Here is a write up on Bali’s cultural landscape prepared by Directorate General of History and Archaeology of Bali, that is submitted to UNESCO in accordance with World Heritage Program. I hope this writing can give a better view on Bali’s cultural landscape.

Cultural Landscape of Bali Province

Description
The island of Bali has long been characterized in the world as the last “paradise” on earth, a traditional society insulated from the modern world and its vicissitudes, whose inhabitants have exceptional artistic talents and consecrate a considerable amount of time and wealth to sumptuous ceremonies for their own pleasure and that of their gods. Therefore, the relation between the tangible and intangible aspects is a major aspect of the heritage and culture of Bali. The cultural heritage of the island goes way beyond physical structures and landscapes. More than anywhere else on the Indonesian peninsula an intricate connection exists between the built environment, the natural settings and the social and religious life.

(more…)

Many people agree that Bali has interesting culture and art. They love to see all the art and cultural products from the fine arts to the dance and from shadow puppet to traditional drama performance. Its ceremonies are always adored by local and foreign tourists alike. Besides, its friendly people draw lot of visitors from various countries and areas.

However, Bali nowadays has changed because of globalization and penetration of other cultures. Balinese tend to be individual and the area that actually should be utilized for agricultural activities is narrowed. Many other changes have occurred. Then some people who care and want to preserve Balinese cultural heritage held a congress, named Balinese Cultural Congress I at ISI (Indonesian Art Institute) Denpasar.

On June 14-16, 2008, many local and international experts and people who have great concern for Balinese culture were invited to this congress. This congress, which was opened by Cultural and Tourism Minister, assembled representatives from UNESCO and other countries like: UK, Australia, India, and Japan. In addition, Balinese artists, press, scientists, expert in Balinese architecture, Balinese legislatives, and many more attended this congress that was held as a part of Bali Art Festival 2008. They shared their ideas together to find a preventive action so that Balinese do not lose their identity.

(more…)

Here is an interesting article on environment in Balinese Hindu by T. Nirarta Samadhi:
Two core conceptions within the Balinese Hindu thoughts which the respondents from seven desa adat in Gianyar regarded as addressing the existence of nature and environment are the psycho-cosmic concept of cosmoses relationships and Tri Hita Karana or literally “three causes of goodness”. They are among the core Bali Hindu conceptions of space and also serve as fundamental philosophical principles which underlie the socio-cultural and natural worlds of Bali (Samadhi, 2000).

PSYCHO-COSMIC CONCEPT
The psycho-cosmic concept is a Balinese Hinduism conception, which can be explained through symbols of the spiritual world within the sphere of physical world (sekala) and its relation with the metaphysical world (niskala) in a way similar to the relations between the bhuwana alit (microcosm) and the bhuwana agung (microcosm). As such, the human body is regarded as the world of microcosm which is differentiated from his immediate environment or universe (macrocosm).

The psycho-cosmic concept, being the most general conception of all is implicitly mentioned in many articles within the law. The philosophy of Balinese Hindu urges that a man as a bhuwana alit (microcosm) should harmonize himself with the universe as a bhuwana agung (macrocosm), because the human body and the universe are originated from the same elements, the element of Panca Mahabhuta or five basic elements (Puri, 1995) i.e. pertiwi (earth/solid substance), apah (water/fluid substance), teja (fire/light/heat), bayu (air), and akasa (space/ether). Thus, in regard to man-environment relationships within the Balinese Hindu conceptual framework, the maintenance of balance or harmonious relationships is one of the religious goals to be attained.

(more…)

The Bali way of Reducing Green House Gas Emission By Doing Nothing

December 2007

During the opening of the 13th session of the Conference of Parties to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a very brief film ”Nyepi (Silent) Day for the Earth” was screened. This film, made by the Bali Collaboration on Climate Change, illustrates the situation in Bali during Nyepi the Day of Silence observed for 24 hours, once a year in Bali during the Saka New Year. All activities cease during that day.

People have asked the question how can an entire island cease activities, light only minimum lights and everyone stay home? This paper provides a background information on this old practice, within the context of reducing green house gas (GHG) emission.

(more…)

It is critical for the Balinese to assure harmonious balance in everything they come in contact with, so that their entire world works to perpetuate their way of life. Existence in the Balinese world, for both animate and inanimate objects, is a matter of occupying the right space at the right time, hence to seek cosmological balance and preserve it at any cost. To distort balance is to invite misfortune or disaster.

The concept of harmonious balance in the philosophy of the Balinese is believed to constitute the basis for achieving prosperity and welfare which, in its application, has developed and crystallized into the religious teaching of Tri Hita Karana or literally ‘three causes of goodness’, in the real application Tri Hita Karana means ‘three harmonious relations’. In Balinese philosophy happiness can be achieved through establishing and maintaining three harmonious relations namely, relation between human and God, relation between human and human, and relation between human and environment.

(more…)

Over the last eighty years, visitors have contrived various names for Bali praising its richness in culture, its extreme fertility, its endless beauty, and the artistry and the charm of its people. The names are range from ‘The Last Paradise’ to ‘The Morning of the World’, from ‘The Island of Gods to Island of Thousands Temples. If we imagine Bali as a product, various brands have been given to this single product, and the last attempt to give another brand for Bali was not come from the visitor to the island but from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

A new brand for Bali which called “Bali: Shanti Shanti Shanti” has been launched by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Culture. To shed a better light on this new brand for Bali, here is the explanation on the new brand provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture:

(more…)