Books that contain about sex and sexuality may you know Kamasutra from India better than Serat Centhini, an old Javanese literary work released in the early 19th century. It is said that the local version of the “manual” is believed to be much more complete and challenging than the Kamasutra. Let’s take a peek at the sexuality quote by Serat Centhini written by Al. Heru Kustra, who was published in the May 2005 edition of Intisari Magazine.
It is undeniable that sex always makes it interesting. Whether chatter from young people to the realm of parents. Even in the realm of fathers and mothers, sex is an interesting conversation to discuss, even at social gathering events. Sometimes discussed openly with existing limitations, such as in a seminar room or other formal occasions. Sex and sexuality have become an important part of human life.
Sex itself is one part of the instinct or the most basic human instinct. No wonder there are so many attempts to study it. Not a few have analyzed and compiled manuals (guides) or expressed them through literature or written works since time immemorial. We can call some of the ancient manuals, for example, Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love) by the Roman poet, Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BC – 17 AD). Or the work of the Kama Sutra by Vatsyayana from India, which is estimated to have lived in the Gupta era (around the 1st – 6th century AD).
In both books, sex is not seen as a subject of medical and scientific research but as a manual sex gang. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Austrian neurologist and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) developed a theory of sexuality based on his studies of his clients. But in the land of Java itself in the early 19th century, a famous literary work was created, namely Serat Centhini or better known by its official name, Suluk Tembangraras.
Serat Centhini itself consists of 722 Javanese songs, some of which talk about sex and sexuality. Precisely because of that fiber is famous even throughout the world. In fact, a newspaper reporter in France, Elisabeth D. Inandiak, for example, has translated it into French with the title Les Chants de I’ile a dormir debout le Livre de Centhini (2002).
Open-Up
Even though at that time Javanese culture in the heyday of the Keraton was still repressive-feudalistic, said Otto Sukatno CR in his book Sex The Princes: Tradition and Ritualization of Javanese Hedonism (Bentang, 2002), in the sexual field it is far from what we imagine.
It turns out that the problem of sexuality appears in artistic expression, especially literature and gang dance. In Centhini’s fiber, sexual problems turned out to be a central theme that was verbally open, so bluntly. Sexual problems in Centhini fibers are expressed in various versions and cases, you know, gang.
Even uniquely, sex is also discussed in relation to the enjoyment of life or the outlet for hedonism. Sukatno said that in Centhini II (Pupuh Asmarandana), the question of “love-doing” which is associated with sensitive genitalia is related to sex. For example, such as how to open or speed up orgasm for women and prevent or speed up so that men do not ejaculate easily.
Then in Centhini IV (Pupuh Balabak) it explains how pratingkahing cumbana (intercourse style) and the characteristics of women are explained and how to arouse their passionate love. It is also revealed in the fiber that women are not always innocent, passive in sexual matters as the stereotype of the Javanese view that we have accepted. They also have the same freedom in expressing their sexual experiences. Though they are always depicted as surrendering, accepting of men.
Javanese society actually does not recognize sexual problems as a vehicle for hedonistic passions, but rather for the enjoyment of life. But it is still contrary to reality, “The existence of a customer culture system is clearly a denial of this,” said Sukatno. So, are you interested in knitting Serat Centhini? Come on, get interesting information and add insight from Indonesiar.com.
Source : Paragram
