289

of cosmic and divine order which was be lieved to be the foundation of human society. As such they were related with ritual drama, surviving in Java in the form of popular theatricals and wayairj (v. the present author’s “Javaanse Volksvertellingen”, and “Java in “the XIVth Century”). Various kinds of male and female (but separated) dancing were cultivated at Java nese and Balinese Courts, and so attained a high grade of perfection. In modern times these ancient Court dances, often combined with wayan, wort, performances, are practised in dancing clubs all over the country. These dances are a characteristic feature of Javanese civilization. In the twentieth century several manuals of Javanese dancing have been published by local printers in Java. Mixed dancing, in Java and Bali in the form of a courting dance of one or several male dancers circling around one or several professional dancing women (tandak, talèdèk, ror^gèn,) used to be very popular in the country. Dancing parties (in modern Java nese called tayuban) were organized on the occasion of weddings and circumcision rites. At community festivals, especially those which were associated with agriculture and fertility of the earth, there were often dan cing women present. Probably their appear ance on these occasions was a survival of an ancient sacral ceremony in honour of the chthonic goddess, who in present day Java nese folk-lore is called the Maiden Queen °f the Southern Ocean (Ratu Lara Kidul). In later times, on account of the association with eroticism and the disorderliness often going with the public mixed dancing parties, they fell into discredit with pious Muslims

and with the Government and were dis couraged as much as possible. In modern Javanese society dancing in the manner of the professional dancing women of old is often considered indecent (see 44.900, liquor). Javanese manuscripts especially dealing with dancing are not in evidence. References to texts on dancing can be found in the General Index under the catchwords: dance, jogèd, tandak, talèdèk, rotygèr). 43.750 In the present Synopsis sports, games and pastimes have been men tioned under several heads: katurapgan, horsemanship (41.000), cockfights (41.100), turtledoves (41.250). Boys’ and girls’ games and songs, and playing at cards, are described in cod. 6684, containing the captions of the Yogyakarta albums belonging to the Moens collection (42.120). The girls’ games and songs called after ni T0WO13 or Towok or Tohok and ni Diwut (references in the General Index under these names) deserve special interest because of their probable connection with ancient sha- manistic rites (see the present author’s “Java “in the XIVth Century”, vol. IV, p. 198). A puppet which by means of a spiritualistic rite is animated by the girls and at the end of the game rendered inanimate again, oc cupies the central place in these mesmerizing games. H. Overbeck’s “Javaanse Meisjes- “spelen en Kinderliedjes” contains ample in formation on the subject (see 00060). 43.760 Children’s ditties and girls’ games: cod. 8621, collection Hazeu, Sukardi). 43.770 Children’s games and ditties: cod. 8975 no. 1, 8975 no. 2.