HISTORY

History and Philosophy of Tihingan village

The history of Tihingan Village was dated back from 15^th century the reign of Dalem Batur Enggong, Klungkung reached the golden age. In 1908 there was a war named Puputan Klungkung which devided Bali into some parts along with its Kings. Ida I Dewa Agung Geg, one of the heir of the kingdom who survived in the war of Puputan Klungkung, who  is appointed to be Dalem Klungkung. Hold the position as the center of the kingdom in the past, make Klungkung developed into a branch of art and craft, which refers to the cultural life and religion. One of the village in Klungkung is Tihingan village.

The origin of Tihingan’s name is coming from the past, where the craftsmen who lived in Tihingan Village at present time is the generation of those strong men sent by the King of Klungkung to keep an area which was still covered by bamboos or simply this area was a bamboo forest by Yeh Bubuh River as the border. However, even in a war between Kingdom of Klungkung and Kingdom of Gianyar, the King of Klungkung sent these strong men who were magically had invulnerable weapon ability to be the fortress of the kingdom. After succeeded securing the kingdom and this bamboo forest area, those strong men decided to stay in that bamboo forest. In Balinese language, bamboo called as “tiying” or “tihing”, for that matter the village or the bamboo area is now called as Tihingan Village. And to survive, the made gamelan as their job, continuously to their generation to generation until today. 

Tihingan Village is the only village that becomes the center of gamelan’s production in Bali. Tihingan Village has become the center of gamelan’s production since the era of Gel-Gel Kingdom. It was started when the King of Gel-Gel heard the song made by frogs. Then the King liked it instantly, so the King told his people to make the gamelan instruments to get the song just like the frogs made.

Besides that, Balinese people who came from Majapahit Kingdom brought “Seni Tabuh” or the art of percussion that named Saih Pitu or Semar Pegulingan. Saih Pitu was brought from Java and then it has been combined with the Balinese gamelan instruments. Because the King liked the song made by frogs, which is gives the inspiration for art in Bali more advance, both in the percussion art, dance, and other cultures. Therefore, the people of Tihingan Village learn how to make gamelan and finally they become the center of Balinese gamelan’s production.

Until today, Tihingan Village is still producing Balinese gamelan because of the culture basic. In Bali, the temple or “Pura” has a very strong relation with gamelan. Because gamelan is a replica of the music in the nature of the Gods, which derived by “Dewi Saraswati” that is manifested in the form of beautiful woman holding a musical instrument. The implementation of the various rituals of Hindu always accompanied by gamelan. For example Piodalan ceremony such as, Mlaspas ceremony and religious days ceremony, then various of gamelan like Bleganjur, angklung, gong gede, gong gambang, gong kebyar, used alternately or simultaneously. Besides that, the people seek peace by the arts, both in music or gamelan. Because gamelan instill the values of art since we in the womb to adulthood. With hear the music(gamelan), it will make our feel softer and that make people more patient, calm, peace, and have a high tolerance.  Because all of the citizen in the world loves art, especially music.