English
Download as PDF: With Images [3.5 MB] | Text Only [76 KB]
Introduction to the Arts of Cirebon
by Richard North
Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
What’s in a Name?
Throughout history, Cirebon has called by a bewildering number of names and spellings by different groups of people: Charabom (Portuguese); Tjeribon and Cheribon (Dutch); Tjirebon and Cirebon (Sundanese); Tjaruban, Caruban, Tjarbon, Carbon, and Cerbon (Cirebon Javanese). The official Indonesian spelling is currently Cirebon (CHEE-ray-bone), meaning ”shrimp waters”, due to the abundance of small fresh water shrimp (“rebon”) found in local rivers (“ci”). These shrimp are the main ingredient in a popular fermented shrimp condiment (terasi) for which Cirebon is famous, accounting for Cirebon’s nickname of Kota Udang: “Shrimp Town”.
The Cirebon people refer to their area as Cerbon (CHER-bone), a word meaning “mixture” in reference to the mixture of Hindu, Buddhist and Islamic artistic and spiritual traditions that is the inspiration of Cirebon art and culture. I tend to use the Indonesian name, unless the context is in the Cirebon Javanese language.
Cirebon batik of the famous Mega Mendung (Rain Cloud) motif,
showing typically bright colors.