Reciprocating with Ibu Pretiwi : social organisation and the importance of plants, land and the ancestors in Nusa Penida
type: CreativeWork
description: Between Bali and Lombok lies a small archipelago of three limestone islands. The largest of these islands, known as Nusa Penida has been considered by former Balinese scholars to preserve characteristic aspects of the old Balinese social organisation. This study, which is based upon long fieldwork conducted in the village of Sakti, discusses the social organisation of Nusa Penida and the importance land and plants have in the life of its inhabitants. The work begins with an examination of the historical data concerning the division of the island into two parts, and with an evaluation of the role the paramount temples of Pura Penataran Ped and Pura Batu Medau have in the present social organisation of Nusa Penida. Further analysis addresses the traditional definitions of desa and banjar, their significance in contemporary Nusa Penida, and investigates the role played in the banjar life by the jero, jaba and prabali groups. The function of origin groups (dadia), and the importance of reciprocity in the banjar life is also considered. From this perspective, I have argued that the distinctiveness of the island should not be defined by simple references to old Balinese customs and social organisation, but should be considered in terms of similarities with both the area of Bali between the plains and the mountains and with eastern Indonesian societies. An analysis of the role of land, plants, spirits and ancestors develops ideas of the interconnections between human beings and the world of flora. In this context the significance of the rituals for clearing the forest is explored, the association between human and natural fertility, and the importance of spirits inhabiting the land that may be directly, or indirectly, associated with the uncremated ancestors. The presentation of floral folk classificatory notions provides the framework for the exposition of some key Balinese categories, while an investigation of the concept of 'botanic idiom' outlines the significance of t…
abstract: Between Bali and Lombok lies a small archipelago of three limestone islands. The largest of these islands, known as Nusa Penida has been considered by former Balinese scholars to preserve characteristic aspects of the old Balinese social organisation. This study, which is based upon long fieldwork conducted in the village of Sakti, discusses the social organisation of Nusa Penida and the importance land and plants have in the life of its inhabitants. The work begins with an examination of the historical data concerning the division of the island into two parts, and with an evaluation of the role the paramount temples of Pura Penataran Ped and Pura Batu Medau have in the present social organisation of Nusa Penida. Further analysis addresses the traditional definitions of desa and banjar, their significance in contemporary Nusa Penida, and investigates the role played in the banjar life by the jero, jaba and prabali groups. The function of origin groups (dadia), and the importance of reciprocity in the banjar life is also considered. From this perspective, I have argued that the distinctiveness of the island should not be defined by simple references to old Balinese customs and social organisation, but should be considered in terms of similarities with both the area of Bali between the plains and the mountains and with eastern Indonesian societies. An analysis of the role of land, plants, spirits and ancestors develops ideas of the interconnections between human beings and the world of flora. In this context the significance of the rituals for clearing the forest is explored, the association between human and natural fertility, and the importance of spirits inhabiting the land that may be directly, or indirectly, associated with the uncremated ancestors. The presentation of floral folk classificatory notions provides the framework for the exposition of some key Balinese categories, while an investigation of the concept of 'botanic idiom' outlines the significance of t…
author: Giambelli, Rodolfo Alfredo
language: en_AU
date published: 1995
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:07:40Z
provider: Australian Catholic University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Australian Catholic University

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/10814