Provinsi Jawa Tengah
Province of Central Java

Motto: "Prasetya Ulah Sakti Bhakti Praja" (Javanese, "A vow of devotion with all might to the country")
Capital	Semarang
Governor	H. A motto (from the Italian word motto, meaning witticism sentence is a phrase meant to formally describe the general motivation or intention of a social group Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. ||-||-||}The Province ( Indonesian: provinsi or propinsi) is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Ali Mufiz
Area	32,548. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 20 km² (12,567 sq mi)
Population	31,820,000  (2005)
Density	977. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 6 /km² (2,532 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups	Javanese (98%), Sundanese (1%), Chinese, Arab[1]
Religion	Islam, Christian, Hindu, Buddhism and traditional Javanese beliefs
Languages	Indonesian, Javanese, Sundanese
Time zone	WIB (UTC+7)
Web site	www.jawatengah.go.id

Central Java (Indonesian: Provinsi Jawa Tengah) is a province of Indonesia. The Javanese are an Ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Java. Not to be confused with Sudanese people The Sundanese are an ethnic group native to the western part of the Indonesian island of Java. Chinese Indonesians ( Hakka: Thong ngin Min: Teng lang Indonesian: Tionghoa Indonesia, or (derisively Cina totok) are ethnically A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Javanese beliefs ( Kebatinan or Kejawen) have principles embodying a "search for inner self" but at the core is the concept of Peace Of Mind A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. Sundanese ( Basa Sunda, literally "language of Sunda " is the Language of about 27 million people from the western third of Java In Indonesia, the keeping of standard time is divided into three Time zones Indonesian Western Standard Time ( Indonesian: Waktu Indonesia In Indonesia, the keeping of standard time is divided into three Time zones Indonesian Western Standard Time ( Indonesian: Waktu Indonesia UTC+7 is a Time zone used in Laos Thailand Cambodia Vietnam Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of ||-||-||}The Province ( Indonesian: provinsi or propinsi) is the highest tier of local government subnational entity in Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The administrative capital is Semarang. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. It is one of the six provinces of the island of Java. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. Central Java is both a political entity and a cultural concept. Culturally and historically Yogyakarta is a significant part of Central Java. The Special Region of Yogyakarta ( Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding However, administratively the city and surrounding region has been part of a separate special region since Indonesian independence. The Indonesian Declaration of Independence was officially proclaimed at 10 In the same context, but in contrast - the region of Surakarta is a significant incorporated component of Central Java. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java.

The province of Central Java is 32,548. 20 km² in area; approximately a quarter of the total land area of Java. Its population is 31,820,000 (2005), making it the third most-populous province in Indonesia after West Java and East Java, and constituting approximately one quarter of the island's population. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. West Java (Jawa Barat with population around 3572 million is the most populous province of Indonesia, located on Java Island. East Java (Jawa Timur is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and also includes neighboring Madura

Geography

Mount Merbabu near Salatiga - much of Central Java's countryside is dominated by rice fields and volcanic peaks

Located in the middle of the island of Java, the Central Java province is bordered by the West Java and the East Java provinces. Mount Merbabu (Gunung Merbabu is a dormant Stratovolcano in Central Java province on the Indonesian island of Java. Salatiga is a city in Central Java, Indonesia, located between the cities of Semarang and Surakarta. Java (Jawa is an Island of Indonesia and the site of its Capital city Jakarta. West Java (Jawa Barat with population around 3572 million is the most populous province of Indonesia, located on Java Island. East Java (Jawa Timur is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and also includes neighboring Madura A small portion of its south region is the Yogyakarta Special Region province, fully enclosed by the Central Java province. The Special Region of Yogyakarta ( Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding Yogyakarta is historically and culturally part of the Central Java region, although it is currently a separate political entity. To the north and the south, the Central Java province faces the Java Sea and the Indian Ocean. Java Sea (Laut Jawa is a large (310000 km² shallow sea on the Sunda Shelf. The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface Central Java also includes some offshore islands: Karimun Jawa Islands in the north, and Nusakambangan in the southwest. Karimunjawa is an Archipelago of 69 islands in the Java Sea, Indonesia, 420 kilometres west of Jepara. Kambangan (also Nusa Kambangan, Nusakambangan or Nusa Kembangan) island is located in the Indian Ocean, separated by a narrow strait off the

The average temperature in Central Java is between 18–28 degrees celsius and the relative humidity varies between 73–94 percent. ^[2] While a high level of humidity exists in most low lying parts of the province, it drops significantly in the upper mountains. ^[2] The highest average annual rainfall of 3,990 mm with 195 rainy days was recorded in Salatiga. Salatiga is a city in Central Java, Indonesia, located between the cities of Semarang and Surakarta. ^[2]

The geography of Central Java is regular with small strips of lowlands near the northern and southern coast with mountain ranges in the centre of the region. To the west lies an active stratovolcano Mount Slamet, then a bit further to the east is the Dieng Volcanic Complex on the Dieng Plateau. A stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano is a tall conical Volcano composed of many layers of hardened Lava, Tephra, and Volcanic Mount Slamet or Gunung Slamet is an active Stratovolcano in Central Java, Indonesia. Dieng Volcanic Complex is on the Dieng Plateau in the Central Java, Indonesia, as a complex of volcanoes Dieng Plateau, is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a Caldera complex on the Dieng active volcano complex, and is located near Wonosobo, Central At southeast of the Dieng plateau lies the high plateau of Kedu Plain, bordered on the east side by the twin volcanoes of Mount Merapi (the most active volcanoes in Indonesia) and Mount Merbabu. Kedu Plain Is the high ground that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi Mount Merapi, Gunung Merapi in Indonesian language, is a conical Volcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta Mount Merbabu (Gunung Merbabu is a dormant Stratovolcano in Central Java province on the Indonesian island of Java. At the south of Semarang, lies Mount Ungaran, and to the north-east of the city lies Mount Muria on the most northern tip of Java. Mount Ungaran is a deeply eroded Stratovolcano, located in the south of Semarang, Indonesia. Mount Muria or Gunung Muria is a dormant volcano on the north coast of Java, Indonesia. To the east near the border with East Java lies Mount Lawu, where its eastern slopes are in the East Java province. East Java (Jawa Timur is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and also includes neighboring Madura Mount Lawu, or Gunung Lawu, is a massive compound Stratovolcano in Central Java, Indonesia.

Due to active volcanic history and therefore volcanic ash, Central Java is a very fertile region for agriculture. Volcanic ash consists of small Tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions less than in diameter Sight of extensive paddy fields is common, except in the southeastern — Gunung Kidul region — partly due to the high concentration of limestone and its location in a rain shadow from the prevailing weather. A paddy field is a flooded parcel of Arable land used for growing Rice and other semiaquatic crops. Gunung Kidul is the name of a regency - a well known cultural region - and the town located in the province of Yogyakarta (special region, Indonesia. Limestone is a Sedimentary rock composed largely of the Mineral Calcite ( Calcium carbonate: CaCO3

Two major rivers run through Central Java; Serayu in the west, which empties in the Indian Ocean, and the Solo River (Javanese: Bengawan Solo), which flows to the East Java province. The Bengawan Solo River (alternatively Solo River, with Bengawan being an old Javanese word for River) is the longest River on the

Administrative division

Main article: List of Central Java regencies and cities

On the eve of the World War II in 1942, Central Java was subdivided into 7 residencies (Dutch residentie or plural residenties, Javanese karésiḍènan or karésidhènan) which correspond more or less with the main regions of this area. This is the list of regencies and cities of Indonesia, one step lower hierarchy of the Indonesia administrative division below the provincial government (sometimes World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. These residencies were Banjoemas, Kedoe, Pekalongan, Semarang, and Djapara-Rembang added with the so called Gouvernement Soerakarta and Gouvernement Jogjakarta. However after the local elections in 1957 the role of these regencies were reduced until they finally disappeared. ^[3]

Nowadays Central Java (excluding Yogyakarta) is divided in 29 regencies (kabupaten) and 6 cities (kota, previously kotamadya and kota pradja). This is the list of regencies and cities of Indonesia, one step lower hierarchy of the Indonesia administrative division below the provincial government (sometimes A regency can also be called a rural district while an autonomous city is an urban district. Below are regencies and autonomous cities of Central Java:

• Regencies: Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Batang, Blora, Boyolali, Brebes, Cilacap, Demak, Grobogan, Jepara, Karanganyar, Kebumen, Kendal, Klaten, Kudus, Magelang, Pati, Pekalongan, Pemalang, Purbalingga, Purworejo, Rembang, Semarang, Sragen, Sukoharjo, Tegal, Temanggung, Wonogiri, Wonosobo

• Cities: Magelang, Pekalongan, Salatiga, Semarang, Surakarta, Tegal

These contemporary regencies and cities can further be subdivided into 565 sub-districts (kecamatan). Banjarnegara is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Banyumas is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Batang is a regency (kabupaten in the north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. Blora is a regency (kabupaten in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Boyolali is a regency (kabupaten in the eastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Brebes is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Cilacap (old spelling Tjilatjap) is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. related Demak Sultanate and Demak (town Demak is one of the regencies in Central Java province of Indonesia. Grobogan is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of the Central Java province in Indonesia. Jepara is a regency (kabupaten in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Karanganyar is a regency (kabupaten in the southeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, north of Surakarta. Kebumen is a regency (kabupaten in the southern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, west of Yogyakarta. Kendal is a regency (kabupaten in the northern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, west of Semarang. Klaten is a regency (kabupaten in Central Java province in Indonesia. This article refers to the regency in Indonesia, for the city in Middle East see Al-Quds Kudus is a regency (kabupaten Magelang is a regency (kabupaten in Central Java province in Indonesia. Pati is a regency (kabupaten in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Pekalongan is a regency (kabupaten in the north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. Pemalang is a regency (kabupaten in north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. Purbalingga is a regency (kabupaten in Central Java province in Indonesia. Purworejo is a regency (kabupaten in the southern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Rembang is a regency (kabupaten in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Semarang is a regency ( Indonesian: kabupaten) in Central Java province in Indonesia. Sragen is a regency ( Indonesian: kabupaten) in the eastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Sukoharjo is a regency ( Indonesian: kabupaten) in Central Java province in Indonesia. Tegal is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Temanggung is a regency (kabupaten in Central Java province in Indonesia. Magelang is one of the largest cities of the 1130 km² Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia and also the largest town in the Kedu Plain Pekalongan is a city and regency on the northern coast of Central Java, Indonesia. Salatiga is a city in Central Java, Indonesia, located between the cities of Semarang and Surakarta. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. Tegal may refer to Tegal Central Java Tegal Regency Tegal Corporation A Subdistrict ( kecamatan) is a subdivision of a regency ( kabupaten) or city ( kota) in Indonesia. Furthermore sub-districts are subdivided into 7,804 rural communes or "villages" (desa) and 764 urban communes (kelurahan). The village (desa is the lowest level of government administration in Indonesia. ^[2]

History

Main article: History of Central Java

Java has been inhabited by humans or their ancestors (hominina) since prehistorical times. The more Anthropomorphic Primates of the Hominini tribe are placed in the Hominina subtribe In Central Java and the adjacent territories in East Java remains known as "Java Man" were discovered in the 1890s by the Dutch anatomist and geologist Eugène Dubois. Marie Eugène François Thomas Dubois ( 28 January 1858 – 16 December 1940) was a Dutch Anatomist. Java Man belongs to the species Homo erectus. Homo erectus ( Latin: "upright man" is an extinct species of the genus Homo, believed to have been the first hominin ^[4] They are believed to be about 1. 7 millions years old. ^[5]

Then about 40,000 years ago, Australoid peoples related to modern Australian Aboriginals and Melanesians colonised Central Java. The Australoid race is a broad racial classification. The concept's existence is based on the typological method of racial classification. They were assimilated or replaced by Mongoloid Austronesians by about 3000 BC, who brought with them technologies of pottery, outrigger canoes, the bow and arrow, and introduced domesticated pigs, fowls, and dogs. The Austronesian people or Austronesian-speaking people, are a population group present in Oceania and Southeast Asia who speak or had ancestors who spoke They also introduced cultivated rice and millet. ^[6]

Recorded history began in Central Java in the 7th century AD. The writing, as well as Hinduism and Buddhism, were brought to Central Java by Indians from South Asia. Central Java was a centre of power in Java back then.

In 664 AD, the Chinese monk Hui-neng visited the Javanese port city of Ho-ling, where he translated various Buddhist scriptures into Chinese with the assistance of the Javanese Buddhist monk Jñānabhadra. Events By Place Asia Arab armies conquer Kabul. Kuo Wu Tsung of Tang comes to Japan ^[7] It is not precisely known what is meant by the name Ho-ling. It used to be considered the Chinese transcription of Kalinga but it now most commonly thought of as a rendering of the name Areng. Ho-ling is believed to be located somewhere between Semarang and Jepara. Jepara is a small town in the province of Central Java, Indonesia. ^[8]

The ninth-century Buddhist monument Borobudur built by the Sailendra near the 'nail of Java'. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Sailendra (Sanskrit Lord of the Mountain) is the name of an influential Indonesian dynasty that emerged in 8th century Java.

The first dated inscription in Central Java is the Inscription of Canggal which is from 732 AD (or 654 Saka). This inscription which hailed from Kedu, is written in Sanskrit in Pallava script. Kedu Plain Is the high ground that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical ^[9] In this inscription it is written that a Shaivite king named Sri Sanjaya established a kingdom called Mataram. Shaivism, also spelled "Saivism" names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. King Sri Sanjaya (AD 732 &mdash 760) was the founder of Mataram Kingdom and also the Sanjaya Dynasty during the Eighth century Under the reign of Sanjaya's dynasty several monuments such as the Prambanan temple complex were built. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta.

In the meantime a competing dynasty arose, which adhered to Buddhism. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices This was the Sailendra dynasty, also from Kedu, which built the Borobudur temple. Sailendra (Sanskrit Lord of the Mountain) is the name of an influential Indonesian dynasty that emerged in 8th century Java. Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia.

After 820 there is no more mention of Ho-ling in Chinese records. This fact coincides with the overthrow of the Sailendras by the Sanjayas who restored Shaivism as the dominant religion. Then in the middle of the 10th century, for unknown reason, the centre of power moved to Eastern Java. ^[8]

A few centuries later, after the destruction of the great Hindu Majapahit Empire in the 15th - 16th centuries by the Central Javanese Muslim kingdom of Demak, the Javanese centre of power moved back to Central Java. Majapahit was an Indianized kingdom based in eastern Java from 1293 to around 1500. In the meanwhile European traders began to frequent Central Javanese ports. The Dutch established a presence in the region through their East India Company. The Dutch East India Company ( Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC in old-spelling Dutch, literally "United East Indian

After Demak itself collapsed, a new kingdom on the Kedu Plain emerged. This new kingdom, which was also a sultanate bore the old name of "Mataram". Sultan (سلطان is an Islamic title with several historical meanings Under the reign of Sultan Agung, Mataram was able to conquer almost all of Java and beyond by the 17th century, but internal disputes and Dutch intrigues forced Mataram to cede more and more land to the Dutch. Sultan Agung of Mataram or Sultan Agung Anyokrokusumo or Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo ( Ha and A is the same character in Javanese letter was These cessions finally led to several partitions of Mataram. The first partition was after the Treaty of Giyanti on February 13, 1755. The Treaty of Giyanti (also known as the Treaty of Gianti Java, the Gianti Agreement, or the Giyanti Treaty) was signed and ratified on February 13 Events 1258 - Baghdad falls to the Mongols, and the Abbasid Caliphate is destroyed Year 1755 ( MDCCLV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or This treaty divided the old kingdom in two, the Sultanate of Surakarta and the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. The Special Region of Yogyakarta ( Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding Then few years later Surakarta was divided again with the establishment of the Mangkunegaran after the Treaty of Salatiga on March 17, 1757. Mangkunegaran is a small hereditary principality located within the region of Surakarta in Indonesia. Events 45 BC - In his last victory Julius Caesar defeats the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus and Pompey the Younger Year 1757 ( MDCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

During Napoleonic Wars in Europe, Central Java as part of the Netherlands East-Indies, a Dutch colony, was handed over to the British. In 1813, the Sultanate of Yogyakarta was also divided with the eastablishment of the Pakualamanan.

The shattered kingdom, Mataram in 1830, after the Java War. The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830.

After the British left, the Dutch came back as was decided by the Congress of Vienna. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of the major powers of Europe, chaired by the Austrian statesman Clemens Wenzel von Metternich Between 1825 - 1830 the Java War ravaged Central Java. The Java War or Diponegoro War was fought in Java between 1825 and 1830. The result of the war was a consolidation of the Dutch power. The power and the territories of the divided kingdom of Mataram were greatly reduced.

However Dutch rule brought modernization to Central Java. In the 1900s the modern province of Central Java, the predecessor of the current one was created. It consisted of five regions or gewesten in Dutch. Surakarta and Yogyakarta were autonomous regions called Vorstenlanden (literally "princely states"). Then after the Indonesian independence the province of Central Java was formalized on August 15, 1950, excluding Yogyakarta but including Surakarta^[2] Since then there have been no (major) changes in the administrative division of Central Java. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

After the so-called failed coup d'état by the communists on September 30, 1965, an anti communist purge took place in Central Java. Indonesia's transition to the " New Order " in the mid-1960s ousted the country's first president Sukarno after 22 years in the position Events 1399 - Henry IV is proclaimed King of England. 1744 - France and Spain defeat the Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Communists and alleged communists were brutally murdered without trial by the army. Others were interned in concentration camps, the most infamous of which was on the isle of Buru in the Moluccas (first used as a place of political exile by the Dutch). Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people commonly in large groups without trial Buru is an Island in the Maluku province of Indonesia. It is located west of Ambon and Seram. Many were executed years later but most were released in 1979^[10]

In 1998, preluding the downfall of president Suharto, anti Chinese violences occurred in Surakarta and surrounding. Many Chinese assets and other buildings were burnt by rioting mobs. In 1999 some public buildings in Surakarta were burnt again by supporters of Megawati Soekarnoputri after the Indonesian parliament failed to choose her as the president and chose Abdurrahman Wahid instead. Diah Permata Megawati Setiawati Soekarnoputri (born January 23, 1947) was President of Indonesia from July 2001 to October 20, At a national level Indonesian people elect a Head of state  &ndash the President &ndash and a Legislature. Abdurrahman Wahid (also known as Gus Dur) (born September 7 1940 is an Indonesian Muslim religious and political leader who served as the President Violence flared up again in Surakarta in the early years of 2000's by Muslim extremists in Surakarta. They held 'sweeping actions' against Western foreigners who reside in this city after the September 11, 2001 attacks. ^[11]

In May 2006, earthquakes in southern Central Java and Yogyakarta devastated many buildings and caused thousands of deaths and more than 37,000 injuries. The May 2006 Java Earthquake occurred at 0554 local time on 27 May 2006 (2254 GMT 26 May) in the Indian Ocean Today, some areas are still under reconstruction.

Demographics

As of the 2005 census, Central Java's population stood at some 31,820,000. As of the 1990 census, the population was 28,516,786. ^[12] So the population has increased approximately 11. 6% in 15 years.

The three biggest regencies in terms of population are: Brebes, Banyumas and Cilacap. Brebes is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Banyumas is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Cilacap (old spelling Tjilatjap) is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Together these regencies make up approximately 16% of the Central Javanese population. Major urban population centers are greater Semarang, greater Surakarta and Brebes-Tegal-Slawi area. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. Brebes is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Tegal may refer to Tegal Central Java Tegal Regency Tegal Corporation Slawi is the capital city of the Tegal Regency of the province of Central Java, Indonesia.

Religion

A typical Javanese mosque with Meru-like roof (Masjid Sholihin in Surakarta)

See also: Religion in Indonesia

See also: Hinduism in Java

Officially, in 1990 the majority of the Central Javanese population or about 96%, was nominally Muslims. For the Mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru (Tanzania. Mount Meru ( Sanskrit: मेरु (also called Religion plays a major role in life in Indonesia. It is stated in the first principle of the state ideology Pancasila: "belief in the one and only God" Hinduism has historically been a major religious and cultural influence in Java. The second largest religion was Protestantism which was professed by 2% of the population. ^[13] The remainder of the population was either Catholic, Hindu or Buddhist.

Although the overwhelming majority of Javanese are Muslims, many of them also profess indigenous Javanese beliefs. Javanese beliefs ( Kebatinan or Kejawen) have principles embodying a "search for inner self" but at the core is the concept of Peace Of Mind Clifford Geertz, in his book about the religion of Java made a distinction between the so-called santri Javanese and abangan Javanese. Clifford James Geertz ( August 23 1926, San Francisco – October 30 2006, Philadelphia) was an American The Santri are a cultural 'stream' of people within the population of Javanese who practice a more orthodox version of Islam, in contrast to the The Abangan are the population of Javanese Muslims who practice a more syncretic version of Islam than the more orthodox Santri. ^[14] He considered santri Javanese as orthodox Muslims while abangan Javanese are nominal Muslims that devote more energy to indigenous traditions.

Dutch Protestants were active in missionary activities and were rather successful. The Dutch Catholic Jesuit missionary man, F.G.C. van Lith also achieved some success, especially in areas around the central-southern parts of Central Java and Yogyakarta in the beginning of the 20th century,^[15] and he is buried at the Jesuit necropolis at Muntilan. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Franciscus Georgius Josephus van Lith SJ or often called "Frans van Lith" ( 17 May 1863 &ndash 9 January 1926) was a Jesuit Muntilan is a town in Central Java, on the old railway route to Magelang, and on the recent route of tourists on their way to Borobudur.

After the Overthrow of Sukarno in 1965, religious identification of citizens became compulsory. Indonesia's transition to the " New Order " in the mid-1960s ousted the country's first president Sukarno after 22 years in the position Therefore there has been a renaissance of Buddhism and Hinduism since then. As one has to choose a religion out of the five official religions in Indonesia; i. e. Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, the latter two became alternatives for people who didn't want to be Muslims or Christians.

Confucianism is also common amongst Chinese Indonesians. Confucianism ( is a Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the fifth century B Since 2006 it is a recognised official religion.

Ethnicity

See also: Javanese people

The vast majority of the population in Central Java are ethnic Javanese, they constitute approximately 98% of the whole population. The Javanese are an Ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Java. ^[1] In addition to the Javanese, small pockets of Sundanese communities are to be found near the border with West Java, especially in Brebes and Cilacap regencies. Brebes is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Cilacap (old spelling Tjilatjap) is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Sundanese toponyms are common in these regions such as Dayeuhluhur in Cilacap, Ciputih and Citimbang in Brebes and even Cilongok as far away in Banyumas. ^[16]

In urban centers, other minorities such as Chinese Indonesians and Arabs are common. Chinese Indonesians ( Hakka: Thong ngin Min: Teng lang Indonesian: Tionghoa Indonesia, or (derisively Cina totok) are ethnically The Chinese are even to be found in rural areas. The urban areas that are densely populated by Chinese Indonesian, are called pecinan, which means "China Town". Chinese Indonesians ( Hakka: Thong ngin Min: Teng lang Indonesian: Tionghoa Indonesia, or (derisively Cina totok) are ethnically Pecinans are areas in Indonesia that are densely populated by Chinese Indonesians Until the 1930s the Chinese were kept incertain areas creatings these Chinese pars A Chinatown is a section of an urban area with a large number of Chinese outside the majority-Chinese countries of Greater China.

Language

See also: Javanese language

Languages of Java

As the overwhelming majority of the population of Central Java are Javanese, the most dominant language is Javanese. Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. There are several dialects which are spoken in Central Java, the two main dialects are western Javanese (also called Basa Ngapak which includes the "Banyumasan dialect" and the dialect of Brebes-Tegal-Pekalongan^[17]) and central Javanese.

Sundanese is also spoken in some pockets near the border with West Java, especially in Brebes and Cilacap regencies. Brebes is a regency (kabupaten in the northwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Cilacap (old spelling Tjilatjap) is a regency (kabupaten in the southwestern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. However, according to some sources, Sundanese used to be spoken as far away as in Dieng Plateau. Dieng Plateau, is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a Caldera complex on the Dieng active volcano complex, and is located near Wonosobo, Central ^[18] This former boundary of Sundanese coincides more or less with the isogloss dividing Central Javanese with Western Javanese. An isogloss is the geographical boundary or delineation of a certain linguistic feature e

In urban centers Indonesian is widely spoken. Indonesian or Bahasa Indonesia, based on the Riau version of Malay language, was declared the official language with the declaration of

Culture

See also: Javanese culture

Central Java is considered to be the heart of the Javanese culture. The Javanese are an Ethnic group native to the Indonesian island of Java. Home of the Javanese courts, Central Javanese culture formed what non-Javanese see as the "Javanese Culture" along with it stereotypes. The ideal conducts and morals of the courts (such as politeness, nobility and grace) influence the people tremendously. The people of Central Java are known as soft-spoken, very polite, extremely class-conscious, apathetic, down-to-earth, et cetera. These stereotypes formed what most non-Javanese see as "Javanese Culture", when in fact not all of the Javanese people behave that way. Moreover, most Javanese are far from the court culture. ^[19]

Mapping the Javanese cultures

The Javanese cultural area can be divided into three distinct main regions: Western Javanese, Central Javanese and Eastern Javanese culture or in their Javanese names as Ngapak, Kejawèn and Arèk.

The boundaries of these cultural regions coincide with the isoglosses of the Javanese dialects. An isogloss is the geographical boundary or delineation of a certain linguistic feature e Cultural areas west of Dieng Plateau and Pekalongan Regency are considered Ngapak whereas the boundary of the eastern cultural areas or Arèk lies in East Java. Dieng Plateau, is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a Caldera complex on the Dieng active volcano complex, and is located near Wonosobo, Central Pekalongan is a regency (kabupaten in the north coast of Central Java province in Indonesia. East Java (Jawa Timur is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and also includes neighboring Madura Consequently culturally, Central Java consists of two cultures, while the Central Javanese Culture proper is not entirely confined to Central Java. ^[19]

Creative arts

Architecture

Bank Indonesia (former Javaasche Bank) building in Surakarta

The architecture of Central Java is characterised by the juxtaposition of the old and the new and a wide variety of architectural styles, the legacy of many successive influences by the Indians, the Persians and the Arabs, the Chinese, and the Europeans. In particular, northern coastal cities such as Semarang, Tegal and Pekalongan can boast fine colonial European architecture. The European and Chinese influence can be seen in Semarang's temple of Sam Po Kong dedicated to Zheng He and the Domed Church built in 1753. Zheng He ( Birth name 馬三寶 / 马三宝; Arabic / Persian name حجّي محمود شمس Hajji Mahmud Shams) (1371&ndash1433 was a Hui The latter is the second oldest church in Java and the oldest in Central Java. Inland Surakarta, as a former capital, also has some fine European architecture.

Famous for its religious heritage, Central Java has some notable religious buildings. The Borobudur and the Prambanan temple complexes are among the largest Buddhist and Hindu structures in the world. Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. In general, a characteristic Javanese mosque doesn't have a dome as its roof but a Meru-like roof instead, which is reminiscent of a Hindu or Buddhist temple. For the Mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru (Tanzania. Mount Meru ( Sanskrit: मेरु (also called The tower of the famous Mosque of Kudus resembles a Hindu-Javanese or Balinese temple more than a traditional Middle-Eastern mosque.

Batik

Central Java is famous and well known for its exquisite batik, a generic wax-resist dyeing technique used on textile. Batik ( pronunciation:, but often in English is or) is a wax-resist Dyeing technique used on Textile. Resist dyeing ( resist-dyeing) is a term for a number of traditional methods of Dyeing Textiles with patterns A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. There are different styles of batik motives. A centre of batik production is Pekalongan. Pekalongan is a city and regency on the northern coast of Central Java, Indonesia. Other centres are Surakarta and Yogyakarta. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. The Special Region of Yogyakarta ( Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding Batik in Pekalongan style which represent gaya pesisir (or coastal style) is different than the one in Surakarta and Yogyakarta, which represent batik from the heartland of Java (gaya kejawèn). ^[20]

Dance

You can even see the court influences in the art forms. The dances of the courts of Java are usually slow and graceful, with no excessive gestures. The people followed these kind of approach, and as a result, slow-paced and graceful movements can even be found in folk dances throughout Central Java (with some exceptions). You can enjoy the beauty of Central Javanese dances in “Kamajaya-Kamaratih” or “Karonsih”, usually performed in a traditional Javanese wedding.

Theater

Main article: Theater in Central Java

Wayang kulit or shadow puppets theater

There are several kinds of Central Javanese theater and performing arts. The most well known are is of course the Javanese wayang theater. Wayang is an Indonesian and Malay word for Theatre. When the term is used to refer to kinds of puppet theater sometimes the puppet itself is referred There are several kinds of Central Javanese wayang, amongst others: wayang kulit, wayang klitik, wayang bèbèr, wayang golèk, and wayang wong. Wayang kulit are shadow puppets theater with leather puppets. The stories are loosely based on Mahabharata and Ramayana cycles. The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki Wayang klitik are puppets theater with flat wooden puppets. The stories are based on Panji (king) stories. Panji (formerly Pandji) was a legendary prince in East Java, Indonesia. Panji was a native Javanese princes who set of in a 'journeys of desire'. ^[21] Wayang bèbèr is scroll theater, and it involves "performing" scenes of a story elaborately drawn and painted on rolled sheets. Wayang golèk consists of three dimensional wooden puppets. The narrative can be based on anything, but usually the stories are drawn from Islamic heroic narratives. Finally wayang wong is wayang theater involving live figures; actors who are performing a play. The narrative however must be based on Mahabharata or Ramayana.

In addition to wayang, there is another form of theater which is called ketoprak. Ketoprak is a staged play by actors accompanied with Javanese gamelan. A gamelan is a musical ensemble of Indonesia typically featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones xylophones drums and gongs bamboo flutes bowed and The narrative is free but cannot be based on Mahabharata or Ramayana. Otherwise it will be some kind of wayang wong.

Music

Gamelan practice at Mangkunagara's palace in Surakarta

Central Javanese music is almost synonymous with gamelan. A gamelan is a musical ensemble of Indonesia typically featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones xylophones drums and gongs bamboo flutes bowed and This is a musical ensemble typically featuring a variety of instruments such as metallophones, xylophones, drums, and gongs; bamboo flutes, bowed and plucked strings, and vocalists may also be included. The term refers more to the set of instruments than the players of those instruments. A gamelan as a set of instruments is a distinct entity, built and tuned to stay together — instruments from different gamelan are not interchangeable. However, gamelan is not typically Central Javanese as it is also known somewhere else.

Contemporary Javanese pop music is called campursari. It is a fusion between gamelan and Western instruments, much like kroncong. Kroncong (pronounced "kronchong" is the name of a Ukulele -type instrument and an Indonesian musical style that typically makes use of the kroncong a Usually the lyrics are in Javanese, but not always. One notable singer is Didi Kempot, born in Sragen, north of Surakarta. Sragen is a regency ( Indonesian: kabupaten) in the eastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Didi Kempot mostly sings in Javanese.

Literature

A sculpture of Rangga Warsita in front of Museum Radya Pustaka in Surakarta

Main article: Javanese literature

See also: Javanese poetry

It can be argued that Javanese literature started in Central Java. Javanese literature is generally speaking literature from Java and more specifically from areas where Javanese is spoken Javanese poetry ( Poetry in the Javanese or especially the Kawi language; Low Javanese tembang; High Javanese sekar) is traditionally The oldest known literary work in the Javanese language is the Inscription of Sivagrha from Kedu Plain. Javanese is the language of the people in the central and eastern parts of the island of Java, in Indonesia. Kedu Plain Is the high ground that lies between the volcanoes Mount Sumbing and Mount Sundoro to the west and Mount Merbabu and Mount Merapi This inscription which is from 856 AD, is written as a kakawin or Javanese poetry with Indian metres. Events By Place Asia The Year of the Fire Rat (Chinese Zodiac begins in January Kakawin are long narrative poems composed in Old Javanese, also called " Kawi " written in verse form with rhythms an metres derived ^[22] Then the oldest of narrative poems, Kakawin Ramayana, which tells the well-known story of Ramayana is believed to have come from Central Java. Kakawin Rāmâyaṇa is an Old Javanese rendering of the Sanskrit Ramayana in Indian meter The Rāmāyaṇa ( Devanāgarī: sa रामायण is an ancient Sanskrit epic attributed to the Hindu sage ( Maharishi) Valmiki It can be safely assumed that this kakawin must have been written in Central Java in the 9th century. ^[23]

After the shift of Javanese power to East Java, it had been quiet from Central Java for several centuries, concerning Javanese literature until the 16th century. At this time the centre of power was shifted back to Central Java. The oldest work written in Modern Javanese language concerning Islam is the so-called "Book of Bonang" or also "The Admonitions of Seh Bari". This work is extant in just one manuscript, now kept in the University Library in Leiden, The Netherlands as codex Orientalis 1928. It is assumed that this manuscript originates from Tuban, in East Java and was taken to the Netherlands after 1598. ^[24] However this work is attributed to Sunan Bonang, one of the nine Javanese saints who spread Islam in Java (Wali Songo) and Sunan Bonang came from Bonang, a place in Demak Regency, Central Java. Sunan Bonang whose real name was Raden Maulana Makdum Ibrahim was born in Tuban, East Java in 1465 and died in 1525 at Pulau Bawean In Indonesian and particularly Javanese beliefs, Wali Sanga (the nine saints (also transcribed as Wali Songo are the founding saints of Islam in Java related Demak Sultanate and Demak (town Demak is one of the regencies in Central Java province of Indonesia. So it can be argued that this work also mark the beginning of Islamic literature in Central Java.

However the pinnacle of Central Javanese literature was created at the courts of the kings of Mataram in Kartasura and later in Surakarta and Yogyakarta, mostly attributed to the Yasadipura family. The most famous member of this family is Rangga Warsita who lived in the 19th century. Raden Ngabehi Rangga Warsita ( Surakarta, 14 March 1802 - Idem, 24 December 1873 was a Javanese Poet. He is the best known of all Javanese writers and also one of the most prolific. He is also known as bujangga panutup or "the last court poet".

After the Indonesian independence, the Javanese language as a medium was pushed to the background. The Indonesian Declaration of Independence was officially proclaimed at 10 Still one of the greatest contemporary Indonesian author, Pramoedya Ananta Toer was born in 1925 in Blora, Central Java. Pramoedya Ananta Toer (6 February 1925 – 30 April 2006 was an Indonesian author of novels short stories essays polemics and histories of his homeland and its people Blora is a regency (kabupaten in the northeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. He was an Indonesian author of novels, short stories, essays, polemics, and histories of his homeland and its people. A well-regarded writer in the West, Pramoedya's outspoken and often politically charged writings faced censorship in his native land during the pre-reformation era. For opposing the policies of both founding president Soekarno, as well as those of its successor, the New Order regime of Soeharto, he faced extrajudicial punishment. Sukarno ( June 6, 1901 – June 21, 1970) was the first President of Indonesia. Suharto, also spelled Soeharto (June 8 1921 &ndash January 27 2008 was an Indonesian military leader and the second President of Indonesia, holding During the many years in which he suffered imprisonment and house arrest, he became a cause célèbre for advocates of freedom of expression and human rights. In his works he writes much about life and social problems in Java.

Food

A Javanese yellow rice pyramid (tumpeng), usually eaten at special occasions.

Rice is the staple food of Central Java. In addition to rice, dried cassava known locally as gaplèk also serve as staple food. Gaplek is the Indonesian word for the sliced dried root of Cassava. Javanese food tends to taste sweet. Cooked and stewed vegetables, usually in coconut milk (santen in Javanese) are popular. Raw vegetable which is popular in West Java is less popular in Central Java.

Saltwater fish, both fresh and dried is common, especially among coastal populations. Freshwater fish is not popular in Central Java, unlike in West Java, except perhaps for catfish known locally as lélé. Catfish ( order Siluriformes) are a very diverse group of bony Fish. Catfish is usually fried and served with chilli condiment (sambal) and raw vegetables. For the Indian dish see Sambar (dish. For the ethnic group see Sambal people.

Chicken, mutton and beef are common meat. Although the majority of Central Javanese are Muslims, pork is common, especially around Semarang and Surakarta. Dog meat, known by its euphemism daging jamu (literally "traditional medicine meat") is also occasionally eaten by certain parts of the population. In some countries apart from being kept as pets certain breeds of Dogs are raised on farms and Slaughtered for their meat A euphemism is a substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener or in the case of doublespeak

Tofu and tempe serve as common fish and meat replacement. Tofu, also (the Japanese Romaji spelling doufu (the Chinese Pinyin spelling often used in Chinese recipes or bean curd (the literal Tempeh, or tempe in Javanese, is made by a natural culturing and controlled fermentation process that binds Soybeans into a cake form Famous Central Javanese dishes include gudeg (sweet stew of jackfruit) and sayur lodeh (vegetables cooked in coconut milk). Gudeg is a traditional food from Central Java and Yogyakarta, Indonesia which is made from young Nangka (jack fruit among other things boiled

Besides the afore mentioned tofu, there is strong Chinese influence in many dishes. Some examples of Sino-Javanese food are noodles, bakso (meatballs), lumpia, soto (some kind of soup made with chicken or beef) et cetera. A noodle is food made from unleavened Dough that is cooked in a boiling liquid Lumpia/h are Pastries of the Philippines and Indonesia of Chinese origin and are similar to Spring rolls The term lumpia Soto ayam is a yellow spicy chicken soup with Vermicelli, commonly found in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. The widespread use of sweet soybeans sauce (kecap manis) in the Javanese cuisine can also be attributed to Chinese influence. Soy sauce ( US) soya sauce ( Commonwealth) shoyu ( Japan) or sillao ( Peru) is a fermented Sauce

Politics

As a province Central Java is headed by a governor. A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government The current governor Ali Mufiz is in office since 2007. He was previously elected as the vice governor of Central Java, then when Mardiyanto has chosen as Minister of Home Affairs of Indonesia, Ali Mufiz replace his place as governor.

List of governors of Central Java after World War II

1. 1945: Panji Suroso
2. 1945 – 1949: K. R. T. Mr. Wongsonegoro
3. 1949 – 1958: R. Boedijono
4. 1958 – 1960: R. M. T. Soekadji Mangoenkoesoema
5. 1960: R. M. Hadi Soebeno
6. 1960 – 1966: Mokhtar
7. 1966 – 1974: Moenadi
8. 1974 – 1982: Soepardjo Rustam (Golkar)
9. 1982 – 1993: Muhammad Ismail (Golkar)
10. 1993 – 1998: Soewardi (Golkar)
11. 1998 - 2007: Mardiyanto (PDI-P)
12. since 2007: Ali Mufiz

April 17-18, 2004 provincial elections

On April 17-18, 2004, provincial elections were held in Central Java for the "Regional People's Representative Council" (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah). The Party of the Functional Groups (Partai Golongan Karya is a Political party in Indonesia. Mardiyanto (born 21 November 1946 in Surakarta, Central Java) is a Politician and former Indonesian General. The Indonesian Democratic Party – Struggle ( Indonesian: Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan, PDI-P) is a Political party in Indonesia Out of the 24 contestants only 7 parties were able to reach the electoral threshold. ^[25]

There are exactly 100 seats in the regional parliament. ^[26] Out of these 100 representatives, 15 are women, 88 are Muslims while 12 are Christians (7 Catholics and 5 Protestants). There is no representative who professes either Hinduism or Buddhism.

Seats in the regional parliament

Transportation

Central Java is connected to the interprovincial national way on the northern coast (Jalur Pantai Utara or Jalur Pantura) which runs from Anyer in Banten to Banyuwangi, East Java on the opposite of Bali. Banten is a province of Indonesia located at the western end of Java Island. East Java (Jawa Timur is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the eastern part of the island of Java and also includes neighboring Madura Bali is an Indonesian Island located at, the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to Losari, the Central Javanese gate at the western border on the northern coast, could be reached from Jakarta in 4 hours drive. On the southern coast, there is also a national way which run from Kroya at the Sundanese-Javanese border, through Yogyakarta to Surakarta and then to Surabaya via Kertosono in East Java. The Special Region of Yogyakarta ( Indonesian: Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta, or DIY) is the smallest province of Indonesia (excluding Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. There is furthermore a direct connection from Tegal to Purwokerto. In addition to that there is a toll road from Semarang to Ungaran which runs for 14 kilometer.

Central Java was the province that first introduced a railway line in Indonesia. The very first line began in 1873 between Semarang and Yogyakarta by a private company,^[27] but this route is now no longer used. Today there are five lines in Central Java: the northern line which runs from Jakarta via Semarang to Surabaya. Then there is the southern line from Kroya through Yogyakarta and Surakarta to Surabaya. There is also a train service between Semarang and Surakarta and a service between Kroya and Cirebon. At last there is a route between Surakarta and Wonogiri. All of these lines are single track lines, except the line between Yogyakarta and Surakarta which is double track.

On the northern coast Central Java is served by 8 harbours. The main port is Tanjung Mas in Semarang, other harbours are located in Brebes, Tegal, Pekalongan, Batang, Jepara, Juwana and Rembang. The southern coast is mainly served by the port Tanjung Intan in Cilacap. ^[28]

Finally on mainland Central Java there is three commercial airports and one on Karimunjawa isles. The airports on the mainland are: Adisumarmo International Airport in Surakarta, Achmad Yani Airport in Semarang and Tunggul Wulung Airport in Cilacap. Adisumarmo International Airport is an Airport located on Solo, Central Java, Indonesia. Achmad Yani International Airport (Bandar Udara Internasional Achmad Yani is the airport serving Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Karimunjawa is served by Dewadaru Airport.

Economy

Agriculture

Much of Central Java is a fertile agricultural region, and the primary food crop is wet rice. An elaborate irrigation network of canals, dams, aqueducts, and reservoirs has greatly contributed to Central Java's the rice-growing capacity over the centuries. In 2001, productivity of rice was 5022 kilograms/ha, mostly contributed by irrigated paddy field (± 98%). Klaten Regency had the highest productivity with 5525 kilograms/ha. Klaten is a regency (kabupaten in Central Java province in Indonesia. ^[29]

Other crops, also mostly grown in lowland areas on small peasant landholdings, are corn (maize), cassava, peanuts (groundnuts), soybeans, and sweet potatoes. Terraced hillslopes and irrigated paddy fields are familiar features of the landscape. A paddy field is a flooded parcel of Arable land used for growing Rice and other semiaquatic crops. Kapok, sesame, vegetables, bananas, mangoes, durian fruits, citrus fruits, and vegetable oils are produced for local consumption. Tea, coffee, tobacco, rubber, sugarcane and kapok; and coconuts are exported. Several of these cash crops at a time are usually grown on large family estates. Livestock, especially water buffalo, is raised primarily for use as draft animals. Salted and dried fish are imported. ^[29][30]

Education

Central Java is home to such notable state universities, as Diponegoro University, Semarang State University, and Walisongo Islamic University (Universitas Islam Negeri Walisongo) in Semarang; Sebelas Maret State University in Surakarta; and Jenderal Soedirman University in Purwokerto. Diponegoro University (Universitas Diponegoro better known as UNDIP is an Indonesian University located in Semarang, Jawa Tengah. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java.

The Military Academy (Akademi Militer) is located in Magelang Regency while the Police Academy (Akademi Kepolisian) is located in Semarang. Furthermore in Surakarta the Surakarta Institute of Indonesian Arts (ISI Surakarta) is located. Institute Seni Indonesia Surakarta ( ISI Surakarta) is an Arts University in Surakarta, Indonesia. In addition to these, Central Java has hundreds of other private higher educations, including religious institutions.

For foreign students requiring language training Salatiga has been a location for generations of students attending courses.

Tourism

Palace of the Sunan in Surakarta

There are several interesting places to be found in Central Java. Semarang itself has lots of old picturesque buildings: Puri Maerokoco and Indonesian Record Museum are located in this city. Semarang is a city on the north coast of the island of Java, Indonesia. Indonesian Record Museum ( Museum Rekor Indonesia or MURI) is a museum located in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Borobudur, which is one of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites of Indonesia is also located in this province, in the Magelang regency. Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex Magelang is one of the largest cities of the 1130 km² Magelang Regency, Central Java, Indonesia and also the largest town in the Kedu Plain Candi Mendut and Candi Pawon can also be found near the Borobudur temple complex. Mendut is an eighth century Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia. Pawon (known locally as Candi Pawon) is a Buddhist temple in Central Java, Indonesia.

Candi Prambanan at the border of Klaten regency and Yogyakarta is the biggest complex of Hindu temples. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple compound in Central Java in Indonesia, located approximately 18 km east of Yogyakarta. It is also a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage SIte. In the region around the Dieng Plateau, one could find several temples. Dieng Plateau, is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a Caldera complex on the Dieng active volcano complex, and is located near Wonosobo, Central These are built before the era of the ancient Mataram.

Two interesting palaces, the Palace of the Sunan (Keraton Kasunanan) and Pura Mangkunegaran, are located in Surakarta, which is considered one of the centers of Javanese culture. Surakarta (colloquially Solo) is an Indonesian city of approximately 500000 people located in Central Java. The Grojogan Sewu waterfall is located in Karanganyar Regency, which has a beautiful scenery. Karanganyar is a regency (kabupaten in the southeastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia, north of Surakarta. Several Majapahit temples and Sangiran museum are also located in Central Java. Sangiran is an Archaeological excavation site at the island of Java in Indonesia.

Coat of arms and symbols

Coat of arms of Central Java

The motto of Central Java is Prasetya Ulah Sakti Bhakti Praja. This is a Javanese phrase meaning "A vow of devotion with all might to the country".

The coat of arms of Central Java depicts a legendary flask, Kundi Amerta or Cupu Manik, formed in a pentagon representing Pancasila. Amrita or Amrit (अमृत ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ ಅಮೃತ అమృతము is a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death" and is often Pancasila, (pronounced panʧaˈsila is the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state In the center of the emblem stands a sharp bamboo spike (representing the fight for independence, and it has 8 sections which represent Indonesia's month of Independence) with a golden five-pointed star (representing faith in God), superimposed on the black profile of a candi (temple) with seven stupas, while the middle stupa is the biggest. A stupa (from Sanskrit and Pāli: m स्तूप stūpa, literally meaning "heap" is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist This candi is reminiscent of the Borobudur. Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. Under the candi wavy outlines of waters are visible. Behind the candi two golden mountain tops are visible. This twin mountains represents the unity between the people and the government. The emblem shows a green sky above the candi. Above, the shield is adorned with a red and white ribbon, the colours of the Indonesian flag. The national flag of Indonesia, which is known as Sang Merah Putih ("The Red and White" in Indonesian, is based on the flag of the 13th Lining the left and right sides of the shield are respectively stalk of rice (17 of them, representing Indonesia's day of Independence) and cotton flowers (5 of them, each one is 4-petaled, representing Indonesia's year of Independence). At the bottom, the shield is adorned with a golden red ribbon. On the ribbon the name "Central Java" (Jawa Tengah) is inscribed in black.

The floral symbol of the province is the Michelia alba, while the provincial fauna is Oriolus chinensis. The Black-naped Oriole, Oriolus chinensis, is a member of the Oriole family of passerine Birds found in South Asia.

Notes and references

Further reading

• Tourist (printed information)
• Backshall, S. et all (1999) Indonesia, The rough guide London ISBN 1-85828-429-5. Central Java - pp. 153-231
• Cribb, Robert (2000) Historical Atlas of Indonesia London: Curzon Press
• Dalton. B. (1980's) Indonesia Handbook various editions - Central Java. Bill Dalton's Indonesia Handbook, published by Moon Publications in California was the main English language tourist information Guide book for the whole of
• Geertz, C. (1960) The Religion of Java University Of Chicago Press 1976 paperback: ISBN 0-226-28510-3
• Hatley, Ron et al. Clifford James Geertz ( August 23 1926, San Francisco – October 30 2006, Philadelphia) was an American (1984) Other Javas: away from the kraton Clayton: Monash University
• Vaisutis. Justine et al. (2007) Indonesia (Guidebook) Eighth edition. Indonesia is a traveller's guide book first published in 1986 in Australia which has since gone into 8 editions Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd, Footscray, Victoria ISBN 978-1-74164-435-5

See also

• West Java
• East Java

External links

• (Indonesian) Official site
• Central Java travel guide from Wikitravel