Yeh Pulu is a place around 2 kms from famous ancient rock carving
of Gowa Gajah, located around 30 kms east of Denpasar city. The carving is between rice field and
ravine of Pekerisan river. The site was rediscovered in 1925 by the archaeologists covered by moath
and shrubs yet local people still knew them and put some offering at the front of the carvings.
In 1949 a simple protection was laid out to avoid water flowing on the surface
of the relief. It looks like panel with the size of 25 x 2 meters full with carvings.
The figures showing mixed between the fairy tales of
wayang ( puppet show ) and like a common people. If
we see the area of Pejeng which is at the same slope of the river and closeby area, it is rich with ancient stone
carvings, and also wayang figure is found near the village
of Pejeng preserved at a temple called " Arjuna
Metapa ", one of the figure is prince of Mahabharata story. From the site itself it is hard to give
estimated date of the construction. From iconographic
study we can only use typological date or comparing it's work, anatomy, and decoration based on the
ancient relief of Candi Penataran in east Java. It
is commonly agreed that Penataran temple was constructed
during the end of Majapahit kingdom, around 1400 AD.
If it is associated with the tradition of Wayang
puppet in Bali, which was only around 16th century, when Bali
kingdom controlled Blambangan kingdom ( now Kabupaten Banyuwangi
). According to the tradition during the attack
of Blambangan, a box full of wayang puppet were confiscated
and were brought to the palace in Klungkung and the king was interested by the art of Wayang.
In Klungkung today, there is a village called Kamasan near the capital city of the kingdom in the past
is the first wayang style introduced by a painter inspired by the wayang
figure brought from Java. So it was probable that this rock carving
was made around this period.
An important aspect from this art is that a new style
had emerged compared to the previous art which was showing close style with the type of
art such as Borobudur and Prambanan temples. It is well understood that the art of Bali
during ancient time was very idealistic and superhuman
in nature, but Yeh Pulu relief showing realistic
and vigorous nature. It is hard to understand why the
artist had deviated from the rules at the time. They
did not only carved wayang figures but also human figures.
The whole scene of the relief is divided into 5 episodes:
- In this episode one figure is interesting that a man is carrying something with pole on his shoulder, look like a guci ( English " Urn "). In Bali guci is a place for palm wine ( Bali : tuak ).
- One of the important figure is a dwarf like person with ascetic's turban which is the prototype of present day Bali priest's crown.
- Showing a bear hunters in attacking the bear and a man sitting on horse, although the fact that Bali did not have bear.
- Two men carrying bear with pole,
- A woman holding the tail of a horse.
So far it is concerned, there is no traditional
story that could be used to identify what is actually the depiction of
these all. An extensive local folk tales have been recorded, but no one
seems explaining the episodes. It was most probable that the artist just free to express their
art spirit.
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