Kuningan Regency is a regency in West Java Province, Indonesia. Its capital is Kuningan.
Origin of the Name
There are several possibilities regarding the origins of Kuningan, the name of this region. One possibility is that the term comes from the name of a type of metal, namely brass. In Sundanese (and also Indonesian), brass is a type of metal made from a mixture of tin, silver, and bronze. When gilded (cleaned and colored beautifully), brass takes on a shiny yellow color like gold, making objects made from it look beautiful and appealing. Indeed, brass can be used to make various household items, such as statues, bowls, lamp frames, and wall hangings.
In Sangkanherang, near Jalaksana, several small brass statues were discovered before 1914. Until at least the 1950s, items made from this metal were highly favored by the elite (menak) in the Kuningan area. These items included household utensils and decorative items. Brass objects were also favored by some Sundanese, Javanese, Malay, and other groups throughout the Indonesian archipelago in general.
In the Ciamis and Kuningan areas, there are legends related to a brass bowl (a place to store things in the house and also as jewelry) made of brass. Both legends tell of a brass bowl that was used as a tool to test the level of knowledge of a religious figure.
In Ciamis – in the story of Ciung Wanara – the bowl was used to test a Galuh priest (pre-Islamic) named Ajar Sukaresi who was meditating on Mount Padang. This priest was asked by the King of Galuh, whose capital was located in Bojong Galuh (present-day Karangkamulya village), located approximately 12 km east of Ciamis city, to assess his wife's protruding belly to see if she was pregnant. A mistake in this assessment would have cost the priest his life. In reality, the princess's protruding belly was a ruse by the King, who had placed a brass bowl on her belly and then covered it with cloth to make it appear pregnant. This act was done solely to deceive and harm the priest.
Reverend Ajar Sukaresi, who already knew the King's evil scheme, remained calm in guessing the riddle given by the King, the Reverend then said that the Princess's stomach was indeed pregnant. The King was also happy to hear the Reverend's answer, because he thought his evil scheme to trick the Reverend was successful. The King arrogantly said that the Reverend's guess was wrong, and then ordered his soldiers to take the Reverend to prison and immediately the King issued an order for the Reverend to be sentenced to death.
It turned out that not long afterward it was discovered that the Princess was indeed pregnant. The King's face turned bright red, this was impossible he thought. With dark eyes the King was angry and kicked the brass bowl, cauldron and iron prison that were nearby. The bowl, cauldron and iron prison fell in different places. The area where the brass bowl fell was then given the name Kuningan which continues to apply to this day. The area where the cauldron fell (Sundanese: kawali) was named Kawali (now a sub-district town included in the Ciamis Regency and located between Kuningan and Ciamis, about 65 km south of Kuningan city), and the area where the iron prison fell was named Kandangwesi (kandangwesi is a Sundanese vocabulary meaning iron prison) located in the South Garut area.
In the Babad Cirebon and the oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend, the brass bowl is used to test the Islamic cleric (wali) named Sunan Gunung Jati. The story is more or less the same as the Ciung Wanara story, only there are several differences. The differences are the time and place of the event, the purpose and consequences of the test, and the absence of the kicking of the bowl. While the Ciung Wanara story depicts the era of the Galuh kingdom, which is entirely Hindu or pre-Islamic, the Babad Cirebon and the oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend tell stories from the transition from Hinduism to Islam, or during the process of Islamization. Thus, the content of the Ciung Wanara story is older than the Babad Cirebon or the oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend. The Ciung Wanara story reveals the location of the event in Bojong Galuh, while the Babad Cirebon and the oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend state that the event took place in Luragung (a sub-district town located 19 km east of Kuningan).
Unlike in the story of Ciung Wanara, where the prediction of Princess's pregnancy was motivated by the intention of harming the priest Ajar Sukaresi and resulting in the priest being sentenced to death, in the Babad Cirebon and the oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend, the prediction of the pregnancy was intended to test the nobility of Sunan Gunung Jati's knowledge solely and had the effect of elevating the position of the wali's scholars. The child she gave birth to was a baby boy who was then cared for and raised by Ki Gedeng Luragung, the ruler of the Luragung region. Subsequently, Sunan Gunung Jati became Sultan in Cirebon. After the baby grew up, Sunan Gunung Jati appointed the baby as the leader or head of the Kuningan region with the name Sang Adipati Kuningan.
So, the name of the type of metal used to make the bowls gives this area its name, Kuningan. This is why the brass bowl serves as one of the symbols of Kuningan Regency. Another symbol of this region is the horse, derived from the Samberani horse belonging to Dipati Ewangga, a Kuningan warlord.
According to another oral tradition of the Kuningan Legend, before being named Kuningan, the name of this area was Kajene. Kajene is said to contain the color yellow (jene in Javanese means yellow). In general, the color yellow symbolizes majesty in the Nusantara society. Based on the material of the brass bowl and the yellow color, then in the early period of Islamization this area was named Kuningan. However, the authenticity of Kajene as the first name of this area is questionable, because according to the Carita Parahyangan manuscript, a written source compiled in the Ciamis area at the end of the 16th century AD, Kuningan as the name of the area (kingdom) has been known since the beginning of the Galuh kingdom, namely since the end of the 7th century or the beginning of the 8th century AD. Meanwhile, the Kuningan kingdom area was located in the current Kuningan Regency area.
Another local mythological story suggests that the name Kuningan comes from the phrase "danggiang kuning," a mystical art related to ultimate truth. This art was possessed by Demunawan, one of the rulers (kings) of the area during the early days of the Galuh kingdom.
In Hindu tradition, there is a calendar system that describes the cycle of religious ceremonies, much like the one still used by Balinese Hindus today. Kuningan is the name of the 12th time period (wuku) in this calendar system. During the Kuningan wuku period, religious ceremonies and holidays are always held. Could the name Kuningan wuku have inspired or prompted the naming of this region?
What is clear, according to the Carita Parahyangan and Fragment of the Carita Parahyangan, two contemporary manuscripts written on palm leaves in Old Sundanese script and language, is that in the 8th century AD, Kuningan was already mentioned as the name of a kingdom located not far from the Galuh kingdom (present-day Ciamis) and Galunggung kingdom (present-day Tasikmalaya). The location of this kingdom was in the area that is now Kuningan Regency.
Prehistoric times
It is estimated that ± 3,500 years before Christ there was already human life in the Kuningan area, this is based on several relics of life in prehistoric times that indicate life in the Neolithic era and large stones which are relics of the Megalithic culture. Evidence of these relics can be found in Cipari Village, Cigugur Subdistrict, namely with the discovery of prehistoric relics in 1972, in the form of tools from obsidian (kendan stone), pottery shards, stone graves, tools from stone and ceramics. So it is estimated that at that time there was a human settlement that already had a high culture. The results of the study show that the Cipari Site experienced two settlement periods, namely the late Neolithic period and the early introduction of bronze materials ranging from 1000 BC to 500 AD. At that time the community had known good organization and beliefs in the form of ancestor worship (animism and dynamism). In addition, traditional relics from large stones from the Megalithic era were also found.
Hindu times
The Parahyangan story mentions a settlement with full political power, similar to a country, called Kuningan. The Kuningan Kingdom was established after Seuweukarma was crowned King, who then held the title Rahiyang Tangkuku or Sang Kuku, residing in Arile or Saunggalah. Seuweukarma adhered to the teachings of Dangiang Kuning and adhered to Sanghiyang Dharma (Holy Scripture) and Sanghiyang Riksa (ten guidelines for life). The expansion of Kuningan's power during Seuweukarma's reign reached as far as the Malay lands. At that time, the people of Kuningan felt safe and peaceful under the leadership of Seuweukarma, who reigned for a long time. According to the Parahyangan story, before Sanjaya could rule the Galuh Kingdom, he had to defeat Sang Wulan – Sang Tumanggal – and Sang Pandawa, the three rulers of Kuningan (= Triumvirate), the three figures who held the reins of government in Kuningan, as per the Tritangtu concept in the traditional government of the Sundanese Buhun people. The Wulan, Tumanggal, and the Pandavas governed according to the traditions of the time, acting as Rama, the Resi, and the Queen. Rama served as the traditional leader, the Resi as the religious leader, and the Queen as the governmental leader. Therefore, the Kuningan Kingdom, under the control of this 'Triumvirate', was in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere, as each kingdom was governed by experts in their respective fields. Legal regulations/customary matters were always implemented and obeyed, as were matters of belief/religion, as was the government. Everything went hand in hand, in step and in harmony.
When Kuningan was ruled by Resiguru Demunawan (son-in-law of the Pandavas), the Kuningan Kingdom had the status of a Religious Kingdom (Hindu). This is evident from the teachings of Resiguru Demunawan who taught the science of Dangiang Kuning – paramartaan, so that Kuningan at that time became very famous. In the manuscript of the Parahyangan story, it is mentioned that Kuningan's glory was ruled by Resiguru Demunawan or known by other names Sang Seuweukarma (ruler/holder of the Law) or Sang Ranghyangtang Kuku/Sang Kuku, the greatness of Kuningan exceeded or was comparable to the Greatness of Galuh and Sunda (Pakuan). His power included Melayu, Tuntang, Balitar, and so on. There are only 3 names of kings in West Java who have the title of Rajaresi, meaning a government leader and at the same time a religious expert (resi). They are:
The subsequent development of the Kuningan kingdom seemed to be interrupted, and it only reappeared in 1175 AD. Kuningan, at that time, was Hindu under the leadership of Rakean Darmariksa and was an autonomous region within the Sundanese kingdom known as Pajajaran. Cirebon also came under the Pajajaran kingdom's control in 1389 AD, but in the 15th century, Cirebon, as an Islamic kingdom, declared its independence from Pakuan Pajajaran.
Islamic period
Kuningan's history during the Islamic period is inseparable from the influence of the Cirebon Sultanate. In 1470 AD, a prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah, son of Sheikh Abdullah and his mother, Rara Santang or Syarifah Modaim, son of King Siliwangi, arrived in Cirebon. Sheikh Hidayatullah was a student of Sayid Rahmat, better known as Sunan Ampel, who led the Ampeldenta region in Surabaya. Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah was then tasked by Sunan Ampel to spread Islam in West Java, and first arrived in Cirebon when the Head of the Cirebon Government was Haji Doel Iman. In 1479 AD, Haji Doel Iman agreed to hand over leadership of the government to Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah after marrying his daughter. Because he was driven by the desire to spread Islam, in 1481 AD, Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah left for the Luragung area, Kuningan, which is part of the South Cirebon region, which at that time was led by Ki Gedeng Luragung, who was related to Ki Gedeng Kasmaya from Cirebon. Ki Gedeng Luragung then embraced Islam.
At the time of Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah in Luragung, Kuningan, his pregnant wife, Queen Ontin Nio, came from China (with the title: Queen Rara Sumanding) to Luragung, Kuningan. From Queen Ontin Nio, also known as Queen Lara Sumanding, a handsome and dashing son was born, named Prince Kuningan. After leaving Luragung, Kuningan, Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah and his entourage went to Ki Gendeng Kuningan's residence in Winduherang, and entrusted the young Prince Kuningan to Ki Gendeng Kuningan to be breastfed by Ki Gendeng Kuningan's wife, because at that time Ki Gendeng Kuningan had a son the same age as Prince Kuningan, named Amung Gegetuning Ati, whose name was changed by Sheikh Syarif Hidayatullah to Prince Arya Kamuning and he gave a mandate that when Prince Kuningan was an adult, he would be crowned as Duke of Kuningan.
After Prince Kuningan and Prince Arya Kamuning grew up, estimated to be precisely in the month of Muharram on September 1, 1498 AD, Prince Kuningan was inaugurated as head of government with the title of Prince Arya Adipati Kuningan (Adipati Kuningan) and assisted by Arya Kamuning. Since then, it was declared as the starting point for the formation of the Kuningan government, which was later designated as the anniversary of Kuningan.
The arrival of Islam in Kuningan is evident from the emergence of Kuningan leaders who came from or had a religious background. For example, Sheikh Maulana Akbar, the brother of Sheikh Datuk Kahfi, who eventually married his son, Sheikh Maulana Arifin, a cousin of Prince Panjunan, to Nyai Ratu Selawati, the ruler of Kuningan at that time, the daughter of Prince Surawisesa, grandson of King Siliwangi and son-in-law of King Langlangbuana. This marked the transition of power from Hinduism to Islam, which indeed took place peacefully through marriage. At that time, villages emerged in Kuningan, starting from the opening of Islamic boarding schools, such as the Sidapurna (Towards Perfection) Islamic Boarding School, Sheikh Rama Ireng (Balong Darma). This also included the Lengkong Islamic boarding school run by Haji Hasan Maulani.
Post-Independence
Kuningan became the venue for the Linggarjati Negotiations in November 1946. Because it was not possible to hold the negotiations in Jakarta or Yogyakarta (the temporary capital of the Republic of Indonesia), a compromise was taken by holding the agreement in Linggarjati, Kuningan. On Sunday, November 10, 1946, Lord Killearn arrived in Cirebon. He departed from Jakarta aboard the British frigate H.M.S. Veryan Bay. He did not mind staying at the Linggarjati Hotel, which also served as the venue for the negotiations.
The Dutch delegation departed from Jakarta aboard the Catalina, which landed and anchored outside Cirebon. From the Catalina, they transferred to the warship Banckert, which served as a floating hotel for the duration of the agreement. The Indonesian delegation, led by Sjahrir, stayed at Linggasama, a village near Linggarjati. President Sukarno and Vice President Muhammad Hatta stayed at the residence of the Regent of Kuningan. The two delegations held negotiations on November 11–12, 1946, mediated by Lord Kilearn, a British mediator.
Kuningan Regency is located at coordinates 108° 23' - 108° 47' East Longitude and 6° 47' - 7° 12' South Latitude. Its capital is located at coordinates 6° 45' - 7° 50' South Latitude and 105° 20' - 108° 40' East Longitude.
The eastern part of the regency is lowland, while the western part is mountainous, with Mount Ceremai (3,076 m) peaking on the border with Majalengka Regency. Mount Ceremai is the highest mountain in West Java.
Geographically, it is located in the eastern part of West Java, on a regional road connecting the city of Cirebon with the East Priangan region and as an alternative route to the central route connecting Bandung-Majalengka with Central Java. Administratively, it borders the province of West Java.
Kuningan Regency consists of 32 sub-districts, which are further divided into 361 villages and 15 urban villages. The administrative center is in Kuningan District. The following sub-districts are within Kuningan Regency:
The land surface of Kuningan Regency is relatively flat with hilly variations, especially in the western and southern parts of Kuningan which have an altitude of around 700 meters above sea level, down to the relatively low plains such as the eastern part of Kuningan with an altitude of between 120 meters and 222 meters above sea level.
The altitude of a place has an influence on the air temperature, therefore altitude is one of the determining factors in land use patterns for agriculture, because each type of plant requires a certain temperature according to the characteristics of the plant in question.
Kuningan Regency's terrain consists of lowlands, highlands, hills, slopes, valleys, and mountains. These features offer beautiful landscapes and cool air, offering significant potential for tourism development.
Most soil textures are medium-depth, and a small portion are fine-textured. These conditions contribute to low and very high susceptibility to erosion.
The level of sensitivity to erosion is caused by a mismatch between land use and its capabilities, resulting in damage to the physical, chemical, and biological processes of the soil. Several factors that influence the intensity of the level of concentration of erosion are: slope, cultivation system, land management, soil type, and percentage of ground cover.
Based on soil research, Kuningan Regency has 7 (seven) soil groups, namely: Andosol, Alluvial, Podzolic, Gromosol, Mediterranean, Latosol and Regosol.
The population of Kuningan Regency in 2010 according to the results of the Suseda was 1,122,376 people with a Population Growth Rate (LPP) of 0.48% per year and a Life Expectancy (AHH) of 70.76 years. The male population was 580,796 people and the female population was 564,801 people with a sex ratio of 99.3% meaning that the number of female residents was more than the male population. It is estimated that almost 25% of Kuningan's population is commuter, many of them migrate to big cities such as Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and so on.
Kuningan residents generally speak the Kuningan dialect of Sundanese. The majority of Kuningan residents are Muslim, around 98% (in the Manislor village area, there is a community of residents who adhere to the Ahmadiyah sect). Others are Catholic Christians spread across the Cigugur, Cisantana, Citangtu, and Cibunut areas. While the remainder are Protestant and Buddhist, mostly found in Kuningan city. In the Cigugur area, there are also residents who adhere to a belief system called the Javanese Sundanese sect.
Most of the population of Kuningan Regency work as farmers (tenant farmers and farm laborers), and others work as traders, civil servants, TNI, police, entrepreneurs and so on.
The dependency ratio (DRR) of Kuningan Regency in 2007 was not much different from the previous year, reaching 50.00. The dependency ratio (DRR) is the ratio of the non-productive population (aged 0-14 years and aged 65 years and above) to the productive age population (aged 15-64 years), meaning that in 2007, every 100 productive age residents in Kuningan Regency were responsible for 50 non-productive age residents. For more complete population data and some demographic information, we present it in the table below.
According to 2009 Suseda data, the percentage of literate adults in Kuningan Regency reached 98.03%, while the 2010 Suseda results showed an improvement to 98.27%. Similarly, the average length of schooling for Kuningan Regency residents in 2009 was approximately 8.33 years, increasing to 8.68 years in 2010.
The percentage of Kuningan Regency residents aged 10 years and above who have an elementary school education or less is 72.66 percent; graduated from junior high school by 13.73 percent; graduated from high school/vocational school by 10.88 percent; and as many as 2.72 percent who have completed higher education (Academy/University). This means that out of 1,000 residents aged 10 years and above, only 27 people have the opportunity to complete higher education (Diploma, Academy, University).
Special Education for students with special needs is now widely accommodated in educational institutions for students with special needs, including SLBN Kuningan.
The Economic Growth Rate (LPE) of Kuningan Regency in 2011 reached 5.43%, higher than the previous two years, namely 4.39% in 2009 and 4.99% in 2010. Meanwhile, inflation in Kuningan Regency in 2010 based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) calculation was recorded at 6.70%. Meanwhile, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Kuningan Regency itself based on constant prices in 2000 for 2011 was Rp. 4.2 trillion and GRDP per capita based on constant prices in 2000 in 2011 reached Rp. 3.9 million. The purchasing power level of Kuningan residents in 2010 according to Suseda data was recorded at Rp. 549 thousand. And the unemployment rate in Kuningan Regency is quite high, reaching 7.6% of the total workforce. Employment for the population of Kuningan Regency is still dominated by two economic sectors, namely the agricultural and trade sectors. The agricultural sector remains the largest employer. In 2010, of the total employed population of Kuningan Regency, 39% worked in agriculture and 30% in trade.
As a region located in the eastern Priangan region, Kuningan Regency is rich in distinctive Sundanese arts and culture, distinct from the western Sundanese region. The following are some of the arts and cultures that have developed within the Kuningan Regency community:
Land Route
The total length of land roads in Kuningan Regency is 446.10 km
Electricity
The number of customers registered up to 2002 was 773,747 customers (Cirebon Service Unit)
Telecommunication
Health Facilities
Integrated Service Post
Health workers
Educational Facilities and Infrastructure
Hotel
Bank
Kuningan boasts one of its most prestigious stadiums, the Mashud Wisnusaputra Stadium, home to Kuningan's beloved team, Pesik Kuningan. Pesik Kuningan currently competes in Division I of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI). Located right in the heart of Kuningan, the stadium is strategically located, accessible from all corners of the regency. Mashud Wisnusaputra Stadium has a capacity of 10,000 spectators, making it a D+ category stadium for the national level. It was once the home base of Bandung FC, an Indonesian Premier League (IPL) participant, in the 2010-2011 IPL. The stadium is also frequently used as a training ground for ISL participating clubs such as Persib Bandung and Persija Jakarta. In 2013, it served as the home base for Persita Tangerang, an Indonesian Super League (ISL) participant. The Mashud Wisnusaputra Stadium complex features a basketball court, tennis court, volleyball court, athletics track, and a well-appointed guesthouse.
Apart from that, in Luragung there is the Tirta Agung Mas swimming pool, one of the best Olympic Size swimming pools in West Java.
Food and Drink
KARTIKA Grilled Opak, Peuyeum, Squeezed Lime, Angling, Nasi Kasreng (Luragung's Typical Wrapped Rice), Golono (Typical Fried Food from Luragung), Pecak Chips, Luragung and Raragudig Gaplek, ketempling, rengginang.
Souvenirs
Source: Kuningan Regency Site, Wikipedia
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