas. Yes, the English book on Kraton Yogya mentioned some names of legitimate pusakas, like Kanjeng Kiai Joko Piturun (keris) -- the symbol of kraton legitimacy for the heir or Kraton Yogyakarta. You may read also the interesting book of the (Australian) historian MC Ricklefs on "The Missing Pusakas". He mentioned quite a lot of names of Kraton pusakas...

This is what I know:
On pusakas (kerises, tombaks) may be Yogyakarta has better ones, or at least older pusakas. But on arts (dances, music, litterature) Solo is better. What people know abroad on those kind of arts, usually come from Solo. You may find such "karawitan" (Java traditional music) professor as Mr Sumarsam at the Wesleyan University in US. He comes from Solo too. Also DR Rahayu Supanggah, the prominent Javanese musicologist in Indonesia now. He comes from Sragen (formerly Sukawati) in the east of Solo..

For me, both -- Solo and Yogya -- gave their share for the development of the Javanese culture. Personally, I am solonese. But most of my collections are Yogyanese. And I love Yogya style too, I love the simplicity -- Yogyanese philosophy in their kerises...

Ganjawulung