Traditional Ways of Caring for Historical Manuscripts in Lombok (Indonesia)

5.1 Overview over Materials Used for Manuscript Care

Two main strategies for the care of manuscripts can be distinguished. The first strategy concerns traditional ways of dealing with natural disasters which will happen again at times that cannot be predicted in advance. However, the owners of the ancient texts created a way to prevent the massive impact of disasters on society. This method is related to the rule of not to build houses in the path where materials for cleaning ancient manuscripts grow. For example, Upak Jaran (E. prostrata) grows a lot in coastal areas that are prone to earthquakes. Not building settlements in these areas is a traditional way of respecting plants in Lombok and to prevent major impact of earthquake on society.

The second strategy to care for manuscripts concerns preservation of manuscripts which is not limited to the physical aspects of the manuscript, but also covers the information contained in the manuscript (Latiar 2018: 77). According to Rajan and Esmail (2021), there are internal and external factors causing damage to manuscripts. Thus, preservation entails a series of methods that aim to protect manuscripts against physical damage so that they last longer, and their content remains accessible (Pramana 2022; Rahmawati and Wahdah 2019).

The use of plants such as komak, pupak gagak (Amorphophallus konjac), urang aring (Eclipta prostata), and candlenut leaves for preservation measures is typical for the Lombok region. These plants have been grown and cultivated by the people of Lombok for generations. This aspect of local wisdom is related to the close relationship between humans and nature in the spirituality of the Lombok people (Quddus et al. 2024).

Komak leaves are planted by the community as a vegetable together with corn (Ihsan 2017). They produce a bright green liquid which serves as a natural dye (Maulidan et al. 2022) and improves the visibility of the characters incised into the palm leaves with a lontar or pangot writers’ knife. Komak leaves contain anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which protect the palm leaves (Peix et al. 2014). Sometimes charcoal from coconut fiber is mixed into the green liquid to further improve the readability of the letters. Pupak gagak leaves are squeezed until they release a blackish-green liquid which is then applied to the surface of the palm leaves. The liquid has an active ingredient that turns the incised letters of the writing black (Yu et al. 2020). In addition, cheap and easily accessible traditional materials such as cloves and camphor are used as insect repellents which also protect manuscripts from being damaged by other animals.

5.2 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in the Sasak Indigenous Community, Lombok

The earthquake that shook the island of Lombok in July 2018 had a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale (SR) and continued into August 2018 with a magnitude of 7.0 on the SR. This powerful earthquake not only destroyed infrastructure but also caused the damage of historical manuscripts. After the large earthquake, several traditional rituals related to disaster mitigation were carried out by the Lombok people, especially those in Bayan, North Lombok, and Sembalun, East Lombok.

1. Planting palm leaf trees in Bayan, North Lombok. This tree planting was carried out by the Bayan people on the earthquake fault line which they knew about from their grandfathers. In this condition, the Bayan indigenous people perceived the earthquake as a warning addressed towards Sasak people who no longer respect traditional spiritual values. These values are related to the tradition of planting trees for rituals, especially rituals for cleaning ancient manuscripts. According to them, the area where the trees are planted is included in the Customary Forest where building is prohibited for the Bayan community (Tramdheni, Suana, and Sukenti 2023). Besides being important as a form of preventing the impact of earthquakes, these values that connect human entities with nature and God have been written down from generation to generation in the Lontar script and are orally passed on in various rituals, e.g., nyembek (giving thanks ritual). Approximately one year after the earthquake, traditional leaders in Bayan agreed to ban people from outside Bayan to enter the mosque and the house where traditional objects were stored – including palm leaf manuscripts – and decided to plant palm trees. Planting of palm trees aims at providing palm leaf writing materials for people outside Bayan who want to see and know the lontar texts in Bayan. A mixture of komak leaves, roasted candlenuts, and incense were used for ritual cleaning of the manuscripts’ surface. Komak leaves are picked on a predetermined day based on the Rowot calendar by the traditional leaders and takepan guards in Bayan. Crushed komak leaves are then mixed with roasted candlenuts or charcoal from coconut shells. This mixture of ingredients is then spread on the takepan sheets.

2. Giving Thanks to the Mountain (nyembek gunung) and Gathering and Dancing (ngayu-ngayu) in Sembalun, East Lombok. Before the big earthquake, the Sembalun people performed ngayu-ngayu in two places. When the earthquake occurred, people in Sembalun Bumbung linked this to the earthquake and from that date performed the ngayu-ngayu ritual in one place only with water from nine wells (Raudloh et al. 2022). This ritual has been returned to its original form to protect the earthquake path on Mount Rinjani from tourism disturbances. The nyembek gunung ritual is carried out by traditional leaders and several community representatives who climb the mountain carrying an old manuscript, water from nine sacred wells and various traditional equipment. After reciting the spell, the manuscript along with the traditional utensils is placed next to the water, incense, Upak Jaran, and Sirih leaves.

5.3 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in West Bayan, Bayan Village, North Lombok

Rituals involving palm leaf manuscripts in Bayan village are usually carried out during begawe beleq. This event is held once every eight years in every village in the Bayan area. During begawe beleq, a manuscript reader (pemaca) opens a palm leaf manuscript, and its leaves are washed with water taken from a spring in the Bayan area which had been collected in a bowl called tambang (Figure 1) used only for special occasions. The washing of the palm leaf manuscript is performed from 5 to 8 p.m.

Figure 1:

Tambang bowl for the collection of water taken from a spring in the Bayan area for the during begawe beleq ritual.

The washing of palm leaf manuscripts is also part of life cycle rituals as, for example, the ritual of circumcision or kurisan (shaving the baby’s hair). During such rituals, the palm leaf manuscript is opened and washed with water that has been prepared in a special bowl. Manuscript washing may involve the entire palm leaf manuscript or certain parts which are needed in the ritual. The water used to wash the palm leaf manuscripts will then be dropped on the hair or face of the child. After the washing ritual, the manuscript dries in the sun in the air for approximately one week. Once the sheets are dry enough, they are wrapped in white cloth and stored in a traditional house called bale beleq.

Palm leaf manuscripts may be replaced when they are damaged, as reported by Mr. Raden Kertayadi, aged 56 years, located in West Bayan Hamlet, Bayan Village on Wednesday on May, 1st, 2024:

Caring for ancient manuscripts is an important part of the lives of the Bayan people. The teaching about life and the stages in which humans recognize their identity is summarized quite well in the sequence of verses in the ancient manuscripts. Because of this, the process of caring for ancient manuscripts involves the activities of concocting leaves and water as well as rewriting ancient manuscripts. Leaf and water are symbols of life on earth. Meanwhile, the tradition of writing ancient texts is a symbol of the human mind.

5.4 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in Pada Mangku, Bayan Village, North Lombok

In Pada Mangku, Bayan village, local natural materials, specifically komak leaves (Figure 2) are used for the care of manuscripts. Usually, an odd number of leaves (7 or 9) are picked. These rules are set by the takepan guard. After mixing and squeezing with water, the leaves are crushed and mixed with charcoal from burnt coconut fiber (Figure 3). The paste is then stirred before being rubbed onto the palm leaves. The charcoal settles in the incised areas of the writing and makes the letters clearly visible. This process was reported by Mr. Sumirat, aged 55 years, located in West Bayan Hamlet, Bayan Village on Wednesday on May 1st, 2024.

Figure 2:

Komak leaves collected for the care of manuscripts.

Figure 3:

Charcoal from burnt coconut fibers.

5.5 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in Sakra Village, East Lombok

Every year in January, rituals involving palm leaf manuscripts are performed in Sakra village, Central Lombok, by the manuscript owners of the region. The ritual cleaning of manuscripts is also carried out when manuscripts are to be read during religious ceremonies. Candlenuts (Figure 4) and pupak gagak leaves are used in these rituals. After charring the candlenuts, the charcoal is applied to the whole surface of the writing area of the palm leaves.

Figure 4:

Candlenut (kemiri) prior to charring for ritual manuscript treatment.

Palm leaf manuscripts are also treated with pupak gagak leaves (Figure 5) which are squeezed until they release liquid which is then applied to the surface of the palm leaves. The liquid turns the incised letters of the writing black so that the writing becomes clearer and easier to read, as reported by Mr. Mamiq Jap during an interview in Bayan Village, West Lombok on Friday May 3rd, 2024.

Figure 5:

Pupak gagak leaves which are squeezed to obtain a liquid for application on the surface of the palm leaves.

5.6 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in Gapura Village, Central Lombok

In the village of Gapura, the tradition of copying manuscripts using palm leaves continues. The copying of manuscripts was pioneered by Mr. Wirasentana and maintained because of the increasing scarcity of readers and writers of ancient manuscripts. After the 2018 earthquake, he founded studios for writing lontar manuscripts. In the process of creating lontar manuscripts, Mr. Wirasentana uses lontar leaves which are obtained from lontar trees (B. flabellifer) in the village. The leaves are selected from the four midrib leaves on the top of the tree which are still in bud. The leaves must be old, otherwise they will be too transparent for writing. After picking, the palm leaves dry in the sun for a day. Drying palm leaves for too long causes them to shrivel and tear. The dry palm leaves are then cut into the desired size and are pressed between two palm leaf fronds which are tied at the end of the midrib with sugar palm skin as a rope. After that, this package is tied up tightly in the takepan for about a month. They are ready for use after 2–3 months. Before writing, the wrinkled edges of the palm leaves are cut using a cutter and ruler. The neatly trimmed leaves are then perforated in three places to insert the thread used to string the palm leaves together.

Characters are incised with a sharp tool, and a mixture of lemongrass and charcoal from candlenut is applied to make the writing clearly visible. This paste is also used as an insect repellent and the candlenut charcoal removes streaks of ink which can be caused by humid air. Then each dry palm leaf is cleaned with a cloth and sometimes rubbed with citronella oil which again serves as an insect repellent. Sometimes, used engine oil is used for this process which renders the palm leaves more durable and flexible and prevents damage by termites. Palm leaves are dipped into used engine oil, drained, and aired. Brittle palm leaves will regain their physical strength. The thicker the used oil, the better because the concentrated used oil will accentuate the writing on the palm leaves clearer. This method has been used for almost 50 years; the oil is easy to find and renders the leaves more flexible. This effect was not found in komak and pupak gagak leaves. Used oil is often mixed with candlenut oil and lemongrass oil. Candlenut oil is obtained by crushing burnt candlenuts, and lemongrass oil adds a fragrant aroma to the palm leaves, as reported by Mr. Wirasentana in Gapura Village, Central Lombok on Saturday May, 4th, 2024.

5.7 Traditional Care of Manuscripts in Sade Village, Central Lombok

After the creation of a manuscript, liquid from crushed komak leaf or burnt candlenuts is applied to make the writing more visible. Subsequently, the manuscript is treated with used engine oil which renders the palm leaves more flexible and protects them from mold and small insects, as reported by Mr. Amaq Wanah (or Ngembul), Sade Village on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. In this context, manuscript maintenance is carried out to maintain the physical form of the manuscript and protect the information contained in the manuscript sheets.