Serat Centhini is a twelve-volume compilation of Javanese tales and teachings, written in verse and published in 1814. The work was commissioned, directed, and partially written by Crown Prince Mangkunegoro, later enthroned as Pakubuwono V of Surakarta, with contributions from three court poets from different palaces.
Chronology The events depicted in Serat Centhini take place in the 1630s when Sultan Agung of Mataram's army besieged and captured the city of Giri Kedaton in Gresik, East Java.
Giri Kedaton had a religious school that was founded by Sunan Giri, one of the Wali Sanga. The school grew and became famous as a center of Muslim teaching, which gave it political influence in the surrounding region. It attracted learners from multiple societal groups and regions as far away as Ternate Sultanate.
Giri Kedaton reached the peak of its influence under Sunan Giri Prapen who ruled it from 1548 to 1605. Sultan Agung of the larger Mataram Sultanate regarded this as a threat, so in 1630 he sent an army under his brother-in-law, Pangeran Pekik to capture Giri Kedaton. Giri Kedaton finally surrendered in 1636. Sunan Giri Prapen was captured and brought to Mataram's capital Kota Gede, known today as Yogyakarta.
The main characters of Serat Centhini are Sunan Giri Prapen's three young children who escape Giri Kedaton overnight, hours before the city falls to the army from Mataram. The children become separated in the confusion as inhabitants flee the city. They each spend several years wandering around Java, only to be reunited many years later.
Main characters The main characters of the story are: Jayengresmi, son of Sunan Giri Prapen (later called Syeh Amongrogo) Jayengsari, son of Sunan Giri Prapen (later called Mangunarsa) Rancangkapti, daughter of Sunan Giri Prapen Ki Akadiat, an old man who adopts Jayengsari and Rancangkapti Mas Cabolang, son of Ki Akadiat (later called Anggungrimang) Nyi Tembangraras, wife of Jayengresmi Ki Bayu Panurto, father of Nyi Tembangraras Centhini, maid of Nyi Tembangraras Gathak and Gathuk, servants of Jayengresmi (later called Jamal and Jamil) Buras, servant of Jayengsari and Rancangkapti (later called Montel)
Story outline
The Centhini story is separated by phases of its characters' lives (pre-adulthood, adulthood, and post-adulthood) and by the adventures of each character (Jayengresmi, Jayengsari, Rancangkapti, and Mas Cabolang).
In the pre-adulthood journey, geographic locations still can be identified on the real-world map. But in the post-adulthood journeys, the locations become mystical and imaginary, as though in a different realm. The mixture of real-world and imaginary locations is similar to that of Homer's Odyssey.
As adults, the characters changed their names to avoid capture by Sultan Agung's spies.
Pre-Adulthood journey After fleeing the conquered city the oldest son, Jayengresmi wanders in the southern part of Java and then to its westernmost part. The second son, Jayengsari, and his sister, Rancangkapti, flee to the east, later travelling by ship to central Java.
Journey of Jayengresmi
Jayengresmi's travels take him and his servants Gathak and Gathuk through the mountainous terrain where hermits live. Their journey passes through historic areas including: 1. Majapahit Kingdom ruins in Trowulan, East Java. Majapahit's golden age was in the 14th century. Close to the ruins, they visit Hindu temples from the same era, such as the Naga and Panataran temples. 2. Medang Kamulan Kingdom, Central Java Medang Kamulan is a semi-mythological kingdom believed to have been in the Purwodadi Grobogan region in the 7th and 8th centuries. It preceded the Medang Kingdom, which moved its court several times around Kedu Plain, Central Java, and later to East Java. 3. The Chronicles of Kyai Ageng Selo, the 16th-century forefather of the rulers of the Mataram Sultanate, the Mataram Kingdom after the adoption of Islam. The capital of the Mataram Kingdom and Mataram Sultanate was Kota Gede, Yogyakarta. 4. Demak Sultanate Demak was the first kingdom in Java to adopt Islam. It was founded in the 15th century on the north coast of Central Java. 5. The story of Syekh Siti Jenar in a hermitage, Jayengresmi is told the story of the Sufi Seh Lemah-Abang (Syekh Siti Jenar). Walisanga Muslims considered Sufism to be heresy. During a conference of Moslem saints, he argued with other saints over the perception of Truth as a mystic union with the Creator/Manunggaling Kawula Gusti. He was executed - which is depicted as a mere transition to an incorporeal world. 6. Introduction of the Javanese Almanac In another hermitage, Jayengresmi is introduced to the Wuku, the Javanese Almanac. 7. Muslim Teachings In several hermitages, Jayengresmi teaches the Islamic practices of Tahajjud (optional late-night prayers) and Martabat Tujuh (the Seven Stages of Creation). In return, his servants are taught the secret of longevity through Puja Dina, a Muslim prayer ritual. 8. Ruins of Pajajaran/Sunda Kingdom The kingdom of Pajajaran in West Java was a rival to the kingdom of Majapahit in the 13th century. The ruins of its capital are in the present-day region of Bogor. 9. Jayengresmi ends his first journey in Karang Hermitage, Banten, West Java. Seh Ibrahim ibn Abubakar, also known as Kyai Ageng Karang, is the hermit of Karang and comes originally from Arabia. After losing his son it was prophesied that the son of Sunan Giri would come to him and become his son. He adopts Jayengresmi as his son.
Journey of Jayengsari and Rancangkapti
Jayengsari and Rancangkapti are accompanied by their servant Buras. They visit the sites of old Javanese kingdoms and learn legends. 1. Singhasari/Singosari Kingdom in East Java, 13th century. Singosari is a Kingdom that precede Majapahit Kingdom in the Hindu Era. Its heritage is Temple Singosari and Kidal. 2. Hindu Society in Tengger, Bromo and Semeru mountain. Tengger is a region that still has the Hindu religion, even today. Hindu teachings were introduced by a hermit in the Semeru Mountains. 3. Muslim teachings and introduction to celibacy During their journey in Probolinggo, they were introduced to several Muslim teachings. They met a holy maid who taught them the joy of celibacy. 4. Banyuwangi and Ijen Mountain and Blambangan Kingdom Ijen Mountain is famous for its Tosca color crater. Nearby they found the marble temple of Candi Sela Cendhani (that no longer exists), which was King Menakjinggo's palace during the Majapahit era. Menak Jinggo is a King of the Blambangan Kingdom, a rival to the Majapahit Kingdom. Menak Jinggo would later rebel against its Majapahit rulers. The Blambangan Kingdom survived for two centuries after Majapahit's demise. In Banyuwangi, Jayengsari and Rancangkapti would meet Ki Hartati, who would become their temporary adopted father. From Banyuwangi, he took them to Pekalongan via the North Java Ocean route. 5. The harbour of Pekalongan Jayengsari and Rancangkapti arrived at Pekalongan and stayed with their adopted parents. Two years after their adopted mother's death, they were told by their adopted father to continue their journey to the next destination, the hermitage of Sukoyoso in Dieng Plateau, and to study with its hermit, Ki Ageng/Seh Akadiyat. Soon afterwards, Ki Hartati also died. 6. The end of Jayengsari and Rancangkapti journey in Sokoyoso, Dieng Plateau The brother and sister met Ki Ageng, the hermit of Sokoyoso, and his wife Nyai Wuryan. They welcomed the youngsters in delight because their son, Mas Cabolang, left home for his interests. Jayengsari and Rancangkapti were then adopted as their children and stayed with them for the next several years.
Journey of Mas Cabolang
Mas Cabolang is the son of Ki Ageng/Seh Akadiyat, the hermit of Sokoyoso Hermitage in Dieng Plateau. He left his parents' house without asking their permission. His objective is to have his adventure to understand more of the world. His journey began on the southwest route to Cilacap Region and then turned to the east, through Mataram Sultanate's capital (Kota Gede), and moved to the eastern part of Java Island before finally going back to Sokoyoso.
1. Journey throughout Banyumas, Serayu River to Cilacap and the story of Wijayakusuma Flower in Nusakambangan Island Mas Cabolang visited several hermitages throughout the Banyumas region which are described as having beautiful pristine waterfalls that form the headwaters of Serayu River. The river flows to the southern coast of Java Island, towards Karang Bolong-Ujung Kalang caves, in the Cilacap region. The teachings of Islam have been spread throughout the region and the caves were used as a natural structure mosque. From on top of the nearby Curiwing Mountain, Mas Cabolang could see Nusakambangan Island. He is being told about the legend of Wijayakusuma Flower. Nusa Kambangan Island is a place where Kresna hides the Wijoyosukumo Flower (A flower that has the magic of resurrecting the dead). Any Javanese Prince who is about to be crowned has to dispatch a messenger to the island to retrieve the flower. In case the deity disagrees, the messenger will be swallowed by the south ocean. 2. Kedu Plain, Progo River, and Mas Cabolang's marriage to his four wives From Cilacap, Mas Cabolang continued his journey to the east toward the mountainous area of Sundoro in Kedu Plain, Central Java. From on top of one mountain area, he could see the southern Java Ocean. There is a spring that becomes the headwater of the Progo River. The Spring still became an important site for Buddhist procession which is being held until today. During Waisak (Vesak Day), Buddhist monks will carry 1000 bottles of the spring's water to the Borobudur temple. Mas Cabolang granted the secret of his beauty via meditation in one of the springs. Coming down to the lower Tidar Mountain, Mas Cabolang met Seh Wakidiyat and finally married his four beautiful female students after solving a riddle. However, unable to satisfy the 4 wives, Mas Cabolang asks for advice from the hermit, therefore he is given six ways of amorous play. But after staying and marrying the woman for a while, Mas Cabolang remembers one hermit's advice to continue his journey to Wirosobo. Seh Wakidiyat advises him to divorce the four wives and continue his journey and in the future, he could remarry the 4 women again. 3. Temples of Borobudur and Mendut Leaving his wives, Mas Cabolang continued his journey and arrived at Borobudur, a site of 1000 years ago, even for his time. As they observed the temples, the reliefs reminded them of The Tales of Jataka (Stories of living beings who later became Buddha). 4. Mataram, the knowledge of sexuality, weaponry, Javanese architecture, and wedding procession. In Mataram, Mas Cabolang met new friends who, in between their activities, would exchange knowledge such as sexuality, weaponry, and the best timing to build a house. Later on, they had to help a friend who held a wedding ceremony and was introduced to its detailed procession. When the guests of the wedded family joined, the discussion went on to varieties of topics from one epic of Mahabharata (Javanese version, namely Jamus kalimosodo), The Story of King Amat Salekah (from Istanbul) and The Story of Siti Dara Murtasiyah. The next day, the Puppet Show (wayang kulit) with King Partodewo's story is being performed. While in Mataram, Mas Cabolang also took a look at several canons which are gifts from Europeans (Portuguese). They continued their journey to some places whilst getting more insights ie. the story of the paper, the meaning of the religious lyrics played by rebanas, and the teaching of sastra cetha. 5. The knowledge of Javanese marriage and family life.