figure in the world of wayang

Initiating the Meaning of Philosophical Parsangan Jawa, Punakawan

In the art of wayang there are many stories presented. Art lovers of wayang performances must be familiar with stories taken from ancient sartra, from Ramayanan to Mahabharata. Not only that, any wayang performance must also have a message to be conveyed by a dalang. So also with four puppet characters who packed into punakawan.

The term punakawan comes from the word pana which means understand, and friends who means friends. If you are looking for Punakawan figures in the Mahabharata and Ramayana texts, do not be surprised if Punakawan figures are not there. Punakawan is a puppet character created by a Javanese poet. According to Slamet Muljana, a historian, Punakawan figure first appeared in Ghatotkacasraya's literary work by Empu Panuluh in the days of Kediri Kingdom.

Four figures of punakawan consist of Semar and his three children, namely Gareng, Petruk, and Bagong. The Punakawan is shown as a group of criteria with their distinctive humor to melt the atmosphere.