Barongsai: Chinese New Year Celebration in Indonesia
Maybe you often hear about Chinese New Year or Tahun baru imlek, the Chinese community in Indonesia always celebrate Imlek every year. By the way, do you know that there is one show which is always enlivening the Chinese New Year in Indonesia? Yup! The answer is Barongsai. The cheap entertainment that emerged and became one of the traditional Chinese arts which is indeed enough to attract people's attention in every place in Indonesia when Chinese New Year Celebration. Barongsai dance is awaited show. In temples, malls, until the streets, Barongsai is present to enliven Chinese new Year in Indonesia. I have an experience while watching a Barongsai performance in A Chinese Culture Week in Singkawang, I still remember when the noise of people passing along with friends and family in the location, I saw children very enthusiastic watching the Barongsai Performance. Some children are carried on their parents’ shoulders so they can see clearly. I really like the costumes that worn by players which are very colorful and I found that, Even though this show is held every year during the Chinese New Year in many places in Indonesia, however, not many Indonesian people knows about the history of Barongsai in Indonesia and the philosophical value of the Barongsai performance itself.
Lion dance or in Indonesia known as the Barongsai has a history of thousands of years. The first record of this dance can be traced during the Qin Dynasty around the third century BC. According to Chinese belief, the lion is a symbol of happiness, wisdom, power, and superiority. Barongsai is believed to be a show that can bring good fortune, so it is generally held at various important events such as opening restaurants, building temples, and of course Barongsai is one of the most important traditions of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Initially, Barongsai performances were banned by the The new Order’s regime because it was considered as 'provocative' and 'an affront to Indonesian nationalism'. But since the reign of former Indonesian President Abdurahman Wahid, Chinese society was given the freedom to celebrate Chinese New Year and play a Barongsai performance. Judging from history, the existence of this traditional dance is said to have existed for thousands of years ago, precisely in the era of the Qin Dynasty, which was around the 3rd century BC. As time went on, this art continued to grow and became popular in the era of the Southern-Northern Dynasty or Nan-Bei, which is around the year 420 - 589 AD.
A Brief History of Barongsai in Indonesia
Then, when is the first appearance of Barongsai in Indonesia? According to history, it is estimated that Barongsai entered Indonesia in the 17th century, when the Southern Chinese people arrived. Barongsai in Indonesia experienced its “booming” era when the era of the Chinese Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan group still existed. Every Tiong Hoa Hwee Koan Chinese association in various regions of Indonesia is almost certain to have a Barongsai association. The development of the Barongsai then stopped in 1965 precisely after the eruption of the G30S/PKI Movement. Because of the political situation at that time, all kinds of Chinese culture in Indonesia were silenced. I heard stories from my neighbor who is also Chinese and his name is Apuy, he said that there were still remnants of the trauma of the Chinese people for years 'silenced' by the New Order government. 'In the past, displaying Liong for completeness of rituals in temples must be clandestinely. We are afraid of being visited by Koramil officers, because it is indeed prohibited, 'said Apuy.
In that time, The Barongsai performances were prohibited from staging and The Barongsai is destroyed and may not be played again. But, Since the reform era in 1998, Barongsai became a common seen everywhere. Changes in the political situation that occurred in Indonesia after that year revived Barongsai and other Chinese cultures in this country. Many Barongsai associations have resurfaced. Unlike the old days, now not only Chinese youth plays Barongsai, but there are also many indigenous Indonesian youth who participate to play the Barongsai dance, and Because the attributes were destroyed in 1965, now it must be made new. In the past, a lion's head was made from a bamboo frame, now a lion's head is made of fiberglass. The color of the Barongsai was made more lively and the flickering electric lights were used as decoration. Nowadays, Indonesians have developed their own style of lion dances. Barongsai in Indonesia has different forms that are distinct to the local cultures in Indonesia, For example, Reog ponorogo from East Java. In general, we might expect that there is a connection between the word “Barong”, a lion-like creature and character in the mythology of Bali. Both have manifestations and similarities. The conclusion is that Barong comes from Bahasa Indonesia and the word Sai in Fujian dialect which means “Lion”. It is clear that acculturation has occurred in the field of language, namely Indonesian and Chinese in the Hokkien tribal dialect. This is understandable because the Chinese people who came to Indonesia around the 17th century were from the Hokkien tribe.
The Philosophical value of Barongsai
Talking about Barongsai is not complete if not talking about the meaning and philosophical value, According to Chinese people's beliefs, Barongsai performances are not only for artistic purposes, but also have the meaning to expel bad things that might happen. That's why Barongsai performance is always there during the Chinese New Year celebration, so the evil spirits stay away. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority. The lion dance is one of the most important traditions of Chinese New Year. It is performed to bring prosperity and good luck for the upcoming year. Colorful costumes in Barongsai also have their own meaning, such as green as a symbol of abundant harvest, yellow symbolizes fertility and soil, red means joy, and golden and silver colors that symbolize the festivity of a celebration.
Barongsai is also a way to create a festive atmosphere and bring happiness. Performed in a lion costume, accompanied by the music of beating drums, clashing cymbals, and resounding gongs, lion dances imitate a lion's various movements or demonstrate martial arts agility, depending on the style. One of the main movements of the Barongsai dance is the lion movement consuming the money-filled envelope called 'Lay See'. On top of the envelope is usually plastered with watercress vegetables that symbolize the gift for the Lion. The process of eating 'Lay See' lasts about half of the entire Barongsai performance. In front of Barong dancers there is also usually another dancer who wears a mask and carries a fan. This figure is called the Buddha. His job is to herd the Lion Barong to the place where the envelope containing the money is stored.
The movements and dances performed by the players are very beautiful and demand the skills; balance and trust of each participant because the lion dance is synonymous with acrobatic art which requires them to jump, dance, and climb. Leg strength is also very important because the player must be agile and full of energy to complete all the attractions until the wasp of the gong and drum is finished.
Sometimes, Barongsai players also have special provisions skills of martial arts, such as Wushu because these movements strongly support their actions when performing various attractions, both in narrow terrain, rolling on the floor, and when having to climb and jump over bollards high. Sometimes, the lion's eyes flickered and continued to dance so beautifully. The head to tail waddle with movements that are so neat. Accompanied by a drumming of blaring music, this traditional Chinese art was used as an alternative for the wider community during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Humble Conclusion
Barongsai performance has an important meaning for the Chinese community in Indonesia. This is a symbol of inter-ethnic tolerance and also being the proof of Chinese acculturation in Indonesia. Chinese ethnicity has become an important part of Indonesian society. They already existed from the Dutch era, and referring to history, they have been here for a long time and have become part of our daily lives as citizens of Indonesia. Barongsai performance also invites us all to strengthen the brotherhood, friendship, kinship, and unite for the better progress of Indonesia. Barongsai Performance presents entertainment for all people. All people can be free to enjoy Chinese New Year celebrations without being limited by the differences around us. Chinese New Year has always been a momentum to echo inter-ethnic unity and tolerance throughout Indonesia. The positive message is always carried and it depends on how we interpret it.
