Moon of Pejeng
Encyclopedia
The Moon of Pejeng, also known as the Pejeng Moon, in Bali
is the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world. and "the largest known relic from Southeast Asia's Bronze Age
period." It is "considered highly sacred by local people." It is thought to be a relic of early rice cultivation rituals.
The drum is 186.6 centimetres (73.5 in) high and the diameter of the tympano
is 160 centimetres (63 in). It is kept at Pura Penataran Asih Temple in Pejeng
, near Ubud
, in the Petauan River valley which, along with the adjacent Pakerisan River valley, forms the heartland of South Bali where complex irrigated rice culture first evolved on the island.
people made the drum around 300 B.C., more than two thousand years ago. According to Balinese legend, the Pejeng Moon was a wheel of the chariot that pulled the real moon
through the night sky. One night, as the chariot was passing over Pejeng, the wheel detached and fell to earth
, landing in a tree, where it glowed nearly as brightly as the real moon. This light disturbed a thief who, annoyed, climbed the tree and urinated on it; the thief paid for his sacrilege with his life. The moon eventually cooled and has been preserved as a sacred relic by the local villagers.
It is the largest and most complete type of drum known as the Pejeng type drums which have been found in Bali
and Java
, Indonesia
.
The Pejeng Moon was first reported to the western world by G.E. Rumphius in his book The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet, published in 1705. The Moon was first systematically described by the Dutch
artist W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp
who reproduced the famous face motif.
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
is the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world. and "the largest known relic from Southeast Asia's Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
period." It is "considered highly sacred by local people." It is thought to be a relic of early rice cultivation rituals.
The drum is 186.6 centimetres (73.5 in) high and the diameter of the tympano
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
is 160 centimetres (63 in). It is kept at Pura Penataran Asih Temple in Pejeng
Pejeng
Pejeng is a village in Bali, Indonesia, in the Petauan River valley. It is a bit east of Ubud in Gianyar Regency. It is home to the Moon of Pejeng, the largest single-cast bronze kettle drum in the world. Pejeng is a rural area with extensive, and ancient, irrigated rice cultivation....
, near Ubud
Ubud
Ubud is a town on the Indonesian island of Bali in Ubud District, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency...
, in the Petauan River valley which, along with the adjacent Pakerisan River valley, forms the heartland of South Bali where complex irrigated rice culture first evolved on the island.
History
The Dong SonDong Son culture
The Đông Sơn culture was a prehistoric Bronze Age age in Vietnam centered at the Red River Valley of northern Vietnam. At this time the first Vietnamese kingdoms of Văn Lang and Âu Lạc appeared...
people made the drum around 300 B.C., more than two thousand years ago. According to Balinese legend, the Pejeng Moon was a wheel of the chariot that pulled the real moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
through the night sky. One night, as the chariot was passing over Pejeng, the wheel detached and fell to earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
, landing in a tree, where it glowed nearly as brightly as the real moon. This light disturbed a thief who, annoyed, climbed the tree and urinated on it; the thief paid for his sacrilege with his life. The moon eventually cooled and has been preserved as a sacred relic by the local villagers.
It is the largest and most complete type of drum known as the Pejeng type drums which have been found in Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
and Java
Java
Java is an island of Indonesia. With a population of 135 million , it is the world's most populous island, and one of the most densely populated regions in the world. It is home to 60% of Indonesia's population. The Indonesian capital city, Jakarta, is in west Java...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
.
The Pejeng Moon was first reported to the western world by G.E. Rumphius in his book The Ambonese Curiosity Cabinet, published in 1705. The Moon was first systematically described by the Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
artist W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp
W.O.J. Nieuwenkamp
W. O. J. Nieuwenkamp, , was a Dutch artist. He was the first European artist in Bali.- External links :*...
who reproduced the famous face motif.