Polarising Javanese Society: Islamic and Other Vision, c. 1830-1930

Glossary

Glossary 265 265 Glossary abangan nominal or non-practising Muslims; literally “the red (or brown) ones” babad chronicle bathik wax-resist dyed cloth bid‘a (unlawful) innovation, for which there was no precedent in the time of the Prophet Buda pre-Islamic; literally, Buddhist budi mind, intellect, reason, genius, wit, discretion, judgment, wisdom, aptitude, character, disposition, sense; desire, longing, etc.; a very positive concept associated with intellect, elevated character and striving Bupati Javanese regency head; the highest Javanese official in the colonial bureaucratic system cultuurstelsel cultivation system dhalang puppeteer in the Javanese wayang dhikr recitation of pious formulae as a mystic exercise gamělan Javanese orchestra, consisting mainly of percussion instruments 266 Glossary Garěběg Thrice-annual Javanese Islamic festivals, to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Garěběg Mulud on 12 Mulud), to celebrate the end of the fasting month (Garěběg Puasa on 1 Sawal) and to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son and the hajj (Garěběg Běsar on 10 Běsar) Haji a person who has completed the hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca jakat religious tax paid at the end of the fasting month to support the needy jimat amulet kafir infidel kampung hamlet kaum the pious, professional religious community kawruh knowledge, especially European learning kitab book, especially religious books krama high Javanese, used to address superiors kraton court of a Sultan or Susuhunan kris Javanese dagger, often thought to be “alive” with supernatural powers kyai term of veneration for Islamic teachers macapat Modern Javanese verse, written in one of around 20 standard metres, and traditionally sung aloud ngelmu mystical sciences ngoko low Javanese, used to address intimates or social inferiors Glossary 267 pangulu chief religious officer, head of a mosque pasisir north coast of Java Patih Chief administrative officer of a Javanese court; also used for an official in the countryside pěsantren Islamic boarding school priyayi members of the Javanese administrative-aristocratic elite pujangga poet, literary master pusaka holy regalia, heirloom, usually believed to have supernatural powers putihan pious Muslim, professional religious; literally “the white ones” regent Dutch term for bupati salat ritual prayer santri student of religion sěmbah gesture of obeisance and respect made by placing the palms of the hands together before the nose shari‘a Islamic religious law sheikh spiritual guide slamětan ritual communal meal to observe major occasions such as death, marriage, etc. suluk mystical poem in Javanese sunan Javanese title usually used for the first proselytisers of Islam in Java, the walis 268 Glossary tarekat Sufi mystical order tayuban performance by Javanese dancing-girls, associated with prostitution ulama Islamic holy men, learned scholars Vorstenlanden Central Javanese principalities of the Susuhunan and Mangkunagara in Surakarta and the Sultan and Pakualam in Yogyakarta wali semi-legendary apostle of Islam in Java, of whom there are usually said to have been nine (the wali sanga) wayang Javanese shadow play; also used for other forms of theatrical performance such as wayang wong (dance drama) and wayang topeng (masked dance performance) ...