INDIGENOUS JAVANESE CULTURE AND ITS MORAL VALUE IN BUILDING CHARACTER EDUCATION

Abstract

This paper aims at describing the indigenous Javanese culture which is inspired by the uniqueness of Javanese people in terms of their characteristics, attitude, and points of view. As the biggest tribe that inhabits the most congested island (Java Island) in this country, the uniqueness is very interesting to be observed. By considering to the so complicated condition of the Javanese people at this moment, this paper limits the discussion only on describing the general characteristics of the indigenous Javanese people before some changes occur as the impact of the modernity process. Their typical feudalistic attitude is characterized by giving high respect for older people and those who have higher social status through very polite speech and behaviour, their carefulness in behaving for gaining their expectation, and giving in for someone else showing that they are not selfish. Besides, the stories of wayang that mostly tell about goodness and wise guidance for human life and characterizing some figures of wayang (Pandhawa Lima) having good manner also inspires Javanese people in forming their characteristics, attitude, and points of view in interpreting the real truth. In term of their religious point of view, there was a heterogeneous belief. They did not fully keep the purity of their belief, but they even effect and assimilate one another as the impact of cultural assimilation and acculturation process. In fact, these Javanese paradigms are still relevant with the real life at this moment. Moreover, they still have big power of attraction and moral value in building the character education. Nevertheless, we also argue that some of the paradigms still need to be revised adjusted to the needs and human life atmospheres at this moment.