Introduction to the Arts of Cirebon
by Richard North
Originally published on cirebonarts.com on 12.04.2007
Used here with permission of the Author.

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Where is Cirebon?

The ancient Javanese kingdom of Cirebon is an important cultural area within the modern nation of Indonesia, located on the Pasisir, or north coast of the island of Java in the modern-day Indonesian province of West Java. In the 1400’s a string of a dozen or so kingdoms were established along the Pasisir by a group of Sufi (Islamic mystic) saints. Due to lucrative trade with India, China and Arabia, these coastal kingdoms prospered and gradually became important cultural and political centers.


Map of Indonesia. Cirebon is shown at inset to the left.

Cirebon is the last of these Javanese Pasisir kingdoms still in existence. Its palaces are still inhabited by the descendants of their first Sultan, Sunan Gunung Jati. Founded in 1478, Cirebon is sometimes referred to as the “Grandfather of Java’s royal houses.”

Cirebon is the main city of a Javanese-speaking area on the north coast of the otherwise Sundanese province of West Java. (See map below) Today Cirebon is a mid-sized Indonesian city (Kotamadya Cirebon) with a population of over 200,000 people in the Indonesian province of West Java. The official motto for the city of Cirebon is Gemah Ripa Loh Jinawi, an old Javanese phrase from the wayang puppet theater meaning “very prosperous and fertile.”


Map of Java showing language areas, from Wikipedia.
Cirebon is in the Javanese-speaking region of Java’s north coast.

Cirebon is also the name of a regency (similar to a county), Kabupaten Cirebon, a large area with a population of about 2.5 million people. Kabupaten Cirebon is currently in negotiations with the government of Indonesia to possibly break away from West Java and form a separate province - just as Cirebon’s sister city Banten (also founded by Sunan Gunung Jati) did in 2000.


Official Symbol of the Kabupaten (Regency) of Cirebon.

The Kabupaten of Cirebon has its own motto as well: Rame ing Gawe, Suci ing Pamrih, a Javanese phrase meaning “Diligent in Work, Pure of Heart.” Their official government symbol includes pictorial representations of a gapura palace gateway; a magic kujang weapon floating in the air between the palace gates; Cirebon’s volcanic Mount Ciremai, said to be the “guardian” of Cirebon; waves representing the all-important ocean for Cirebon’s fishing and trade; and a garland of the fragrant and highly prized melati jasmine flowers; - all surrounded by nine stars symbolizing the Wali Sanga, the Nine Saints who brought the Islamic faith to Java at the time of Cirebon’s founding. One of the nine, Sunan Gunung Jati, was Cirebon’s first sultan. He is the revered ancestor of all members of the Cirebon royal family, and his shrine is a place of pilgrimage for people from throughout Indonesia.


Pilgrims at the shrine of the first Sultan of Cirebon, Sunan Gunung Jati. (photo R. North)

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.

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