Pencak Silat

Pencak silat demonstration in Jakarta

Pencak silat (Indonesian pronunciation: [ˈpɛntʃaʔ ˈsilat]; sometimes spelled penchak silat or pentjak silat in Western writings) is an umbrella term for the martial arts of Indonesia.[1]

The leading organization of pencak silat in Indonesia is IPSI (Ikatan Pencak Silat Indonesia, meaning Pencak Silat Association of Indonesia). The liaison body for international pencak silat is the International Pencak Silat Association or PERSILAT (Persekutuan Pencak Silat Antara Bangsa).

Etymology

Although the word silat is widely known through much of South East Asia, the term pencak silat is specifically used in Indonesia. Pencak silat was chosen in 1948 as a unifying term for the Indonesian fighting styles. It was a compound of the two most commonly used words for martial arts in Indonesia. Pencak was the term used in central and east Java, while silat was used in Sumatra and Borneo. In modern usage, pencak and silat are seen as being two aspects of the same practice. Pencak is the performance aspects of the martial art, while silat is the essence of the fighting and self-defense. It is often said by practitioners that there can be no silat without pencak, on the other hand pencak without silat skills is purposeless.[2]

The origin of the words pencak and silat have not been proven. Some believe that pencak comes from the Sanskrit word pancha meaning five, or from the Chinese pencha meaning to avert or deflect.[3]

History

The pencak silat tradition is mostly oral, having been passed down almost entirely by word of mouth. In the absence of written records, much of its history is known only through myth and archaeological evidence. The earliest fighting arts in Indonesia can be traced back to prehistoric tribes. The primary weapons of Indonesia's tribal peoples were the single-edge sword, shield and javelin. The inhabitants of Nias Island had until the 20th century remained largely untouched by the outside world, however, they are culturally similar to the Himalayan Naga tribe. Neighbouring Sumatrans are said to have left the Nias people alone because they were fearless warriors.

Balinese warriors armed with kris in the 1880s

India and China were the first civilizations from outside Southeast Asia with whom Indonesia made contact and both countries influenced the local culture, religion and martial arts.[1] Bas-reliefs in Srivijaya depict warriors wielding such weapons as the jian or Chinese straight sword, which is still used in some styles today.[1] Additionally, Javanese blades are of Indian derivation. The earliest evidence of silat being taught in a structured manner comes from the Sumatra-based empire of Srivijaya where folklore tells that it was created by a woman named Rama Sukana who witnessed a fight between a tiger and a large bird. By using the animals' movements, she was able to fend off a group of drunken men that attacked her. She then taught the techniques to her husband Rama Isruna from whom they were formally passed down. There are several variations of this story depending on the region where it is told. On the island of Boyan (Bawean), Rama Sukana is believed to have watched monkeys fighting each other while the Sundanese of West Java believe that she saw a monkey battle a tiger. The accuracy of this legend cannot be substantiated but the fact that silat is attributed to a woman is thought to indicate its age, considering the prominence of women in traditional Southeast Asian society.

While Srivijaya dominated the coastal areas, the Sailendra and Medang Kingdoms ruled central Java where the fighting arts developed in three geographical regions: West Java, Central Java, and East Java. Pencak silat especially flourished in Java which is now home to more different styles than any other Indonesian islands. In the 13th century, Srivijaya was defeated by the Cholas of south India. This was followed by the decline of the Sailendra and Sanjaya kingdoms but it also gave rise to the Majapahit empire. This was the first empire to unite all of Indonesia's major islands, and Javanese silat reached its peak under Majapahit. The influence of silat from the mainland was consolidated by Ninik Dato' Suri Diraja (1097–1198) to create silek or Minangkabau silat in Sumatra.[4]

Pencak silat was later used by freedom-fighters against Dutch colonists. During this time the Bugis and Makassar people from south Sulawesi were very well known as expert sailors, navigators and warriors. After Indonesia's independence, pencak silat adapted itself in the context of modern sport and, in some cases, religion.[5] It was eventually brought to Europe by Indo people of Eurasian (mixed Indonesian and European) ancestry, such as Paatje Phefferkorn.

Weapons

Main article: Weapons of silat

International competitions

Indonesia vs. Malaysia in the Pencak Silat women's final match at the 2011 Southeast Asian Games.

The major international competition is Pencak Silat World Championship, organised by PERSILAT.[6] This competition takes place every 2 or 3 years period. More than 30 national teams competed in the latest tournament in Jakarta, 12–17 December 2010.

List of Pencak Silat World Championships

Championship Year Host Nations Events
I 1982 Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 7
II 1984 Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 9
III 1986 Austria Vienna, Austria 14
IV 1987 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 18
V 1988 Singapore Singapore 18
VI 1990 Netherlands Den Haag, Netherlands 18
VII 1992 Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 20
VIII 1994 Thailand Hatyai, Thailand 19
IX 1997 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 20
X 2000 Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 20
XI 2002 Malaysia Penang, Malaysia 19
XII 2004 Singapore Singapore 20
XIII 2007 Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia 26
XIV 2010 Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia 32 23
XV 2012 Thailand Chiang Rai, Thailand ?
XVI 2015 Thailand Phuket, Thailand 37 37

All-medal table

 Rank  Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Indonesia 12 7 16 35
2  Malaysia 9 4 8 21
3  Thailand 7 4 14 23
4  Singapore 8 3 9 20
5  Iran 4 8 5 17
6  Vietnam 3 7 7 17
7  France 3 4 6 13
8  China 2 5 9 16
9  Netherlands 2 6 11 19
10  Hong Kong 2 1 4 7
11  South Africa 1 2 4 7
12  Canada 0 4 4 8
13  United Kingdom 0 4 1 5
14  Israel 0 3 2 5
15  Brazil 0 2 1 3
Total 53 65 92 212

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Donn F. Draeger (1992). Weapons and fighting arts of Indonesia. Rutland, Vt. : Charles E. Tuttle Co. ISBN 978-0-8048-1716-5.
  2. ↑ Howard Alexander, Quintin Chambers, Donn F. Draeger (1979). Pentjak Silat: The Indonesian Fighting Art. Tokyo, Japan : Kodansha International Ltd.
  3. ↑ Sheikh Shamsuddin (2005). The Malay Art Of Self-defense: Silat Seni Gayong. North Atlantic Books. ISBN 1-55643-562-2.
  4. ↑ Thesis: Seni Silat Melayu by Abd Rahman Ismail (USM 2005 matter 188)
  5. ↑ Uwe Patzold (2011). Self-Defense and Music in Muslim Context in West Java in Divine Inspirations: Music and Islam in Indonesia. Oxford, UK : Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-538541-0.
  6. ↑ "International Pencak Silat Competition Regulations". PERSILAT. 2004. Retrieved 2010-12-21.

Further reading

  • Quintin Chambers and Donn F. Draeger (1979). Javanese Silat: The Fighting Art of Perisai Diri. ISBN 0-87011-353-4.
  • Sean Stark (2007). Pencak Silat Pertempuran: Vol. 1. Stark Publishing. ISBN 978-0-615-13968-5.
  • Sean Stark (2007). Pencak Silat Pertempuran: Vol. 2. Stark Publishing. ISBN 978-0-615-13784-1.
  • O'ong Maryono] (2002). Pencak Silat in the Indonesian Archipelago. ISBN 9799341604.
  • Suwanda, Herman (2006). Pencak Silat Through my eyes. Los Angeles: Empire Books. p. 97. ISBN 9781933901039.
  • Mason, P.H. (2012) "A Barometer of Modernity: Village performances in the highlands of West Sumatra," ACCESS: Critical Perspectives on Communication, Cultural & Policy Studies, 31(2), 79-90.

External links

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