Petungan and the Strategy in Building a Home

"What do I want from this life; what kind of life do I want; how is my family looks like; what kind of man am I; what are the characteristics and personality of mine?" These questions are only little part of the many 'picture' of the life of the Javanese as a person, not just as a biological being.

If we look carefully upon all characters attached in the justificatory petungan, we will see that they are directly related to ethics, behavior, and characterization of man as a person; they are presented in both of those with positive/good/favorable elements, and those of negative/bad/unfavorable elements. Moreover, relationship with neighbor and with nature are also included in many details of operation (e.g., measurement: 1-pecak has character of favorable, happy, prosperous if used as the measurement of structural beam of building; date/time, Islamic calendar: month Muharram has character of calamity if being used for mounting/erecting the building.).

These elements, which are called 'character' by the petungan, is attached in every single measure, date/time.

Therefore, practically every answer upon the above question is accomodated by petungan.To meet the most favorable, proper, suitable answer, a Javanese is seemingly demanded to make a self-reflection. The effect and impact of this reflection is clear. Every single measurement or selected date/time is an elemental reflection of the Javanese as a person. It seems that elements of personality of a Javanese (both as individual and as member of society) is set by Javanese architecture as a strategy in providing measurement and scheduling (i.e., date/time). In the operation of petungan this personality also constitute the basis of justification.

What do we have in mind if all measurement are arranged and assembled into a building, and all date/time is arranged into a sequence of events/actions? On the one hand we will have a complex of Javanese house that have good proportion, ample volume, and proper siting of each unit in relation to the other. We will come back to this later because we will continue with the personality. On the other hand, this assemblage will also portray reflection or expression of the whole personality of the owner (see also Box 1).

The Javanese knows that this assemblage must be in such a way that every single elements of personality will match, fit, in proper relationship and in harmony with the other. Considering the Javanese house is a building of wood whose members must be assembled to become a whole, it also seems strategic to orchestrate this arrangement and assemblage through the utilization of personality. In short, one of the strategy in building a Javanese home is questioning the owner of his/her existence as an individual and social person. Every Javanese who is willing to have a home is asked to manipulate his personality as a person, a member of the family, and a member of the neighborhood as well as member of community. He/she must find for himself/herself the most suitable, proper, match, or fit with what elements and factors are surrounding him/her. Every single petungan and the assemblage of petungan-s must be taken care with that idea in mind.

Example on the assemblage of Petungan operation

1. Justifying the village to be inhabitated

1. Sri; favorable, released from hunger, but not wealthy
2. Lungguh; will shortly find occupation
3. Gedong; favorable, will soon get wealthy
4. Begja; favorable, interests and intentions accomplished
5. Lara; unfavorable, not suggested
6. Wirang; unfavorable, not suggested
7. Pati; unfavorable, not suggested

2. Characteristic of Site to be inhabited (altogether about 12 characteristics; only three is quoted)

1. site sloping down eastward; the character is free from sicknesses, but find crisis in marriage life
2. site surrounded by hills/mountains, name Kawula Kambing Bala; character is wealthy and well-loved by relatives
3. site has hill/mountain on west and water on east, name Angelak; character is one of its inhabitant will oftenly run amok.

3. Location of Gate (Regol) (different characters on four sides, only one side is quoted) In south side, divide the wall into nine parts, starts from southeast and end at southwest. Each part has character (part 1 at southeast, part 9 at southwest)

1. the gate gives well-behaved child(ren)
2. the gate gives the inhabitant no debt
3. the gate gives grief
4. the gate gives excellence
5. the gate gives death quite oftenly
6. the gate gives good character of mind
7. the gate gives wealth
8. the gate gives disgrace from officials/nobility
9. the gate gives many house-helpers

4. Measuring the length of (main) structural beam

1. Manusa; favorable, happy and prosperous
2. Lara; bad
3. Njaluk-tamba; bad
4. Tinambanan; neutral, neither good nor bad

5. Measuring height of (main) structural column

1. Saka; firm
2. Som; peaceful
3. Mahe; bad
4. Baya; bad
5. Pati; bad

6. Counting numbers of wooden rafters

1. character is lots of apprehensiveness
2. character is find many happiness
3. character is aftenly get sickness

7. Month (Islamic month) to erect the construction (especially the living quarter) (only six out of twelve is quoted)

1. month Muharram; calamity
2. month Shafar; gain loyalty from many people
3. month Rabiulawal; suffer from death oftenly
4. Rabiulakhir; happy and prosperous
5. Jumadilawal; adored by many, granted mercies from elders
6. Jumadilakhir; gets sicknesses for a long time.

Assuming that the italics are selected, the above assemblage will result in a personality of a family as follows; will shortly find occupation, wealthy and well-loved by relatives, excellence and good character of mind; favorable, happy and prosperous; peaceful; lots of apprehensiveness; adored by many, granted mercies from elders Box 1.