Hanacaraka Society preserves art of writing on lontar leaves

Wed, August 21, 2019 / 12:53 pm

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The Pitutur Ning Jalma script is one of the items in Ajip Rosidi Library's collection. Using the Sundanese alphabet, it shows the differences between the Sundanese and Balinese alphabets. JP/Arya Dipa
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Prasi I Gede Basur comprises 30 palm leaf manuscripts. It's one of the texts written in Prasi, or traditional Balinese comics. The script is part of the Hanacaraka Society's collection and tells the story of a man named I Gede Basur. JP/Arya Dipa
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The Dharma Sunia script, also from Hanacaraka Society's collection, comprises 36 palm leaf manuscripts, each having three lines of text written in the Kawi Bali or Bali alphabets. The scripts explore the philosophy of silence. JP/Arya Dipa
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Hanacaraka Society founder Sugi Lanus explains the differences between the Balinese and Sundanese alphabets during a workshop at the Ajip Rosidi Library in Bandung, West Java, on Thursday. JP/Arya Dipa
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Udayana University student Siti Noviali (center) explains the right way to hold a knife for writing on a palm leaf, called pangrupak, during a workshop at the Ajip Rosidi Library on Thursday. Durable palm leaves were long used in the archipelago to write script. JP/Arya Dipa
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The Balinese usually recorded their daily activities on palm leaves that had not yet been dried. Meanwhile, dried palm leaves were used for guidelines and mantras. JP/Arya Dipa
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Candlenuts are used in the final process of writing on palm leaf. They add black color to the letter, while the oil makes the leaves more durable. JP/Arya Dipa
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One of the participants writes in the Sundanese alphabet under Balinese characters during a workshop at Bandung’s Ajip Rosidi Library. At first glance, the two alphabets look similar. JP/Arya Dipa
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Udayana University student Siti Noviali shows Balinese script polished with candlenuts during a workshop at the Ajip Rosidi Library. JP/Arya Dipa
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A pisau pangot (pangot knife) is used by the Sundanese society to write on palm leaves. JP/Arya Dipa
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A pangrupak is a writing tool used for palm leaf script. The shape differs from a ballpoint pen, as it needs to be pressed by two thumbs while writing on the palm leaves. JP/Arya Dipa
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Another view of the pangrupak. JP/Arya Dipa
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Candlenuts are one of the tools to create palm leaf manuscript. JP/Arya Dipa
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Palm leaf manuscripts are usually put together in bundles using bamboo clips. JP/Arya Dipa

Arya Dipa

In this digital age, writing or documenting scripts is easily done with the help of technology.

The Hanacaraka Society in Bali, though, is adamant about preserving the art of writing on lontar palm leaves.

Hanacaraka Society founder Sugi Lanus said writing on palm leaves could help people learn about patience, perseverance and the future.

He said patience and perseverance were needed for preparing the leaves, as it could take 1.5 years for the leaves to be ready and durable.

Sugi also noted that modern society could learn about the past from ancient texts, as they covered a variety of topics, from religion, daily life, politics and alternative medicine to the preservation of nature and local customs in the archipelago.

With that in mind, the Hanacaraka Society frequently shares its knowledge of palm-leaf manuscripts through public activities – such as the Workshop Penulisan Lontar dan Pameran Naskah Nusantara (Writing on Lontar Leaves Workshop and The Archipelago’s Scripts Exhibition) at Bandung’s Ajip Rosidi Library in West Java on Thursday.

The tradition of writing on palm leaves is closely associated with the Sundanese people, such as ancient traveler Bujangga Manik, who told of his traveling days to Java and Bali on the leaves in the 15th century.

At the library event in Bandung, participants learned about writing on palm leaves from Sugi, Dewa Ayu Carma Citrawati, a lecturer and writer using the Balinese language, and Siti Noviali, a student at Udayana University in Bali.

West Java Scripts Society head Titin Nurhayati Ma’mun expressed hope that the activity would pique the younger generation’s curiosity about philology.

Titin said the philologist profession was rare nowadays, though it could benefit the community, adding that there was still a large amount of unread script waiting to be deciphered. (jes/wng)