Art Original

Bulan Pejeng (BALI)

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The "Bulan Pejeng" (The Moon of Pejeng) is a colossal bronze kettle drum (nekara) housed in the Pura Penataran Sasih temple in Pejeng, Bali. Dating back to the Bronze-Iron Age (around 300 BC to AD 200) during the Dong Son culture era, it is renowned as the largest single-piece cast bronze kettle drum in the world, measuring over 1.8 meters in height. Shaped like an hourglass and adorned with intricate geometric patterns and stylized human faces, this artifact is not only a masterpiece of ancient metallurgy but also a profound symbol of Balinese mysticism and community identity.

In local folklore, the drum is believed to be a fallen moon that once illuminated the night, which lost its light after being struck by a thief. Beyond the myth, archeologists and historians view the Bulan Pejeng as evidence of Indonesia's advanced prehistoric craftsmanship and its strategic position in ancient maritime trade networks across Southeast Asia. Today, it remains highly revered by the local community, serving a sacred ritualistic function as a rain-making instrument and a symbol of divine protection.

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Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

4.810.0037.B.U

Publisher

Jakarta : Grasindo., 2024

Collation

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Language

Indonesia

ISBN/ISSN

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Classification

810

Content Type

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Media Type

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Carrier Type

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Edition

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Subject(s)

Kesusastraan Indonesia

Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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