Mythology and the Tolerance of the Javanese by is a seminal monograph that explores how Wayang (Javanese shadow puppet theater) serves as a psychological and sociological blueprint for the Javanese people’s unique capacity for pluralism and tolerance . 🎭 Key Thesis and Core Concepts
The concept of tolerance in Javanese mythology is often analyzed through:
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The Mythology and the Tolerance of the Javanese remains a highly relevant, classic text in Southeast Asian studies, 60 years later. It provides key insights into:
If mythology provides the theory of tolerance, the Slametan is its practical application. The Slametan is a communal feast found across Java, serving as the central ritual of Agama Jawa . It is performed to mark major life transitions (births, marriages, deaths) or to ward off misfortune and achieve selamat (safety and tranquility). The beauty of the Slametan lies in its radical inclusivity: Mythology and the Tolerance of the Javanese by
Javanese mythology constantly praises the attribute of being alus (refined, smooth, spiritual) over being kasar (coarse, vulgar, emotional).
" by Benedict Anderson . First published in 1965 by the Cornell Modern Indonesia Project , this essay argues that Javanese tolerance is deeply rooted in the traditional shadow puppet theater, wayang kulit . Core Arguments of the Essay The Slametan is a communal feast found across
Javanese myths rarely present the universe in rigid binaries of absolute good versus absolute evil. Instead, the spiritual world is depicted as a complex web of competing forces that must be balanced. Because the supreme goal of human existence is to maintain this equilibrium, tolerance becomes a metaphysical necessity rather than just a social courtesy. Expressing extreme intolerance is viewed not just as bad manners, but as a dangerous destabilization of cosmic peace.
Mythology and the Tolerance of the Javanese: Unpacking Cultural Syncretism and Harmony
Javanese Ethics and Worldview (An excellent philosophical deep-dive into the concepts of Rukun and Hormat ).