The Epidemic, mysticism, and traditional beliefs in old and modern Indonesian literatures

Abstract

Narratives regarding epidemics, diseases, traditional treatments, including beliefs in shamans or mystical practices, mantras, herbal potions, have emerged in old Indonesian literatures, whether in form of tales, literary compositions, or novels. Until now, these narratives continue to be produced as settings of events, important parts of the story, or inserts that intentionally displayed by the authors in literary works. This research aims to explore narratives from the past of the archipelago and bring them beyond the space and time into the current context in order to obtain an understanding concerning the formations of societal responses towards the pandemic. The objects of this study are the story of Calon Arang from Bali (1540), the tales of Agung Sakti (1892), the manuscript of Merapi-Merbabu (17th-18th century), Peroesoehan Koedoes (1918), and a collection of short stories entitled Wabah (2021). The meaning of those literary works can be explained by ethnosciences and narratology theories. Ethnosciences emphasizes on knowledge system which is a special knowledge from a certain society/ethnic, and different from the knowledge system of other society. Narratives regarding diseases or epidemic in those literary works not only provides information concerning the arrival of health problems events experienced by the society. However, they reflect inner structure of society, local beliefs and cultural traditions in dealing with health events/problems, and alternative solutions that offered or developed in society. Looking again on old literary works provide insights into deeper interpreting reactions and the way society mitigates chatarsis as well as processing strong emotions in facing public health crises.