TPZ S4 Episode 9 - Title : Puppets, Dolls and Spirits
Li Kim visits 2 museums in Jakarta - The Wayang Museum and The National Museum. She is drawn to the displays of mannequins, wayang kulit, puppets and dolls in these 2 museums. One particular doll that interest her Jailangkung.
Li Kim learns about the cultural and traditional background of the doll. Accompanied by Professor Nurzengsky from Universiti Negeri Jakarta who is an expert in classical history, Li Kim even has the chance to witness and participate in a real Jailangkung ritual.
Transcript
00:00 (eerie music)
00:02 - Dolls and puppets can indeed be very scary,
00:15 especially to those with a vivid imagination.
00:19 Maybe because they resemble little people.
00:22 And when they are invoked with a curse or a spirit,
00:26 manipulated by means and given a voice,
00:30 they become alive.
00:31 There are many legends and stories
00:35 that surround cultures and traditions,
00:37 like here in Indonesia, about evil dolls
00:41 and what they do when they come alive.
00:43 Even in the West, there are movies
00:46 that have brought to life such dolls.
00:49 For example, Chucky and Annabelle.
00:52 Here in this museum, there are puppets, there are dolls.
00:57 And it is believed that they are channels
01:00 for good and bad spirits.
01:02 (eerie music)
01:05 (eerie music)
01:07 (eerie music)
01:10 (eerie music)
01:15 (children laughing)
01:37 (eerie music)
01:39 This is the historic Fathila Square in Old Jakarta.
01:45 On weekends, this square attracts
01:50 quite a number of street performers
01:52 and massive numbers of tourists.
01:54 This square is also home to a few museums,
02:00 one of which is indeed unique.
02:02 That is the Wayang Museum, or the Wayang Kulit Museum.
02:07 (eerie music)
02:09 This museum exhibits thousands of puppets
02:12 from Indonesia and also from around the world.
02:14 In Indonesia, the people have a strong fascination
02:23 for dolls and puppets since time immemorial.
02:27 It has become a part of their tradition and culture.
02:31 To some of them, it has become
02:33 an important part of their lives.
02:34 And obviously, with that, the spiritual
02:37 and paranormal aspects of dolls come into play.
02:40 This is when I explore the games people engage in,
02:44 involving dolls and puppets.
02:46 One such popular game is called Jai Lang Kong.
02:50 (eerie music)
02:53 (eerie music)
02:55 I am now at the National Museum in Jakarta.
03:13 I believe that the more we learn about the purpose
03:16 of dolls, statues, puppets, or any other effigies,
03:20 the more we will understand their significance
03:23 with the local communities and the society
03:26 in Indonesia at large.
03:27 For example, at the back of me here
03:30 is a statue called Hampatong.
03:32 When placed at the entrance of a village,
03:35 it protects the entire village from diseases
03:37 and bad spirits.
03:39 And when placed inside the home,
03:40 it brings good fortune and health.
03:43 There are numerous other statues, effigies, puppets,
03:47 and dolls which are used for many other purposes
03:49 and rituals.
03:50 As an example, in North Sumatra, there is Si Gale Gale,
03:55 a puppet made into the size of a real human being.
03:58 It is part of the Batak people's culture.
04:01 It is constructed in a way that the player is able
04:04 to move all its body parts, including facial expressions.
04:08 This doll is performed in a ceremony called Papopo Sapata
04:12 to appease the deceased who have passed on
04:15 without leaving any descendants.
04:17 There are also other statues and effigies
04:19 that are placed at home to protect the entire family.
04:22 But do they really repel spirits?
04:26 There are many other rituals,
04:27 and one very popular one is called Jai Langkong.
04:30 Wouldn't it be great to see how this ritual is done
04:34 and how the puppet comes alive?
04:36 I am here with Professor Noh Zenki,
04:41 who has enlightened us on the paranormal culture
04:43 in Indonesia.
04:44 Today, we're meeting him again to gain more insights
04:48 into the significance of boneka and puppets
04:52 in the lives of the Indonesians for centuries,
04:55 particularly about the famous doll play Jai Langkong.
04:58 In Indonesia, dolls and puppets
05:03 have a very strong significance.
05:06 Can you please explain how that significance come about?
05:11 Once upon a time in central Java,
05:15 a guru was thinking about a method
05:17 that would interest his students in learning mathematics.
05:20 He had an idea.
05:21 Why not use the Jai Langkong game to do it?
05:24 There's a gradient here.
05:26 It's seen from the point of view using the Jai Langkong.
05:29 Secondly, health matters.
05:33 How is it diagnosed?
05:34 It was a time before doctors.
05:37 So during a Jai Langkong game,
05:39 the doll would write what was wrong
05:41 with the person with a chalk,
05:43 or write on a piece of paper with a pencil.
05:46 It is from this that there has always been a connection
05:49 between the Jai Langkong game with education
05:51 and also medical matters.
05:53 What do you mean by the Jai Langkong will write?
05:57 From what I see, it's a puppet.
05:59 Does it get possessed by spirits in order to write?
06:04 In the game, there are two players and a shaman.
06:08 The shaman will call upon a spirit
06:10 to enter the doll or puppet.
06:13 It is this spirit that is responding to the shaman.
06:16 He will say, "This is a sick man.
06:19 "Please tell us what is wrong or what is missing."
06:23 Then the doll will write.
06:25 He is like this because he has not been drinking well.
06:28 It is also interesting to note that in this diorama
06:32 shows the diagnostic capability of Jai Langkong in Surabaya.
06:36 This is because a minister was so taken aback
06:39 by what the shamans could diagnose
06:41 that he ordered the construction of a diorama
06:44 as a historical tribute.
07:11 Wouldn't it be great to see how this ritual is done
07:14 and how the puppet comes alive?
07:17 In the game, there are two players and a shaman.
07:21 The shaman will call upon a spirit
07:23 to enter the doll or puppet.
07:25 It is this spirit that is responding to the shaman.
07:28 How about the origins of Jai Langkong?
07:37 I am told that even though it is part of the tradition
07:41 and culture here in Indonesia,
07:44 the origin is actually Chinese.
07:46 Can you give me more depth on that?
07:48 There has been evidence of Indonesian and Chinese contacts
07:54 since 3000 BC.
07:56 And this is the opinion of Muhammad Yamin,
07:59 who has been called the father of Indonesian history.
08:02 He said that the Chinese arrived in this region
08:04 and inhabited Java, Sumatra.
08:07 And the ritual had a name that was not Jai Langkong.
08:11 When it arrived in Java, the locals called it Jai Langkong,
08:15 referring it to the goddess of baskets.
08:19 But at that time in Indonesia, baskets were hard to come by,
08:23 so the locals replaced the basket head
08:25 with that of a coconut shell.
08:27 Nini Towok is the Javanese term for this game.
08:35 Jai Langkong is the Chinese term.
08:38 It is the same ritual or game.
08:41 (Jai Langkong)
08:44 (Jai Langkong)
09:11 I am here at a cemetery in Pasar Kemis,
09:15 together with Professor Nozinke,
09:18 who has been studying the Jai Langkong game for a very long time.
09:23 This evening, starting at 9pm,
09:25 we are going to witness the game,
09:28 and there is a group of players who will perform this game.
09:33 They will conduct their prayers before the game.
09:41 I am looking forward to witnessing this very popular game here in Jakarta.
09:47 While we await for the Jai Langkong players to prepare the game,
09:57 I can explain more about this game.
09:59 According to Professor Nozinke,
10:01 in the olden days, the game actually functioned as a children's game
10:05 to instil good values, like learning mathematics.
10:09 However, as time goes by,
10:11 the traditional games like Jai Langkong are pushed aside
10:15 as children become more tech-savvy
10:17 and prefer playing with electronic gadgets.
10:20 As a result, the game has evolved into a more sacred
10:27 and mystical purpose and intention.
10:30 Based on history, which you had explained to me before,
10:34 Jai Langkong was used for health and also education,
10:41 to make it entertaining for the children.
10:44 Is it the same purpose today, in 2016?
10:48 In several places right now,
10:51 people play this game for different reasons.
10:54 For example, they play this game to entertain children.
10:59 But back then, the use of Jai Langkong was for education and health purposes.
11:04 We did not have modern medical diagnosis like we do now,
11:08 so Jai Langkong was used to determine ailments.
11:12 Given that today, it's mainly used as a game for entertainment,
11:19 is it therefore nothing serious?
11:21 The purpose of this game is now different,
11:26 but there are some people who still use it for rather sacred purposes,
11:31 as you can obviously see in the ritual.
11:34 The ritual is used to invite the spirit to possess the doll.
11:38 Now, we're actually talking about the mechanics
11:42 of the gestures or movements in the doll.
11:44 The puppeteer is the one who summons the spirit,
11:49 and the spirit is the entity that moves the doll to answer the questions.
11:55 I could not agree more that seeing is believing.
12:00 So, I'm now going to watch and observe Jai Langkong, the game.
12:06 Jai Langkong, Jai Langsar.
12:08 This is the place of the festival.
12:10 The festival is the festival of the spirits.
12:12 In Indonesia, the people have a strong fascination for dolls and puppets,
12:34 since time immemorial.
12:36 It has become a part of their tradition and culture,
12:40 and obviously, with that,
12:42 the spiritual and paranormal aspects of dolls come into play.
12:45 This is when I explore the games people engage in,
12:50 involving dolls and puppets.
12:53 One such popular game is called Jai Langkong.
12:57 Jai Langkong.
12:59 Is this the paper that they will use?
13:13 Yes.
13:14 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:17 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:20 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:23 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:26 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:29 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:32 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:35 (The spirit of Jai Langkong is the spirit of the spirits.)
13:38 Jai Langkong, Jai Langsar.
13:41 Here is a festival.
13:44 A small festival.
13:46 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
13:49 Come, come.
13:51 Jai Langkong, Jai Langsar.
13:53 Here is a festival.
13:55 A small festival.
13:57 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
14:01 Come, come.
14:03 Jai Langkong, Jai Langsar.
14:05 Here is a festival.
14:07 A small festival.
14:10 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
14:14 Come, come.
14:16 A few moments later,
14:18 the player starts interacting with the doll,
14:20 while the second player continues chanting.
14:24 Come, come.
14:26 What is your name, please?
14:28 Your name?
14:29 Here is a festival.
14:31 Write it down.
14:33 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
14:35 Write it down.
14:37 How old are you?
14:40 What is your name?
14:42 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
14:45 Come, come.
14:47 Write it down.
14:49 Your name?
14:51 What is your name?
14:53 What is your name?
14:55 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
14:57 Come, come.
14:59 Jai Langkong, Jai Langsar.
15:01 Here is a festival.
15:03 A small festival.
15:05 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
15:08 Come, come.
15:10 Write it down.
15:12 Your name?
15:14 Your name?
15:16 You came to welcome us, but you were sent home.
15:19 Write it down.
15:21 The doll seems to react and move,
15:25 which means that the unseen entity has entered it.
15:29 Professor Nozengki is trying to decipher the message that is being written.
15:34 He said that the sketching looks like a face
15:37 and a ear that seems to have detached itself from the face.
15:42 It could be telling us that it is unable to hear us.
15:46 Then, it reacted by drawing a straight line.
15:50 Is it the person who holds the puppet, the facilitator?
15:54 Must it be somebody who is trained?
15:57 Or someone like me, can I hold the puppet?
16:00 Preferably a trained performer, so that there can be a contact.
16:06 Easier for it to enter.
16:09 If it is not an ustaz or holy person that talks to the host,
16:13 we fear that the spirits will not appear.
16:16 So if the person isn't trained, the ritual will not be complete.
16:20 With permission from the players, I am allowed to join them in this game,
16:27 and to give their guidance on how to hold the doll and chant.
16:33 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
16:36 Here is a festival
16:38 A small festival
16:40 Come and receive
16:42 Go home and be sent
16:44 Come, come
16:46 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
16:49 Here is a festival
16:51 A small festival
16:53 Come and receive
16:55 Go home and be sent
16:57 Come, come
16:59 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
17:01 Here is a festival
17:03 A small festival
17:05 Come and receive
17:07 Go home and be sent
17:09 Come, come
17:11 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
17:13 Here is a festival
17:15 A small festival
17:17 Come and receive
17:23 Go home and be sent
17:25 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
17:28 Here is a festival
17:30 A small festival
17:32 Come and receive
17:34 Go home and be sent
17:36 Come, come
17:38 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
17:40 Here is a festival
17:42 A small festival
17:44 Come and receive
17:46 Go home and be sent
17:48 Come, come
17:50 Jaya Langkung, Jaya Langsir
17:52 Here is a festival
17:54 A small festival
17:56 [Music]
18:12 Like this, you can give to the dog
18:15 Wow
18:17 That's what we wanted
18:19 Hmm
18:21 Not bad at all
18:23 The weight was quite real
18:26 [Music]
18:50 I've just completed witnessing and experiencing for myself
18:54 the popular and famous game called Jaya Langkung
18:58 Placing my hand at the base of the puppet
19:01 allowed me to experience a change in weight
19:06 When the puppet started to move
19:08 there was a weight difference
19:11 And because my hand was together with the other two players
19:16 I could sense that there was no manipulation of the puppet
19:22 Then a weight came
19:24 and then a force went forward
19:27 and then I could feel the pen
19:30 mark on this piece of paper
19:33 in a way that was strong
19:34 and I could feel the vibration of the marker
19:37 as it drew this line
19:39 [Music]
19:47 Jaya Langkung in Indonesia currently is used
19:51 as some form of entertainment
19:53 But it is also strongly believed
19:55 that a spirit or an entity does come and possess the puppet
20:00 Having experienced this myself
20:02 I can see why people still do it till today
20:05 and they would choose a location like a cemetery
20:09 to conduct this game
20:11 Like I always say
20:13 what we see may not be real
20:15 and what is real we may not see
20:18 [Music]
20:27 [Music]
20:33 [Music]