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BALI HISTORY
Bali is a beautiful island that is in harmony with
nature. It is also known worldwide for having a unique
colorful spiritual culture. Inherent in the fascinating
culture are its many rituals and practices which originated
thousands of years ago, and till today they have survived.
Such is the endurance of Balinese culture, which in turn
reflects on the deep faith and resilience of the Balinese
people. To study the roots of today's practices and how
they have evolved from the original rituals is to take an
interesting educational journey into the past.
In contrast to matters of religion, Bali's history
is difficult to chronicle as factual evidence has not been
collected. What is known is that at some stage in
pre-historical times, an indigenous people populated
the island. Their descendants, known as the Bali Aga,
practised animism. Today, they settle mainly in the
villages of Tenganan and Trunyan and still continue to
worship the spirits of nature, uninfluenced by the spread
of Hinduism.
It was at Trunyan that the first stone tools were
discovered on the island. They were believed to belonged to
the Homo erectus people who lived around 300,000 BC.
However, since so little is known of Bali's stone-age
inhabitants, it is usual to discuss Bali's history beginning
with the bronze age. During this period, rice cultivation
originated on the island, which was introduced by people
who migrated from the north more than 3,000 years ago or
around 1000 BC.
By 300 BC, historical records were being kept, which identified
a more advanced and organized agrarian society. By then,
complex irrigation systems fed cascading rice terraces in
wet rice cultivadon. At this time rice was already well
and truly established as the major food commodity in Bali,
and, as its abundance and importance increased, so did its
value. Dewi Sri, the ancient rice goddess, was revered
then as she still is today through cili figures given as
offerings. Based on the large yields of rice crops, communities
became more and more wealthy and developed into more
sophisticated kingdoms, each with ruling rajahs.
One of the most dramatic and enduring developments in Bali's
history came about when a form of Hinduism, which had been
introduced to Java, was transported to and widely accepted
in Bali in the first ,mtury. This religion was, in fact,
a fascinating mix of ,Siwa Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism,
both originally from India and brought to Indonesia by
Indian traders.
The peak of its success in Java came with the rise e, but
these Majapahits were er east to Bali as the Muslim rs
throughout Sumatra a.nd *Java. Some Javanese shamanism
was thrown in en route, and by the time this religion
reached Bali, it eventually merged with Bali's own form
of animism. The foreign religion was welcomed enthusiastically
by the Balinese, who saw it as a further step to civilization.
Any discussion of arts or architecture in Bali now usually
refers to the "before Majapahit" period, which is distinguished
by its primitive simplicity, or "after Majapahit" which is
much more elaborate and detailed.
The Balinese initially resisted the arrival of the new religion
strongly, however, when the Majapahits first invaded Bali in
1343. Gajah Mada, head of the Majapahit empire, had an
extremely tough opponent in the Balinese king, Dalem Bedaulu.
The king ruled from Pejeng, now a simple village east of Ubud,
and this is where much of the action took place. The king was
so stubborn in his resistance that he became known by the
Majapahits as "Pig -head". Stories embellishing the events
relating to the king's incredible determination and skill
have survived, and he is now known, literally, as the king
with the pig's head and magical powers. Gajah Mada eventually
overcame the strong king, and has been accepted as a hero and
great holy man ever since.
Up until the 15th century, the Majapahit kingdom maintained
dominance in the area now known as South East Asia, and Bali
was an influential province. As the links between the mother
religion and her off-shoot in Bali slowly dissolved over time
and due to distance indigenous beliefs resurfaced.
European contact with Indonesia originated with Marco Polo's
visit in AD 1290, and after this time a demand for spices and
Indonesia's other natural resources grew. Travelers from
Spain and Portugal then continued to return to Indonesia and
visited Bali for the next 200 years, although the difficulty
of entering and anchoring in Bali made it a less popular destination.
By AD 1600, the Dutch East Indies Company had been set up in Java.
Bali was declared as "New Holland" by a Dutch Admiral, who
was warmly welcomed by the King at the time, Watu Renggong.
With the death of this king, though, the seat of power in
Klungkung diminished in importance and independent rule was
established by local rajas.
At around the same time, the Majapahit empire in Java
disintegrated completely, and there was a sudden influx
of Hindu refugees into Bali.
Intellectuals and artists, priests and princes, soldiers
and artisans arrived in Bali with their precious books
and records. Bali flourished with the sudden injection
of creative ideas and skills, and the culture developed
significantly. By the beginning of the 19th century,
Bali was still an isolated island relatively unaffected
by the west, with its unique ever-evolving culture
still intact.
The British East India Company introduced some opportunities
for self-government to Bali in the early 1800s, after
Holland's influence decreased as a result of the Napoleonic
wars. When the Dutch returned to Indonesia and tried to
gain sovereignty of Bali in the early 1840s, trouble flared.
After sixty years, a mass suicide of Balinese families finally
ended what had developed into an ongoing dispute. Rather than
giving in the the Dutch, ceremonial knives were used by the
rajas and their families to end their misery and make a
proud statement. Holland relented, and Bali survived the
immediate threat of European influence.
The quiet period from the early to mid 1900s brought a
different type of western influence, though, with a
sudden influx of tourists. During this period, foreigners
were already being drawn to the exotic beauty of the
island and its people. Cruise ships made Bali a
regular stopover, and more and more people became
intrigued by this endearing paradise. Many visitors
also chose to settle on the island at this time, including
the famous German painter Walter Spies.
Two major incidents interrupted this peaceful period.
Firstly, the Japanese invaded and occupied the island,
although again the authentic Balinese culture survived.
Secondly, when the Dutch tried once more to exert their
influence after the war, Indonesia's President Sukarno
declared independence in 1945. It took a further four
years before the Dutch finally accepted the authority of
the new government, and even after that Indonesia remained
unsettled. Bali also suffered from individual disasters,
a plague, a Period of chronic food shortage, and a volcanic
eruption.
Bali only opened up to tourists again in the late 1960s,
when the new President recognized the value of the island
as a tourist destination.
Since then it has been heavily promoted for its tourist value,
and has also quite naturally acted as a magnet to the many
types of tourists who enjoy Bali. Artists, surfers, backpackers,
divers, shoppers, adventurers, and a whole range of visitors
now appreciate the many facets of the Balinese environment
and culture.
Even on the brink of the 21st century, Bali is proving that the
unique spiritual forces that have shaped the island will
continue to act as major determining influences well into
the future. Every time a small canang offering, laden with
incense and coloured flowers, is laid on the ground; every
time a chisel strikes soft wood and carves out the features
on a mythological creature; every time a young baby touches
the ground for the first time or ashes are offered to the seas;
evidence of Bali's living traditions are being manifested, acting
as constant reminders of her passion for an authentic existence.
If we, as visitors to Bali, can share but a small taste of
this passion, our own lives will be enriched. And if we
can also give something in return, in the way of respecting
these people and their culture and supporting them as they
find their way into the future, the benefits will be mutual.
Let's make the most of our time in Bali; let's appreciate and enjoy.
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