Blangkon: Symbol of Great and Eternal Cultural Work

 

 

Javanese people life image is never detached from its cultural viscosity. Wherever and no matter where, the Javanese always keep the meaning and deep philosophy in every aspect. Behavior, thought patterns and even the taken decisions, if possible, should be based on the values of life that showing Javanese characteristics. If we take a look from the traditional attributes worn by the Javanese, there are many things we can learn. Completeness of the outfit for example, Java has a special characteristic of traditional outfit that is also owned by other regions in Indonesia.

 

Each man or woman wears his/her outfit harmonized to the Javanese identity itself. The women style their hairs when they are wearing the traditional outfit, while the men's traditional outfit is completed with a head cover as the accessories. If we notice it, its function is merely as a cover not for protecting head from the sunlight or some sort of. It is more than an attribute which is embedding the meaning of Java culture. In Java, we know Blangkon, blangkon is a head cover made of batik clothe. Initially, blangkon is a head cover which is worn to distinguish an aristocrat or a courtier with common people who only use "iket" as a head cover.

 

In Yogyakarta, specially, blangkon has its own specification which is different with Surakarta's blangkon. According to its shape, blangkon is differentiated as Ngayogyakarto's and Surakarta's blangkon. Both have different shape and also have different meaning and philosophy. Ngayogyakarto's blangkon has a Javanese people's philosophy who can keep their secret very well, keep their disgrace and something that is related with someone else or themselves. From these things are the philosophy built. In that time, the men keep their hairs long and tied it up then wrapped it with clothe. That kind of hairstyle which is similar with "mondolan", this is also become the peculiarity of Yogyakarta's blangkon. As the time goes by, some men cut their hairs and do not tie it like "mondolan", then the modification of "mondolan" in the back part of Jogja's blangkon represents the ancient philosophy.

 

While, Solo's blangkon has a thin or flat shape in its back part. This certainly has a different philosophy from Yogyakarta's blangkon. The absence of bulge, just being tied between the tips of two strands on the right and left part. Interpret that for combining one purpose in a straight thought is that two sentences of confession faith that must be embedded closely in the minds of the Javanese.

 

Blangkon as works of art and culture, symbolizes the skill of a man. There is a high magnanimity that is honoured within. In ancient Javanese society, in fact blangkon becomes everyday clothe or even it can be mentioned as obligatory clothe. Especially if there are rituals such as traditional ritual and so forth, blangkon is never detached from head. Indeed, in terms of shape, blangkon looks simple but keeps its precious meaning. Apparently, the flow of globalization do not shift the existence of blangkon as a cultural heritage. The emergence of a variety of head covers such as hats with all its shapes, will never replace blangkon as the completeness of traditional outfit. Blangkon still has a value that is created from centuries years ago, as the cultural work of the great and eternal.

 

SOURCE:

http://www.javaisbeautiful.com/our-blog/solo-surakarta-and-yogyakarta-cultural-difference.html

http://kabaremagazine.com/2012/01/blangkon-symbol-of-great-and-eternal-cultural-work/

 

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