BUNTEL MAYAT

A. G. Maisey · 29th May 2007, 06:07 AM

Yes, all this could easily lead to confusion, but its really quite simple if one applies analytical objectivity.

It becomes simply a matter of what one wishes to say, bearing in mind that the language that one's wish must be expressed in is Javanese.

Is the pamor name buntel mayit, or buntel mayat?

Well, all the sources that call it buntel mayit are recent, and I know of no literary sources that are sufficiently old for us to be able to say with any certainty that the original name is buntel mayat---or something different.

I guess it comes down to where one wishes to place one's trust.

However, one thing is very clear:- it cannot be called "buntel mayat", and the English meaning be given as "corpse wrapping".

Of course, the question remains as to why this same pamor should be regarded as a very positive one in Bali and Lombok, where it bears a different name. Even without my belief in Empu Suparman, were I to consider this contradiction in an objective fashion, I would be forced to the conclusion that the pamor motif entered Bali in ancient times, prior to the emergence of the Modern Javanese language taking hold in Jawa itself, and prior to the development of the present Javanese keris belief system.

Then again, perhaps we should ask ourselves why any Javanese empu would set out to produce a pamor that no sane person would have in his house.

Interesting fuel for thought.

29th May 2007, 06:07 AM	#8
A. G. Maisey Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 7,015	Yes, all this could easily lead to confusion, but its really quite simple if one applies analytical objectivity. It becomes simply a matter of what one wishes to say, bearing in mind that the language that one's wish must be expressed in is Javanese. Is the pamor name buntel mayit, or buntel mayat? Well, all the sources that call it buntel mayit are recent, and I know of no literary sources that are sufficiently old for us to be able to say with any certainty that the original name is buntel mayat---or something different. I guess it comes down to where one wishes to place one's trust. However, one thing is very clear:- it cannot be called "buntel mayat", and the English meaning be given as "corpse wrapping". Of course, the question remains as to why this same pamor should be regarded as a very positive one in Bali and Lombok, where it bears a different name. Even without my belief in Empu Suparman, were I to consider this contradiction in an objective fashion, I would be forced to the conclusion that the pamor motif entered Bali in ancient times, prior to the emergence of the Modern Javanese language taking hold in Jawa itself, and prior to the development of the present Javanese keris belief system. Then again, perhaps we should ask ourselves why any Javanese empu would set out to produce a pamor that no sane person would have in his house. Interesting fuel for thought.