Special Territory Of Yogyakarta

The special territory of Yogyakarta is one of the provinces located in one of the big provinces namely: The province of Central Java which has a large area and a strong culture. The culture areas bordering it are:
1. In the East : Cultural Area of Surakarta
2. In the North : Cultural Area of North Coast of Central Java
3. In the West : Cultural Area of Banyumas
4. In the South : Indonesian Ocean
The special territory of Yogyakarta globally has the form of Antefix (like a mountain) and its located between 1100 East Longitude and 7032’ South Latitude, and has a height of + 114 m up the level of the sea, with a population of + 2.7 million inhabitants.
The special territory of Yogyakarta is known as: the central of culture, the central of the struggle of the Indonesian people, the central of students, tourism area. This is because in the special territory of Yogyakarta there is a palace (The Royal Palace) which used to be the cultural center beside the central government. Even now the palace stills the source of classical Javanese culture. The special territory of Yogyakarta used to be the central of the struggle of the Indonesian people to defend their independence. The special territory of Yogyakarta draws a great attention of the tourist because it has all kinds of historical remnants and prehistoric items and also all kinds of Arts which can be performed. Nevertheless, the life of the society in the special territory of Yogyakarta cannot be said as being prosperous.
In accordance with the discovery of some items in Yogyakarta indicates that since ± 2000 years BC human life was supposed to have been found here. This is proved by the discovery of pieces of burnt clay decorated with split of lives; picture of rough or soft net-work and textile found among others in : Mount Wingko, Samas coast namely the South coast. Besides, some equipments (metal axe) and graves are also found.
Besides the knowledge of the existence of life in prehistoric time mentioned above, there was also human life in historic time namely in ancient time (Hindu Indonesia) in the special territory of Yogyakarta as the continuation, development, and increase of human culture who were in this area. This can be proved by the discovery of some inscription and remnants in the form of statues and Hindu Indonesian buildings and graves with Moslem characteristics.
The remnants of the ancient time in fact gave us a description that human culture in the special territory of Yogyakarta at that time could be said as high enough as it was proved by the existence of a lot of statues with Hindu or Buddha characteristics. The statues are the product of accuracy, earnest fine works so that they can be considered as a high valued product of art such as the statues of Siwa, Wisnu, Brahma, Nandi, Agastya, Ganesha, Durga Mahesasuramardini, Lingga-Yoni and also Paradiani Budha statues, Diani Bhodisatwa statue and others.
Except the art of statue, architecture is usually fully and precisely decorated so that they give a pleasant and grandeur impression. This can be realized from the form and structure of the building so that it looks harmonious, for example the structure of a temple, apart from the shape of the part of its buildings which is full of styles. The buildings it self is decorated with various kinds of Antefix, medallions, garlands, kala and makara, spirals, carpets motives, flame, purnagatha (symbol of fortune: a decoration in the form of flowers vase stretching flowers to the left and to the right in a rectangular container), kinara-kinari, jewel or stupa shape and others.
Hindu Indonesian architecture among others some buildings which are usually called “candi” (temple) are found, for example: Candi Sambi Sari, Candi Kalasan, Candi Sari, Candi Prambanan, Candi Gebang, Candi Ratu Baha, Candi Banyuniba, Candi Ijo and others. All shows the beauty and grandeur of the buildings.
After Indonesia-Hindu era the special territory of Yogyakarta also got an influence of Islam in its culture beside continuing the original (Indonesia Hindu) for example: the honor to the ancestors, traditional ceremonies (mitoni, wedding ceremony etc), all kinds of forms and styles of buildings and others, some remnants in the form of Islamic graves and buildings which usually have Islamic Javanese style and characteristics are also found. Almost at the same time the special territory of Yogyakarta got also an influence from the Westerners when the European people entered Indonesia so that in the special territory of Yogyakarta there were also remnants in the form of : clothes, buildings and some kinds of decoration such as uniforms of authorities (village head, soldiers, regents etc.), office buildings, fortresses, parks, all kinds of arts of decoration (razed motive, pelmet, kantul motive, some Greek pillars and kerenti) etc.
During the Japanese era and when freedom was obtained the special territory of Yogyakarta got also influence of modern culture although they had desire to make the original culture remain unchanged and to develop it such as by the existence of modern buildings in American style or in a style of other countries including art of music and fine arts.

Social Life
The special territory of Yogyakarta consists of 5 regions II namely:
1. Second Rank Region of Yogyakarta municipality as the central town so that almost all region is a dwelling place.
2. Second Rank Region of Bantul Regency, the area of rice field is smaller than the area of dry land.
3. Second Rank Region of Kulon Progo Regency, the area of rice field is also smaller than the area of dry land.
4. Second Rank Region of Gunung Kidul Regency, almost the whole area is dry and stony land.
5. Second Rank Region of Sleman Regency, the area of rice field is bigger than the area of dry land.
Thus from explanation above out of the five of second rank region there is only area of Sleman regency which is fertile.
Whereas the industry in the special territory of Yogyakarta does not big, most of them are small industries such as: all kinds of silver, batik, textile, bamboo manufacturing, gamelan industries, and others which are all small industries or home industries up to now. By looking at the natural and economical condition mentioned above the life of the ± 2,7 millions peoples can be categorized as not a high income life. The condition mentioned above the people in the special territory of Yogyakarta gets used to living in difficulties which need perseverance and earnest to overcome it. Something special behind the hard life as mentioned in the previous explanation the people of the special territory of Yogyakarta in fact has an ability to show a strong culture by the rapidly growing of educational institutes and cultural centers which are supposed to give or to supply spiritual need.
From the situation mentioned above the population of the special territory of Yogyakarta can be classified as the Javanese tribe (such as in Central Java) who has a special way of life and the way of thinking of the people of the special territory of Yogyakarta are based on: simplicity, perseverance and working industriously in a spirit of mutual cooperation as it is said in words: “sepi ing pamrih rame ing gawe” (speak a little and do much). As a rule when people of the special territory of Yogyakarta get assignment/difficulties they will overcome it by carrying it out with earns and humor.
The language of the special territory of Yogyakarta is Javanese with an accent of Yogyakarta and Indonesians. In Javanese language there are three stages namely:
1. Ngoko, usually used as a dialogue among persons of the same level and shows intimacy. There are also three kinds of “Ngoko”.
a. Ngoko lugu
b. Ngoko andap antya basa
c. Ngoko andap basa antya
2. Madya, is usually used as a dialogue between somebody and another of lower grade. There are three kinds of “Madya”.
a. Madya ngoko
b. Madya antara
c. Madya krama
3. Krama is usually used as a dialogue between somebody and another who is higher in his grade.
There are three kinds of karma.
a. bahasa wredhakrama
b. bahasa kramantara
c. bahasa mudhakrama
The spoken language of special territory of Yogyakarta has its own dialect.

The Way of Writing
Beside the use of ‘Latin and Arab’ characters the people of the special territory of Yogyakarta in former time used “Javanese” character. Besides being used as common correspondence it was also used to write all kinds of manuscript, including Art and calligraphy of Javanese character was also found. Unfortunately the use of Javanese character at present began to decrease especially among the young people.


The System Of Ancient Conviction
Besides the existing various kinds of religions there are all kinds of ideas about life and the world. This is reflected in the daily life with the existence of various ceremonies and their rules and effective stipulation in carrying out those ceremonies. This activity is done with the intention to face the strength and power from the universe which can influence human life; nevertheless scientifically we can not prove it, so that we describe it as something mystical. For example a newly born baby that is not taken care of well will die since it is a weak creature. Should this happen then the death of a baby is considered as the result of evil spirit. To avoid death a baby should be watched for a period of one week by many people so that the evil spirit will not take that baby. Based on that idea, people who are in charge of watching the baby should be kept busy so that they will be persevere and stay awake. For this purpose they read a book called “mocopat” by singing it. In such a way a manuscript in the form of literature and vocal containing all kinds of interesting stories can show good advice in this life.
For this purpose except literature and vocal art there are also art activities, art of performing, fine art, drama and others. The idea of the world with all its caused which can influence human life, where as human being doesn’t know the source of the cause properly, this idea is based on all kinds of ideas among others: Animism, Dynamism, the belief in the existence of ancestors and the spirit of distinguished persons: A King that is worshipped, gods. Those various kinds of social life mentioned above make the people of the special territory of Yogyakarta always give chance for the growth of all kinds of branches intended to need of fulfilling all kinds of the effective people’s idea.
Human being as a social creature and living in certain area, so human life (social creature) will form a social group having an ability to use its own idea, its physical objection, its sense, environmental effect and others beyond their sense. All of them are developed and increased for the sake of their continuous happiness and prosperity from generation to generation.
All efforts and activities carried out many times and continuously, are the result of human art. So that human being as a social group consequently will function as the creator, supporter and the user of its culture. In such a way the society as a group of social creatures will function and play a decisive role in the life of culture, because culture cannot be separated from its supporters.