Learning Other Countries through a Culture

by Natalia Neisya (061214071)

Talking about culture is also dealing with different areas, races, and even countries. Culture becomes an interesting topic for discussion because we can learn other cultures from other areas. It will give us new knowledge and help us to realize that culture is an important thing in our life. Then, it brings us to keep and to preserve our culture.

Through this report, the writer will share her knowledge about kind of cultures which have been learned in Extensive Reading II class. There are kind of cultures from Indonesia, Japan, and China.

First, we will discuss about Indonesian culture such as Batik, Traditional Javanese Wedding, and Ngaben Cremation. Second is Chinese New Year Ceremony. The last is Japanese culture, such as Tea Ceremony and Ikebana.

Batik
Now, let us talk about Batik. Batik is a traditional cloth from Indonesia which has special unique motifs such as Kawung, Ceplok, and Parang. Nowadays, it has been growing as a world culture. Many people around the world use Batik for different purpose. Usually people use Batik for clothes, accessories, decorations, etc. Making Batik is not easy. We will pass some process. First, we should prepare the cloth. Choosing cloth for Batik is an important thing, because it will determine the result. Primissima is the best quality of cloth. Then, we should design the cloth. After that, we should apply wax in the design and color the cloth. The last is boiling the cloth to release the wax. Batik has also special treatment to keep the cloth beautiful. We should use Lerak (special soap for Batik cloth) to wash Batik cloth, so it will not wreck the Batik cloth.

Traditional Javanese Wedding Ceremony
Traditional Javanese Wedding becomes one of popular and special ceremonies in Indonesia because of its complex rituals. It is divided into two parts of rituals. First are preparations including Peningsetan, Tarub, Siraman, Ngerik, Midodareni, and Ijab. Second are the main rituals including Panggih, Wijidadi, Kacar Kucur, Dahar klimah, Mertui, and Sungkeman. Javanese Wedding has also special decoration such as Sajen, the Gate from kind of plants, and Kembar Mayang.

Ngaben Cremation
Ngaben Cremation is a traditional ceremony from Bali. It functions as spirit purification. Ngaben Cremation uses some instruments including Banten, Various symbols such as small tower, music instruments, symbol of ancestors, symbol of dead, etc. The steps of rituals are first, bathing and dressing the death body. Second is purifying the death body with holy water. Third is burying the death body at cemetery. Then, the family will conduct Memukur. The last is conducting Ngaben ceremony on another year. Ngaben Cremation becomes a great and expensive ceremony in Bali. Usually, it also becomes a tourism object.

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is a special occasion for Chinese people. It is time of reunion and thanksgiving, and family affair. It becomes special occasion because Chinese New Year has a long celebration. Usually, Chinese celebrate this occasion on 15 days. In this celebration, we will find kind of traditional food such as vegetarian dish, fish, chicken, noodle, nian gao, and man tou. Chinese has also special decoration for New Year. They usually use kind of plants and flowers, orange and tangerines, and candy tray. Each item has also special meanings for them. Plants and flowers mean the emblems of reawakening of nature. Orange and tangerines symbolize abundant of happiness, while candy tray symbolize togetherness.

Tea Ceremony
Tea ceremony is a Japanese culture. It has two parts of ceremony. In the first part, people will drink Koicha (very thick tea). Then, in the second part, they will drink Usu-Cha (thinner tea). The host will also serve dinner in this second part. In conducting Tea ceremony, there are some rules followed. First, Corean ware is the only one utensil used in this ceremony. Second, we should use a room as plain as possible. The last, it should be conducted in the afternoon or at 6 p.m.

Ikebana
Ikebana or floral decoration is also special decoration from Japan. It is not just a decoration but it has an important meaning, love of nature. It means that Japanese do Ikebana to express their love of nature. In Japan, not only women do Ikebana, but also men do Ikebana. Ikebana becomes their part of culture, so all of Japanese people should know and learn about Ikebana. There are kind of material used in Ikebana such as living branches, leaves, grasses, blossoms, moss, and fruits. While the equipments used are container, bamboo basket, glass container, and kind of kenzan (gotoku-dome, jakago-dome, kame-dome, etc). Ikebana has also kind of style such as seika/shoka, chabana, momoyama, moribana, adachi, and literati.

In conclusion, learning culture is interesting. Through a culture, we can learn other areas, races, and countries. Every country has different culture. They have different way to express their feeling toward God and nature. Every culture has also its special meaning and its unique thing. Through a culture, we know how to respect other people.


References
Batik, traditional fabric of Indonesia. Expat.or.id: Living in Indonesia, A Site for Expatriates. Retrieved February 4, 2010, from http://www.expat.or.id/info/batik.html
Chinese New Year. Educ.uvic.ca: Chinese new year homepage. Retrieved February 10, 2010, from http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
Ikebana. (2010). Ikebanahq.org: Ikebana International – in friendship through flowers. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from http://www.ikebanahq.org/whatis.php
Negoro, Suryo. S. Traditional javanese wedding ceremonies. Retrieved April 5, 2010, from joglosemar web site: http://www.joglosemar.co.id/wedding.html
Ngaben, Bali cremation ceremony. (2006). Balitouring.com: Bali daily. Retrieved April 10, 2010, from http://www.balitouring.com/bali_articles/ngaben.htm
Quitney, Jeff. (2000). The Tea Ceremony in Japan. Coffee.quickfound.net. (original work published July 17, 1892). Retrieved March 8, 2010, from http://coffee.quickfound.net/japanese_tea_ceremony_1892.html